Fallout 4 Best Pistol: 14 Pistols Ranked

This guide uncovers Fallout 4 best pistol weapons along with upgrades and locations to maximize the damage performance of your character.

fallout 4 best pistol
There are a number of great hand pistols in Fallout 4. Some of them deal great damage to the opponents.

Yes, you read the title right, “Fallout 4 best pistol”. Fallout 4 is one of the best games ever created. From revolvers to plasma pistols, there are a variety of handguns to collect in Fallout 4 and its expansion packs. The best guns in Fallout 4 are listed below, along with their stats and the locations to discover them. If you play Fallout 4 regularly, you will know the significant number of weapons to select from. However, these picks outshine the rest in potency and destructive potential.

Key Takeaways

  • The Pipe Pistol upgraded to a 45 caliber receiver is the first in the Fallout 4 best pistols list, making it an excellent choice for beginner players who need a secondary weapon for their character builds. It deals 13 damage at a fire rate of 55.
  • The Pipe Bolt pistol upgraded to a 38 caliber receiver is a top damage-contributing weapon in Fallout 4, offering high-level accuracy and high-level damage output. It can be obtained by farming on raiders or settlers, or by visiting Drumlin Diner and talking to Trudy NPC.
  • The Old Faithful is a one-of-a-kind laser pistol with the Instigating Effect, allowing it to deal double damage to enemies.
  • The Kellogg’s Pistol is a good handgun found in Fallout 4, with Relentless Effect and high AP cost. It deals significant damage, but has a low fire rate and cannot be used to sneak attack. It is an excellent choice for new players and can be claimed after defeating Kellogg.
  • The Zeta Gun is a modified Gamma gun that deals very little damage and does not have extra radiation damage, making it a good option for beginners.
  • The ten-millimeter pistol upgraded to the advanced receiver is a good handgun in Fallout 4, offering 18 damage with a fire rate of 46. Modding the weapon with an advanced receiver can get +13 damage output, making the total weapon performance 31 damage per shot. Players can pick up a 10MM pistol right before leaving Vault 111 and leave with their best pistol in Fallout 4.
  • The Pipe revolver is an excellent addition to the arsenal with a cowboy-focused character build, as it has the best damage output and accuracy to claim easily kills. It uses .45 ammo to deal remarkable damage at excellent accuracy in mid-far range combat. The standard weapon stats reveal a damage output of 24 at the cost of 6 fire rate.
  • The Alien Blaster pistol is a top pick for beginners due to its futuristic look, blue bolts of energy, rarity of ammo, and 50 damage per shot. To obtain it, you must steal it from an alien inside a cave with a destroyed UFO.
  • Laser pistol is the best choice for fusion cell ammo and over-the-top accuracy
  • The pipe bolt pistol upgraded to the 50 caliber receiver is a great pistol in Fallout 4, with great accuracy and long range. With the right perks, it can be used to turn it into a mass murdering weapon.
  • The 44 pistol upgraded to the advanced receiver deals 48 damage per shot and adds +36 to damage, making it a deadly weapon for both small and large enemies.
  • Eddie’s Peace is one of the best pistols in Fallout 4, with a snubnosed barrel and rifle scope. It also has a crippling effect, likely a reference to kneecapping, and 50 percent more limb damage than other guns.
  • The Plasma pistol is a good handgun found in Fallout 4 for dealing all-rounder ballistic and energy damage to formidable foes, and can be upgraded with a tactical overcharged upgrade. It is highly efficient for dealing 24 ballistic and 24 energy damage at a cost of 33 fire rate, but requires players to progress the storyline and level up their characters to 16.
  • Gamma Gun is a powerful weapon that punches the enemy in the face and deals onset damage to nearby enemies. The stats for the base weapons reveal 100 Radiation damage, while the Area of Effect yields 231 damage to nearby enemies.

Best Pistol In Fallout 4

Finding good pistols in the game can provide you with tremendous advantages and increase your chances of survival. Click here if you want to know about the overall best weapons in Fallout 4. This guide is about Fallout 4 best pistol, and to learn more about it, read till the end and get hands-on the best handguns in the game. Let’s get started.

