The Wild West proves to be a dangerous place inRed Dead Redemption 2. Between predatory animals, hostile gangs, and an unforgiving topography,Arthur Morgan has his work cut out for him. Luckily, Arthur can call upon a diverse array of weaponry to keep his many foes at bay.
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Red Dead Redemption 2also possesses a thriving modding community of talented authors. On Nexus, players have a large selection of mods to choose from that either improve or alter the game’s weaponry in some manner. Although every mod can potentially bring something new to the table, these add-ons represent solid choices.
Updated June 17, 2025 by Mark Hospodar:Red Dead Redemption 2 is still an extremely popular game, even without the hundreds of mods available to download on sites like Nexus. It’s a game that’s practically guaranteed to endure until the next sequel invariably hits the shelves.
When it comes to weapon mods, players won’t run out of things to experiment with anytime soon. These mods come in all shapes and sizes, from graphical improvements to unique scripts. This list has been updated to include a few more worthwhile weapon mods that Red Dead Redemption 2 players shouldn’t ignore.
10Realistic Reload
Red Dead Redemption 2is undoubtedly an immersive game. The combat system, though not perfect, is pretty satisfying to witness. Arthur cangun enemies down in the blink of an eyebefore they even know what hit them. However, Arthur’s razor-sharp reflexes when it comes to reloading are a bit of a stretch, especially when one takes into account the weaponry available in 1899.
TheRealistic Reloadmod slows down Arthur’s reload animation. The result, as the name of the mod suggests, is a more realistic representation of a gun battle. Arthur requires more time to reload his weapons, as can be seen when he’s operating a repeater rifle or shotgun. The mod adds an extra touch of immersion that some fans might appreciate.
9Gun Tricks
Arthur isn’t really a man whoneedsto show off his skills to prove a point. He’s already an experienced gunslinger and outlaw who can more than hold his own in a fight. However, fans who want to inject a little more panache into their gunplay may want to try theGun Tricksmod.
The Gun Tricks mod incorporates the gun tricks present inRed Dead Onlineinto the base game. With this mod, Arthur can add a little flair to the proceedings amid all the story drama. It’s a minor add-on, but one that fans may appreciate. It’s also worth noting that Gun Tricks requires a few prerequisites to work properly, so be sure to read the mod page carefully.
8Gun Metal Rework
Fans, unsurprisingly, will be using a lot of weapons throughout a playthrough. Pistols, rifles, repeaters, and revolvers are going to be used quite extensively. As such, those weapons must always look their best.Red Dead Redemption 2is already four years old, so graphical mods often go a long way towardextending the lifespan of the game’s visuals.
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As far as improving the look of the weapons, a great place to start is with theGun Metal Reworkmod. This mod makes the game’s weaponry shine, literally. Colors appear less dull and more vibrant as a result of this add-on. Arthur’s guns will look downright impressive with this gem of a mod.
71899 Firearms
The weaponry in the vanilla game performs adequately enough. Each firearm, of course, has its own set of strengths and weaknesses that dictate when it should be employed. Different ammo types further affect a weapon’s stats, such as High-Velocity ammunition boosting range and damage.
The whole system, however, could always use an overhaul. For that, the1899 Firearmsmod by WickedHorseMan is a nice choice. This mod alters much of the game’s gunplay, including reloading animations, FPS recoil, accuracy, and more. The mod also incorporates realistic ammo types for added immersion.
6GunFX
Red Dead Redemption 2is already a very immersive game, though additional improvements can always be made, particularly when it comes to guns. One of the more interesting mods that deal with a firearm’s effects isGunFX, made by the same author as the previous mod.
GunFX heightens the realism of the game by increasing the amount of barrel smoke and muzzle flash the player experiences after firing a weapon, along with a few other neat additions. If fans are aiming for a more cinematic playthrough ofRed Dead Redemption 2, the GunFX mod is a hard one to ignore.
5Maverick Weapons And Catalog
While on the topic of comprehensive overhauls, a good alternative to the previous mod isMaverick Weapons And Catalog. This mod incorporates a lot of features, both large and small, into a single convenient package. With this mod, players should be prepared to become much more powerful!
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Maverick Weapons And Catalog alters a few mechanics, which include buffing weapon damage, removing weapon sway, increasing reload speed, and getting rid of weapon degradation. The mod contains even more changes, but suffice to say, weapons become a lot more deadly with this mod.
4Realistic Weapon Rebalance
The final weapon overhaul mod discussed on this list isRealistic Weapon Rebalance. Nearly all the weapons in the game arerebalanced to some extentwith this mod. Everything from reload speed to damage is tweaked to some extent, which gives each weapon feel more unique. The author sums up the mod best by describing it as “realism combined with balance.”
3No Weapon Degradation
It’s been mentioned several times already thatRed Dead Redemption 2is one of the most immersive open-world games currently available. One feature that often finds itself in open-world titles is weapon degradation, an element that serves to heighten the level of realism in a game. It’s also a feature that some players undoubtedly feel is annoying.
Fans who don’t feel like having to periodically oil Arthur’s weapons to keep them in perfect condition should certainly install theNo Weapon Degradationmod. Although the immersion of the game may take a slight hit, it’s one less thing players need to worry about when they simply want to enjoyRed Dead Redemption 2’s main story and side activities.
2Real Weapon And Brand Names
There are always new ways to be immersed in a game when mods are involved. As most fans have probably noticed by this point, most of the weapons inRed Dead Redemption 2are given generic names like “Double-Action Revolver” or “Semi-Automatic Pistol.” These weapons, however, are actuallybased on real-life counterparts.
To gain a better understanding of what these weapons are, players should consider downloading theReal Weapon And Brand Namesmod. This mod replaces all the generic titles with their real, historical versions. For example, the Pump-action Shotgun is renamed the Winchester M1897. It’s a cool mod for those who love historical accuracy.
1Realistic Loadouts
A game likeRed Dead Redemption 2doesn’t get old very quickly. However, injecting more variety into the proceedings is usually something that’s appreciated by the fanbase.RDR2certainly doesn’t lack mods when it comes to adding more flavor to the gameplay.
As far as weapons are concerned in this regard, theRealistic Loadoutsmod is worth checking out. This mod adds some much-needed variety to the weapons that certain NPCs carry. Specific factions are given their own unique loadouts. For example, the Lemoyne Raiders will primarily use rifles and repeaters, while wagon guards and lawmen are more likely to carry shotguns and carbines.
Red Dead Redemption 2is currently available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
