Summary
In the heat of combat, when there’s no time to waste on weapon reloads or scrounging for ammunition for one’s firearm, a reliable sidearm means the difference between life and death.Battlefield 5has adecent catalog of handguns to choose from, which vary according to the different attributes, including rate of fire, accuracy, damage, and bullet velocity, among others.
Different situations call for different pistols and the list below will guide newcomers and veterans ofBattlefield 5alike to the current performance and viability of the best five pistols that they can alternate between for the best results. Let’s find out how useful these backup sidearms can prove to be inBattlefield 5!
5P38 Pistol
Beginner-friendly Sidearm With Low Recoil And High Rate of Fire
This is the starting pistol for players inBattlefield 5and will be their introduction to how sidearms work in the game. Fortunately, theP38 Pistolis a very decent option because of its high ROF (360 rpm) and forgiving recoil and handling support.The reload animation is decently quickso the aim can be readjusted very quickly onto the enemy upon reloading.
The main drawback with this gun is the low damage where, even at point-blank range, the P38 will require four body shots before a kill is confirmed. The damage drop-off is even worse from 20 meters further away and more. The P38 Pistol plays very safely at low ranks for the final blow but is not so viable if it’s used as the primary source of kills.
4Ruby
Incredibly High Rate of Fire And Very Generous Magazine Size
TheRubyhandgun is unlocked upon reaching rank three of any class. The Ruby outshines the P38 due to an off-the-chart ROF (449 rpm), the highest magazine size of 10 rounds and the lowest vertical recoil. Being the top performer in three attributes surely means Ruby is quick to draw, shoot and push back against the enemy when making split-second decisions. Its quick draw speed is alsouseful for popping off enemy grenadesso they detonate at a safer range.
Like the P38 Pistol, Ruby has similarly low damage potential (25%) so players are looking at four to five shots for a successful kill. What’s worse is that the damage drop-off becomes significantly worse the farther out the player takes the shot, which can amount to 10 shots before a kill is registered. Ruby is noticeably weaker but still valuable just for a speedy solution to the chaos on the battlefield.
3Mk VI Revolver
A Great Balance Between High Damage And Rate of Fire
One of the two powerhouse revolvers in this category, theMk VIis unlocked at rank 15 of any class inBattlefield 5.This sidearm is all about the damage potential with the capability of a one-shot kill when aiming for the head and two body shots forkills in close-quarter combat. Despite only having six rounds in its clip, the hip-fire accuracy is good enough to consistently land damaging shots. The ROF of 180 rpm is not fast by any means, but good enough for a revolver of this caliber where follow-up shots might not even be needed.
The biggest shortcomings of the Mk VI lie in two departments: handling and muzzle velocity. Handling this firearm can be a bit tricky, especially considering the high vertical recoil upon firing a shot, which will force players to readjust their aim sharply for the follow-up shot. The bullet velocity of 230 m/s also makes it considerably weaker against moving targets, especially from mid-range distances. It is overall a well-rounded weapon that just needs a little more expertise at the helm.
2M1911 Suppressed
Perfect For Low-Profile Kills and Reliable Backup
The Suppressed variant ofM1911is purchased by spending 300 Company Coins, the in-game currency. It is one of the few pistols that can be equipped with a suppressor, which completely negates the directionaldamage indicator on the mini-map, thereby providing a more stealth-based approach. This is one of the main reasons why the M1911 Suppressed is one of the better options for sidearms inBattlefield 5.
In other departments, the M1911 boasts a decent damage profile with 2-3 body shots per kill and a decent fire rate (300 rpm) and muzzle velocity (250 m/s). The sharp damage drop-off after anything farther than 12 meters is a drawback of the M1911 but getting out of difficult situations quietly and without any traces has never been easier thanks to the Suppressed variant.
1Model 27
Incredible Damage And One-Hit Kill Potential
TheModel 27revolver is available for 900 Company Coins, but once players get their hands on it, they can unleash havoc in close-range encounters. Any headshot up to 30 meters results in a kill or if the player goes for the body, then it takes only two shots. This is pinpoint accuracy and damage retention over a fair bit of distance for this weapon class. This is made possible thanks to the high damage potential of Model 27 and its incredible bullet velocity of 460 m/s.
The revolver does not shine in terms of ROF (106) and has a fair bit of kickback upon firing, but those compromises are to be expected in favor of the power it packs. When in doubt, players can always switch to their reliable sidearm, the Model 27, to dish out extreme damage, which just makes it as good as some of the primary firearms in the game.
