Fallout 4‘s Best Pistols: The Ultimate Picks for Wasteland Survival

As any Fallout 4 player knows, having a quality pistol at your side can mean the difference between survival and disaster in the unforgiving Wasteland. But with so many options to choose from, how do you determine which handguns are truly the best?

I‘ve logged over 300 hours exploring the Wasteland, collecting an arsenal worthy of scrutiny. Through extensive firsthand testing of pistols across the Commonwealth, I‘ve narrowed down the very best based on key factors like damage output, ammo efficiency, range, accuracy, fire rate, value, weight and more.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover my top pistol recommendations along with key stats, gameplay strengths and weaknesses, where to find them, and pro tips for putting their firepower to optimal use against ghouls, Deathclaws and more.

Image source: research.aimultiple.com

How I Determine the Best Pistols

When picking top pistols for tackling Fallout 4’s dangers, key criteria include:

Damage: The higher the damage dealt per shot, the quicker you can take down enemies, especially stronger ones like Mirelurk Queens.

Accuracy: Tight shot groupings ensure more bullets hit their mark, conserving ammo.

Range: Longer reach allows engaging threats from a safer distance.

Ammo Efficiency: Making the most of each precious round is pivotal for sustained firefights.

Fire Rate: Faster shot cycling maximizes damage per second (DPS).

Weight: Lighter pistols ease inventory burdens.

Value: Getting more wasteland bang for your bottle cap bucks.

Now let’s showcase the very finest pistols for dominating Fallout 4!

Pipe Pistol

While humble in appearance, an upgraded .45 caliber Pipe Pistol can serve surprisingly well, especially for beginning your wasteland journey.

Base Stats

• .45 Receiver: 13 Damage
• 12 Round Magazine
• 55 Fire Rate
• 83 Range
• 57 Accuracy

Where to Get It

You can often find Pipe Pistols whilst scavenging or on fallen enemies. I grabbed my first at Bedford Station by using a terminal to open a novice locked door.

Alternatively, Arturo Rodriguez in Diamond City sells a Compensated Pipe Pistol modded for improved performance.

Strengths

• Common drop makes acquiring easy
• Inexpensive to purchase rounds from vendors
• Respectable damage and fire rate when upgraded

Weaknesses

• Underwhelming until installing .45 receiver
• Slow reload compared to quick magazine changes

Old Faithful

While low-tier enemies quickly fall before the might of unique laser pistol Old Faithful, what makes it extraordinary is the Instigating legendary effect, causing double damage upon full health targets!

Stats

• Instigating (Double Damage if Target is at Full Health)
• 24 Base Damage
• 30 Round Fusion Cell Magazine
• 50 Fire Rate
• 71 Range
• 71 Accuracy

Where to Get It

You can purchase Old Faithful from Arturo Rodriguez once you unlock him as a vendor in Diamond City.

Strengths

• Destroys full health standard enemies
• No reload needed with large fusion cell magazine
• Precise mid-long range targeting

Weaknesses

• Instigating less effective against towering bosses
• Fusion cells can be pricey or scarce

Now let’s move onto to some top-tier pistols for dominating Fallout 4’s threats!

Eddie’s Peace

When it comes to sheer destructive power in a pistol, criminal kingpin Eddie Winter’s customized .44 beats all comers. Just be sure to keep it steady under the kick of its massive rounds!

Stats

• 48 Damage Per Shot
• 50% Bonus Limb Damage
• 6 Round .44 Magazine
• 81 Accuracy
• 25 AP Cost

Where to Find It

The Long Time Coming quest awards you Eddie‘s Peace for finally eliminating the notorious gangster Eddie Winter.

Strengths

• Massive damage especially on limbs
• Stylish old-timey appearance
• Built-in rifle scope improves accuracy

Weaknesses

• Slow fire rate and reload
• Heavy recoil requires compensation
• Rare .44 ammo

Just be sure to keep your arms steady and this hand cannon will reward you with unrivaled devastation!

Now let‘s move from chaos to order with Fallout 4’s signature Alien Blaster.

Alien Blaster

While limited ammunition constrains the otherworldly Alien Blaster Pistol’s use, no other pistol rivals its technological terror. Vaporizing enemies with mysterious energy bolts never gets old!

Stats

• 50 Damage Per Shot Of Alien Energy
• 100 Fire Rate
• 42 Round Alien Blaster Clip
• 119 Range

Where to Acquire This Rare Gem

You’ll find the Alien Blaster near a downed recon craft just northeast of Oberland Station. Climb aboard and steal if from the alien captain’s remains.

Strengths

• Unique futuristic design unmatched damage
• Hip-fire nicely with reflex sight

Weaknesses

• Very rare alien ammo
• Slow moving projectile

If attaining the Alien Blaster seems too time consuming though, the undeniable firepower of the Plasma Pistol awaits.

