We all know very well how the Rifle archetype works in FPS games. First of all, one of the main characteristics is their effectiveness in a long-range encounter. Consequently, each shoot has the potential to cause devastating damage to your opponents and surprise them from a considerable distance.
If your precision is impeccable, you’ll probably need one or a couple of shots to finish any threat that you can encounter in the vast wasteland of Fallout.
In this article I’ll discuss the best rifles you can find in Fallout 4. But before we begin, there are some essential elements to consider.
Above all, the primary statistic to contemplate in this list is DPS (damage per second). Most noteworthy, all of the examples listed here have their standard attributes so you can compare.
Granted you always have the workshop to improve any of these weapons, but you need to invest time and for now I just want to share the best rifles as they are right as you’ll find them in the game. Enjoy!
15. Reba II
Damage per Second:25.6 Damage per Shot:64 Fire Rate:4 Range:215 Ammunition:.308
This fantastic rifle comes with an impressive unique ability which gives you the chance of dealing 50% more damage to Mirelurks and bugs.
Additionally thanks to the long range potential, you always have the distance advantage of dealing with a group of those specific enemies.
Finally to acquire this firearm you need to travel through Salem and reach the Rook family house; in there you’ll be given a quest named “Gun Run” that gives this rifle as a reward, or you can obtain it with some other… mischievous ways.
14. Old Reliable
Damage per Second:35 Damage per Shot:70 Fire Rate:5 Range:122 Ammunition:45-70
No, this is not the net from SpongeBob. This is a rootin-tootin killing machine and well worth tracking down.
Found by the merchant Dejen in Arcadia, this weapon has a lot of potential if you got the right build.
One of the exclusive perks here is the ability to shoot an additional projectile. Ironically, to obtain the best results for this firearm you need to focus on those bonuses that improve single shot damage.
For example, improving the “sneak attack” perk will give you the extra percentage damage for both projectiles as you only hit the trigger once. Great once you get the hang of this strategy.
But one of the downsides is the acquisition of bullets. Being a DLC exclusive, you’ll probably have some trouble getting more ammunition but it’s certainly possible.
13. The Problem Solver
Damage per Second:56 Damage per Shot:57 Fire Rate:59 Range:185 Ammunition:7.62 Round
Before you read further and attempt grabbing up this bad boy, just note you need a couple of “Charisma” points first.
So if you’re able to surpass the conversation even further with the NPC(non-playable character) Mason over the main quest of the Nuka World DLC, you’ll have this reward soon enough.
Above all, this rifle comes with an ability that increases the damage that you do if you keep shooting the same target repeatedly. That’s pretty darn useful!
12. Railway Rifle
Damage per Second:100 Damage per Shot:100 Fire Rate:10 Range:119 Ammunition:Railway spike
If you’re one of those players that has much familiarity with crossbows(especially over the Elder Scrolls Saga) you may find this “rifle” convenient.
Most noteworthy here is that the Railway Rifle has the same compositions of that “ancient” weapon; it appears with faster travel times of spikes/bolts and much higher effectiveness through limb damage.
Now if you want to go after this sucker you can easily hunt for this after you hit level 20. It’s actually not too difficult to find either(this is a great guide).
11. Combat Rifle
Damage per Second:108.9 Damage per Shot:33 Fire Rate:33 Range:119 Ammunition:.45
One of the conventional weapons in the Fallout 4 universe, still due to its possible modifications I think.
But due to its lack of rarity you can find any of its alterations by looting any possible enemy or buying them from all over the wastelands.
Depending on your character build, and the rifle’s perks, you have the opportunity to increase its precision and value with a bit of elbow grease. Nothing too special here but certainly something worth considering, especially for a beginner.
10. Radium Rifle
Damage per Second:110 Damage per Shot:27 + 50 Radiation Fire Rate:40 Range:119 Ammunition:.45
Due to the interesting gaming mechanics that represent how radiation works in a living creature, this weapon tends to exploit this peculiar process.
So while you’re doing some damage with this rifle you’ll also hit your targets with radiation poisoning. Strong stuff.
In Fallout 4 terms you’ll also reduce HP quite a bit and leave your foes almost near death. Neat!
Here’s another tip to keep in mind: enemies with regeneration (like legendary mobs) will have less health as they try to recover from the poisoning.
9. Radical Conversion
Damage per Second:112 Damage per Shot:27 + 50 Radiation Fire Rate:40 Range:119 Ammunition:.45
To obtain this detailed firearm you only need to complete the Ablutions quest from the Far Harbor DLC.