The Compensated A5 Pipe Pistol

Damage13
Ammo.38 round
Clip size12
Fire rate55
Range83
Accuracy57
Value20
Weight2.3
Reload1.0

There are a variety of handguns in Fallout 4; some are powerful, while others aren’t nearly so. There are hundreds of weapons in the wastelands, and finding a good one can be challenging. The Pipe Pistol upgraded to a 45 caliber receiver is the first one in Fallout 4 best pistols list.

Pipe pistols make up for an excellent pistol choice for beginner players that need a secondary weapon for their character builds. With the threats like ghouls and legendary Deathclaws always lurking around the shadows, you need a secondary backup weapon to make out alive in intense battle situations.

As for the stats, the standard Pipe pistol deals 13 damage at a fire rate of 55. By using the abundantly available .38 ammo, this damage output is not bad for beginner players. A Pipe pistol is undoubtedly not a reliable weapon for combat in the dangerous world of Commonwealth Boston. However, with the scarce resources, it still counts among worth considering pistols with just the right amount of upgrades. 

We are considering a .45 caliber receiver to increase the damage per shot for this addition. Moreover, you can add other modifications to this weapon to your liking. For instance, if you want to take advantage of the best fire rate, you can consider enhancing Pipe Pistol with an automatic receiver. 

To obtain the Pipe pistol, you can consider visiting Bedford Station and finding a terminal. For those who could not get their free Pipe pistol, you can always trust your friendly vendor at Diamond City, Arturo Rodriguez, to purchase the weapon.

fallout 4 best pistol
The Compensated A5 Pipe Pistol

The Compensated .38 Pipe Bolt Action Pistol

Damage34
Ammo.308 round
Clip size6
Fire rate2
Range95
Accuracy63
Value30
Weight3.2

The Pipe Bolt pistol upgraded to a 38 caliber receiver is another great handgun on this list. Bolt action pistols have always been a top damage-contributing weapon in Fallout 4. Meanwhile, it is never too late to pick this weapon up and upgrade it with a .38 caliber receiver to utilize its capabilities in intense close-mid-range combat. Moreover, it specialize in high-level accuracy, which ensures each bullet hits the enemy and drains their HP quickly. 

As for the looks, Pipe bolt action pistol seems like a junkyard version of an action rifle, where you will have to reload the weapon after every shot. However, what this weapon lacks in looks, it makes up for the best damage output and accuracy. Initial stats reveal the weapon dealing 34 damage per hit by using the .308 rounds. 

On the other side, players can easily obtain this weapon by farming on raiders or settlers. Also, if you can visit Drumlin Diner early in the game, you will be able to meet Trudy NPC. Talking to her will allow you to complete her side of the quests, and eventually, she will be selling you a pipe bolt action pistol. 

fallout 4 best pistol
The Compensated .38 Pipe Bolt Action Pistol

The Old Faithful

TypeUnique energy weapon
EffectDoes double damage if the target is at full health.
Damage24
AmmoFusion cell
Clip size30
Fire rate50
Range71
Accuracy71
Value918
Weight3.9

The Old Faithful is a great laser pistol you can find in Fallout 4. This amazing handgun deals double damage to the enemies. This pistol is great for sneak attacks, and that will give you a chance to get the sneak bonus. Players can buy this gun from Arturo, a guy you can find in Diamond City. Old Faithful is a one-of-a-kind laser pistol with the Instigating Effect, which allows it to deal twice damage to enemies who are initially at total health. This fantastic pistol can spawn as a laser rifle substitute at higher levels.

fallout 4 best pistol
The Old Faithful

Kellogg’s Pistol

TypeUnique pistol
QuestsReunions
EffectRefills your Action Points on a Critical Hit
Damage48
Ammo.48 round
Clip size6
Fire rate6
Range119
Accuracy70
Value449
Weight4.3

The Kellogg’s Pistol is another good handgun found in Fallout 4. This pistol is Kellogg’s hallmark weapon. It is the pistol Kellogg’s owned ever since he was a kid and has used to murder many people. Relentless Effect is the term used for the Effect of this pistol. Players can get their hands on this pistol in the game’s early stages.

