Summary
Red Dead Onlinehas a huge array of Western weaponry to choose from, each serving its own unique purpose. From revolvers to repeaters, every weapon inRed Dead Onlineis useful in its own right, but there are a few weapons that rise above the rest. There are multiple weapons in each class as well, leaving no shortage of firepower to choose from.
When creating a loadout, players have to keep in mind that they can hold multiple weapons at once, meaning they should think about how each gun covers another’s weaknesses. These are the best weapons to use inRed Dead Onlinefor everything from bounty hunting to the showdown series.
Updated on July 23, 2025, by Jake Fillery:Choosing the best gun in Red Dead Redemption 2 is essential to survival, but the best guns in Red Dead Online will change the game forever. Weapons are everything in the Old West, and if players want to defend themselves and lay siege on others to become the finest gunslinger of all, then try and locate the best weapons in Red Dead Online for the most varied arsenal for every combat situation.
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The Double-Action Revolver is one of the more inept pistol choices that cowboys and cowgirls have available to them, but it’s still not a bad one. While there are some truly special options out there in the Old West, the Double-Action Revolver willreliably get the job donein a few ways.
The Double-Action Revolver has a fast fire rate that pairs with its damage output for a revolver, and it also has a fast reload for gunslingers constantly in a pickle. It’s a decent enough choice for fighting on horseback for those very reasons and does its job well until it’s inevitably replaced by superior guns in later Ranks.
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One of the first weapons that players can get their hands on is the Carbine Repeater. While it doesn’t offer much outside of average stats, it’s still worthy of claim considering how useful it can be to low-level players, as this is a gun that unlocks at Rank 1 so everyone can use it at least once or while they are trying to gain further Ranks.
The Carbine Repeater is extremely reliable, and a popular choice for those still lacking the necessary upgrades. A decent reload and fire rate makes for a weapon worthy of a gunslinger who wants to fight their way through the Old West.
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While the Improved Bow has identical stats to the standard Bow, the Improved Bow does have the unique advantage of having less stamina drained while aiming. This can be seen as a massive improvement to those who adore the use of bows and arrows in their playthroughs.
It might not be the hardest-hitting weapon in the game, but its silent, deadly, and a one-hit kill to those with a steady and skillful aim. It’s a great weapon for using in the forests or while hunting animals for a clean kill, and having a bow that has superior stamina drain is quite the advantage indeed.
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A weapon that is reliable and always worthy of use, especially for bounty hunters. The lasso is a classic for cowboys, and everyone should have one in their arsenal. Whether players want to take their bounties alive, or simply rope up a victim to toss into an incoming train, the lasso is great fun that everyone should use once or twice. The lasso is great at tying up NPC enemies, kidnapping others, or even pinning down players to stop their hostilities. It’s also a sadistic joy to drag enemies through the dirt with a lasso wrapped around their ankles.
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A diabolical marvel, the Elephant Rifle acts like a cannon held in the palms of a gunslinger’s hands. With 2 bullets chambered, players are able to cause mass devastation and a fairly decent range, for maximum effect. The damage of the Elephant Rifle is unparalleled, and truly monstrous in battle. Players can send limbs flying, as long as they are alright with the ferocious kick and sound.
Throwing knives aren’t just great for looking cool with tactical weaponry. Throwing knives have a grand set of uses. They can be used in stealth, they can eliminate targets fast with headshots or body shots due to the dripping poison that can instantly kill most targets. Even better, they are great for hunting, and players can easily kill heavy and viscous animals with a precise throw. Easily accessible, fun, and pretty cool, throwing knives are a decent pick.
A powerful explosive that may have been designed to help for mining purposes, the dynamite has been repurposed as a tool of destruction inRed Dead Online, and players can expect a grand amount of chaos just by throwing this small stick. Dynamite is great for situations where clusters of enemies are huddling, and also for when other hostile players think they are safe behind cover. Simply toss the dynamite and wait for the bang, which will snuff out anything breathing in the area. Dynamite has a large explosive radius, and it’s fairly quick to blow, so be careful when using it, but don’t bring it to a standoff.
For the bounty hunters out there, the Bolas can help make them feel like a revered hunter of men and women who think themselves above the law. This throwable weapon is great for immobilizing targets, whether NPCs or other players are retreating, the bolas can snare them, much like a throwable lasso. They’re fairly expensive, but the way they work adds to situational activities, and players can re-obtain their bolas when thrown, and the throwing range is great, much more effective than a lasso.
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The Pump action shotgun can make other players disappear so quickly that the opposingplayer looks possessed. The shots aren’t as strong as most other shotguns, but the reload time and capacity give this the staying power that other shotguns often lack.
Trying to get a double-barreled shotgun to be only slightly strong is tough to do. Firing one shotgun shell is usually enough to kill somebody. Two is essentially a massacre at short range. Unless ahacker turns the player into a UFO, the enemy player won’t last long up close against this.