Plasma Pistol

While the Alien Blaster’s ammo restrictions limit its use, no such worries hinder unloading plasma Cartridges from the mighty rapid-firing Plasma Pistol!

Stats

• 24 Ballistic + 24 Energy Damage
• 30 Round Plasma Cartridge Magazine
• 33 Fire Rate
• 142 Accuracy
• 34 AP Cost

Where to Grab this Versatile Energy Weapon

You can typically start purchasing Plasma Pistols once your character reaches Level 16+ from weapon vendors.

Alternatively, keep an eye out for high-level Gunner holdouts containing Plasma Pistol drops.

Strengths

• Combined ballistic and energy damage
• Large magazine capacity
• Tight accuracy even during rapid fire

Weaknesses

• Plasma cartridges can be scarce
• High AP cost in V.A.T.S.

Bringing both ballistic and energy damage, the Plasma Pistol certainly pulls its weight! Still crave pure ballistic blows however? Kellogg’s Pistol packs a punch.

Kellogg’s Pistol

While best known as the weapon of the notorious mercenary Conrad Kellogg, this .44 Magnum revolver’s “Relentless” legendary bonus letting you spam V.A.T.S. attacks cements its infamous legacy!

Stats

• 48 Damage
• Refills Action Points (AP) On Critical Hits
• 6 Round .44 Magnum Magazine
• 70 Accuracy

Where to Snatch This Notorious Gun

Defeat the infamous Kellogg during Fallout 4’s main campaign and you can pry this prize pistol from his cold dead hands!

Strengths

• High base damage
• Refilling AP enables rapid V.A.T.S. attacks

Weaknesses

• Slow fire rate reduces DPS
• Heavy .44 ammo

Despite its glacial fire rate, Kellogg’s Pistol empowers unleashing devastating V.A.T.S. carnage!

Now let’s examine a pistol offering immense flexibility: the versatile Pipe Bolt-Action Pistol.

Pipe Bolt-Action Pistol

Transforming from plinking small pests at range to annihilating alpha enemies up close, the Pipe Bolt-Action Pistol’s customizability makes it remarkably adaptable.

Stats

• 34 Damage (.308 Receiver)
• 6 Round Detachable Magazine Box
• 95 Range
• 63 Accuracy

Where to Build This Malleable Pistol

Craft one yourself or loot Pipe Bolt-Action Pistols off various wasteland enemies like Raiders. I grabbed an early one finishing up quests for Trudy at the Drumlin Diner.

Strengths

• Simple to craft receivers for diverse ammo types
• Respectable base damage and range
• Upgrades increase flexibility

Weaknesses

• Slow innate fire rate
• Per-shot recoil disrupts aim

Whether you prefer plinking tiny terrors or vaporizing alpha enemies, customizing the Pipe Bolt-Action Pistol to your style makes it a true wasteland winner!

Comparison Table

Here‘s a snapshot overview comparing the key stats of these badass Fallout 4 pistols:

Table summarizing top Fallout 4 pistol comparison stats

Expert Recommendations

Based on your combat style priorities, I recommend these as the very best Fallout 4 pistols:

Overall: Eddie‘s Peace

High Damage: Alien Blaster

Accuracy: Old Faithful

Fire Rate: Plasma Pistol

Stealth: Suppressed 10mm Pistol

Starter: Pipe Pistol

The Bottom Line

The top Fallout 4 pistols above demonstrate the impressive versatility handguns bring for tackling the dangers of Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic Boston Wasteland.

While options like Eddie’s Peace and the Alien Blaster indeed prove peack performers, even humble beginnings with the Pipe Pistol can lay the foundation for explosive ends!

Upgrading receiver, grip, sight and barrel attachments enable tailoring pistols to your personal priorities for damage, fire rate, range or recoil recovery.

However you enjoy gameplay, equipping one of these bad boy blistering ballistic or energy blasters empowers making the most of each precious round whilst exploring, questing and battling across the Wastes!

Q: What is the most powerful pistol in Fallout 4?

A: The Alien Blaster‘s otherworldly energy rounds enable it to deal the highest per-shot damage of any pistol, an astounding 50 HP!

Q: Where can I find Kellogg‘s Pistol?

A: Defeating the mercenary Conrad Kellogg during Fallout 4‘s main questline rewards you with his customized .44 pistol to loot from his body.

Q: What pistol has the highest rate of fire in Fallout 4?

A: The Plasma Pistol upgraded with advanced capacitor coils and hip shot auto barrel attain the fastest fully-automatic pistol fire rate at 108 rounds per minute!

Q: What pistol deals radiation damage?

A: The Gamma Gun modified with a Deep Dish or Shielded Barrel upgrade inflicts potent radiation damage alongside ballistic impact force.

I hope this guide has shed light on finding pistols to fit your needs whilst exploring Fallout 4‘s Wasteland frontier! Let the bottle cap bodies hit the floor!