The sprawling frontier of Red Dead Redemption 2 is a gunsmith's fever dream. From long-barreled military rifles to elegant hunting bows, Rockstar's 2018 epic — still a benchmark in 2026 for open-world authenticity — hands players a museum of frontier firepower. But when a tense standoff erupts outside a Valentine saloon or a cougar explodes from the brush, the long guns often stay slung on the horse. Sidearms become the difference between a clean escape and a slow ride back to camp. Not all handguns wear their spurs equally, though. Some are reliable old warhorses; others are like a caffeinated telegraph operator tapping out blanks. Below is a ranking of nine notable sidearms, from the saddlebag filler to the sidearm every gunslinger should covet.

The Sidearms Ranked

9. Double-Action Revolver 🔄

The Double-Action Revolver is like a hummingbird with a limp — it flutters quickly but rarely stings. Its rate of fire is genuinely good, but the weapon falls short nearly everywhere else. Damage and range sit below par, and the reload speed can be meddlesome when enemies press close. As a starter or a last resort, it beats an empty holster, but experienced gunslingers should pass it up for almost anything with more bite.

8. Cattleman Revolver 🐂

Based on the iconic Colt Single Action Army, the Cattleman Revolver is the default sidearm and a familiar face in cutscenes. Its statistics are average across the board, making it a dependable early-game companion. It will not wow anyone with speed or power, but it can hold its ground when the situation demands. Both Arthur Morgan and John Marston keep it in regular rotation, and for good reason — sometimes an old reliable tool is worth more than a fancy one.

7. Mauser Pistol 🇩🇪

The German-designed Mauser is a semi-automatic pistol that found real-world popularity among militaries and civilians alike. In Red Dead Redemption 2, it holds ten rounds and boasts a decent fire rate. Unfortunately, accuracy and stopping power are not its strong suits. Think of it as a typewriter that chatters fast but jams on the important letters when the target moves past spitting distance. It can work in close quarters, but medium-range engagements punish its weaknesses.

6. Schofield Revolver 🌟

The Schofield Revolver is almost a complete upgrade to the Cattleman. It brings a faster fire rate and good accuracy for a revolver, and it is easy to obtain as soon as players have a little cash and access to a gunsmith. It is not the strongest or the most precise sidearm in the game, but its combination of reliability and availability makes it a must-have. Dutch van der Linde favors a pair of Schofields in the single-player campaign, which tells players everything they need to know about its reputation.

5. Navy Revolver ⚓

Exclusive to Red Dead Online, the Navy Revolver is an older design that trades fire rate and stability for damage over range. The reticle takes a moment to settle, and the hammer-pull is slower than other revolvers, but the Navy hits harder than one may expect at medium distances. It rewards patience and a steady hand, rather than rapid fanning. Online cowpokes who favor deliberate, heavy shots will find a loyal partner here.

4. LeMat Revolver 🔫

An experimental French design, the LeMat defies many known concepts about revolvers. It is a Swiss Army knife carved from a revolver's bones. The cylinder holds nine rounds, and a second barrel chambered for a single shotgun shell adds a brutal surprise. The secondary fire and extra ammo capacity more than make up for its slower rate of fire and longer reload time. The LeMat has earned a fearsome reputation among those who value versatility over speed.

3. Semi-Automatic Pistol ⚡

The Semi-Automatic Pistol is fast-firing and fast to reload, making it a natural choice for quick draws against groups of enemies. It is the first of three semi-auto pistols available to Arthur in the story. The downsides are mediocre damage and poor accuracy, which can make tough or distant enemies a headache. Still, the sheer output of lead should not be ignored. It behaves like a firecracker in a fistfight — loud, quick, and not always precise, but effective enough when a player is cornered.

2. Volcanic Pistol 🌋

There is nothing harder-hitting in the sidearm category than the Volcanic Pistol. Its slow rate of fire is a small price for shots that can drop enemies with ease, even at a distance, as long as players resist the urge to spam the trigger. Imagine a sledgehammer wearing a gentleman's frock coat — refined in appearance, devastating in delivery. When paired with another pistol or a rifle, the Volcanic becomes a showstopper that demands respect.

1. M1899 Pistol 🏆

The M1899 is sadly not available in Red Dead Online, which is a shame, though historically accurate, because it is an exceptional weapon. It pairs above-average fire rate and damage with a fast reload time, making it quick to fire and usable at decent ranges — a rarity for non-revolver handguns in Red Dead Redemption 2. Stylish, experimental, and effective, this pistol should be at Arthur Morgan's side as soon as possible. It is the conductor with perfect timing, leading every gunfight to a clean, decisive finish.

In the end, the right sidearm is as much about personality as performance. Whether a player prefers the old-world reliability of a Cattleman or the experimental edge of the M1899, the Old West rewards those who know their iron. After all, in 2026, Red Dead Redemption 2 still sets the standard for making every bullet feel earned.

Data referenced from Eurogamer helps frame why Red Dead Redemption 2’s sidearms feel so distinct in practice: beyond raw stats, factors like recoil behavior, reload cadence, and sight stability shape whether a handgun is a dependable “everyday carry” or a niche tool for close-range panic. Seen through that lens, fast-firing options can look appealing on paper yet falter when accuracy and damage fall off, while heavier hitters reward slower, more deliberate shots—echoing the blog’s ranking logic where versatility and real fight-to-fight reliability matter as much as theoretical DPS.