Summary
Rifles and repeatersare some of themost versatile weapons inRed Dead Redemption, both offering great precision and accuracy in combat and hunting scenarios. Many players consider them to be the best ranged weaponry available in the game, with the ability to balance power, speed, and range.
While rifles are better used for deliberate shots, often resulting in single-shot kills, repeaters are great for sustained and repeated shooting, as the name suggests.Rifles are great for huntingand long-range take-downs of enemies, whereas repeaters can be used in ambushes, against multiple enemies, and for shooting while on horseback. Overall, repeaters are perhaps the most versatile gun inRed Dead Redemption, with rifles a close second.This list details which rifles and repeaters are the best, as well as where to grab them.
10Repeater Carbine
Reliable Early Game Repeater
TheRepeater Carbineis the first of its kind that players receive inRed Dead Redemption, and is known for its reliabilityin the early game, especially for targets that players don’t mean to kill. This makes the weapon extremely useful for bounty hunting and catching small animals. However, the Repeater Carbine is rendered relatively useless once players unlock some of the better repeaters in the game, such as the Winchester.
Players receive this gun in the second mission of the game, ‘New Friends, Old Problems’, where it is given to them by Bonnie MacFarlane.
9Evans Repeater
High Damage But Inaccurate
This weapon is certainly useful, and is by no means the worst in the game. It deals high damage and has an extremely high ammunition capacity, but it has poor accuracy and takes a long time to reload, making it harder to use from long range, in sniping scenarios, or against tough enemies.
Players can purchase theEvans Repeaterfrom the gunsmith in Blackwater for $1000, with discounts available for those onhigh honor runs.
8Buffalo Rifle
Lethal But Inconvenient
TheBuffalo Rifleis the strongest rifle in the game, even stronger than the Exploding Rifle, making it lethal in one shot to most targets. Players love this rifle for hunting, especially taking out larger animals like bears and bison, but its slow fire rate and low ammunition capacity make it extremely unhelpful in most combat scenarios. Some have noted how fun this weapon is, particularly on low honor runs, for causing maximum damage when not considering the consequences.
This rifle is available pretty early in the game, and is can be purchased from any gunsmith after the first few missions are completed.
7Explosive Rifle
Exclusive To Liars And Cheats DLC
This unique weapon is only available with theLiars and CheatsDLC.Extremely expensive, the weapon can only be purchased in Blackwater for $10,000, a price which varies depending on the player’s honor.
TheExplosive Rifleis a fun weapon to have on hand, with little precision but lots of sheer destructive power. One shot can kill multiple targets with ease, making it great for intense situations, but almost entirely impractical. Ammunition for this rifle is rare, and the explosive quality renders it almost useless if players wish to keep some people alive.
6Winchester Repeater
A Dependable Early Game Repeater
This early game repeater is reliable, but not particularly special or stand-out in any category. For medium-range combat, it is a dependable weapon of choice for fans, especially with its quick reload speed.
To purchase theWinchester Repeater, players should go to the Gunsmith in Armadillo. Alternatively, players can find it for free during the mission ‘Spare the Rod, Spoil the Bandit’, or as a reward from the sheriff (if he is left alive) after completing the Tumbleweed hideout.
5Springfield Rifle
Perfect For Stealth And Sniping
TheSpringfield Rifleis known for its precision, above all else. However, the slow rate of fire and reload speed make it an ineffective gun for active combat. Instead, it is the preferred weapon for slow hunting and sniping scenarios which don’t require many bullets.
There are lots of ways to get the Springfield Rifle during the game. It’s available during several early missions, including ‘We Shall Be Together In Paradise’, ‘The Assault on Fort Mercer’, and ‘Man is Born Unto Trouble’. Alternatively, it can be purchased from the gunsmith at Thieve’s Landing, with a discount forplayers on low honor runs, or found for free after completing the Gaptooth Breach hideout.
4Bolt Action Rifle
Great Accuracy And Damage
One of the most versatile rifles available inRed Dead Redemption, theBolt Action Rifleoffers excellent accuracy and a satisfying amount of damage. That said, it is limited by its slow rate of fire, which makes it unhelpful in close-range scenarios andhigh-stakes situations like shootouts.
Players can purchase the Bolt Action Rifle in Escalera for $750, or for half that price on high honor runs. In Escalera, the Bolt Action Rifle is available very early in the game. Alternatively, players can find it next to the cannon in the fortieth mission, ‘The Gates of El Presidio’.
3Henry Repeater
Best Repeater In The Game
TheHenry Repeateris easily the best repeater of the four available in the game. Primarily, it is the most powerful and offers by far the highest damage. It also has a reasonable ammunition capacity, topped only by the Evans Repeater. In particular, players comment on the way this repeater feels, with a distinctive lever-action mechanism that immerses the player in the game.
Unlike some other guns, which can be purchased from different locations across the map, the Henry repeater can only be obtained once players have completed the gang hideout at Nosalida.
2Rolling Block Rifle
Excellent Except For Limited Ammunition
Fans ofRed Dead Redemptionoften comment that theRolling Block Rifleis one of the best-looking guns in the game, and one of the most powerful too. The sole issue with the Rolling Block is its severely limited ammunition capacity. With just one ammo slot, players are best not to use this in close combat.
The Rolling Block Rifle can be obtained from a few different missions in the game. First, it is available during ‘Empty Promises’, wherein the player is approached by Vincente de Santa. Later in the game, players might receive it from Luisa Fortuna’s mission ‘Must a Saviour Die?’, where it can be found at the top of the fort.
1Carcano Rifle
A Fan Favorite Rifle
This is undoubtedly the best rifle in the game. TheCarcano Rifleis a fan favorite with unbeatable long-range accuracy and reliability. It also offers faster reload speeds compared with other rifles in the game, giving it an edge in ambushes and against multiple enemies. The Carcano is also great for hitting moving targets because of the speed of its bullets,making it ideal for hunting larger animals.
The Carcano is available from the Gunsmith in the city of Blackwater, the cost of which is variable depending on honor ratings, with high honor players offered a large discount.
