The 3 best sniper rifles in Red Dead Redemption 2 and how to get them

When a game is set in the Wild West it should come as no surprise that acquiring the best weapons is very important. As one of the first examples of the genre, Red Dead Redemption 2 is no exception, and outfitting your cowboy with the best weapons money can buy is certainly a worthy investment. The game offers a variety of ways to arm yourself – from pistols and revolvers to rifles, bolt action rifles, shotguns and sniper rifles. Speaking of sniper rifles, we have prepared this guide to examine which of the three available in the game are the best and how to acquire them.

Related: Red Dead Redemption 2 gold bars – where to find and sell gold bars

Rolling Block Rifle

The first sniper rifle you acquire will likely be the Rolling Block. Developed as a powerful hunting rifle, the Rolling Block is designed for long-range hunting with its multiple zoom levels. It’s also one of the few weapons in the game that forces the player into scope mode with every shot, which can be detrimental in close-range firefights, especially since it’s a single-shot weapon. It can use multiple ammo types, but the best thing about it is its versatility as this rifle can be extensively customized.

Rolling Block Statistics (default):

• Damage: 3.3/4.0
• Area: 3.3/4.0
• Fire rate: 1.2/4.0
• Reload: 1.5/4.0
• Maximum Ammo: 120

Rolling Block Statistics (Max):

• Damage: 4.0/4.0
• Area: 4.0/4.0
• Fire rate: 1.2/4.0
• Reload: 1.9/4.0
• Maximum Ammo: 120

How to get the Rolling Block Rifle

The easiest way to get your hands on a Rolling Block is to acquire it for free during the mission The sheep and the goats.

There are also a few ways to get one even earlier, which involve using what’s known as the “Companion Glitch” to trick Hosea (or alternatively Lenny) into dropping one after falling off his horse. This causes the weapon to fall to the ground for a brief moment, allowing the player to pick it up themselves.

Apart from that, you can find it at gunsmiths and other stores at a price of $187.

Related: The best pistols in Red Dead Redemption 2

Rare Rolling Block Rifle

This rifle is the unique version of Rolling Block, featuring a different design and slightly modified stats. It is made of a lighter wood grain and dark steel and is decorated with carvings. It is interesting to note that despite similar stats, this rifle is more accurate than the regular Rolling Block.

Rare rolling block stats (default):

• Damage: 3.3/4.0
• Area: 3.1/4.0
• Fire rate: 1.1/4.0
• Reload: 1.5/4.0
• Maximum Ammo: 200

Rare Rolling Block Stats (Max):

• Damage: 4.0/4.0
• Area: 4.0/4.0
• Fire rate: 1.1/4.0
• Reload: 1.9/4.0
• Maximum Ammo: 200

How to get the rare Rolling Block Rifle

To get this sniper rifle, you need to loot it from a specific bounty hunter. This guy is in a barn near Braithwaite Manor and is after Josiah Trelawny. He will try to use it to snatch Arthur and Charles out of said barn at the end of the mission Magicians for Sports. However, there is a catch. You cannot get the weapon after the mission Magicians for Sports is completed, even with a mission replay, so you only get one chance to get it.

Sireno Carcano Rifle

Possibly the best sniper rifle in Red Dead Redemption 2, the Sireno Carcano is a long-scope bolt-action rifle with some impressive stats. It has the ability to hold six rounds and boasts a higher rate of fire for a sniper rifle, making it a long-range powerhouse. To make it even better, it’s also fairly customizable, allowing you to set up your sniper rifle exactly how you want it. And just like the previous two entries, the Carcano can fire different types of ammo, so you can choose the right one for every occasion.

Sireno Carcano stats (default):

• Damage: 3.0/4.0
• Area: 3.3/4.0
• Fire rate: 1.5/4.0
• Reload: 2.8/4.0
• Maximum Ammo: 120

Sireno Carcano Stats (Max):

• Damage: 4.0/4.0
• Area: 4.0/4.0
• Fire rate: 1.5/4.0
• Reload: 3.2/4.0
• Maximum Ammo: 120

How to get the Sireno Carcano Rifle

It is possible to get a Carcano for free during missions The Delights of Van Horn And Goodbye dear friend. If you don’t get one then don’t worry because after that Goodbye dear friend Once complete, the rifle will be available from all gunsmiths for $190.

There is another way to get it using Squears’ Companion Glitch during the Go rustle (uncle) companion activity mission.

A note on scopes

Although you can technically buy scopes from gunsmiths and attach them to several other rifles, they are not considered sniper rifles. In short, they can’t match the range and stopping power of real snipers, but for completeness, these are the other rifles that can be scoped and turned into quasi-snipers:

• bolt action rifle
• Carabiner repeaters
• Evans repeater
• Lancaster repeater
• Litchfield repeater
• Springfield rifle
• Varmint Rifle