Insurgency: Sandstorm Best Assault Rifles (Worst To Best)

Insurgency: Sandstorm Best Assault Rifles (Worst To Best)
Updated:
05 Aug 2023

It’s time to talk about the most used weapons in the game, and those are the assault rifles. You can mod these weapons to be deadly at any range, and be good in any situation. There are a total of 15 assault rifles, with all their ups and downs. 

Some have less recoil but a smaller stopping power, while others have a huge amount of recoil with huge stopping power. When it comes to these weapons, I’ll be ranking them by their stats only and not by their popularity. With that, let’s get into the article!

 

15. M16A4/M16A2

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Such a beautiful gun this M16 is.

The first gun we’ll be talking about is the M16, and you can find it both in the security and insurgent forces. The gun also only costs 1 supply point, which isn’t a lot at all, and it’s quite a budget gun considering its stopping power. The gun can only fire in single or burst fire mode.

There are also two variants of the M16, which are the A4 and the A2. The A4 is a newer version and can be found in the security forces, while the A2 is an older version and can be found in the insurgent forces. These two variants are almost identical; it's just that the A4 has a slightly faster rate of fire.

M16A4/M16A2 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 23
  • Horizontal Recoil - 7
  • Muzzle Velocity - 960 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 296 rpm
  • Penetration - 336 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 1

What M16A4/M16A2 Excels At:

  • They are highly customizable assault rifles, and they only cost 1 supply point.
  • They have a high muzzle velocity, which is great for taking down multiple targets in single-fire mode.
  • The guns have two firing modes.
  • There is almost no recoil.

How To Get M16A4/M16A2:

  • You can obtain the M16A2 when you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, and commander class in the Insurgent Forces.
  • You can obtain the M16A4 when you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, and commander class in the Security Forces.

 

14. L85A2

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Let the British cook.

A real-world fact about this gun is that the A1 variant had so many issues and would break so damn constantly that they had to fix it and make it better with the A2. This is a bullpup assault rifle that doesn’t see much use in the game, but I do wish it did. 

It’s not a bad gun at all, but the design of the weapon might turn people off a bit. It doesn’t have a lot of recoil, and it has decent penetration and a decent fire rate. All in all, it’s a solid weapon, if you ask me.

L85A2 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.45x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 24
  • Horizontal Recoil - 7
  • Muzzle Velocity - 940 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 652 rpm
  • Penetration - 329 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 4
  • Weight - 19%

What L85A2 Excels At:

  • The weapon has a decent rate of fire.
  • It has no horizontal recoil.
  • Can be used at long distances.

How To Get L85A2:

  • You can obtain the weapon when you pick the advisor class in the Security Forces.
 

13. QTS-11

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Is this from The Terminator?

Even though this gun looks like something from the future, it has some of the slowest fire rates of an assault rifle. The slow fire rate makes it easily controllable but at the expense of reduced firepower. 

Since the gun has an integrated grenade launcher, it’s only usable when you equip the explosive or smoke attachment, which can be good for supporting your team with extra utilities. Sadly, because of that, you can’t equip any grips or bipods. But you can equip a unique scope that comes with a night vision mode.

QTS-11 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.8x42mm
  • Vertical Recoil - 19
  • Horizontal Recoil - 6
  • Muzzle Velocity - 930 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 550 rpm
  • Penetration - 326 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 4

What QTS-11 Excels At:

  • The gun has an integrated grenade launcher, which is great for adding extra utility.
  • It has one of the slowest fire rates, which makes it very controllable.
  • It has a unique scope that has a night vision mode.

How To Get QTS-11:

  • You can obtain the weapon when you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, and commander class in the Security Forces.
 

12. QBZ-O3

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It’s the only gas-operated rifle.

This is the only gas-operated assault rifle in the game, and it was made by the Chinese. Surprisingly enough, it’s a damn good weapon. The gun was introduced into the game way back in 2019 when this game was still in its baby days. 

When it comes to the overall weapon, it has some decent stopping power along with some decent penetration. It’s best used in medium-range combat situations, but you can use it in close combat.

