Let’s be honest: most Battlefield 6 players treat pistols as an afterthought. You’re focused on optimizing your DRS IAR loadout or perfecting your L110 build, and the sidearm slot gets whatever’s unlocked by default.
Here’s the thing though: the right pistol has saved my life more times than I can count. You’re caught reloading when an enemy rounds the corner. Your primary runs dry mid-fight against multiple opponents. You’re playing Recon with a bolt-action and someone pushes your position. These are the moments where your sidearm choice actually matters.
The beauty of pistols in Battlefield 6 is their accessibility. Unlike primary weapons that require extensive attachment grinding and mastery ranks, sidearms work reasonably well straight out of the box. You won’t spend hours optimizing—you’ll pick one that matches your playstyle and forget about it until you desperately need it.
Why Pistols Matter Less (But Still Matter)
Compared to previous Battlefield titles, sidearms have taken a backseat in BF6’s meta. The faster primary weapon swap times, improved reload speeds across the board, and generally more lethal gunplay mean you’re pulling your pistol less frequently than you did in, say, Battlefield 4.
That said, pistols still shine in specific scenarios:
- Emergency backup when caught reloading
- Finishing wounded enemies to conserve primary ammo
- Stealth eliminations at close range
- Secondary weapon for sniper/marksman builds
- Last-ditch defense during objective captures
- Challenge completion (some require pistol kills specifically)
The key is choosing a sidearm that complements your primary weapon’s weaknesses. Running an LMG with agonizing reload times? A high-damage pistol becomes your insurance policy. Playing aggressive Assault with an SMG that burns ammo? You might want extra magazine capacity in your backup.
Battlefield 6 Pistol Ranking
We’ve ranked all four launch pistols based on out-of-the-box reliability rather than fully-upgraded potential. Since most players won’t invest heavy time into sidearm mastery, we’re focusing on which pistols deliver value immediately.
Complete Pistol Tier List:
- M44 Rex – S-Tier (Devastating close-range power)
- M45A1 – A-Tier (Balanced lethality and usability)
- P18 – B-Tier (Reliable all-rounder)
- ES 5.7 – C-Tier (Spam-friendly but weak)
Let’s break down each pistol’s strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases.
1. M44 Rex – The Emergency Eraser
Quick Stats Overview:
| Stat | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Damage (0–15m) | 60 chest / 90 head | Two-shot kill anywhere |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds | Revolver cylinder |
| Fire Rate | Slow | Precision required |
| Reload Speed | Lengthy | Plan your shots |
| Effective Range | 0–15 meters | Close-quarters specialist |
Why the M44 Rex Dominates
This revolver is absolutely brutal in emergency situations. The damage output is unmatched among pistols—you’re dealing 60 damage to the body and a ridiculous 90 to the head within 15 meters. That means every target dies in exactly two hits, regardless of where you aim. Body shots, leg shots, doesn’t matter. Two rounds equals one dead enemy.
When you unlock Hollow Point ammunition at Rank 24, the headshot damage increases to 105. That’s an instant kill with a single well-placed shot. Suddenly you’re one-tapping enemies with a secondary weapon while they’re still processing their mistake of pushing you during a reload.
Real-world application: I was defending an objective on one of BF6’s tighter maps when three enemies pushed simultaneously. My primary ran dry after killing the first two. The third guy had me dead to rights—until my M44 blasted him twice in under a second. That raw stopping power simply doesn’t exist on other pistols.
The Skill Requirement Trade-Off
Here’s the catch: the M44 demands precision. You have six rounds total, slow fire rate, and a lengthy reload animation. Miss your shots and you’re dead. Panic-spam the trigger and you’re still dead, just with an empty cylinder.
The M44 requires you to:
- Maintain composure under pressure
- Land shots consistently within 15 meters
- Count your rounds religiously
- Commit fully to each engagement (no spray and pray)
- Plan reloads during safe moments
This isn’t a pistol for beginners or casual players who want forgiving spray-and-pray backup. But if you have decent aim and stay calm during chaotic moments, the M44 will save your life more reliably than any other sidearm.
Best paired with:
- Slow-reloading LMGs (gives you fighting chance during vulnerability)
- Bolt-action sniper rifles (emergency close-quarters defense)
- Weapons with small magazines (backup when you’re caught dry)
Attachment Priority
Unlike complex primary weapons, the M44 needs minimal optimization:
- Laser sight (improves hipfire for panic moments)
- Hollow Point ammunition (one-shot headshots at Rank 24)
- Optic of choice (personal preference, though iron sights work fine)
That’s it. This isn’t a weapon that needs extensive customization—its raw damage output is the entire value proposition.
