All Guns in Red Dead Redemption 2: A Comprehensive List and Guide

Overview of Firearms in Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 features an extensive and carefully categorized arsenal, ranging from basic sidearms to military-grade cannons. This guide profiles the complete set of usable guns and explosives available in Story and Red Dead Online, focusing on mechanics, availability, and situational strengths. Understanding handling characteristics, damage profiles, and ammunition types helps you choose the right tool for combat, hunting, and exploration as Arthur Morgan or any Online role.

Revolvers

Revolvers balance speed, reliability, and stopping power, forming the core of many close-quarters builds. Cylinder capacity, reload speed, and damage vary by model, and choosing one depends on whether you favor rapid follow-up shots or heavier hits per round. Most revolvers are available early and remain viable through endgame thanks to steady damage and forgiving recoil patterns.

Single-Action Revolver

The Single-Action Revolver is the first reliable six-shooter Arthur obtains, excelling at medium-range precision with tight dispersion and moderate damage. It encourages deliberate trigger pulls, rewarding practiced aim with consistent one-shot neutralizations against unarmored opponents.

Double-Action Revolver

Designed for faster follow-up shots, the Double-Action Revolver sacrifices some damage and accuracy for higher sustained DPS in multi-target engagements. Its heavier trigger makes long-range flick shots harder, but it shines in chaotic fights where rapid cylinder rotation matters more than pinpoint precision.

Semi-Auto Revolver

The Semi-Auto Revolver bridges traditional revolver handling with modern firing speed, offering reduced recoil and quicker reloads without fully abandoning six-shot discipline. It favors controlled bursts at range and remains competitive against fully automatic sidearms when managed with thoughtful ammunition conservation.

Bolt-Action and Lever-Action Rifles

Rifles define long-range viability in RDR2, trading rate of fire for per-shot lethality and precision. Bolt-Action platforms emphasize accuracy and hard-hitting rounds at distance, while Lever-Action designs focus on faster cycling and more forgiving recoil control. Choosing between them depends on whether you prefer surgical, deliberate shots or faster target transitions in dynamic fights.

Bolt-Action Rifle

The Bolt-Action Rifle delivers exceptional range and damage, rewarding patient, scoped shots with one-hit eliminations against torsos and limbs. Its slow cycling makes it vulnerable in close quarters, so positioning and shot timing are critical to maximizing its effectiveness in both Story missions and Online showdowns.

Semi-Auto Rifle

Semi-Auto Rifles provide a middle ground between raw power and repeatability, offering manageable recoil and consistent cycling for mid-to-long-range engagements. They perform well in sustained duels and against multiple lightly armored foes, especially when supported by steady aim and controlled burst fire.

Lever-Action Rifle

Lever-Action Rifles emphasize handling versatility and rapid target reacquisition, making them ideal for dynamic encounters where you must frequently change positions. Their moderate damage and quick reloads suit aggressive playstyles, allowing seamless transitions between cover and offensive pushes.

Shotguns

Shotguns dominate tight-space encounters, trading range and precision for devastating cone-of-fire damage at close quarters. Shell selection dramatically affects performance, with buckshot favoring direct confrontations and slugs extending effective reach. In Red Dead Online, shotguns remain central for bounty hunting and homestead defense when built around spread optimization and reliable knockdown power.

Double-Barreled Shotgun

The Double-Barreled Shotgun offers raw close-range impact with minimal reload downtime, perfect for ambushes and hallway fights where two precise shells can decide an encounter. Its limited capacity demands careful aim, making ammunition discipline and positioning essential to maintain pressure.

Semi-Auto Shotgun

Semi-Auto Shotguns mitigate recoil and speed up follow-up shots, enabling faster room clearing and more forgiving misses at short range. They suit players who value sustained pressure over single explosive bursts, especially in objective-based modes where survivability and uptime matter.

Pump-Action Shotgun

Pump-Action Shotguns reward deliberate cycling with strong damage and consistent patterns, excelling in controlled standoffs and tactical reloads. Their reliable knockdown effect and versatile choke options make them strong choices for both Story confrontations and competitive Online modes when paired with proper shell choices.

Handguns and Derringers

Handguns serve as compact backups and specialist tools, offering low visibility, rapid draws, and niche utility. Derringers maximize bullet count in tiny frames, while semi-auto pistols emphasize comfort and speed. Each option shines in specific contexts, such as dueling at very short range or carrying multiple firearms without encumbrance penalties.

Semi-Auto Pistol

Semi-Auto Pistols provide the lightest carry profile with moderate power and fast handling, ideal for stealth approaches and quick holster swaps. They perform best at close-to-mid ranges, where quick center-mass shots can reliably dispatch unarmored targets without committing to heavier hardware.

Derringer

Derringers trade capacity and reload convenience for extreme compactness and concealability, holding only a few rounds but surprising opponents in draw-centric standoffs. Their niche lies in roleplay and emergency situations where a silent, ultra-light sidearm can mean the difference between escape and detection.

Explosives and Launchers

Explosives add area denial, siege capability, and dramatic burst damage to your toolkit, useful against groups, wildlife, and fortified positions. Launchers deliver consistent munitions delivery at various ranges, but supply limitations and loud report require considered deployment. Balancing explosive stocks against ranged and melee needs is key to efficient loadout planning.

Revolver Cannons and Hunting Cannons

Revolver Cannons and Hunting Cannons serve as mobile artillery, enabling long-range harassment and area suppression. They demand strong saddles and steady hands, rewarding measured use in hunting large game and breaking enemy formations. Both benefit from controlled firing cadence to manage heat and avoid catastrophic misfires.

Dynamite and Explosive Arrows

Dynamite and Explosive Arrows provide low-profile area tools for stealth and environmental interaction. Dynamite offers delayed, powerful blasts for clearing cover or groups, while Explosive Arrows extend your reach with projectile-based ignition. Effective use requires timing, trajectory awareness, and careful management of scarce resources.

Firearms Progression and Locations

Firearm availability follows Arthur’s journey, starting with basic models in camps and expanding through story missions, stores, and random encounters. Early purchases and gifts shape your early loadout, while later finds and Online unlocks introduce specialized platforms. Tracking where each gun first appears—and where duplicates can be reliably obtained—helps you plan builds and optimize your preferred playstyle.

Notable Firearm Locations by Chapter

Key shops and characters consistently restock signature models, while specific story moments gift unique pieces. Maintaining awareness of chapter-level opportunities ensures you never miss essential loadout upgrades or time-limited offers that define endgame flexibility.

Loadout Planning and Practical Tips

Effective loadout planning balances portability, damage, and reload practicality. Consider your primary engagement range, typical encounter density, and whether you favor stealth or direct confrontation. Staggered weapon types—such as a revolver for precision, a lever-action for mobility, and a shotgun for close breaches—provide flexibility. Ammo budgeting, careful aiming, and situational explosives use can dramatically improve survival and efficiency in both Story and Red Dead Online.

Practical Tips for Firearm Mastery

• Master each weapon’s recoil pattern to improve first-shot accuracy under pressure.
• Choose ammunition and choke/cylinder loadouts based on target density and range.
• Use cover to reset encounters, especially when carrying slower-firing platforms.
• Balance explosive stock against ranged tools to avoid being caught without answers at range.
• Prioritize mobility and reload discipline in Online to maintain tempo against coordinated opponents.