QBZ-O3 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 25
  • Horizontal Recoil - 7
  • Muzzle Velocity - 850 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 750 rpm
  • Penetration - 299 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 4
  • Weight - 18%

What QBZ-O3 Excels At:

  • It’s amazing in medium-range combat.
  • It has decent stopping power.
  • It’s the only gas-operated assault rifle in the game.
  • The recoil is easily controllable.
  • It has a unique scope for the weapon.

How to Get QBZ-O3:

  • You can obtain this weapon when you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, or commander class in the Insurgent Forces.
 

11. Galil

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This weapon rocks.

Since most assault rifles cost a lot of supply points, especially if you want to mod them, and you don’t get a lot of supply points, you should go with the Galil. When it comes to the Galil, it’s an assault rifle to which you can attach a drum magazine. 

When you attach the drum magazine, the gun can hold up to 50 rounds in total. It’s great for giving support fire to the team or taking down helicopters. Due to the gun’s huge recoil, I do not recommend that you fire it from the hip; the best thing you can do is lay down and use its bipod. 

Galil Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 27
  • Horizontal Recoil - 13
  • Muzzle Velocity - 950 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 632 rpm
  • Penetration - 333 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 35+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 2
  • Weight - 18%

What Galil Excels At:

  • It’s great for giving support to your teammates.
  • It can be good for taking down helicopters when you attach the drum magazine.
  • It doesn’t cost a lot of supply points to use.

How To Get Galil:

  • You can obtain this weapon when you pick the gunner class in the Insurgent Forces.
 

10. AUG A3

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How many bullpup rifles are there?

There are different variants and versions of this gun, but the devs decided to use the Austrian version. So let me show you the AUG A3. It has a slower fire rate than most assault rifles, but it’s great at long-distance combat due to the muzzle velocity. 

It doesn’t cost a lot of supply points to buy, and it can be great when you customize it. You can also add an extended magazine to the weapon and have 42 rounds in total. The coolest thing about this weapon is that it comes with a custom scope.

AUG A3 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 24
  • Horizontal Recoil - 8
  • Muzzle Velocity - 970 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 600 rpm
  • Penetration - 339 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 3
  • Weight - 18%

What AUG A3 Excels At:

  • It’s great at long-distance combat.
  • Due to the slower fire rate, it’s much easier to control the recoil.
  • If you use an extended magazine, you can put a total of 42 rounds in it.
  • It can be good for clearing out rooms.

How To Get AUG A3:

  • You can obtain the AUG A3 when you pick the rifleman, demolition, observer, and commander class in the Security Forces.
 

9. QBZ-97

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Holy smokes, my whole screen is just this weapon.

Let me introduce you to a gun that can take up your whole screen if you use the 1x MARS or 1.5x PK-AS optics. The only thing you will be able to see is this gun, and that’s about it. It has a modest rate of fire, not a lot of recoil, amazing muzzle velocity, and decent penetration. 

Due to it using 5x56x45mm NATO rounds and the STANAG magazine, you can salvage ammo from your enemies. Specifically, you can take ammo from the M4A1 carbine, the M16, and the L85A2. If the enemies are using those weapons, you will rarely run out of ammo. So you better become a loot goblin for some ammunition.

QBZ-97 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 23
  • Horizontal Recoil - 15
  • Muzzle Velocity - 930 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 653 rpm
  • Penetration - 326 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 3

What QBZ-97 Excels At:

  • You can salvage ammo for this weapon if the enemies are using the M4A1 carbine, the M16, or the L85A2 because of the STANAG magazine. 
  • It has a moderate fire rate and not a whole lot of recoil.
  • Due to its high muzzle velocity, enemies will drop dead as soon as you press your left mouse button.

How To Get QBZ-97:

  • You can obtain this weapon when you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, or commander class in the Insurgent Forces.
 

8. AKM

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It’s time to roll!

This is a modified version of the AK-47. By that, I mean it just hits harder and faster. The gun also uses 7.62x39mm rounds, which are enough to kill someone with one or two shots to the chest. 

If you want to be extra spicy, you can even put a drum magazine on the weapon. You can also heavily mod the weapon and add almost any attachment you want to it. Which makes it great for any situation and any map you’re playing on.

