Last Updated on by Samuel Franklin
Find the best rifle for each animal hunt with this guide which simplifies the hundreds of guns, attachments and weapon types (rifles, handguns, shotguns and bows).
This page includes options for all animal class levels regardless of your progression and includes non-DLC options. Drawing from my extensive COTW knowledge hunting both diamond trophies and rare animal furs for all hunting skill levels to find the best guns to unlock and upgrade.
Table of Contents:
– Best Guns Overview
– Best Guns Detail
theHunter: Call of the Wild Best Weapons & Best Rifles Overview
Below are my recommended best weapons with the weapon type, animal class and where it is available based on the following factors:
- Availability & Cost: Cheaper weapons and non-DLC options can save in game and real money.
- Number of Shots: Weapons with the flexibility of follow up shots are useful for newer players that that might lack experience, weapon upgrades or skills to make hunting easier.
- Maximum Effective Range: Long ranged weapons make hunting easier as your target is less likely to escape.
- Other Weapon Stats: Weapon stats such as weight, accuracy, recoil and reload are also important to optimise for. Weight impacts your ability to build a hunting loadout while better accuracy, recoil and reload statistics can improve hunting success.
- Class Diversity: With animals ranging from class 1 to class 9 weapons that have a wider spread of classes help design the best loadout. The best weapon choices have diverse ammunition options that simplify hunting and save money.
| Weapon | Type | Class | Available From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virant .22LR Express | Rifle | 1 | Weapon Pack 1 | |
| Cacciatore 12G | Shotgun | 1 – 8 | Base Game ($48k) | The free Caversham Steward 12G is an alternative shotgun (and great low class weapon in general) until you can afford this option. |
| Ranger .243 | Rifle | 2 – 6 | Base Game (Free) | A fantastic initial money making tool as this is a free weapon and has a free ammunition option. |
| ZARZA-10 .308 | Rifle | 4 – 8 | Modern Rifle Pack | |
| Rhino 454 | Handgun | 4 – 9 | Base Game ($48k) | |
| Malmer 7mm Magnum | Rifle | 4 – 9 | Hunter Power Pack DLC | The 7mm Regent Magnum can serve as a non DLC alternative at $36k although has a smaller magazine size of 1 instead of 3. |
| .300 Canning Magnum Frontier | Rifle | 7 – 9 | Yukon Valley DLC |
theHunter: Call of the Wild Best Weapons Detail
Below is further information on these best rifles and alternative options if you don’t have the necessary DLC.
Cacciatore 12G
Shotguns have a flexible role with ammunition between class 1 and 8 despite lacking accuracy for trophy hunts. When combined with a scope (Meridian 1-4×20 Shotgun Scope) this weapon becomes deadly effective up to 75m with a 6 magazine capacity for follow up shots. The major weakness of this shotgun is the money investment required to purchase and upgrade although the free starting shotgun (Caversham Steward 12G) is surprisingly effective with similar ammo options although a smaller magazine size of 2.
Rhino 454
The best handgun available with a 5 magazine capacity effective between class 4 and 9 although lacks the range of higher powered rifles. If players are interested in trying the handgun archetype then the free to use 10mm Davani is a good training tool with its 15 magazine capacity before you splash the cash on this expensive handgun.
Virant .22LR Express
A COTW community favourite this .22 rifle is only effective at class 1 but the best option when hunting smaller animals. Obtained through Weapon Pack 1 the weapon has a large magazine capacity option (10) to shoot multiple targets before they escape. The additional range compared to your other class 1 weapon options which are primarily bows and shotguns is particularly useful in hunts.
Ranger .243
Focused on the 2-6 class range this is a base game weapon with a free ammunition option (soft point) that makes it one of the best rifles for money making as you reduce your total hunt costs. When money isn’t your focus players will want to use the paid ammunition options for higher penetration.
ZARZA-10 .308
This .308 weapon is available from the Modern Rifle Pack with high effective range and a 5 magazine size that is perfect for the core of your hunting loadout. While there are many great rifles with a similar role in the 4-8 class range the only reasonable option for non DLC gamers is the .270 Huntsman which is available for $12k in the base game.
Malmer 7mm Magnum
This bolt action rifle is the ideal long range weapon with a magazine size of 3 for the 4-9 animal range and available from the Hunter Power Pack DLC. If players don’t have the DLC the 7mm Regent Magnum provides similar functionality and is available for $36k although is a single shot only with long reload time so players will be punished for misses.
.300 Canning Magnum Frontier
This weapon is designed for the higher animal classes (7-9) with expensive ammunition options and a $75k purchase cost. The base game is lacking in alternatives with the closest comparable rifle the Tsurugi LRR .338 in the Hunter Power Pack DLC.
