Red Dead Redemption weapons guide - 8 kinds of Weapons guide

The weapons you carry and the way you use them makes a big difference in how the game goes for you. One way to learn what weapon is right for what job can be done through trial and error, and another is to get the information from someone that has already been there done that and put together a Red Dead Redemption weapons guide.

Weapons come in 8 basic categories: Pistols, shotguns, rifles, scoped rifles, thrown weapons, fists, hunting knives, and the lasso. Let’s take a look at each type,

Pistols

There are 2 types of pistols - semi-automatic and revolvers. Semi-automatic pistols are what you really want to go with in regards to pistols. You fire a cartridge per pull of the trigger without having to constantly reload. The Colt 1903/1908 carried by Edgar Ross is a nice example of a piece you want to carry if you can’t get the Mauser. Revolvers are okay for what they are and if you have to use one opt for the LeMat over the Cattleman model.

Shotguns

Shotguns are best used when you have multiple targets and are fairly close to them. For anyone unfamiliar with iron, shotguns spray multiple pellets meaning you increase your odds of hitting something - maybe two targets if they are close enough together. The shotgun is the ultimate close range weapon, but it is not a medium to long range option. The other downside to it is that it is slow reloading. Still the pros far outweigh the cons, and the shotgun will save your hide on a regular basis - especially in hideout beefs.

Rifles

Red Dead Redemption has a wealth of rifles to choose from. From muzzle loaders to semi-automatic - it’s there if it was in existence in the old west. A good rifle is a necessity. They are best at medium range and can be used to accomplish a number of tasks.

Repeaters have a fast rate of fire and a large magazine which is a huge bonus. The problem is they are inaccurate. These are best used for hunting small or quick game like rabbits and birds. There are 4 repeating rifles you can lay your hands on: Repeater Carbine, Evans repeater, Heavy Repeater, and Winchester Repeater.

The second class of rifles in this genre is the high-powered rifle. This are great medium to long range weapons that are very accurate and can drop medium sized animals in single shot if targeted properly. The downside on them is they have small magazines and are slow to fire. The three high-powered rifles you will encounter in red Dead Redemption are the Springfield Rifle, Buffalo Rifle, and Bolt-Action Rifle.

Scoped Rifles

Scoped Rifles are a bit tough to come by as you won’t loot them under normal circumstances because they are a specialized weapon. These are obviously long distance weapons that are great for hunting big game like Grizzly Bears - the top end ones at least. At any range that is medium or below they are a bit of a waste to use - particularly up close where the scope is of no use and the very low rate of fire makes them a liability. Also note that a sniper rifle will only use sniper rifle ammo.

Thrown Weapons

There are three thrown weapons in Red Dead Redemption: Throwing knives, fire bottles, and dynamite. Throwing knives are double edged and easy to come by. It is best used as a stealth weapon when the sound of a firearm going off is going to be a problem. Throwing knives are an instant kill to MOST animals but not all. They are exceptional at dropping an enemy horse for instance. The nice thing about them some people miss or never think of is you can use them in Dead Eye mode.

Dynamite obviously causes a powerful explosion. As such, you really want to make sure you have good cover before you throw it - like from behind a boulder or tossing it around a corner. It takes 5 seconds to explode from the time you light the fuse, so do keep that in mind. If you stop aiming your throw, the fuse will be reset. You need to be level 15 in multiplayer mode to get this. Fire bottles are okay when it comes to torching a stagecoach or something, but it is pretty unreliable. It is unlocked by completing the “Demon Drink” mission.

Fists

Fists are pretty self explanatory and are a primary weapon slot. You really only need to use fists to complete the “Fightin’ Around the World” achievement or for fun. A cool thing to do is is beat someone until you can ground tackle them, and then sit on their chest and just unload a flurry of blows. It’s pretty cool to get some rage out.

Hunting Knife

The hunting knife is based on the classic Bowie knife and can be used for hunting or melee combat. It is useful because it can block animal attacks. What you are going to use it for the most though is skinning animals.

Lasso

The lasso is also pretty self explanatory and is basically just going to be used to hogtie criminals you are collecting a bounty on or catching and taming wild horses. You get the lasso during the “Wild Horses, Tamed passions” mission. Note that if you are taming a horse, you have to continue to hold down the aim button or it will release. A cool thing (In a gaming sense) to do with a lasso is capture and hogtie an innocent woman, place her on the train tracks, and watch her get run over. That earns you the special “Dastardly” achievement.

Now you know what your weapons can do so it is time to put them to use. All weapons have something they are great at, and since you can carry them all try them all out. Earn your achievements, and have some fun with them.

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