AKM Stats:

  • Cartridge - 7.62x39mm
  • Vertical Recoil - 28
  • Horizontal Recoil - 13
  • Muzzle Velocity - 715 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 600 rpm
  • Penetration - 365 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 3
  • Weight - 19%

What AKM Excels At:

  • It’s a very modifiable gun for the insurgent forces.
  • It’s good in any situation.
  • Since it uses a 7.62x39mm round, it can kill someone in one or two shots to the chest.

How To Get AKM:

  • You can obtain this weapon when you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, and commander class in the Insurgent Forces.
 

7. Galil SAR

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This can also be a machine gun.

This is a very versatile weapon, as you can modify it enough with attachments to turn it into a machine gun. The way you can do that is by simply adding a drum magazine to the weapon, but the reload time is increased by a whole ton. Even without the drum magazine, the reload time of this weapon is 5 seconds, but with the drum magazine, that is increased to 8 seconds. 

It can be great in PvE game modes and even in PvP, as you can support your teammates so they can push into objectives. I don’t recommend this weapon in close quarters, as it doesn’t suit it that well. You can also safely spray enemies who are behind cover, as this weapon has some decent penetration.

Galil SAR Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 28
  • Horizontal Recoil - 15
  • Muzzle Velocity - 900 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 632 rpm
  • Penetration - 316 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 35+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 2
  • Weight - 16%

What Galil SAR Excels At:

  • You can turn the gun into a modified machine gun with the drum magazine.
  • It’s great at giving fire support to your teammates pushing toward objectives.
  • It’s great in PvE and PvP game modes.

How To Get Galil SAR:

  • You can obtain this weapon when you pick the gunner class in the Security Forces
 

6. VHS-2

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This is another bullpup rifle.

This gun is versatile when it comes to combat. It’s great at close, medium, and long-range distances. It has a great rate of fire and can be great at taking down enemies quickly, but that can be a disadvantage if you’re playing the PvE game mode. 

Since the enemies will be coming at you in swarms, you will run out of ammo quickly. It has a low time to ADS, and it doesn’t weigh the player down a lot, which can be good for flanking and running around.

VHS-2 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5x56x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 24
  • Horizontal Recoil - 11
  • Muzzle Velocity - 850 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 857 rpm
  • Penetration - 299 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 5
  • Weight - 18%

What VHS-2 Excels At:

  • It doesn’t weigh a lot, which can be good if you want to run around and flank the enemy.
  • It has a high rate of fire, which can be decent in PvP.
  • It has a low time to ADS.

How To Get VHS-2:

  • You can obtain this masterpiece if you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, and commander class in the Security Forces.

 

5. AK-74

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Here’s another AK variant.

This is the new and improved version of the AK-47 and the AKM together. Instead of using the standard 7.62x39mm rounds, it uses the 5.45x39mm round. This version of the weapon is improved, and most of its design flaws have been removed since the original one came out. There is also a version with a folding stock called the AKS-74U. 

This gun is great in any situation and at any combat range, as long as you mod it correctly. Most people will use it in medium to close quarters, but you can use it at long distances as well. You can also add a grenade launcher to the gun to support your teammates when doing objectives if needed.

AK-74 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.45x39mm
  • Vertical Recoil - 25
  • Horizontal Recoil - 7
  • Muzzle Velocity - 900 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 652 rpm
  • Penetration - 316 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 4
  • Weight - 16%

What AK-74 Excels At:

  • It uses a smaller round when compared to its previous versions.
  • Because it uses a smaller round, the recoil is much more controllable.
  • It’s highly customizable, and you can attach a grenade launcher to it to support your team.

How To Get AK-74:

  • You can get this weapon when you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, or commander class in the Insurgent Forces.
 

4. Alpha AK

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Only for the special forces.

This is a highly modded and customized version of the AK and can only be used when you pick the advisor class. The main features you can see on the Alpha AK are the railed dust covers and handguards, which enable the mounting of different optics, grips, and many other tactical things on the weapon. 

Unlike the AK-74, this one went back to the basics and uses the 7.62x39mm round, which is great for penetration and stopping power but has a much harder kick and recoil to control. But that shouldn’t be an issue as this gun is heavily customizable.

