Handguns

Handguns are great a commodity in the world of Hitman (even more so this time around). A good, reliable Handgun should always find itself in your position at the start of each mission (even if you never really intend to use it). They're concealable and dependable - Sniper Rifles and Shotguns are all well and good, but they each have their time and place before they'll work perfectly. Handguns are suitable for all situations (even more so when you start to customise).

Bull.480 (Taurus Raging Bull)

Ammo Type: Bull (Magnum)
Capacity: 6
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: Yes

Where: A New Life, Death on the Mississippi

This hand-cannon can blow a plate-sized hole in whatever you aim at, but it's slow, stupidly loud, and suffers from a severe lack of ammo. I've only seen Bull ammo lying around once, but there is a large concentration of Bull.480's found during 'Death on the Mississippi.'

Custom 1911 (Colt M1911)

Ammo Type: Magnum
Capacity: 9
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: No

Where: Amendment XXV, Requiem

The Custom 1911 is almost exactly the same as the Desert Eagle in every respect, as to why we have it, I don't know. It only appears twice (always too late to be of any use, I might add) and it isn't even collectable (not even on the standard equipment list).

Desert Eagle

Ammo Type: Magnum
Capacity: 9
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: Yes

Where: Death of a Showman, The Murder of Crows, Death on the Mississippi, A Dance with the Devil, Amendment XXV

If you need to make some noise, then this is the gun to use. This semi- automatic powerhouse can make you happy by just being there. Magnum ammo is pretty scarce, but don't be surprised to find large caches from time to time ('A Dance with the Devil' springs to mind). There are plenty of opportunities to grab a Desert Eagle or two, try high profile Bodyguards or targets if you're desperate.

Nail Gun (Pro Nailer 2000)

Ammo Type: Nails (belt-fed)
Capacity: 50
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: Yes (on standard equipment screen only)

Where: Curtains Down, A New Life, Amendment XXV

Technically, not strictly speaking, it's not really a firearm (but by the same standard, it's not a melee weapon, either). It's a cordless Nail Gun that uses a CO2 cylinder (partial silence) to fire nails at a very high velocity over a short distance (understandably, it loses power and accuracy greatly over a distance). If you want to actually score a kill with this thing, then it's head-shots only I'm afraid, otherwise you'll be there all day.

SLP.40 (H&K USP)

Ammo Type: .45ACP
Capacity: 12
Two-Handed: Yes
Collectable: Yes

Where: Death of a Showman, Curtains Down, Flatline, A New Life, The Murder of Crows, A House of Cards, A Dance with the Devil, Amendment XXV, Requiem

The SLP.40 is pretty much standard issue for every goon and Guard from here to eternity. It'll be the first gun you ever find and the first gun to ever kill you - that is Hitman's one and only truth. I have never found a reason to deviate from my Silverballer for this. It's accurate enough, and it's pretty powerful, but for a .45ACP, it's not as powerful as you'd expect. Grab one for your collection and then avoid it completely.

SLP.40.S (H&K USP w/Suppressor)

Ammo Type: .45ACP
Capacity: 12
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: Yes

Where: The Murder of Crows, A House of Cards

This is really rather okay, I think. It's exactly the same as the SLP.40 but with an added Silencer. If this were Contracts, then I'd say that this were a fine addition to your arsenal, but with the new customisation options available for the Silverballer, this comes second best. What it does have going for it, however, is that ammo for it is abundant (seeing as it takes the same ammo as the SLP.40, which is the most common Handgun in the game).

Snub Nosed Revolver (M36 Chief's Special)

Ammo Type: Pistol
Capacity: 6
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: Yes

Where: A Vintage Year, Death on the Mississippi

The Snub Nosed Revolver appears to resemble the classic-style service revolver (the kind everyone was running around with while Dirty Harry opted for his hand-cannon). Anyway, at close range, this weapon can prove quite powerful (due to the short barrel), but over a distance, where it counts the most, it can't hit for toffee, and when it does, it won't leave too much of a mark.

Silverballer (AMT Hardballer)

Ammo Type: Low Velocity/.45ACP/Magnum
Capacity: Upgradeable
Two-Handed: Yes, if dual is selected
Collectable: Default

Where: Requiem, Default

The Silverballer has been the staple of the Hitman series since day one (then, it went by its original name of 'Hardballer' and only held 7 shots). Over the series, it has been gradually beefed-up and on occasion doubled-up. This time around, the Silverballer takes full advantage of the new customise feature. By splashing your ill-gotten gains, you can increase its speed, power, and versatility to beyond that of any other Handgun.

Level 1 Upgrades: $50,000
(Available as default)
- Low Velocity Ammo
- More silent
- Less recoil
- Excludes other ammo
- Silencer Type-1
- Medium silenced
- Excludes Silencer Type-2
- Excludes Long Slide
Level 2 Upgrades: $75,000
(Complete 'A Vintage Year')
- Extra Ammo
- 2 extra clips
- Expands all clips
- Rail Mount
- For Scope
- Laser Sight
- Laser Aim
- Medium Precise
Level 3 Upgrades: $100,000
(Complete 'Flatline')
- Magnum Ammo
- Penetrates doors
- More recoil
- Excludes other ammo
- Long Slide
- Better precision
- Less recoil
- Excludes Silencer
- Dual Action
- Two guns
- Twice the fun
- More recoil
Level 4 Upgrades: $150,000
(Complete 'The Murder of Crows')

- Red Dot Sight
- Small zoom
- High precision
- Requires Rail Mount
- Excludes Scope
- Large Clip
- More bullets
- Double capacity
Level 5 Upgrades: $200,000
(Complete 'Death on the Mississippi')

- Silencer Type-2
- Max silenced
- Excludes Silencer Type-1
- Excludes Long Slide
- Scope Type-1
- Medium zoom
- Extreme precision
- Requires Rail Mount
- Excludes Red Dot Sight
- Full Auto Fire
- High rate-of-fire
- Requires Large Clip
- More recoil

Six-Shooter (Schofield Model 3)

Ammo Type: Pistol
Capacity: 6
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: Yes

Where: Till Death Do Us Part

When I knocked my first Hillbilly unconscious and rifled through his pockets, I was initially excited to find the Six-Shooter. I thought that surely Clint Eastwood and Revolver Ocelot would know a winner when they saw it - how wrong I was. There is very little accuracy (even over the shortest of distances) backed up with very little power.

WWI Pistol (Mauser C96)

Ammo Type: Mauser
Capacity: 9
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: No

Where: Curtains Down

Is this the real one or the fake? Admittedly, this weapon's only purpose is to kill Alvard D'Alvade in a crafty way. I don't think that we were really ever meant to use it in the traditional sense (hence it not being collectable). If you really want to use it, bear in mind that it'll only have nine shots (no ammo in the game for it, either), and unless you go for head-shots, it'll probably take that many to kill someone.

WWI Pistol (Prop)

Ammo Type: Blanks
Capacity: 9
Two-Handed: No
Collectable: No

Where: Curtains Down

The WWI Prop Pistol is as the name suggests, a prop. Not to cast dispersions, but if you use this, you'll be firing blanks. This is the weapon used to execute Cavaradossi at the end of the third act of Tosca. It can't even deliver a chafing powder burn. If you have this in your possession, you're either planning something in a cunning fashion or you've just lost the plot. Either way, it's still best not to run around firing at people, because Guards lack a sense of humour.

Melee / Close Combat Weapons
Handguns
Assault Rifles
Submachine Guns
Shotguns
Sniper Rifles
Special Weapons and Equipment