Barrett has the highest penetration of any weapon in the game, but it would
make sense. If you like the ability to kill enemies behind cover without using
the Deep Penetration perk, this gun delivers. It can be thought of as the
semi-auto alternative to the R700 in terms of power, but it's less accurate,
and you can't fire an accurate volley of rounds nearly as easily as you can
with the M21. It's a matter of personal preference whether you choose this or
the R700 for a highest-power sniper rifle, but being semi-auto doesn't make
this gun much better at closer range due to the recoil, which is a bit larger
than the Dragunov's. If you want power but prefer to fire more rapidly at
closer range, choose this over the R700. If you love your accuracy and
headshots, choose the R700.
Pistols
The game doesn't give stats for pistols, so I had to guess based on in-game
descriptions, experience, and my understanding of how the game tends to balance
damage and clip size. Pistols constitute your default secondary weapon if you
aren't using Overkill; they have the advantage of giving you a quick draw, so
you pull them out faster than with any other weapon. Snipers who forego
Overkill in favor of UAV Jammer or some other Tier 2 Perk will rely on pistols
to take out nearby enemies. They're also what you'll be using when your Last
Stand perk activates when you take fatal nonexplosive damage, so a certain
element of conscious choice is necessary. Of course, you can always drop the
pistol in favor of a better weapon you found on the ground... Also, like the
G3, M14, M21, Dragunov, and Barrett, the pistols will fire about fast as you
can pull the trigger, so go ahead and let loose if you think you can hit your
target with all the shots.
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M9 (Beretta 92FS)
Accuracy see recoil
Damage low
Range close
Fire Rate limited
Mobility 12 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 15/30
Recoil very low cluster
Reload Time 1.7/2.0
This Italian-made U.S. Military 9mm pistol is undoubtedly the weakest of the
bunch, but can also fire the most shots before reloading, which is important if
it's all you have to rely on against multiple enemies until you can find a
better dropped weapon (or in Last Stand). Aim for the head to make the most of
your large clip.
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Heckler & Koch USP .45
Accuracy see recoil
Damage medium
Range close
Fire Rate limited
Mobility 12 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 10/20
Recoil low vertical
Reload Time 1.7/2.0
You may remember this pistol from Half-Life 2 and CounterStrike. A favorite of
special forces, the USP gives you decent clip size and good accuracy. Consider
silencing this one, since you'll retain decent damage while gaining the benefit
of silenced shots.
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Browning M1911 .45 (unlock at Rank 16 Gunnery Sergeant)
Accuracy see recoil
Damage medium
Range close
Fire Rate limited
Mobility 12 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 8/24
Recoil very low cluster
Reload Time 1.7/2.1
The second throwback to Call of Duty's WWII years (but still in active military
and law enforcement service worldwide today), this pistol has a smaller clip
than the USP but better grouping. Decide for yourself which one suits your
needs.
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Israel Military Industries Desert Eagle (unlock at Rank 43 Brigadier General)
Accuracy see recoil
Damage high
Range close
Fire Rate limited slightly slower
Mobility 12 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 7/14
Recoil moderate/high vertical
Reload Time 2.2/2.4
This .50 caliber hand cannon made for Magnum Research is used mainly for
competition and sport. Because of its considerable recoil and small magazine,
real-life militaries and law enforcement tend not to use it, despite what
CounterStrike may lead you to believe. Also, the .50 caliber Action Express
pistol round, only slightly smaller than the average thumb, is overkill for a
human target. Given that, every soldier in the CoD4 world must have bionic
wrists to be able to fire the Deagle as quickly and accurately you can in
multiplayer. Use this pistol if you like to go for pistol kills frequently
instead of using the pistol as a second or last resort. It's very loud and not
silenceable, so don't use it if you favor stealth. To account for the recoil,
aim at your target's middle or lower torso and fire as fast as you can; they
should go down in short order. You'll get a separate golden Deagle when you hit
rank 55; there's no performance difference between it and the normal gun.
