With over 4 pistols and 2 revolvers in Payday 3, it’s a good time to look at these weapons and how they fire to see which of them takes the crown for the best gun in Payday 3. The game offers so much freedom of choice when it comes to weapons, attachments, skills, and heists, that every player can find comfort in their own weapon of choice against the guards, police assaults, and many different specialist enemies in Payday 3 that will want to take the Payday crew down.
Pistols are always a great choice in Payday 3 due to the fact that they are light, meaning players can run better with them, and have superior handling due to their size. Players can use pistols in stealth or loud builds, and mainly reserve them as a secondary choice that many underestimate, but which is the best pistol in Payday 3 before the DLC?
6 J&M Castigo 44
Damage | 40% |
Recoil | 20% |
Stability | 35% |
Accuracy | 50% |
Handling | 40% |
Fire Rate | 15% |
Ammo | 6/36 |
Firing Mode | Semi-Auto |
A classic revolver that will make players feel like an action star, the J&M Castigo 44 is a cool gun with a kick. It may be described as the apex of firepower, but it doesn’t exactly live up to that name, and that’s in part due to the fact that it only has an ammo count of 36, making it an inferior product that doesn’t exactly boast of a hire fire rate or an ammo count to destroy those that oppose the player and the Payday gang.
The fire rate is pretty poor, but the damage and accuracy are great, which allows players to take out enemies from long range in a superior fashion to a shotgun. If players want to take care of snipers, then this revolver can do the trick, but using it in stealth may not be the best idea.
5 Stryk 7
Damage | 30% |
Recoil | 60% |
Stability | 35% |
Accuracy | 55% |
Handling | 60% |
Fire Rate | 25% |
Ammo | 17/85 |
Firing Mode | Semi-Auto |
The Stryk 7 is not the worst gun in the world, nor is it the worst option for weaponry in Payday 3. The gun is one of the bestselling in the game thanks to its rate of fire, which is definitely the selling point. Players can fire the Stryk 7 at a rapid pace, and to those players with a trigger finger, they’ll be destroying waves of enemies, providing that they can bring the accuracy and the ammo necessary to do so.
The recoil for this weapon might be a bit of a nuisance, and the damage is not the best that it could be, therefore the Stryk 7 has a few limitations, but multiple uses. Players can use this gun to run faster and gain better mobility thanks to its light performance, and the reliability of its rate of fire will make it a great choice for combat situations, whether the player is overwhelmed or just wants to make a guard eat led.
4 Signature 40
Damage | 40% |
Recoil | 60% |
Stability | 35% |
Accuracy | 85% |
Handling | 70% |
Fire Rate | 20% |
Ammo | 12/60 |
Firing Mode | Semi-Auto |
There’s nothing wrong with ol’ reliable, and Signature 40 is proof of that. This is the default pistol that players obtain when they first start heisting in Payday 3, and it can serve players well, but maybe not for loud builds. The Signature 40 is great when it comes to stealth due to its capabilities as a trusty pistol with a silencer, but there are far superior secondary weapon options in Payday 3.
Players can easily kill guards and anyone without an armored helmet if they aim for the head. The accuracy is great, the ammo count of 60 is greater, and the fire rate makes it reliable and the best choice for when things go south. Except, maybe it's best to bring something bigger for a loud heist.
3 Sforza Bison
Damage | 40% |
Recoil | 35% |
Stability | 35% |
Accuracy | 70% |
Handling | 20% |
Fire Rate | 15% |
Ammo | 6/36 |
Firing Mode | Semi-Auto |
The last revolver to be unlocked by players is the Sforza Bison, and it’s definitely worth picking up once players obtain the level and money necessary. Without attachments, the gun already has a brilliant barrel design that limits muzzle rise. There’s a great shock absorption from the gun which means that there’s less kick for the user and more of a punch for those facing the barrel.
The superior damage to the Sforza Bison makes it a sought-after revolver that players can easily decimate their enemies with. However, headshots are going to be necessary to take things out like a shotgun can, just don’t expect this weapon to destroy Bulldozers, as it seems nothing gets that honor, but solo players should be proud if they dare it.
2 SP Model 11
Damage | 50% |
Recoil | 20% |
Stability | 45% |
Accuracy | 65% |
Handling | 50% |
Fire Rate | 15% |
Ammo | 10/60 |
Firing Mode | Semi-Auto |
The SP Model 11 doesn’t have the kick of a revolver, but it sure comes close. The reason the SP Model 11 is one of the best Payday 3 pistols comes from the fact that it hits hard, with a large cartridge for greater firepower. Players can have up to 10 bullets in a magazine, and even more with the potential of attachments available to them.
This weapon can also be used for stealth or loud builds, and its heavy kick may affect players in the recoil department, and the fact that it fires far slower than others, but it more than makes up for it with the stopping power, which will provide players with a gun that can halt enemies in their tracks and blow them away.
1 Signature 403
Damage | 40% |
Recoil | 55% |
Stability | 30% |
Accuracy | 70% |
Handling | 60% |
Fire Rate | 20% |
Ammo | 17/60 |
Firing Mode | Semi-Auto |
This handgun is a staple of the U.S. Army, and the Payday gang gives it their stamp of approval by using it against them. The Signature 403 is one of the best pistols in Payday 3 for a reason. With a great count of ammo and a reliably high bout of accuracy and handling, the Signature 403 can be used for a number of crimes and activities with bots or friends.
The best part about the Signature 403 comes from the fact that it is a highly reliable gun. Players can use it for great effect in stealth, to quickly eradicate any guard that is in the way or could compromise a quiet run. Alternatively, it’s pretty good at taking out the armored units of the police assaults.
Payday 3 is out now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.