Alpha AK Stats:

  • Cartridge - 7.62x39mm
  • Vertical Recoil - 26
  • Horizontal Recoil - 10
  • Muzzle Velocity - 670 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 625 rpm
  • Penetration - 343 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Supply Points - 4
  • Weight - 17%

What Alpha AK Excels At:

  • This gun is the best version of the AK due to its customizability.
  • It uses the 7.62x39mm round, which is great for penetration.
  • You can customize it however you want.
  • It’s great for any distance combat.

How To Get Alpha AK:

  • You can obtain this weapon when you pick the advisor class in the Insurgent Forces.
 

3. AS Val

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They will never hear me coming.

One gun that I’m surprised is even an assault rifle is the AS Val. I always thought this was an SMG, but here we are, and it very well might be the best assault rifle in the game. It has an insane fire rate of 1000 RPM, so you’ll be running out of ammo damn quickly when using it. It has a low muzzle velocity, so it’s best used in close combat situations. 

The weapon does cost a lot of supply points, but it makes up for that because it doesn’t weigh a lot. For an assault rifle, it’s light, which makes it perfect for flanking and zooming around the map. The gun also uses a high caliber round, which comes with some excellent penetration, but it has a pretty nasty kick to it.

AS Val Stats:

  • Cartridge - 9x39mm
  • Horizontal Recoil - 28
  • Vertical Recoil - 13
  • Muzzle Velocity - 295 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 1000 rpm
  • Penetration - 618 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 20+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 6
  • Weight - 11%

What AS Val Excels At:

  • It’s great for zooming around the map and flanking enemies.
  • It has great penetration as it uses a high caliber.
  • It’s amazing for clearing rooms quickly.
  • It has a semi-automatic mode, which is good for saving ammo.

How To Get AS Val:

  • You can obtain this weapon when you pick the breacher class in the Insurgent Forces.
 

2. FAMAS F1

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You will be shooting at the sky with this one.

Even though this assault rifle is amazing, the recoil is just pain and suffering. Most of the time, when you shoot this gun fully automatic, you will be aiming at the sky unless you know how to control the recoil. I tried using attachments to fix the recoil, but it didn’t help that much. 

Along with that insane recoil, this gun also has a rate of fire of 1000 rpms. Unlike the AS Val, the FAMAS F1 is great for medium and long-distance combat, but it can also be good in close quarters if you know how to use it well.

FAMAS F1 Stats:

  • Cartridge - 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Vertical Recoil - 28
  • Horizontal Recoil - 21
  • Muzzle Velocity - 930 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 1000 rpm
  • Penetration - 326 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 25+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 6
  • Weight - 17%

What FAMAS F1 Excels At:

  • It’s amazing for long and medium-distance combat. It can also be useful at close quarters if you know how to use it.
  • It has a muzzle velocity of 930 m/s, so you’ll be dropping your enemies like flies.
  • If you can control the recoil, you can kill a whole squad in seconds.

How To Get FAMAS F1:

  • You can obtain this weapon when you pick the rifleman, demolitions, observer, or commander class in the Insurgent Forces.
 

1. Honey Badger

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People hate playing against this gun.

This is one of the community’s favorite weapons to use, and it’s clear why. It has a sleek design, and it’s really good in close and medium-distance combat. The gun also has an integrated suppressor, which makes it harder for enemies to hear you. 

The gun uses 300 blackout rounds, which are great at penetrating covers. One downside to this weapon is that it can’t use rounds from other weapons, and you will have to run back to the base to resupply for extra ammo.

Honey Badger Stats:

  • Cartridge - 300 Blackout
  • Vertical Recoil - 26
  • Horizontal Recoil - 10
  • Muzzle Velocity - 259 m/s
  • Rate of Fire - 857 rpm
  • Penetration - 590 pp
  • Magazine Capacity - 30+1 rounds
  • Reserve Ammunition - 3 mags
  • Supply Points - 5
  • Weight - 13%

What Honey Badger Excels At:

  • It has great penetration. 
  • It’s one of the community's favorite weapons to use.
  • It has an integrated suppressor.
  • It’s great at close and medium-range combat.

How To Get Honey Badger:

  • You can obtain the weapon when you pick the breacher class in the Security Forces.
 

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