Best pistols in Escape From Tarkov, ranked

Don’t ignore these essential weapons

As with most FPS games, pistols are an afterthought in Escape From Tarkov. They aren’t the weapons you want to use often in the game, but they come in surprisingly clutch in this competitive survival title. Every player should carry around a solid secondary weapon for those moments when they need it the most.

Best pistols in Escape From Tarkov ranked

There are quite a few pistols in Escape From Tarkov, but there are half a dozen that are much better than the rest. If you’re looking for a secondary weapon that will complement the sniper rifle or assault rifle you primarily use, these are the ones to pick from.

6. FN Five-Seven MK2

The FN Five-Seven MK2 is one of the most powerful pistols on this list. Its shots are capable of taking on armored enemies quite well, but it comes at some hefty costs. It has rather underwhelming accuracy, which can make it difficult to use efficiently for some players.

5. Stechkin APS

The first of only two pistols in the game to feature two distinct firing modes, the Stechkin APS lets you choose between single-firing and fully-automatic versions. The latter is impressive since it lets you turn your pistol into a fast-firing close-range beast. Unfortunately, its recoil is a bit hard to manage at times.

4. TT-33 7.62×25

The TT-33 might not have the fastest firing rate in its class, but what it does is excel at its long-range engagements. A problem with many of the pistols in Escape From Tarkov is their reliance on close range, but the TT-33 can dominate from even considerably long distances. It helps, too, that it is unshakeable in its accuracy.

3. Glock 18C

The classic Glock 18C is one of the go-to pistols for many players in the game, including me when I have the chance. It is quite challenging to unlock in a match but it is certainly worth it if you can. Like the Stechkin, it has two firing modes and its full-auto version is incredible.

It has a solid balance of fast firing rate and decent recoil to make it deadly up close.

2. Beretta M9A3

The Beretta M9A3 is one of the most basic pistols in this game, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It is a well-balanced gun that is the jack-of-all-trades. It is solid at power, range, recoil, and fire rate. But, at the same time, it doesn’t master any of them, making it fall short of being the best handgun.

1. SIG P226R

Though it is hard to unlock since you need four Damascus Knives to trade for it, you should consider getting the SIG P226R whenever you can. It is like the Beretta in that it is capable of doing well with every aspect of a handgun while being slightly better in every category.

It handles better, has a slightly faster rate of fire, and is unstoppable at range. This is a pistol that almost rivals the primary weapons in this game.