Best Guns in Red Dead Redemption 2 2026

Best RDR2 Guns TL;DR

• The Lancaster Repeater is my best RDR2 gun because it works at almost every normal combat distance.

• The Bolt Action Rifle is the best all-purpose rifle and hits much harder than any repeater.

• The Schofield Revolver is my favorite Story Mode sidearm and can be obtained for free early.

• The Semi-Auto Shotgun is the best close-range weapon, especially against groups.

• Red Dead Online has a different meta, with the Navy Revolver becoming one of the strongest sidearm options.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 Weapon Tier List

This tier list focuses on firearms in Story Mode combat. I am not ranking them based on hunting utility, so the Varmint Rifle naturally falls lower even though it is essential for getting perfect pelts.

The ranking considers damage, accuracy, firing speed, capacity, range, availability, and how often I would actually keep the weapon equipped. The weapon database lists 23 standard firearms across the major Story Mode classes, while unique variants mostly duplicate an existing weapon's role.

Top 5 Best Guns in Red Dead Redemption 2

My top five covers the complete loadout rather than putting five repeaters next to each other and calling it a day. You get:

• One general-purpose repeater

• One powerful rifle

• One sidearm

• One shotgun

• One sniper rifle

That gives you an actual arsenal for the full story completion and beyond.

1. Lancaster Repeater - Best Gun in RDR2 Overall

The Lancaster Repeater is the classic answer for the best gun in Red Dead Redemption 2, and tend to agree with it. The Litchfield hits harder, rifles hit much harder, and a shotgun will obviously do more damage to anyone standing three feet away. But the Lancaster wins because it has no weakness. You get:

• Excellent accuracy

• A 14-round capacity

• Fast enough firing

• Good reload speed

• Useful medium-range performance

It is the weapon that clears everything the game throws at you with ease. Its lower repeater-tier damage is offset by better accuracy and faster handling than the heavier alternatives.

The best part is that you do not even need to buy one. The Lancaster is supplied during an American Pastoral Scene in Chapter 2 and remains available for purchase afterward. A late-game gun can have better numbers, but the Lancaster spends most of the story at your side. 

2. Bolt Action Rifle - Best Rifle in RDR2

The Bolt Action Rifle is the best gun for players who want significantly more stopping power without committing to a dedicated scoped sniper. Its 72 Damage and 82 Accuracy are major upgrades over the repeaters, and the five-round magazine makes it much more practical against groups than the single-shot Springfield Rifle. The Lancaster is still my better general recommendation because many RDR2 fights happen at relatively short distances. 

You receive the Bolt Action Rifle during Preaching Forgiveness as He Went in Chapter 3, after which it can also be purchased from gunsmiths. It’s definitely worth it to upgrade the sights and other useful components right away. You are going to be using this thing for a while.

3. Schofield Revolver - Best Revolver in RDR2

The Schofield Revolver is my best Story Mode sidearm because it gives you exactly the balance you’d expect from a revolver. It hits harder and shoots more accurately than the starting Cattleman with no downside. The six-round capacity is standard, but the combination of 46 Damage, 70 Accuracy, and a 70 Fire Rate makes it extremely reliable.

Dual wielding Two Schofields gives you plenty of firepower for close and medium range while still feeling like actual cowboy weapons. Dual M1899S may be more technologically impressive, but Arthur running around with two Schofields simply feels right for the game’s setting. It’s available very early in the game from multiple sources, so you can use it throughout the game until you grow tired of it.

4. Semi-Auto - Best Shotgun in RDR2

Sem auto is super fun to use, especially in the first-person view. It combines five shells with the fastest, least awkward follow-up shots among Story Mode shotguns. The Pump-Action deals slightly more listed damage, but the Semi-Auto is much better at deleting several close-range enemies before they get a chance to retaliate.

You can find the Semi-Auto Shotgun during the Watson's Cabin Home Robbery in Big Valley. The purchasable version becomes available after A Fine Night of Debauchery in Chapter 4. Choose the preferred way yourself, but robbery is available way earlier.

5. Carcano Rifle - Best Sniper Rifle in RDR2

The Carcano Rifle is the best dedicated long-range weapon in Story Mode. It has 75 Damage, 85 Accuracy, 80 Range, and a six-round capacity. Mag size is what makes the gun stand out from other long-range options, since you don’t need to reload after every missed shot. The downside is that the Carcano only becomes available during Chapter 6, which is why it sits fifth instead of competing with the Lancaster for first place.

Best Red Dead Online Guns

Story chapter availability no longer matters in Red Dead Online, the famed Navy Revolver enters the weapon pool, and prices plus Rank requirements become very important:

Navy Revolver - Best Online Weapon

The Navy Revolver is the online-only weapon that has an excellent stat line. It deals 52 listed Damage with 72 Accuracy and a 72 Fire Rate, giving it an all-round profile that even the Schofield can’t reach. It costs $275 or 11 Gold Bars and is available from Online gunsmiths.

The reload speed is the biggest downside the gun has, and it becomes much more noticeable when dual-wielding. Twelve chambers sound fantastic until your character begins reloading them one by one.

What Is the Best Early Gun in RDR2?

I would get the Schofield Revolver first. You can steal one from the Valentine doctor's backroom operation in Chapter 2, and it remains one of the best sidearms for the entire game. After that, my early progression would be:

1. Get the free Schofield Revolver.

2. Use the Lancaster once the story gives it to you.

3. Pick up the Pump-Action Shotgun from Chez Porter or buy it after it unlocks.

4. Add the Bolt Action Rifle in Chapter 3.

The Pump-Action can be found during the Chez Porter Home Robbery, while the Bolt Action is given during Preaching Forgiveness as He Went.