[Top 12] Insurgency: Sandstorm Best Guns And Weapons (And How To Use Them Effectively)

Now, let’s talk about the most important thing in the game, and that is the weapons. The game has a lot of different weapons, and they are all separated into different classes and factions. You won’t see a marksman class using a shotgun or a breacher class using a sniper rifle unless they’re picked up from a dead body, but that’s a different thing. 

Since the game has a lot of weapons, it might be overwhelming for new players as they might not know which weapon to take. Not to worry, as today I’ll list some of the best weapons you can use in the game. The way I’ll be ranking these weapons is by their strength, how useful they are in certain situations, and what they excel at. So with that, let’s get into it.

12. G36K

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The G36K is an assault rifle made by Germany in the 1990s and only used by the Security Forces. In the game, most people call it the budget M4 because it works similarly to it and costs fewer points than the M4. The gun comes with a neat feature, which is that it has a transparent magazine. 

The gun comes with 3 different firing modes: semi-automatic, 2-round burst, and fully automatic. It also uses 5.56x45mm rounds, which are good against medium armor and can penetrate through small walls. The gun is really useful in medium-to-close combat situations, while at longer ranges it can be a bit hard to hit anything. 

What G36K Excels In: 

• The gun is great for close and medium-range combat encounters. 
• It uses a 5.56x45mm round, which is great for penetrating small walls and objects. 
• It has a lot of attachments available to put on, and the recoil isn’t hard to control, which makes it perfect for using fully automatic.
• The gun features transparent magazines, which allow the user to view how many bullets they have left. 

G36K Stats:

• Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Vertical Recoil: 26
• Horizontal Recoil: 10
• Muzzle Velocity: 850 m/s
• Rate of Fire: 741 rpm
• Penetration: 299 pp
• Magazine Capacity: 30+1
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 3
• Weight: 18%

11. Famas F1

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Here’s something similar to the G36K, but slightly better, and it can only be used by the Insurgent forces. The FAMAS F1 has a higher rate of fire and higher penetration than the G36K, but it also has a higher recoil. The gun can be highly effective in close combat situations due to its high fire rate, but you have to be careful as it only holds up to 25 bullets in its magazines. 

The best way to use this weapon effectively is by using the 3-round burst option at medium distances, and in really close combat situations, you can switch to fully automatic. The gun is great in 1v1 situations, as you’ll be able to win most of the time, but in other situations, it’s a different story.

What Famas F1 Excels In:

• In 1v1 situations, you’ll always win the fight. 
• It has a high rate of fire, which can be useful in close combat encounters to dispatch a group of enemies.
• The recoil can be hard to control at first, but after using the weapons for some time, you’ll get used to it. 

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%

10. FAL

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This is a battle rifle that’s used by the Insurgent forces, and oh boy, does it pack a punch. The weapon shoots 7.62x51 mm NATO rounds, which means it can dispatch someone wearing heavy armor without a problem. The weapon was developed during the Cold War era and is even used widely today.

The FAL can only carry up to 20 rounds in its magazine, so the best way to use it is in semi-automatic mode, but you can also switch to fully automatic if you want, which I don’t recommend as the weapon can kill with either 1 or 2 shots to the body. Even though it shoots a huge round, the recoil is manageable, but if you have an issue with that you can always put attachments on the weapon and make it even better.

What FAL Excels In:

• Since the gun shoots a large round, it also has a high penetration rate, so don’t be afraid to shoot at some walls if you know an enemy is sitting behind them.
• The gun is good for long-range combat as well; just be sure that you have enough space between you and the enemy.
• You can effectively use the gun only in semi-automatic mode as it only takes 1 or 2 body shots to kill an enemy.

FAL Stats:

• Cartridges: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Vertical Recoil: 33
• Horizontal Recoil: 26
• Muzzle Velocity: 810 m/s
• Rate of Fire: 698 rpm
• Penetration: 410 pp
• Magazine: 20+1 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 5
• Weight: 24%

9. G3A3

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Let me introduce you to the older brother of the G36K, which is way better. The gun fires 7.62x51 mm NATO rounds but at a much slower rate, but that shouldn’t be an issue as this gun is best used over long distances. 

In close-to-medium encounters, the gun can also be useful, but if you go up against someone with a higher fire rate, your chances of winning are lower. The weapon can only hold up to 20 rounds in its magazine, so that’s why it’s best used in semi-automatic mode, making sure that you have enough distance between yourself and the enemy.

What G3A3 Excels In:

• Long-distance firefights. 
• It doesn't have a high fire rate, so the recoil is quite controllable, and don’t be afraid to spam left-click if you need to.
• The weapon is best used in semi-automatic mode, as it can kill someone in 1 or 2 shots.

