Gunsmiths and Fences sell most guns once the story reaches the right point, while missions and world pickups get you others for free. The $120 Springfield Rifle has the highest listed damage among rifles early on, and the $148 Pump-Action Shotgun matches the later Repeating Shotgun on its listed damage, fire rate and reload. Thrown and melee weapons have no comparable stat bars, so their routes matter more than a stat ranking.
How to use this collection
Stat bars run out of 4 and show each gun's printed in-game value. A blank bar means no confirmed value, not zero. Condition, familiarity and customization can change the bars you see on your own guns. Loaded rounds are what the cylinder or magazine holds, not the ammo you carry.
Weapon category
Revolvers
Shop revolvers follow Gunsmith timing. Most of the others are tied to a person, a chest or a mission, so the route decides whether you get them.
Cattleman Revolver
You start with it. Gunsmiths also sell it.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- $50
- Available after
- Start of game
- Missable
- No
Double-Action Revolver
Buy it from gunsmiths, or find one during Sean's Chapter 3 homestead robbery.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- $65
- Available after
- After A Strange Kindness (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- No
LeMat Revolver
Buy it from the Saint Denis Gunsmith.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- $172
- Available after
- After The Gilded Cage (Chapter 4)
- Missable
- No
Schofield Revolver
Take it from the Valentine doctor's back room, or buy it from a Gunsmith after Blessed are the Meek? in Chapter 2.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- $84
- Available after
- Chapter 2
- Missable
- No
Algernon's Revolver
Complete Duchesses and Other Animals to earn the revolver.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- After The Gilded Cage (Chapter 4)
Calloway's Revolver
Loot it from Calloway after the final duel in The Noblest of Men, and a Woman.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- After A Fine Night of Debauchery (Chapter 4)
- Missable
- Yes
Flaco's Revolver
Loot it from Flaco after the duel in The Noblest of Men, and a Woman.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- The Noblest of Men, and a Woman (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- Yes
Granger's Revolver
Loot it from Emmet Granger after the duel in The Noblest of Men, and a Woman.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- The Noblest of Men, and a Woman (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- Yes
High Roller Double-Action Revolver
Buy it from a Fence.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- $81
- Missable
- No
John's Cattleman Revolver
John receives it automatically in the Epilogue.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- After Motherhood (Epilogue Part 1)
- Missable
- No
Micah's Revolver
Take it from Micah's frozen body on Mount Hagen.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- After American Venom (Epilogue Part 2)
- Missable
- No
Otis Miller's Revolver
Find it in a chest in a cave in northern Cholla Springs as part of the Torn Treasure Map hunt.
- Category
- Revolvers
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- Epilogue Part 1
- Missable
- No
Weapon category
Pistols
M1899 Pistol
Buy it from the Saint Denis Gunsmith.
- Category
- Pistols
- Story Mode price
- $350
- Available after
- After The Battle of Shady Belle (Chapter 3)
- Missable
- No
Mauser Pistol
Loot one from Bronte during Revenge Is a Dish Best Eaten in Chapter 4, or buy it from the Valentine or Saint Denis Gunsmith after That's Murfree Country in Chapter 5.
- Category
- Pistols
- Story Mode price
- $250
- Available after
- Revenge Is a Dish Best Eaten (Chapter 4)
- Missable
- No
Semi-Automatic Pistol
Buy it from the Valentine or Saint Denis Gunsmith.
- Category
- Pistols
- Story Mode price
- $210
- Available after
- After The Joys of Civilization (Chapter 4)
- Missable
- No
Volcanic Pistol
Buy it from a Gunsmith after Eastward Bound.
- Category
- Pistols
- Story Mode price
- $150
- Available after
- After Eastward Bound (Chapter 1)
- Missable
- No
Midnight's Pistol
Loot it from Billy Midnight after the duel in The Noblest of Men, and a Woman.
- Category
- Pistols
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- The Noblest of Men, and a Woman (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- Yes
Weapon category
Repeaters
Evans Repeater has no printed bars, so judge it on price and timing alone.
Carbine Repeater
You receive it at the start of Old Friends. Gunsmiths also sell it.
- Category
- Repeaters
- Story Mode price
- $90
- Available after
- Old Friends (Chapter 1)
- Missable
- No
Evans Repeater
Buy it from a Gunsmith.