It should be noted that this handgun has a high AP cost. Moreover, when it comes to VATs, this weapon is quite lethal because your AP gets refilled, giving you an edge over your opponents. Speaking of damage, the Kellogg Pistol deals significant damage to the enemies. The downside of this pistol is that it has a low fire rate, and because of that, this weapon cannot be used to sneak attack. This pistol is an excellent choice for new players and can be claimed after defeating Kellogg and killing him.

fallout 4 best pistol
Kellogg’s Pistol

Zeta Gun

TypeRadiation Weapon
QuestsThe Secret of Cabot House
EffectThe area of effect stuns enemies on a hit
Damagedirect hit: 10!
Area of effect: 11.5!
AmmoGamma round
Clip size8
Fire rate66
Range119
Accuracy69
Value156
Weight3.1

The Zeta Gun is a gamma pistol that players will come across multiple times in the game. This fantastic pistol can knock down enemies on a single shot. This handgun is a modified Gamma gun that deals very little damage and has no unique radiation or poisoning effect. Although this gun has does not have extra radiation damage, this pistol can be a good option for beginners. You can find the Zeta gun inside the Science Lab in the Cabot House.

fallout 4 best pistol
Zeta Gun

The Compensated Advanced 10MM Pistol

TypePistol
Damage18
Ammo10mm round
Clip size12
Fire rate46
Range83
Accuracy60
AP Cost21
Value45
Weight3.5
Reload2.7 (1.7) sec

The ten-millimeter pistol upgraded to the advanced receiver is another good handgun that players can find in Fallout 4. When it comes to the most advanced and powerful pistols in Fallout 4, 10MM never goes as an exception. In fact, it is the first weapon players can get their hands on and modify it to a high level and achieve the perfect DPS-to-accuracy ratio. With a modified compensated advanced pistol on your side, players can easily take on all kinds of foes that come within the Wasteland of Fallout 4. 

While using the 10MM rounds, this weapon deals a satisfactory 18 damage with a fire rate of 46. Since it is a starting weapon, players can utilize it among the secondary weapon choices to use it at the necessary moment. Meanwhile, modding the weapon with an advanced receiver can get you +13 damage output, making the total weapon performance 31 damage per shot. Considering 10MM, the first weapon among players, this is a lot of damage for small to medium-level enemies. 

As for the location, players can pick up a 10MM pistol right before leaving Vault 111. All you need to do is to explore the Overseer’s office, and you can leave the vault with your best pistol in Fallout 4. 

fallout 4 best pistol
The Compensated Advanced 10MM Pistol

The Compensated .308 Pipe Revolver Pistol

TypePistol
Damage24
Ammo.45 round
Clip size6
Fire rate6
Range83
Accuracy61
Value25
Weight4.2

Revolvers are great, and the Pipe revolver upgraded to the .308 receivers is a beast. The Pipe revolver is an excellent addition to your arsenal with a cowboy-focused character build. It is because you need a weapon with the best damage output and a promising accuracy to claim easily kills. For that instance, a .308 modified Pipe revolver is arguably the best weapon that not only fits your character requirements but also enable players to achieve the much-demanded critical hits. 

Unlike the Pipe pistol, this unique Pipe revolver uses .45 ammo to deal remarkable damage at excellent accuracy in mid-far range combat. The standard weapon stats reveal a damage output of 24 at the cost of only 6 fire rate. However, you can quickly increase this damage output and the fire rate with the upgrade of .308 receiver. With this, the final stats of the weapon increases to 42 damage and a 7 fire rate. 

Obtaining your Pipe revolver pistol in Fallout 4 is also an easy process. Simply visit the Wooden Building in Bedford Station. You may want to get to the second floor of the building and find a desk containing the Pipe revolver. Otherwise, you can also loot off the weapon from the corpses of raiders and super mutants adversaries around the world. 

fallout 4 best pistol
The Compensated .308 Pistol

Sharpshooter’s Alien Blaster Pistol

TypeUnique energy weapon
Damage50
AmmoAlien blaster round
Fusion cell (with mod)
Clip size42
Fire rate100
Range119
Accuracy79
AP Cost20
Value1551
Weight2.5

The Alien Blaster pistol is another top pick. Speaking about the overall appearance of this gun, the Sharpshooter’s Alien Blaster has a futuristic look. When you fire this gun, you will see blue bolts of energy. Alien Blaster comes with only one downside: the rarity of ammo. Moreover, you may also want to avoid upgrading the weapon’s barrel, sight, or grip, as it can reduce the overall damage output of the weapon. 

