Summary
Modern Warfare 3holds a variety of brilliant and important secondary weapons, but Handguns are perhaps the best of them all. Players can find the best Handguns inModern Warfare 3, all of which feature different speeds of firing, damage capabilities, and uniqueness that makes them capable weapons to face off against enemies, even if they do not hold the same powerful caliber as most, if not all, primary weapons.
The variety of secondary weapons ensures that players have plenty of choices when it comes to what gun they are going to use to win big. With the best handguns inMW3, players will be able to switch weapons in case their primary is running on empty, or theyneed a great gunto clear rooms with.
Updated on August 05, 2025, by Jake Fillery:All handguns in Modern Warfare 3 offer players a unique selection to bring death and fury to their opponents, yet, the very best of them, will have the other team wishing they could surrender. The best MW3 handguns often provide intense fire rates without sacrificing accuracy and recoil control, so luckily for players, every handgun in Modern Warfare 3 can be found below, along with stats and pointers that may just help them find their new favorite deadly toy.
12Basilisk
Double-Action Revolver With Harsh Kicks and Hits
For those who seek the powerful kick, and cool design of a revolver, look no further than the Basilisk, a double-action revolver that fires off .500 Cal rounds. It kicks hard, hits hard, and can be a true monster in the hands of a skilled player. It can take up to a mere two shots to kill someone with the Basilisk, so long as players can tolerate the slow fire rate and the large kick that the gun gives off with every shot. Whilst hard to master, it’s a skill worthy of claim, and may even save players from close-quarter combat situations against a shotgun.
65%
45%
35%
60%
55%
75%
85%
5
20
11X12
Tactical Modifications Make For An Average Pistol
The X12 is a lightweight weapon that makes light work for enemies. Even to acquire it, there is a level of tactical prowess required, which further compliments how players will use this weapon. Is it going to best those using shotguns? Most likely not, but with a rapid trigger finger on the semi-auto 9mm pistol, players might just stand a chance to finish an enemy with a light weapon that doesn’t require a bloodbath.
50%
80%
17
68
10X13 Auto
Fully Automatic to Devastate Opponents Without Sacrificing Accuracy and Range
Offering a highly specialized pistol, the X13 auto is a fully automatic weapon that can deliver a powerful and fast bout of 20 rounds. This is a delightful weapon, to those who can wield it, as although its fire rate can be pretty immense, the loss of accuracy and effective range may be too much to bear for some players who want something that kicks hard and won’t have them hitting the ceiling with intense recoil. Nevertheless, the X13 Auto is a great handgun to those who can control it, and master it with the best loadout.
42%
20%
70%
9P890
.Accurate, Reliable, Hard-Hitting
A Semi-auto pistol that excels in close-quarters combat, the P890 has everything going for it and is great in situations where players need to switch to a secondary. The P890 has a lovely advantage of accuracy, mobility, and handling, and the addition of .46 Auto rounds allows for a hard-hitting weapon that will have players constantly on the move, and without fear of what lurks around the corner.
30%
8
32
8.50 GS
Great Power That Comes With Even Greater Kick
With .50 Cal rounds, the .50 GS ensures maximum destruction of the flesh and bone of its targets. Players are going to need to ensure that they actually pull off their shots, as the fire rate is slow, and the recoil control is lacking. This basically turns the .50 GS into a handheld sniper, albeit a tad less powerful. Whilst this isn’t the kind of handgun that players are going to want tobring into close-quarter situationsor those that require a rapid trigger finger, it’s certainly got its uses.
40%
7
14
7GS Magna
Incredible Rate of Fire and Power
Another pistol that uses .50 Cal bullets is the GS Magna, which issurprisingly rapidfor such a heavy caliber bullet. The GS Magna is great up close, but that’s only if players can actually get their shots in.
This weapon is fully automatic and has a surprisingly dangerous rate of fire that will devastate enemies, but players need to make sure they can use its lacking recoil and accuracy to pull off those shots and fire every bullet into those that seek the death of the player that wields it.
62%
6TYR
A Deadly Hand Cannon That Leaves None Standing
TYR, not to be confused with the Norse god, isa violent weapon capable of all kinds of warfare. TYR is a deadly revolver, with 12.7x55mm rounds that can devastate those shot by it. TYR can unleash powerful shots, truly bringing justice to the name of a hand canon. Whilst it may not be the best weapon to use in close-quarter situations from the kick of the recoil and the lack of mobility, its high damage and range allow it to be used as a grand alternative to other weapons.
63%
59mm Daemon
A Tactical Pistol With Brilliant Semi-Automatic Fire Rates
Chambering 9mm ammunition, the Daemon is a semi-automatic pistol with a rapid-fire rate in the right hands. It’s one of the best in its class and brings justice to light pistols that can help players dodge and weave between covers againstthe mightiest of assault rifles.
The 9mm Daemon has the most consistently average stats of the handguns, which is what makes it so good. Players can expect a great pistol fromsomething that won’t let them down, especially when the semi-automatic fire rate allows for some strong kills.
57%
61%
15
75
4Renetti
Burst-Fire With Great Fire Rate and Controllability
A decent recoil control allows the Renetti to be a fair choice in the right hands, and to whoever wields it, as long as they can pull off their shots, the Renetti will be a powerhouse, thanks to its staggering fire rate, meaning that players do not have to rely solely on theirindividual skills and field upgradeswith a trigger finger to ensure bullets are shot fast and rapid from the chamber. The grand handling of the Renetti also allows for better weapon control.
58%
44%
60
3COR-45
Precise Thanks to Handling and Recoil Control
Chambered with .45 Auto rounds, the COR-45 has brilliant handling and mobility, as well as decent recoil control. To those with a quick trigger finger, the COR-45 is a great tool that can be used to clear enemies out of buildings and wipe hostiles from the equation of victory. As a semi-auto weapon, the COR-45’s fire rate is rather dependent on the hand that wields it, but even a quick finger might be able to have grand control over the strengthened recoil for this gun inSledgehammer Games’COD.
49%
56
