Insurgency: Sandstorm is a team-based first-person shooter, highly acclaimed for its depiction of realistic combat and impeccable customization that can be tailored to any preference (though, like any game, it has its foibles and issues). Assigned to either Insurgent or Security forces, each faction introduces a vast selection of guns, explosives, clothing, and vital equipment for players as they enter the fray.
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Insurgency: Sandstorm is unique to the FPS genre in that it keeps weaponry exclusive across factions; Insurgents will generally wield guns that are very different to Security's arsenal. As such, this list encompasses the five best primary weapons for each faction and ranks them by stats, versatility, and overall effectiveness in combat.
10 FAMAS Assault Rifle: Insurgents
The FAMAS is an outstanding bullpup rifle available to several Insurgent classes, though its success is restrained by several glaring issues. It has an exceptional fire rate of 1,000 rounds per minute, but its single magazine option holds only 25 bullets and runs dry almost immediately. This makes one-on-one firefights ridiculously easy to win, but having to reload leaves players in an especially vulnerable state.
Despite its flaws, the FAMAS is an excellent choice for larger maps like Citadel, where encountering several enemies at once is less common and cover is plentiful. With trigger discipline and strategy, this rifle can be a substantial boon to the player's team.
9 QTS-11 Hybrid Rifle: Security
Arguably the ugliest weapon in Sandstorm, the QTS-11 redeems itself with an explosive performance. Integrated into the rifle is a handy grenade launcher, capable of firing anti-personnel frags and smoke grenades, much like Battlefield 2042's underbarrel grenade launcher. Additionally, the QTS-11 can be equipped with a night vision scope, crucial on maps where light is limited.
It's available to several Security classes and hits remarkably hard. Consequently, this is the slowest-firing assault rifle at 550 rounds per minute, but it's adaptable to many situations and yields little recoil as it blasts and pierces enemies while obstructing their vision.
8 MP5A2 Submachine Gun: Insurgents
While lacking the burst-fire from Security's MP5A5, the MP5A2 is marginally superior. Recoil is the most noticeable upgrade, with the Insurgent's SMG demonstrating more stability while firing and, therefore, greater accuracy as well. The MP5A2's bullet spread is tight in close range environments, with suitable iron sights (up there with some of the best available in Warzone) as well. Both guns are statistically the same, but their differences are clearly evident in-game.
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Like most submachine guns, the MP5A2 outputs low damage and is essentially useless at a distance, but its high fire rate and sizable magazine help make up for that.
7 MP7 Submachine Gun: Security
The MP7 is an extremely mobile weapon—swift in its fire rate, reload time, and aim down sights (ADS) time. It's accessible to the Security Breacher class and lends itself exclusively to close quarters combat, due to its rather challenging recoil.
Unique to the MP7 and few other guns, armor piercing rounds supplement the SMG with increased damage against more durable enemies. Need to rush a heavily defended building? This weapon is perfect for fast-paced combat, and fans of getting up close and personal with Call of Duty's iconic run-and-gun gameplay will delight in wielding it.
6 AKM Assault Rifle: Insurgents
One of the most challenging weapons to master is the classic AKM, with high recoil that's hard to predict. At 600 rounds per minute, its fire rate is one of the lowest for assault rifles and is abysmal for close quarters combat. Where this rifle shines is at mid-range, with its impressive 7.62x39mm ammunition and one to two shot kill potential.
It's a cheap rifle at only three supply points, permitting ample customization. With some practice and the correct attachments, the AKM can and will dominate the battlefield.
5 MK17 Mod 0 Battle Rifle: Security
The MK17 Mod 0—also called the SCAR-H—is a hard-hitting battle rifle used by the Security Advisor class. It performs similarly to the Tavor 7, but is superior in having less recoil and a more manageable fire rate to suit its small magazine size. Since the MK-17 Mod 0 is two supply points cheaper than its competing rifle, increasing the magazine capacity to 30 rounds is a must.
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While suffering from low penetration at close range, it's a well-rounded weapon for mid-range engagements and provides unbeatable firepower.
4 M82A1 CQ Sniper Rifle: Security
It's easy to count out sniper rifles for their overbearing weight, but the M82A1 CQ stands out. Its .50 BMG cartridges are capable of dismembering human bodies (like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's dismemberment rounds) with just one shot, and enemy technicals will go down in two. The precision and sheer devastation of this rifle are unmatched, a force to be reckoned with.
Naturally, this anti-material rifle drains stamina and inhibits movement speed, demanding that players hold vantage points rather than rush the objective. It's the ultimate sniper rifle Sandstorm has to offer, and it's rightly feared by all players.
3 PKM Light Machine Gun: Insurgents
Players using the Insurgent Gunner class will feel unstoppable wielding this behemoth. The PKM carries a deadly 100 rounds, which is significantly less than other light machine guns. Conversely, its bullets strike with incredible force at a manageable fire rate of 652 rounds per minute, melting through walls and armor with ease.
As a great team-based tactical shooter, Insurgency: Sandstorm encourages the use of suppressive fire from ferocious machine guns like the PKM. This weapon is ideal for overlooking teammates as they advance into enemy territory, because no one dares to challenge this deadly gun.
2 Honey Badger Assault Rifle: Security
Much like the animal it's named after, the Honey Badger is a reliable weapon that instills fear into opponents. It's an integrally suppressed rifle with little noise production and a high rate of fire, making it essential for low-profile flanks at close quarters. Recoil is a little awkward, but extra attachments should easily mitigate that problem.
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While not as powerful at mid-range gunfights as the renowned M4A1, sustaining the element of surprise during stealthy infiltrations (the Call of Duty series offers some great loadouts for this) can go a long way. Time to kill (TTK) is irrelevant when the enemy doesn't know you're coming.
1 FAL Battle Rifle: Insurgents
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A very strong contender for the title of best rifle in Insurgency: Sandstorm, the FAL is a fully-automatic powerhouse. It produces very little recoil despite being chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO cartridges, and requires only one to two chest shots to silence an opponent. The velocity of this weapon is also superb, boasting high damage at nearly any range.
Its only real drawback is the small 20-round magazine capacity, which is fairly justified by balanced fire rate, versatility, and customization. The Insurgent forces are often acknowledged as having less impactful weaponry than Security, but the FAL lays those concerns to rest.
Insurgency: Sandstorm is available now, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows.
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