Red Dead Redemption 2 features 5 rifles, and of those 5, they each have their own unique strengths. To find the best rifle in Red Dead Redemption 2, players first need to know their stats, where to find them, and how deadly they can be against the terrors of the tamed West against the law, the predators, and the gangs that hold a big iron on their hips.
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Understanding all rifles in Red Dead Redemption 2 is key to finding the best one, so listed below is everything players need to know about rifles, along with a ranking system on what makes these rifles so great. With high ammo capacities, low reload times, and deadly damage, the best rifle in Red Dead Redemption 2 can save Arthur so he can fight another day.
5
Varmint Rifle
A Rifle Only Good for Perfect Pelts on Vermin
|
Damage |
42 |
|
Fire Rate |
65 |
|
Accuracy |
76 |
|
Range |
60 |
|
Reload |
68 |
|
Ammo Capacity |
14 |
- How to Get the Varmint Rifle: Purchased from a Gunsmith for $72 after Eastward Bound (Chapter 1)
The Varmint Rifle is definitely a gun that players should not bring to battle, as it’s essentially a gimmick weapon that is only used to kill smaller animals like beavers and squirrels without harming their perfect pelts. There is no reason to bring a Varmint Rifle into the fight unless players essentially want to use a BB gun on their enemies.
This isn’t a weapon that deals out lethal damage, and its low-caliber ammunition will just tickle enemies, even if the fire rate and ammo capacity are pretty good. This is a weapon Arthur only needs for hunting small animals and birds, so try to leave it on the horse in combat.
4
Springfield Rifle
A Powerful, Single-Shot Rifle – Great for Hunting, Not for Humans
|
Damage |
80 |
|
Fire Rate |
30 |
|
Accuracy |
78 |
|
Range |
75 |
|
Reload |
43 |
|
Ammo Capacity |
1 |
- How to Get the Springfield Rifle: Purchased from a Gunsmith for $120 after Eastward Bound (Chapter 1)
The Springfield Rifle is a good weapon, and players shouldn’t be convinced otherwise. The damage output is brutal, and a headshot of a large mammal or a human is going to send them down to the earth. However, where the Springfield Rifle does falter is in its fire rate and ammo capacity, as the gun fires slowly, and reloads even slower.
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Having just one bullet in the chamber for a rifle isn’t always the safest bet, especially when Arthur Morgan might be swarmed by the law, Pinkertons, or other gangs that want his head. As such, the Springfield Rifle might benefit from long-range engagements, but only when players have the appropriate cover to compensate for the reload times between shots.
3
Rolling Block Rifle
A Single-Shot Sniper Rifle, Perfect for Far-Reaching Hunts
|
Damage |
85 |
|
Fire Rate |
27 |
|
Accuracy |
85 |
|
Range |
80 |
|
Reload |
38 |
|
Ammo Capacity |
1 |
- How to Get the Rolling Block Rifle: Purchased from a Gunsmith for $187 after The Sheep and the Goats (Chapter 2)
The Rolling Block Rifle is a devastating killer thanks to its absurdly high damage, accuracy, and range. All three of these factors form a trinity of power to make the Rolling Block Rifle a death machine from afar, where players can use its sniping capabilities to pick off enemies and nearly instantly kill them from the stomach up.
The Rolling Block Rifle is certainly a decent choice for players who want to pick off enemies and mammals from a further distance than the standard draw of a revolver, but at the same time, it only has one bullet in the chamber before players need to wait for the heavy reload, so it’s not the most reliable in a fast-moving setting.
2
Carcano Rifle
The Best Sniper Rifle Thanks to High Accuracy and Magazine Size
|
Damage |
75 |
|
Fire Rate |
40 |
|
Accuracy |
85 |
|
Range |
80 |
|
Reload |
70 |
|
Ammo Capacity |
6 |
- How to Get the Carcano Rifle: Purchased from a Gunsmith for $190 after Goodbye, Dear Friend (Chapter 6)
The Carcano Rifle might have a little less stopping power than the Rolling Block Rifle, but it also has the benefit of a high fire rate, godly accuracy, exceptional range, fast reload, and of course, 6 bullets in a magazine. It’s the modern sniper that a cowboy could only dream of, so enemies that are near and far will suffer under the scope and barrel of whoever holds this deadly rifle.
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The Carcano Rifle is easily the best sniper rifle in Red Dead Redemption 2, and its scope is going to prove that by showing just how far and accurate this gun can be at long distances. Yet, the scope attached makes the weapon quite situational, so it might not be the greatest choice when there are plenty of targets that need shooting.
1
Bolt-Action Rifle
The Best Rifle for Fast and Long-Range Combat
|
Damage |
72 |
|
Fire Rate |
37 |
|
Accuracy |
82 |
|
Range |
75 |
|
Reload |
55 |
|
Ammo Capacity |
5 |
- How to Get the Bolt-Action Rifle: Purchased from a Gunsmith for $180 after Preaching Forgiveness As He Went (Chapter 3)
The Bolt-Action Rifle is the definitive rifle that players should use in Red Dead Redemption 2. The bolt-action mechanism doesn’t prevent players from engaging in quick-firing engagements, and the reload is a major step up from the previous rifles. It also helps that the Bolt-Action Rifle has an ammo capacity of 5, so players won’t be reloading as often.
The damage is also extremely high, and pairing that with the accuracy and range of the weapon, players have a competent killing machine that is far more accurate and deadly than any repeater could dream to be, especially with ease of access when it comes to headshots.
- Released
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October 26, 2018