- Category
- Repeaters
- Story Mode price
- $140
- Available after
- After American Distillation (Chapter 3)
- Missable
- No
Lancaster Repeater
Micah gives it to you in An American Pastoral Scene. Gunsmiths sell it afterward.
- Category
- Repeaters
- Story Mode price
- $135
- Available after
- An American Pastoral Scene (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- No
Litchfield Repeater
Buy it from a Gunsmith.
- Category
- Repeaters
- Story Mode price
- $145
- Available after
- After Goodbye, Dear Friend (Chapter 6)
- Missable
- No
Weapon category
Rifles
Bolt Action Rifle
You receive it during Preaching Forgiveness as He Went. Gunsmiths sell it afterward.
- Category
- Rifles
- Story Mode price
- $180
- Available after
- Preaching Forgiveness as He Went (Chapter 3)
- Missable
- No
Springfield Rifle
Buy it from a Gunsmith.
- Category
- Rifles
- Story Mode price
- $120
- Available after
- After Eastward Bound (Chapter 1)
- Missable
- No
Varmint Rifle
Buy it from a Gunsmith.
- Category
- Rifles
- Story Mode price
- $72
- Available after
- After Eastward Bound (Chapter 1)
- Missable
- No
Weapon category
Sniper rifles
Once you pick up the Rare Rolling Block Rifle, it's a regular carried weapon like the others.
Carcano Rifle
You receive one during The Delights of Van Horn in Chapter 6. Gunsmiths sell it after Goodbye, Dear Friend.
- Category
- Sniper rifles
- Story Mode price
- $190
- Available after
- Chapter 6
- Missable
- No
Rolling Block Rifle
Buy it from a Gunsmith, or receive it during The Sheep and the Goats.
- Category
- Sniper rifles
- Story Mode price
- $187
- Available after
- After Pouring Forth Oil (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- No
Rare Rolling Block Rifle
Loot the sniper in the barn during Magicians for Sport.
- Category
- Sniper rifles
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- Magicians for Sport (Chapter 3)
- Missable
- Yes
Weapon category
Shotguns
Incendiary Buckshot is shotgun ammunition, not its own weapon, so you won't find it as a separate gun.
Double-Barreled Shotgun
Pick one up during Paying a Social Call. Gunsmiths also sell it.
- Category
- Shotguns
- Story Mode price
- $95
- Available after
- Paying a Social Call (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- No
Pump-Action Shotgun
Take it from the weapon case at the top of the master-bedroom ladder during the Chez Porter robbery, or buy it from a Gunsmith after Pouring Forth Oil in Chapter 2. Special and Ultimate Edition owners can claim it free after Chapter 1.
- Category
- Shotguns
- Story Mode price
- $148
- Available after
- Chapter 2
- Missable
- No
Repeating Shotgun
Buy it from a Gunsmith.
- Category
- Shotguns
- Story Mode price
- $185
- Available after
- After Visiting Hours (Chapter 6)
- Missable
- No
Sawed-Off Shotgun
You receive it during Enter, Pursued by a Memory. Gunsmiths also sell it.
- Category
- Shotguns
- Story Mode price
- $85
- Available after
- Chapter 1
- Missable
- No
Semi-Auto Shotgun
Take it from the basement at Watson's Cabin, or buy it from a Gunsmith after A Fine Night of Debauchery in Chapter 4.
- Category
- Shotguns
- Story Mode price
- $225
- Available after
- Chapter 2
- Missable
- No
Rare Shotgun
Take it from the Hermit at Manito Glade, north of Annesburg.
- Category
- Shotguns
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- Chapter 2
- Missable
- Yes
Weapon category
Bow
Bow
Charles gives it to you during The Aftermath of Genesis.
- Category
- Bow
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- The Aftermath of Genesis (Chapter 1)
- Missable
- No
Weapon category
Thrown
Every crafted throwable starts with a pamphlet, either from a Fence or handed to you in Chapter 2, and then needs a campfire craft.
Dynamite
You receive it during Chapter 1. Fences sell more sticks.
- Category
- Thrown
- Story Mode price
- $1
- Available after
- Chapter 1
- Missable
- No
Fire Bottle
You receive one during The Fine Joys of Tobacco. Fences sell more after that.
