There is no single rifle that wins every fight in Arma Reforger. The right weapon depends on your faction, the range you fight at, and whether you are pushing objectives or holding a line. A few guns stand out as reliable defaults, and once you know what each one is good at, picking your loadout becomes simple.
Quick answer: Play Soviet and want one gun that handles most situations? Take the RPK-74. Play US? Take the M16 Carbine. For long-range work, use the SVD on the Soviet side and the M21 SWS on the US side. On modded servers that allow them, the SCAR in 7.62x51mm and the .408 Cheytac dominate at mid and extreme range.
Best all-round rifle: RPK-74 (Soviet)
The RPK-74 is a light support weapon in 5.45x39mm, and it doubles as an excellent general-purpose rifle. Its bipod gives you a stable firing platform when you find cover or a ledge to mount on, which tightens your groups at range and turns it into a makeshift marksman rifle. Players have used it for long-range suppression so effectively that it competes with dedicated snipers in some servers.
The trade-off is length. The RPK-74 handles slower than the shorter AKs, so it is less snappy in tight, close-quarters fights. The payoff is ammunition flexibility. Its 45-round magazines run the same 5.45x39mm cartridge as the AK-74, and the standard 30-round AK-74 magazines fit it too, so any squadmate can hand you a spare without thinking about it.
Best US rifle: M16 Carbine
On the US side, the M16 Carbine is the standout. It chambers 5.56x45mm, handles well at close and mid range, and shreds groups of enemies in tight engagements. Mount a scope and switch to semi-automatic, and it stretches its useful range far enough to trade shots with marksmen. That flexibility makes it a strong default for most US loadouts.
Note: A carbine variant with the M203 underbarrel grenade launcher exists, which adds an explosive option without giving up the rifle’s close-range strength.
Best long-range guns: SVD and M21 SWS
For dedicated long-range fire, each faction has a clear pick. The Soviet SVD fires 7.62x54mmR and works as both a sniper rifle and a designated marksman rifle, so it covers the gap between assault rifle and bolt-action precision. The US M21 SWS shoots 7.62x51mm and fills the same role for that side.
Keep in mind that a bipod-mounted RPK-74 can rival the SVD for stability when you are holding a fixed position, which is why some Soviet players reach for it over the SVD when they expect to stay put.
Best modded guns: SCAR 7.62 and .408 Cheytac
Modded servers add dozens of weapons that are not in the base game, and two stand out. The SCAR in 7.62x51mm has heavy stopping power, especially on servers using realistic damage settings, where one or two well-placed rounds can drop an enemy. The .408 Cheytac is the strongest long-range option available in modded play, with confirmed kills past 700 meters.
Tip: Many modded servers gate weapons behind a supply cost. The picks above are valued partly because they perform without draining your team’s supplies, so check your server’s rules before committing to a loadout.
Weapon options by faction
Your faction limits which weapons you can carry in the base game. Use this to match a role to what is actually in your armoury.
| Role | United States | Soviet Union |
|---|---|---|
| Handgun | M9 (9 mm) | PM (9 mm) |
| Carbine | M16 Carbine (5.56 mm) | AKS-74U (5.45 mm) |
| Assault rifle | M16A2 (5.56 mm) | AK-74 (5.45 mm) |
| Sniper / DMR | M21 SWS (7.62 mm) | SVD (7.62 mm) |
| Squad automatic | M249 SAW (5.56 mm) | RPK-74 (5.45 mm) |
| Machine gun | M60 (7.62 mm) | PKM (7.62 mm) |
| Launcher | M72A3 LAW | RPG-7V1, RPG-22 |
The FIA faction draws from a mix of these, including the Sa-58V assault rifle in 7.62x39mm, the SVD, the UK-59L machine gun, and the RPG-7V1 and RPG-75 launchers.
How to choose for your fight
Match the gun to the range you expect. For close and mid-range pushes, the M16 Carbine on the US side and the AK-74 or RPK-74 on the Soviet side give you fast, dependable fire. For holding a position or reaching out past a few hundred meters, mount a bipod-equipped RPK-74, the SVD, or the M21 SWS, and switch to semi-automatic for accurate shots.
Caliber also matters for resupply. Sticking to your faction’s standard round, 5.45x39mm for Soviet and 5.56x45mm for US, means squadmates can share magazines mid-fight. That practical advantage often outweighs a small edge in raw stats, which is a big part of why the RPK-74 and M16 Carbine remain such trusted defaults.