G3A3 Stats:

• Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Vertical Recoil: 29
• Horizontal Recoil: 15
• Muzzle Velocity: 800 m/s
• Rate of Fire: 500 rpm
• Penetration: 405 pp
• Magazine Capacity: 20+1 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 4
• Weight: 24%

8. MK 17 Mod 0

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This is the most customizable assault rifle in the game, and it can be anything you wish. Especially when you consider that it fires 7.62x51mm NATO rounds, which can go through a damn wall. 

Depending on your current situation and the map you’re playing, you can build the rifle to be deadly in close encounters or you can customize it enough to turn it into a sniper rifle. But the most common thing the players go for is medium-range encounters because the gun can eliminate a whole team in seconds; just be wary that you don’t run out of ammunition. 

What MK 17 Mod 0 Excels In:

• The gun is highly customizable and can be useful in almost any situation.
• The gun can be turned into a deadly sniper rifle or killing machine for medium-range encounters.
• The gun fires 7.62x51mm NATO bullets, which can go through walls, and the gun itself has high penetration.

MK 17 Mod 0 Stats:

• Cartridges: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Vertical Recoil: 27
• Horizontal Recoil: 12
• Muzzle Velocity: 715 m/s
• Rate of Fire: 600 rpm
• Penetration: 365 pp
• Magazine Capacity: 20+1 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 3
• Weight: 24%

7. PKM

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This is the first machine gun on our list, and it’s none other than the PKM. This bad boy can kill a whole squad in seconds, and you’ll still have spare rounds left in your box. The gun does have a high recoil when you’re firing it from your hip or shoulder, but come on, it’s a machine gun; why would you do that? 

Most of the time, you’ll want to lay down somewhere on the ground and deploy your bipod, where you’ll remove all of the recoils. If someone decides to run behind a wall, just spray through it, and you’ll kill them for sure. The way to use this weapon efficiently would be to lay down somewhere you have vision of the enemy team and just kill them off one by one.

What PKM Excels In:

• This machine gun is great at any distance and can kill a whole squad in seconds.
• If you deploy the bipod of the gun, you remove all the recoil, and it feels like you’re using a laser.
• Before deploying your bipod, make sure you’re in a safe spot while also having a vision of the enemy team.

PKM Stats:

• Cartridge: 7.62x54mmR
• Vertical Recoil: 34
• Horizontal Recoil: 30
• Muzzle Velocity: 825
• Rate of Fire: 652
• Penetration: 426 pp
• Magazine Capacity: 100 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 1 box
• Supply Points: 3
• Weight: 26%

6. M82A1 CQ

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Do you want to make a basketball-size hole in someone’s chest in Insurgency: Sandstorm? Well, if you do, then you must use this weapon. This sniper rifle is also the community's favorite as it sounds badass as hell and it’s strong as hell; the only downside is that it’s so damn heavy and it’s impossible to fire it from the hip or the shoulder and hit something.

The weapon can go through multiple thick walls without a problem and be spammed as long as you have ammo in the magazine. The weapon can also tear body parts apart, which makes for some great moments. This is another weapon where you want to put a lot of distance between yourself and the enemy to use it effectively.

What M82A1 CQ Excels In:

• This sniper rifle fires a .50 BMG Anti-Material round, which can take out anyone in one shot.
• This gun can pierce through multiple thick walls without a problem.
• It can take out a technical pickup truck with one to two shots to the engine.

M82A1 CQ Stats:

• Cartridge: .50 BMG Anti-Material
• Vertical Recoil: 89
• Horizontal Recoil: 96
• Muzzle Velocity: 853 m/s
• Rate of Fire: 32 rpm
• Penetration: 691 pp
• Magazine: 5+1 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 3
• Weight: 28%

5. Vector

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Here’s an SMG that a lot of new players love to use, and that’s because it has no vertical recoil whatsoever. That’s because this gun in real life has a spring system behind the magazine called the “Super V Recoil Mitigation System” that completely removes the vertical recoil, and Insurgency: Sandstorm is the only game that has implemented this. 

While using the weapon, you’ll feel like you’re using a laser that can kill people. Since it’s an SMG, the gun is best used in close encounters, and it rarely does well in medium to long-range firefights. You should rush into battle and get as close to the enemy as possible if you plan on using this weapon.

What Vector Excels In:

• The gun has no vertical recoil whatsoever, so the only thing you have to worry about is not running out of ammo.
• It has a high fire rate, and it excels in close combat firefights.
• The gun has enough penetration to go through wooden objects or thin sheets of metal.
• It allows for a more aggressive playstyle for the player and excels well in maps that are close-combat oriented.