- Category
- Thrown
- Story Mode price
- $0.75
- Available after
- The Fine Joys of Tobacco (Chapter 3)
- Missable
- No
Throwing Knife
You receive them during Paying a Social Call. Fences and Trappers sell more afterward.
- Category
- Thrown
- Story Mode price
- $2.50
- Available after
- Paying a Social Call (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- No
Tomahawk
You receive one during The First Shall Be Last. Fences and Trappers sell more afterward.
- Category
- Thrown
- Story Mode price
- $4
- Available after
- The First Shall Be Last (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- No
Ancient Tomahawk
Take it from the broken wooden target east of Calumet Ravine, east of the Wapiti Indian Reservation.
- Category
- Thrown
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Homing Tomahawk
Read the pamphlet from a Fence, then craft it at a campfire with a Tomahawk and an owl feather.
- Category
- Thrown
- Available after
- Chapter 2
- Missable
- No
Improved Tomahawk
Read the pamphlet you receive in Chapter 2, then craft it at a campfire with a Tomahawk and a hawk or eagle feather.
- Category
- Thrown
- Available after
- Chapter 2
- Missable
- No
Improved Throwing Knife
Read the pamphlet you receive in Chapter 2, then craft it at a campfire with a Throwing Knife and a hawk or eagle feather.
- Category
- Thrown
- Available after
- Chapter 2
- Missable
- No
Poison Throwing Knife
Buy and read the pamphlet from a Fence after Pouring Forth Oil, then craft it with a Throwing Knife and Oleander Sage.
- Category
- Thrown
- Available after
- After Pouring Forth Oil (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- No
Volatile Dynamite
Buy and read the pamphlet from a Fence after American Distillation, then craft it at a campfire.
- Category
- Thrown
- Available after
- After American Distillation (Chapter 3)
- Missable
- No
Volatile Fire Bottle
Buy and read the pamphlet from a Fence after Pouring Forth Oil, then craft it at a campfire.
- Category
- Thrown
- Available after
- After Pouring Forth Oil (Chapter 2)
- Missable
- No
Weapon category
Melee
The unique blades and hatchets can't be bought, so their routes are the only way to get them.
Cleaver
Buy it from a Fence.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- $8
- Available after
- After Dear Uncle Tacitus (Chapter 5)
- Missable
- No
Hatchet
Buy it from a Fence.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- $4.25
- Available after
- After Dear Uncle Tacitus (Chapter 5)
- Missable
- No
Hunting Knife
You start with it.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- Start of game
- Missable
- No
Machete
Buy it from a Fence.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- $10
- Available after
- After Dear Uncle Tacitus (Chapter 5)
- Missable
- No
Antler Knife
Take it from the man beneath the dead bear northwest of Hanging Dog Ranch.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Broken Pirate Sword
Find it inside the abandoned ship on the island southwest of Saint Denis.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Civil War Knife
Find it in the basement at Fort Brennand, southwest of Van Horn.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Double Bit Hatchet
Take it from the stump northwest of Wallace Station.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Hewing Hatchet
Take it from the stump by the cabin on the south bank of Moonstone Pond.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Hunter Hatchet
Take it from the stump south of Window Rock, by the hut.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Jawbone Knife
Complete A Test of Faith after collecting all 30 dinosaur bones.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- 30 dinosaur bones collected
- Missable
- No
John's Knife
John receives it automatically in the Epilogue.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- Epilogue Part 1
- Missable
- No
Ornate Dagger
Loot it from the vampire in the Saint Denis alley after finding the five mysterious writings.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- Five mysterious writings found
- Missable
- Yes
Rusted Double Bit Hatchet
Take it from the stump near the Annesburg coal mine.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Rusted Hunter Hatchet
Take it from the stump by the hut between Elysian Pool and O'Creagh's Run.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Stone Hatchet
Use the same Rockstar account for GTA Online and Red Dead Redemption 2. Complete Maude's five bounty targets and get 25 melee kills with the Stone Hatchet in GTA Online, then collect it at the Indian Burial Grounds north of Owanjila.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Available after
- First Chapter 2 mission and GTA Online challenge
- Missable
- No
Viking Hatchet
Take it from the Viking tomb in Roanoke Valley, northwest of Annesburg.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
Wide-Blade Knife
Loot it from the corpse inside Beryl's Dream Mine after clearing the blocked tunnel.