2. M45A1 – The Balanced Eliminator
Quick Stats Overview:
| Stat | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Damage (Close) | 3-shot kill (chest) | Very lethal up close |
| Damage (Medium) | 4-shot kill at 20m | Still competitive |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds (11 extended) | Limited but manageable |
| Fire Rate | Moderate | Faster than M44, slower than P18 |
| Skill Floor | Medium | Requires some aim discipline |
The Middle-Ground Champion
The M45A1 occupies interesting territory between the M44’s devastating power and the P18’s forgiving magazine capacity. It kills remarkably fast at close range (3 shots to chest) while remaining competitive at 20 meters (4 shots). This versatility makes it reliable across more situations than the specialized M44.
Where the M45A1 excels:
- Finishing wounded enemies quickly
- Medium-range backup (15-25 meters)
- Controlled fire situations where accuracy matters
- Complementing aggressive playstyles
- Players with good trigger discipline
I find myself gravitating toward the M45A1 when I’m running mobile loadouts that might need backup at varying distances. Unlike the M44’s hard 15-meter limit, this pistol maintains lethality further out, which matters when you’re caught in more open areas.
The Magazine Limitation
Default 7-round capacity is tight. Really tight. You’re getting maybe two kills maximum before reloading, and that’s if you’re accurate. The extended 11-round magazine at Rank 9 significantly improves viability, but you’ll need to invest some time to unlock it.
Ammunition management tips:
- Don’t transition to pistol with full primary magazine remaining
- Aim for center mass—bodyshots are more reliable than headshot attempts
- Treat each round as valuable—this isn’t a spray weapon
- Reload aggressively between engagements
- Pair with ammo-efficient primary weapons
The M45A1 punishes wasteful shooting. If you’re the type to panic-dump an entire magazine in someone’s general direction, this pistol will frustrate you. But if you can maintain composure and land 3-4 shots accurately, you’ll appreciate the lethality.
When to Choose the M45A1 Over M44
Pick the M45A1 if:
- You want reliable damage without extreme precision demands
- Your primary weapon works well at close range already
- You need backup that works beyond 15 meters
- You find revolvers too punishing/slow
- You prefer semi-auto pistols over revolvers thematically
Honestly, both weapons are strong choices. The M44 has higher ceiling potential, but the M45A1 offers more consistent performance for most players.
3. P18 – The Dependable Workhorse
Quick Stats Overview:
| Stat | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 4-shot kill (close range) | Adequate stopping power |
| Magazine Capacity | Good (extendable) | Forgiving capacity |
| Fire Rate | Fast | Quick follow-up shots |
| Hipfire Accuracy | Above average | Reliable without ADS |
| Skill Floor | Low | Beginner-friendly |
The “Good Enough” Option
There’s nothing flashy about the P18. It doesn’t boast impressive damage numbers. It won’t win any style points. But you know what? It just works. Consistently. Reliably. Boringly effectively.
The P18 represents the quintessential backup pistol philosophy: reasonable fire rate, decent magazine capacity, good hipfire accuracy, and minimal skill requirements. Slap an extended magazine and laser sight on it, and you have a sidearm that’ll cover your ass in any situation without demanding much thought or practice.
Why players gravitate toward the P18:
- Forgiving magazine capacity allows missed shots
- Fast fire rate compensates for lower damage
- Excellent hipfire means you can spray in emergencies
- Minimal recoil makes follow-up shots easy
- No special technique required—just aim and shoot
This is the pistol you pick when you genuinely don’t care about optimizing your sidearm slot. You want something that works without investment, and the P18 delivers exactly that experience.
The “Average” Performance Reality
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the P18 doesn’t excel at anything specific. The M44 kills faster. The M45A1 hits harder. The ES 5.7 has more ammo. The P18 just… exists competently in the middle.
At very close range (0-10 meters), it requires 4 chest shots to kill. That’s more than the M44’s 2 and the M45A1’s 3. You’re not winning duels against those pistols if both players have equal aim. You’re winning through volume of fire and forgiveness.
Real scenario: Enemy pushes while I’m reloading my Support loadout. I draw the P18, hipfire six rounds in his general direction, three connect, I’m still alive. That’s the P18 experience—not exciting, but effective enough when chaos erupts.
Best Attachments for P18
Keep it simple:
- Extended magazine (more forgiveness for missed shots)
- Laser sight (capitalize on strong hipfire baseline)
- Optional optic (personal preference, iron sights work fine)
The P18 doesn’t benefit from complex builds. Maximize your magazine size, improve hipfire reliability, and you’re done. Five minutes of thought, then forget about it until you need it.
Who Should Use the P18?
This pistol suits:
- Beginners who want reliable backup without learning curve
- Players who barely use sidearms anyway
- Anyone running primary weapons with fast reloads (less pistol reliance)
- Casual players not interested in sidearm optimization
- Situations where you legitimately don’t know what to pick
The P18 is the “default choice” for good reason. It’s not optimal, but optimal rarely matters for secondary weapons in Battlefield 6.