While it contains the same attributes from the “Radium Rifle”, it also comes with Penetrating feature.
This is great because it ignores 30% of the target’s damage and energy resistance. Very strong choice if you want a rifle that can deal damage regardless of defense.
8. Kiloton Radium Rifle
Damage per Second:115 Damage per Shot:27 + 50 Radiation + 15 Explosive Fire Rate:40 Range:119 Ammunition:.45
Once you’ve bought this bad boy from Brother Kane after joining the Children of Atom in the Far Harbor DLC, you may find everything else a little bit easier.
Although this firearm presents the same skin design as the Radium Rifle, it also comes with some magical perks.
Actually one of these perks has to be one of the best affixes in the game: the Explosive attribute.
In other words, each bullet explodes on impact and does AOE (area of effect) damage near your target.
7. Assault Rifle
Damage per Second:120 Damage per Shot:30 Fire Rate:40 Range:119 Ammunition:5.56mm
Here’s an amazing upgrade once your character reaches around level 25.
Similarly to the Combat Rifle mentioned earlier, this can practically be found everywhere all over the map and has too many modifications to cound. Suffice it to say this is one awesome rifle.
And since it can be customized so easily it can quickly adapt to your character’s built and be altered to deal as much damage as possible.
Hint: you always have the chance to acquire this weapon from Legendary mobs and increase their performance too.
6. Handmade Rifle
Damage per Second:128 Damage per Shot:32 Fire Rate:40 Range:119 Ammunition:7.62 round
There’s a lot of good and bad to say about the Handmade Rifle. It has similar features as most common rifles but also has a big negative.
Due to the type of ammunition this gun uses, it has the potential of doing more damage from the start.
Sadly though, this also comes with a drawback; you can only loot these bullets from certain areas in the DLC.
Therefore you’ll need to continually travel to Nuka World and find some merchants that may have these bullets for you.
5. December’s Child
Damage per Second:135 Damage per Shot:33 Fire Rate:41 Range:119 Ammunition:5.56mm
At a glance this may look like a Combat Rifle. It may even sound the same; but this unique firearm has quite a few improved features.
First of all its lighter which is a big plus.
It uses 5.56 ammo, has a 25% faster fire rate, and 15% faster reload. All great things in my book.
Now if you’re going to obtain this rifle you need to travel Far Harbor with “Nick Valentine” as your companion and reach the Vim! Pop Factory. It won’t be easy but it’s well worth the hike.
4. Spray n’ Pray
Damage per Second:419.1 Damage per Shot:33 Fire Rate:127 Range:77 Ammunition:.45
Thanks to the legendary Explosive affix, with this weapon you have the chance of doing damage to many targets and have more control over mobs.
Now to find this powerful firearm you can purchase it from Cricket, a wandering merchant.
Additionally it has a low chance of appearing in other random vendors across the Commonwealth. Very strong damager per second just considering how this beast works out in the field.
3. Overseer’s Guardian
Damage per Second:495 Damage per Shot:55 Fire Rate:90 Range:109 Ammunition:.45
When you reach Vault 81, one of the first things to do is buy this weapon from Alexis Combes. It’s worth the price.
You’ll have one of the most powerful rifles in the game along with a really strong firing rate and a sleek design to boot.
With the Two shot perk that the Overseer’s Guardian comes with, you’ll technically do twice as much damage than the usual rifle you’d find lying on any streetcorner. Actually maybe even more than double if you can beef this up a bit.
2. Splattercannon
Damage per Second:576.3 Damage per Shot:51 Fire Rate:113 Range:89 Ammunition:7.62 round
Easily obtained through the Aaron Corbett vendor in Nuka-Town Market, once you get your hands on this rifle you’ll never want to let it go.
What makes it so great? So this particular weapon comes with the legendary Furious Affix. How this works: the more you focus your attention to a single target, the more damage you’ll deal. It’s a game changer.
With this rifle by your side you probably need just a couple of critical hits to take down the big guys.
1. Gauss Rifle
Damage per Second:726 Damage per Shot:110 Fire Rate:66 Range:191 Ammunition:2mm EC
Once your character reaches around level 30 your first priority should be to unlock this Rifle for your collection.
Even though the rounds to fire this weapon are a little hard to obtain, you’ll make every shot count.
Note there is one downside in that you’re going to need to charge each shot beforehand. But the additional mods you can add onto this thing really make it a beast to behold.
Also this comes with the Explosive feature so every shot comes with AOE damage. But because of this it does not pick up the perk bonus from Demolition Expert, although really with this kind of power I think you’ll be just fine.
