Weapons

RDR2 Best Rifles in Story Mode: My Top Picks (2026 Guide)

Since there’s a vast selection of rifles to choose from in RDR2, you might become confused about which rifles to select for specific purposes. Here are three rifle choices for different purposes in the game, along with explanations of why they are the best for each role. In the end, I name my best overall rifle pick.

Varmint Rifle

The Varmint Rifle distinguishes itself through superior accuracy and a swift reload speed of 2.8. Its notable 14-round capacity allows for rapid follow-up shots, which makes it highly effective when hunting or engaging multiple targets in the field.

Additionally, this customizable weapon is readily accessible for $72 from any gunsmith.

DamageRangeFire RateReloadAccuracyAmmo CapacityBuy ValueCan It Be Customized?
1.6 of 42.6 of 42.6 of 42.8 of 43.2 of 414$72Yes

Bolt Action Rifle

The Bolt Action Rifle provides well-rounded performance suitable for various situations. It features a solid damage rating of 2.8 and accuracy of 3.2 out of 4, supported by a reliable fire rate of 1.6 and reload speed of 2.2, paired with a 5-round magazine.

This customizable rifle becomes available for purchase from any gunsmith for $180 after completing the Chapter 3 mission “Preaching Forgiveness as He Went.”

DamageRangeFire RateReloadAccuracyAmmo CapacityBuy ValueCan It Be Customized?
2.8 of 43 of 41.6 of 42.2 of 43.2 of 45$180Yes

Rare Rolling Block Rifle

The Rare Rolling Block Rifle excels in sniper-style combat and high-damage scenarios at distance. With a damage profile of 3.4 out of 4 and matching accuracy of 3.4, it delivers exceptional power. Although its fire rate is lower, the substantial range rating of 3.2 enables effective engagement of targets from considerable distances.

This weapon can’t be purchased and must be obtained by looting a bounty hunter at the barn during the Chapter 3 mission “Magicians for Sport.”

DamageRangeFire RateReloadAccuracyAmmo CapacityBuy ValueCan It Be Customized?
3.4 of 43.2 of 41.2 of 41.4 of 43.4 of 41Can’t be purchased.No

My Best Pick: Rare Rolling Block Rifle

Among these options, the Rare Rolling Block Rifle stands as my top overall pick for its unmatched combination of damage and long-range precision, which proves invaluable across many challenging encounters in the game.

RDR2 Cover Image

RDR2

Story Rich Role-Playing (RPG) Action-Adventure
Release Date
October 26, 2018
ESRB
M for Mature 17+ (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, and Use of Drugs and Alcohol)
Developer(s)
Rockstar Games
Publisher(s)
Rockstar Games

Jason Jenkins

Jason’s journey of countless memorable video game stories began when he was only 8 years old. Most of the time, he would play Mortal Kombat 4 on his PC after school. When night fell, it was time for the original Resident Evil 3 to scare the living daylights out of him. But he wouldn’t trade those good old days for anything. Jason is a minimalist at heart and that translates into his guide writing as well. He likes to break down gameplay mechanics into simpler parts so that the audience can find what they’re looking for in no time.

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