4. ES 5.7 – The High-Capacity Underperformer
Quick Stats Overview:
| Stat | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | Lowest among pistols | Compensated by fire rate |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds | Excellent capacity |
| Fire Rate | Fastest | Rapid follow-ups |
| Recoil | Virtually none | Laser-accurate spray |
| Effective Range | Medium | Struggles up close |
The Spam-Friendly Paradox
The ES 5.7 presents an interesting design philosophy: sacrifice damage for capacity and fire rate. With 20 rounds and minimal recoil, you can magdump into enemies without worrying about running dry or controlling kick. In theory, this compensates for the anemic damage per bullet.
In practice? It’s the slowest-killing pistol in the game, even within ideal range. That’s a critical flaw for an emergency backup weapon.
Where the ES 5.7 finds niche value:
- Brand-new players with terrible aim (volume overcomes precision)
- Medium-range secondary for sniper builds (labeled as “medium range” pistol)
- Sustained fire against multiple wounded enemies
- Players who panic and spray wildly under pressure
- Situations requiring suppression more than kills
I wanted to love this pistol. The 20-round capacity is genuinely fantastic, and the zero-recoil characteristic makes it feel controllable. But losing close-quarters duels to other pistols—even when landing more shots—feels terrible. Raw DPS simply doesn’t compete.
The Time-to-Kill Problem
Here’s a mathematical reality: the ES 5.7’s faster fire rate doesn’t fully compensate for its lower damage. In close-quarters scenarios where you need your pistol most desperately, this weapon kills slower than alternatives. Period.
Competitive pistol fight example:
- M44 Rex user lands 2 shots → you’re dead
- You land 5 ES 5.7 shots → they’re wounded
- You had “better aim” by raw hit count, but you still lost
This frustration compounds in Battlefield’s high-damage meta. By the time you pump enough bullets into someone, their teammates arrive or they duck behind cover. The forgiving capacity becomes irrelevant when individual engagements take too long.
When the ES 5.7 Actually Works
Despite its flaws, this pistol has legitimate use cases:
Scenario 1 – Sniper Backup: You’re running a bolt-action rifle on Recon class. Enemies close distance while you’re repositioning. The ES 5.7’s medium-range capability and capacity let you suppress/damage multiple targets while retreating. You’re not trying to win fights—you’re buying time or finishing already-wounded enemies.
Scenario 2 – New Player Insurance: Your aim is genuinely poor. You miss more shots than you land. The 20-round magazine provides enough capacity to still secure kills despite 40% accuracy. Other pistols with 6-7 rounds would leave you empty-handed.
Scenario 3 – Multi-Target Cleanup: You’ve engaged three enemies, wounded two before reloading. The ES 5.7 has enough ammo to finish both wounded targets without reloading itself. Specific situation, but it happens.
Attachment Recommendations
Maximize the ES 5.7’s strengths:
- Laser sight (improve an already-decent hipfire)
- Extended magazine if available (more capacity never hurts)
- Medium-range optic (embrace the “medium range” designation)
You’re not fixing the damage problem with attachments. Instead, lean into the weapon’s identity as a high-capacity spray option.
Should You Use the ES 5.7?
Probably not, unless you specifically:
- Play exclusively Recon with bolt-action primaries
- Genuinely struggle with aim and need forgiveness
- Value capacity over everything else
- Enjoy the weapon aesthetically/thematically
For most players, the P18 offers similar “spray-friendly” characteristics with better damage output. The ES 5.7 is too specialized for general backup duty.
Pistol Selection by Playstyle
Still unsure which sidearm fits your approach? Here’s a quick-reference guide:
For Aggressive Players
Recommendation: M44 Rex or M45A1
Aggressive playstyles put you in close-quarters constantly, exactly where high-damage pistols shine. When you’re pushing objectives and your primary runs dry, you need stopping power—not spray capacity.
For Defensive Players
Recommendation: P18
Defensive players use pistols less frequently (you’re pre-aimed and firing from positions). When you do need backup, you want something reliable and forgiving. The P18 delivers without demanding expertise.
For Sniper/Marksman Players
Recommendation: ES 5.7 or M45A1
Long-range primary weapons need sidearms that work at medium distances. The ES 5.7’s “medium range” designation makes sense here, though the M45A1’s better damage might be preferable if you have decent aim.
For Support/Engineer Players
Recommendation: M44 Rex
Classes with slow-reloading primaries (LMGs especially) desperately need high-damage emergency backup. The M44’s two-shot kill potential can save you during those agonizing 6+ second reload animations on weapons like the L110.
For New/Casual Players
Recommendation: P18 or ES 5.7
If you’re learning the game or don’t play frequently, pick the most forgiving option. Both the P18 and ES 5.7 allow missed shots without immediately costing your life.