- Category
- Melee
- Story Mode price
- Not sold
- Missable
- No
RDR2 weapon picks by category and chapter
Each pick only compares the bars that are shown, so a gun with blank bars isn't ranked against the rest.
- Revolvers: Early, among buyable revolvers with a listed damage bar, the Schofield has the highest damage (1.8/4). Take it from the Valentine doctor's back room, or buy it for $84 from a Gunsmith after Blessed are the Meek? in Chapter 2. Mid-game, the Double-Action Revolver ($65) fires faster than any revolver with a printed bar (3.3/4), but it hits softer (1.5/4). The last revolvers you get are epilogue pickups.
- Pistols: Early, the Volcanic Pistol ($150 from a Gunsmith after Eastward Bound) has the most damage of any pistol with a printed bar (2.2/4), but the slowest fire (2.0/4). Mid-game, the Semi-Automatic Pistol ($210, after The Joys of Civilization in Chapter 4) has the fastest fire (3.3/4) and reload (3.1/4). You can loot a Mauser Pistol from Bronte during Revenge Is a Dish Best Eaten in Chapter 4, before it goes on sale for $250 after That's Murfree Country in Chapter 5.
- Repeaters: Early, the Carbine Repeater is the pick. It's free at the start of Old Friends, costs $90, and has the most printed damage (2.4/4) and reload (3.0/4) of any repeater. Mid-game, the Lancaster Repeater ($135, Chapter 2) has 2.2/4 damage and 2.8/4 reload, so the Carbine still leads on the bars. Late, Gunsmiths sell the $145 Litchfield Repeater after Goodbye, Dear Friend in Chapter 6. Its 16 loaded rounds are the most among repeaters with a listed capacity.
- Rifles: Early, the Springfield Rifle ($120, after Eastward Bound in Chapter 1) has the most damage of any rifle (3.2/4). Mid-game, the $180 Bolt Action Rifle is the only rifle with a listed accuracy bar (3.2/4). Its other listed bars are 2.8/4 damage, 3.0/4 range, 1.5/4 fire rate and 2.2/4 reload. Compared with the Springfield, it trades damage (2.8/4 vs. 3.2/4) for higher fire rate (1.5/4 vs. 1.2/4), reload (2.2/4 vs. 1.8/4) and a listed accuracy value. You receive it during Preaching Forgiveness as He Went in Chapter 3, and Gunsmiths sell it afterward.
- Sniper rifles: Mid-game, the Rolling Block Rifle ($187, after Pouring Forth Oil in Chapter 2) has the highest accuracy of any gun with a printed bar (3.4/4). Late, the Carcano Rifle has the longest range of any gun with a printed bar (3.3/4) and 3.0/4 damage. You receive one during The Delights of Van Horn in Chapter 6, and Gunsmiths sell it after Goodbye, Dear Friend.
- Shotguns: Early, the Sawed-Off Shotgun is free in Chapter 1 during Enter, Pursued by a Memory. It has the most printed damage of any shotgun (2.8/4), but the shortest range of the shotguns with a printed range (1.2/4). Mid-game, the Pump-Action ($148) matches the Repeating Shotgun on damage, fire rate and reload (2.5, 2.0 and 2.5). The Repeating Shotgun costs $185 and arrives in Chapter 6, so it doesn't beat the Pump-Action on any bar they both show.
- Bow: The Bow is the only bow. Charles gives it to you in Chapter 1 during The Aftermath of Genesis, and it has no shop price.
- Thrown: There's no best pick here, because the bars don't cover this group. Dynamite is cheap at $1 from Fences, and you receive some in Chapter 1. Crafted throwables need a pamphlet and a campfire, and the Ancient Tomahawk is a one-off find east of Calumet Ravine.
- Melee: No best pick here either, since the bars don't cover melee. Fences sell the Cleaver ($8), Machete ($10) and Hatchet ($4.25) after Dear Uncle Tacitus in Chapter 5. Most of the unique blades and hatchets are world finds. The Jawbone Knife is the reward for A Test of Faith, once you've collected every dinosaur bone.
Free weapons in Story Mode
- From the start: Cattleman Revolver and Hunting Knife.
- Chapter 1: Carbine Repeater (start of Old Friends), Sawed-Off Shotgun, Bow and Dynamite.