Another major downside of this gun is the weak speed of the projectile. The projectile speed is significant when you deal tremendous damage to your opponent, and if you lack that, you will be in trouble. In addition, this gun has 50 damage per shot, which is a great deal for beginners.

If you want this gun, you will have to steal it from the alien, which you can find inside a cave with a destroyed UFO outside it. To find the shelter, all you need to do is walk towards the Northeast of the crash site and keep track of the green liquid on the nearby rocks and the ground near the location of the impact.

fallout 4 best pistol
Sharpshooter’s Alien Blaster Pistol

Improved Targeting Overcharged Laser Pistol

TypeUnique energy weapon
Damage55
AmmoFusion cell
Value364
Weight4.3
Projectile550

If you are a fan of laser pistols, the laser pistol fully upgraded with no scattering is the best pick. If the Alien Blaster does not suit well for your character, you can also rely on a Laser pistol to obliterate opponents at far range and deal heavy damage. Even though both Alien Blaster and Laser pistol can yield almost similar performance, players might still want to consider Laser pistol for fusion cell ammo and over-the-top accuracy. 

fallout 4 best pistol
Improved Targeting Overcharged Laser Pistol

The Compensated .50 Pipe Bolt Action Pistol

TypePistol
Damage34
Ammo.308 round
Clip size6
Fire rate2
Range95
Accuracy63
Value30
Weight3.2

The pipe bolt pistol upgraded to the 50 caliber receiver is another great pistol in Fallout 4. Pipe bolt-action weapons are easy to find comparatively, as settlers and low-level opponents such as raiders in the beginning stages of the game carry them widely.

Once again, the Pipe bolt action pistol ranks higher on the list with one of the best receiver modifications for .50 ammo. Despite the weapon’s non-amusing damage output, players can still qualify for best long-range combat by using .50 rounds on a pistol. Not just that, but with just the right perks for your character, you can quickly turn the Pipe bolt action pistol into a mass murdering weapon.

Lastly, it is essential to note that this type of pistol is slightly different from the usual pipe bolt pistol in terms of better accuracy and long range.

If you want to get this pistol, you will have to go to Concord, and there while you are moving north of the Museum of Freedom, you will come across a house. After getting inside the house, walk upstairs, and there you will find the dead body of a raider, next to which you will find this bolt action pistol.

fallout 4 best pistol
The Compensated .59 Pipe Bolt Action Pistol

The Bull Barrel Advanced .44 Pistol

TypePistol
Damage48
Ammo.308 round
Clip size6
Fire rate6
Range83
Accuracy65
AP Cost25
Value93
Weight4.2

The 44 pistol upgraded to the advanced receiver is next on the list. This advanced pistol packs a punch of .44 rounds and a remarkable range with accuracy. Players utilizing this weapon will not have to worry about going up close and personal with enemies and can pick off opponents from shadows. 

It is because the .44 pistol already deals a whopping 48 damage per shot. Meanwhile, modifying it with bull barrel adds +36 to damage, which can deal fatal damage to both small and large enemies. 

Bull Barrel Advanced .44 Pistol
Bull Barrel Advanced .44 Pistol

Eddie’s Peace

TypeUnique Pistol
Damage48
Effect50% more limb damage
QuestsLong Time Coming
Ammo.44 round
Clip size6
Fire rate6
Range83
Accuracy81
AP Cost26.25
Value454
Weight5.0

Eddie’s Peace is one of the best pistols in Fallout 4. It is a .44 pistol with a snubnosed barrel. Players often get confused by the look of this pistol as it looks like a rifle. It often gets mistaken for a gun because of its scope. Eddie Winter attached this rifle scope on this pistol when he had it during the Holocaust. In addition to the sight scope, Winter also added polymer grips to this pistol. This weapon deals tremendous damage to opponents and has a great fire rate.