Advanced Pistol Tips
Transitioning Efficiently
The fastest way to use your pistol is not through manual weapon switching. Instead:
- Learn the quick-switch keybind (typically “press 2” or triangle/Y on console)
- Practice switching during reload cancels (situational but valuable)
- Bind weapon switch to mouse wheel for PC players (instant transitions)
- Use cover during switches (you’re vulnerable for ~0.5 seconds)
Ammo Conservation Mindset
Your pistol should be emergency-only, not a secondary primary weapon. I see players burning pistol ammo on targets 30+ meters away, then having nothing when actually needed up close.
Smart pistol usage:
- Only draw when primary is genuinely unavailable
- Finish wounded enemies (1-2 shots max)
- Close-quarters emergencies during reloads
- Don’t use pistol to engage full-health distant enemies
Hipfire vs. ADS Decision-Making
Different pistols favor different aiming methods:
- M44 Rex: ADS for precision (you can’t afford missed shots)
- M45A1: ADS beyond 10m, hipfire closer
- P18: Hipfire under 10m, ADS beyond
- ES 5.7: Hipfire works at surprising distances with laser
In true panic situations (enemy appears within 3 meters unexpectedly), always hipfire. The ADS animation time will get you killed.
Hollow Point Ammunition Consideration
Once unlocked, Hollow Point increases headshot damage significantly—but typically reduces limb/body damage. The M44 with Hollow Points becomes a one-shot headshot machine, which is genuinely powerful if you have the aim for it.
For most players though, standard ammunition is more reliable. Bodyshots are easier to land under pressure, and you’re using a pistol precisely because things went wrong (not ideal conditions for precise headshots).
Platform Differences
Whether you’re playing on Steam, PlayStation, or Epic Games Store, pistol performance remains consistent—but input method matters.
Controller Players:
- Favor higher-capacity pistols (P18/ES 5.7) due to aim-assist limitations
- Practice medium sensitivity settings specifically for sidearm use
- Leverage hipfire heavily in close quarters (less analog stick adjustment needed)
Mouse & Keyboard Players:
- Can more reliably use precision pistols (M44 Rex/M45A1)
- Take advantage of fast flick-aiming for headshots
- Bind pistol to easily accessible key (mouse thumb button is popular)
Check our Controller vs. Keyboard & Mouse guide for more input-specific recommendations.
Challenge Completion with Pistols
Several Battlefield 6 challenges require pistol eliminations or specific sidearm actions. Here’s how to efficiently complete them:
For pistol kill challenges:
- Use M44 Rex on close-quarters maps
- Play game modes with frequent engagements (TDM, Domination)
- Target already-wounded enemies
- Pair with weapons that wound but don’t kill (snipers work great)
For specific pistol mastery:
- Play bot lobbies for low-pressure grinding
- Focus on objective defense (enemies come to you)
- Use pistol-only loadouts in Portal mode
Some players also grind pistol challenges in bot lobbies specifically to avoid frustration. No shame in that approach if you’re just trying to complete tasks efficiently.
Final Recommendation: What Should You Pick?
If you’ve read this entire guide and still don’t know which pistol to equip, here’s my dead-simple advice:
Pick the M44 Rex if:
- You have decent aim and stay calm under pressure
- You’re running slow-reloading primaries (LMGs especially)
- You value maximum killing power in emergency situations
Pick the P18 if:
- You’re unsure or just want something reliable
- You barely think about sidearms anyway
- You prefer forgiving weapons that don’t punish mistakes
Avoid the ES 5.7 unless:
- You’re running sniper/marksman builds needing medium-range backup
- You’re brand new and miss most shots anyway
The M45A1 is excellent, but it’s genuinely a middle-ground between M44 and P18. If you can handle the M44’s precision demands, use that. If not, the P18’s forgiveness is more valuable than the M45A1’s slightly better damage.
Wrapping Up
Pistols in Battlefield 6 will never steal the spotlight from your primary weapons. You’re not building entire loadouts around your M44 Rex or grinding for the perfect P18 configuration. But in those desperate moments—caught reloading, facing multiple enemies, or pushing through tight corridors—your sidearm becomes your lifeline.
Choose based on your aim confidence and primary weapon weaknesses. High-skill players benefit from the M44’s devastating power. Everyone else probably wants the P18’s reliability. And if you’re still uncertain after all this? Just equip the P18 and forget about it.
For more in-depth weapon optimization, check out our complete weapons list guide or explore specific class builds like our Assault loadouts.
The r/Battlefield6 community has ongoing discussions about pistol meta and niche strategies if you want to dive deeper. Some players swear by unconventional approaches worth exploring.
Now stop overthinking your sidearm choice and get back to optimizing what actually matters—your primary weapon and game settings. Your pistol is insurance, not investment. Pick one, equip it, and hopefully never need it.
But when you do need it, make those shots count