- Chapter 2: Throwing Knife and Double-Barreled Shotgun (Paying a Social Call), Tomahawk (The First Shall Be Last), Schofield Revolver (Valentine doctor's back room), Semi-Auto Shotgun (Watson's Cabin basement), Pump-Action Shotgun (Chez Porter robbery) and Lancaster Repeater (from Micah in An American Pastoral Scene).
- Chapter 3: Bolt Action Rifle (Preaching Forgiveness as He Went), Double-Action Revolver (Sean's homestead robbery) and Fire Bottle (The Fine Joys of Tobacco).
- Chapter 6: Carcano Rifle (The Delights of Van Horn).
- Other: Rolling Block Rifle, received during The Sheep and the Goats.
The Semi-Auto Shotgun costs $225 and has a listed damage bar of 2.2/4. Take it from Watson's Cabin in Chapter 2 or buy it after A Fine Night of Debauchery in Chapter 4. Its other stat bars aren't listed, so there isn't a full stat comparison for it.
Special and Ultimate Edition owners can claim the Volcanic Pistol, Pump-Action Shotgun and Lancaster Repeater free from a Gunsmith after Chapter 1. That changes how you get those guns, not which guns exist in Story Mode.
Where to buy and what it costs
Gunsmiths sell most of the guns here. Fences and Trappers sell more throwing knives and tomahawks after you receive your first ones. Prices are base Story Mode shop prices, and honor can lower what you pay.
The 2019 additions are the High Roller Double-Action Revolver ($81 from a Fence), LeMat Revolver ($172 from the Saint Denis Gunsmith after The Gilded Cage in Chapter 4), M1899 Pistol ($350 from the Saint Denis Gunsmith after The Battle of Shady Belle in Chapter 3) and Evans Repeater ($140 from a Gunsmith after American Distillation in Chapter 3).
Missable weapons in Story Mode
Missable pickups are the ones to plan around. Loot the body before leaving a duel, and take the Rare Shotgun, Rare Rolling Block and Ornate Dagger during their listed encounters.
- Flaco's Revolver: Loot Flaco right after his duel in The Noblest of Men, and a Woman. Leaving his body behind loses it.
- Granger's Revolver: Loot Emmet Granger after his duel in The Noblest of Men, and a Woman.
- Midnight's Pistol: Loot Billy Midnight after his duel in The Noblest of Men, and a Woman.
- Calloway's Revolver: Becomes available after A Fine Night of Debauchery in Chapter 4. Loot Calloway after the final duel in The Noblest of Men, and a Woman.
- Rare Shotgun: Take it from the Hermit at Manito Glade, north of Annesburg, in Chapter 2. Don't leave the encounter without it.
- Rare Rolling Block Rifle: Loot the sniper in the barn during Magicians for Sport. Leaving the mission area ends the chance.
- Ornate Dagger: Loot the vampire in the Saint Denis alley after you've found all the mysterious writings.
Finish Duchesses and Other Animals to get Algernon's Revolver as a quest reward.
How to get the Stone Hatchet
The Stone Hatchet is the one weapon here that needs GTA Online. Use the same Rockstar account for both games. In GTA Online, finish Maude's bounty targets and get 25 melee kills with the Stone Hatchet. Then, after your first Chapter 2 story mission, collect it at the Indian Burial Grounds north of Owanjila. It has no printed bars, so the pickup itself is the reason to go for it.
Spoiler: epilogue weapons
Spoiler warning: these come from the epilogue. John receives his Cattleman Revolver and his Knife automatically. Otis Miller's Revolver is in a chest in a cave in northern Cholla Springs, found during the Torn Treasure Map hunt. Micah's Revolver is taken from his frozen body on Mount Hagen.
FAQ
Is the Navy Revolver in Story Mode?
No. It's a Red Dead Online weapon, so it's outside Story Mode. Red Dead Online's guns are covered on their own: Red Dead Online weapons.
Do I need every weapon for 100 percent?
No. The 100 percent requirement asks you to obtain 48 weapons, so you don't need every gun in Story Mode.
Can I get a missable weapon back?
No. Once the window closes, Story Mode won't offer that pickup again. Plan around the duel, mission or Hermit visit before you move on.
Which platforms have the 2019 Story Mode additions?
They're on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.