In addition, Eddie’s Peace has a crippling effect which is essential to deal tremendous damage to your enemies. Interestingly, this crippling Effect is most likely a reference to kneecapping, which a criminal leader like Eddie would like to do. It also gives 50 percent more limb damage compared to other guns.

fallout 4 best pistol
Eddie’s Peace

Tactical Overcharged Plasma Pistol

TypeEnergy Weapon
Damage24 attack
24 energy
Effect50% more limb damage
AmmoPlasma cartridge
Clip size30
Fire rate33
Range119
Accuracy142
AP Cost34
Value123
Weight3.9

The plasma pistol fully upgraded with no scattering is another good handgun found in Fallout 4. Energy weapons always spice up the gameplay experience in Fallout 4. Meanwhile, the Plasma pistol stands top among all the energy weapons in games for dealing all-rounder ballistic and energy damage to formidable foes in the game.  The cherry on top is that a smart tactical overcharged upgrade of the weapon will enhance the weapon’s performance even further. 

The standard Plasma pistol is highly efficient for dealing 24 ballistic and 24 energy damage at the cost of 33 fire rate. Unfortunately, this weapon uses Plasma Cartridges as rounds. So make sure you have plenty of ammo before pursuing gameplay solely with a Plasma pistol. 

On the other side, acquiring a Plasma pistol will require players to progress the storyline and at least level up their characters to 16. Once you have hit this level, you can visit any of the vendors available in Commonwealth Boston to purchase a Plasma pistol for some bottle caps. You can also farm on higher level Gunners, which occasionally carry Plasma pistols defending the outposts. 

fallout 4 best pistol
Tactical Overcharged Plasma Pistol

Sharpshooter’s Gamma Gun

TypeRadiation Weapon
Damagedirect hit: 100 + 10!
Area of effect: 23!
EffectThe area of effect stuns enemies on a hit
AmmoGamma Round
Clip size8
Fire rate66
Range119
Accuracy69
AP Cost156
Value3
Weight5sec

The gamma gun pistol fully upgraded weapon, is a must-have for everyone who plays Fallout 4. Gamma Gun qualifies as a powerful weapon that punches the enemy in the face and features an Area of Effect dealing onset damage to the surrounding enemies. The first hit from the Gamma Gun can also stun the enemies, giving you a competitive edge to make your move and finish the enemy with a bloody massacre. 

The stats for the base weapons reveal 100 Radiation damage, while the Area of Effect yields 231 damage to nearby enemies. Meanwhile, Gamma Gun, coupled with a fire rate of 66 can easily become the top choice among players for the best pistols in Fallout 4. You can also modify the weapon with a Sharpshooter grip to enhance the weapon’s accuracy and achieve maximum damage from each hit. 

Obtaining the Gamma Gun requires players to hunt down Child of Atom at Kingsport Lighthouse. Once killed, you can loot off the pistol from their body and claim for your character. 

fallout 4 best pistol
Sharpshooter’s Gamma Gun

Fallout 4 Pistol: The Bottom Line

In this discussion above, we learned some of the best handguns in Fallout 4. Some of these weapons deal more damage to enemies than others. If you play Fallout 4 every day, you might already know about most of these pistols.

However, if you are a beginner, this guide will help you. It is because this guide gives you an overview of the best pistols you can get your hands on while playing the game. Moreover, you can learn more in our extensive guide to Fallout 4 best weapons. Players should also note that while they can find some of the firearms mentioned in this list quickly and in the early stages of the game, others might give you a tough time, and you might struggle to get them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get the best pistol in fallout four duck?

There are multiple ways to get the best pistol in Fallout 4. However, the Cabot House is a great location to find good guns. Besides, by defeating Kellogg, you can get his superb pistol.

The best .44 pistol in Fallout 4?

While there are many pistols to consider in Fallout 4, if you are considering specific, pistol with .44 rounds and a legendary varient, Eddie’s Peace is the perfect choice to go for.

Where to find the best 10mm pistol in Fallout 4?

You can find the best 10mm pistol in the Overseer’s office.

Fallout 4 what perk is best for a 10mm pistol?

The gunslinger perk is the best for a 10mm pistol

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