Tarkov Pistol Guide

 

 

 

 

Tarkov Pistol Guide

New and improved for 2021!
(last updated January 1st 2021)

Pistols are versatile, compact weapons. They have their own slot on the character inventory. The main strengths of pistols are their small size and light weight. They are easy to use and are effective at up to 50 meters. At distances to 100 meters, their limited accuracy can still provide hits on a target, however specific areas on a target or headshots become increasingly difficult.

Pistols don't require much consideration beyond point and shoot. However they are inferior to other weapon types when caught in a firefight within the optimal range of the opposing force's weapon.

 

Why use pistols?

Very fast ADS

Pistols can be raised to an aiming position very quickly.

For pistoleros
A pistol as a primary use weapon is moderately effective if the shooter can avoid getting caught in a bad environment for pistols (long range, hard cover, close range against automatic weapons). 

As a backup weapon
A great backup weapon when carrying a highly specialized weapon like a bolt-action rifle. If the position gets compromised by an adversary at close range, a pistol can provide a larger volume of fire.

For loot rats

Pistols are very light and are ideal for players who like to travel light to collect loot. The firepower contained in a pistol magazine is often enough to screen a retreat when spotted by better-equipped players.

Emergency firepower
In case of a primary weapon getting shot empty, switching to a pistol can be faster.

 

Ammo

9x18

The lightest pistol caliber in EFT. Used by soviet cold-war pistols and submachineguns. As we can see on the chart, it offers a wide selection of ammo types. Its maximum penetration is cut off below 30.

9x19

The most versatile caliber. It reaches all the way across the graph and can compete with modern armor-piercing calibers. Like the .45, the 9x19 is a very old caliber dating back to before the first World War.

.45

A heavy, slow caliber with high base damage, but few armor-piercing ammo types. An ancient caliber, used in very few weapons.

7.62x25

Soviet high velocity pistol caliber. Penetration limit in the mid-20s. A common caliber used in WW2 soviet weapons. Replaced by 9x18 after the war.

5.7x28
A modern purpose-built armor-piercing caliber. Features various very hard penetration ammo types.

9x21

Modern Russian armor-piercing caliber. High end penetration.

Accuracy

Weapon accuracy is displayed as a fraction number for weapons in the stats screen. The lower the number, the more accurate the weapon. Accuracy describes a cone around the aimpoint that expands with distance and also curves with it.

• A weapon with an accuracy of 1 MOA means that it has the capability of hitting within a circle of 2.91cm (1.14 inches) at 100 meters.
  
• At twice the distance, the circle is twice as large (5.82cm | 2.29 inches).

A human head has a width of approximately 16 cm. At 100 meters, this requires an accuracy of 5.4 MOA or less to reliably hit a head. All pistols in EFT have a lower accuracy (higher MOA value). Their accuracy is on average around 10 MOA. This means a headshot from a pistol is unlikely to hit at 100m. To get more precision out of a pistol caliber requires a submachinegun.

Another important factor is how muzzle velocity affects accuracy. A shorter barrel leads to lower muzzle velocity. This causes gravity to have a stronger effect on the flight path.

 

Pre-World-War 2 pistols 

The Colt 1911 A1 is the oldest pistol in EFT. The base model dates back to 1911 and the A1 variant was created in 1923. The pistol is chambered for .45 ACP, which makes it the pistol round with the largest diameter in EFT (11.43mm). As common for weapons of that time, its magazine capacity is limited (7 rounds) and it is a heavy pistol (1.2 kg).

The ballistic performance of the .45 ACP is peculiar in EFT. It has a high base damage across all ammo types, and a very low muzzle velocity which is subsonic. It requires an experienced pistolero to get the most out of it. A good hit will black out any limb, however hitting distant target can be hard with the slow velocity.

• Colt 1911 A1

• Colt M45 A1
  
• A modern variant of the 1911. Features rails for mounting flashlights and 10% lower recoil. This one was put into service in 2010.
  

 

Soviet World War Two pistols

The Tokarev TT. It fires the 7.62x25 cartridge which was developed alongside the pistol and it was the service pistols of the Soviet Army in World War Two. While somewhat antiquated in magazine size, its high velocity caliber and very flat trajectory it was the armor-piercing pistol of its time.

Soviet Cold-War pistols

These share the same 9x18 cartridge, which offers medium damage agains unarmored targets. Being a mid 20th century cartridge, the armor-piercing capability of it is limited.

The selection of pistols covers a wide range of applications, from small capacity service pistols to large capacity select-fire machinepistols. Various suppressor options for covert action is available. The strong point being that is is very cheap to equip a suppressor with this selection of pistols.

If you are looking for a cheap sidearm with cheap ammo and you know how to hit the squishy parts, these weapons offer what you need.

• Stechkin APS
  A Soviet select-fire machine pistol chambered for 9x18. The recoil on full-auto is extreme, and has a limited range. It is however a cheap way to saturate a target with rounds.
  

 

• Stechkin APB
  Suppressed variant with detachable suppressor of the APS. A very cost-effective suppressed weapon with a large 20-round magazine.
  

 

 

• Makarov PM
  Soviet 9x18 pistol, replaced the TT as a service weapon in the 1950s. Low-power caliber with limited 8-round magazine. The (t) variant has an extended barrel for attachment of suppressors.

 

• Makarov PB
  Integrally suppressed variant of the Makarov pistol. Weapon can not be fired with suppressor detached.

Wonder-Nines

 

 

Wonder-Nines are what is considered modern 9x19 pistols that started appearing in the 1980s. Their common features are 9x19 cartridge and large magazines. In Tarkov, these are the Glock 17, Glock 18c, Beretta M9A3, Grach and the P226R.

• The 9x19 is the most versatile pistol caliber in EFT. It has ammo types for extreme penetration or hp damage, and a detailed selection for anything in between.
• The commonality of 9x19 across weapons means it is an easy choice to stockpile.
• The wonder-nines are all similar in features, they share similar magazine sizes, and mass. So if you just want a 9x19 pistol with a large magazine capacity and don't care for modding, any of these is a good pick.
  

• MP-443 Grach
  The service pistol of the Russian Army. Chambered for 9x19. It is very limited for modding. A great weapon for pistoleros that don't care for weapon modding, as it is not an attractive loot target, ensuring it will come back with insurance more often.
  

• Glock 17
  9x19 pistol designed for the Austrian Army. The pistol with the most modifications available in EFT.
  

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• Glock 18c
  9x19 select-fire machine pistol, with a 1200 RPM firerate on full auto.

• Beretta M9A3
  The Beretta 92 (manufacturer's designation) was the standard-issue pistol of the US army since the 1980s.

 

 

• P226R
  A 9x19 pistol manufactured by Sig Sauer.

 

Modern Armor-Piercing Pistols  

These systems were developed towards the end of the 20th century to increase the armor penetration of pistols to overcome the increased appearance of body armor on the battlefield. In Tarkov, there are very diverse pistols to fullfill this concept.

In Tarkov, two cartridges, the 5.7x28 and 9x21 are available. The first is a high velocity round, developed for modern "PDW" weapons with the intent to fill the gap between submachineguns and assault rifles. The 9x21 is different as it uses heavy large caliber projectiles instead of high velocity to reach the same target of higher armor penetration.

Both weapons extend the armor-piercing capabilities farther than 9x19 cartridges.

• SR-1 MP
  Russian pistol, developed for armor-piercing 9x21 pistol caliber. Limited modding capability as it is a weapon not produced for the civilian market.
  

• Five-Seven
  Belgian pistol, developed for armor-piercing 5.7x28. The caliber features a very high muzzle velocity.