Vector Stats:

• Cartridge: .45 ACP
• Vertical Recoil: 1
• Horizontal Recoil: 30
• Muzzle Velocity: 280 m/s
• Rate of Fire: 1200 rpm
• Penetration: 276 pp
• Magazine Capacity: 25+1 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 2
• Weight: 11%

4. MK 14 EBR

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If you enjoy playing the marksman class but are tired of constantly being far away from everyone, then just pick the MK-14 EBR. You can turn this rifle into a sniper or battle rifle so you can get up close to the enemy. 

This weapon also has one of the highest fire rates out of any battle rifle, but it also has the highest muzzle climb velocity out of any. It’s a really hard weapon to control when you’re shooting it fully automatic, but seeing as the weapon uses 7.62x51mm rounds, there is no need for that. 

What MK 14 EBR Excels In:

• This battle rifle is great for up-close and personal encounters as well as long-range firefights.
• It has a hard-to-control recoil when shooting it fully automatic, but you’ll do just fine in semi-automatic mode.
• You can customize this weapon however you like, depending on the current map you’re playing.

MK 14 EBR Stats:

• Cartridge: 7.61x51mm NATO
• Vertical Recoil: 39
• Horizontal Recoil: 44
• Muzzle Velocity: 850 m/s
• Rate of Fire: 732 rpm
• Penetration: 428 pp
• Magazine Capacity: 20+1 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 5
• Weight: 24%

3. AK 74

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Here is one of the community's favorite assault rifles in the game, and it’s the AK 74. The weapon doesn’t cost a lot of supply points to get; it packs a punch and does the job at long, medium, and close-range encounters.

The recoil is easy to control, but if you’re having issues with it, just put on a recoil grip. The gun also has many customization options, making it highly viable. The most efficient way to use this weapon would be in medium-to-close combat encounters, but you can also use it effectively at long range. I don’t recommend that, as it’s really hard to hit the enemy sometimes.

What AK 74 Excels In:

• The gun is highly customizable, which makes it highly viable in almost any situation in the game.
• It’s very affordable and allows you to focus your supply points on different things instead of just the weapon.
• You can use the gun effectively in close, medium, and sometimes even long-range combat.

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%

2. Honey Badger

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Even though this gun gets its name from a cute animal, the gun is far from cute. I mean, it does look cute, especially if you use the integrated suppressor that the gun comes with. This assault rifle is amazing in close-to-medium encounters, and it demolishes every other weapon in this category. The gun uses 300 Blackout rounds, which are more than enough to kill a whole squad. 

The most effective way to use this weapon is by slapping some attachments on it to make it even better so that you can remove that horrendous recoil. The most efficient way to use this weapon would be to rush in before your team, as the gun has a high fire rate and can penetrate through metal sheets and other similar objects.

What Honey Badger Excels At:

• Close combat encounters are a perfect match for this weapon.
• It demolishes every other assault rifle in its category.
• The weapon also excels at penetrating through walls, wooden objects, metal, and so on, so don’t be afraid to spray at someone who’s sitting behind the cover.

Honey Badger Stats:

• Cartridge: 300 Blackout
• Vertical Recoil: 26
• Horizontal Recoil: 10
• Muzzle Velocity: 857 rpm
• Penetration: 590 pp
• Magazine Capacity: 30+1 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 5
• Weight: 13%

1. Tavor 7

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And the best weapon in the whole game is the Tavor 7, which was introduced in the 2020 Security Forces update. This is also the best battle rifle in the game, as it can be deadly in every single situation. The Tavor 7 is a bullpup battle rifle that supports 7.62x51mm rounds, which in the short term means it will blow a hole through anyone who stands in your way.

The most efficient way to use this weapon is to stand somewhere and wait for the enemy to pop into your sights. Once they do, just drop them. The gun can shoot semi-automatic or fully automatic, and depending on the situation both are amazing. The gun can also take out enemies with a single body shot or two shots to the body, depending on which armor they are wearing.

What Tavor 7 Excels In:

• Since the gun supports a high-caliber round, it can be effective at over 100 meters.
• If you take your time and let the enemy charge you, you can drop them with 1 shot to the body or 2 if they are wearing body armor.
• The Tavor 7 is one of the best battle rifles in the game; it can eradicate the enemy team and even turn a losing match in your favor if you know how to use it.

Tavor 7 Stats:

• Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Vertical Recoil: 30
• Horizontal Recoil: 19
• Muzzle Velocity: 800 m/s
• Rate of Fire: 706 rpm
• Penetration: 405 pp
• Magazine: 20+1 rounds
• Reserve Ammunition: 3 mags
• Supply Points: 5
• Weight: 24%

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