What can you do as a free member?

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and unlock all our premium features and tools to enhance your gaming experience.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save articles to your watchlist and get notified when they're updated with new information.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save your favorite games for quick access later, synced across all your devices.

Member benefits illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you'll receive instant notifications when someone replies to your posts.

Comment rating feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can make use of convenient features in the comments section, such as rating and sorting comments.

Premium archive feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can access Premium articles that are exclusively available to members.

Site Interface

Guest
Free Member
Article Watchlist
Game Bookmarks
Cross-device Sync
Light/Dark Theme Toggle
User Profiles
Direct Feedback
Comment Rating

Game Tools

Guest
Free Member
Interactive Map Access
Interactive Map Pins
Interactive Map Comments
Interactive Map Pins Cross-Device
Check List
Event Choice Checker
Deck Builder Cross-Device
Message Board Notification
Message Board Cross-Device
Build Planner
Stat Calculator
Diagnostic Tool
Weapon/Armor Wishlist

Want more information?Learn more

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (MW3)

Best Handguns and Handguns List

Add to Watchlist

This is a list of all Handguns in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3). Read on to learn more about the stats of each Handgun and how to unlock them!

Best Handguns

  1. Renetti: Highly Accurate 3-Burst Handgun with Low Time-to-Kill (TTK)
  2. TYR: Strongest Damage Output among MW3 Handguns
  3. COR-45: Best Handgun for Beginners

Renetti

Modern Warfare 3 - Renetti

The Renetti is arguably the best Handgun in MW3 as it has great accuracy, low recoil, and decent damage for just a secondary sidearm.

Not to mention that it's a 3-round burst pistol which speeds up the time it takes to kill an opponent (Time-to-Kill), making it almost identical to an SMG due to this.

Renetti Best Loadout and Build

TYR

Modern Warfare 3 - Tyr

The TYR is a 5-shot revolver that packs a huge amount of damage coupled with exceptional range and accuracy. This pistol hits like a truck at the cost of a slow firing rate.

Using this handgun may require a bit of skill since there's not a lot of room for error when shooting as you won't be able to spam bullets in case you miss your first few shots on an unsuspecting enemy.

TYR Best Loadout and Build

COR-45

Modern Warfare 3 - COR-45

COR-45 is a beginner's best handgun due to its forgiving nature in terms of its easy recoil control and overall reliability plus bullet range.

However, the only downside to this pistol is that its damage is mediocre at best and other handguns are just significantly better at inflicting harm on your opponents.

COR-45 Best Loadout and Build

List of All Handguns and Pistols

MW3 Handguns

Weapon Gun Info
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - RenettiRenetti Base Round Capacity: 15
Reserve Ammo: 60
How to Unlock: Unlocked by default.
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - WSP StingerWSP Stinger Base Round Capacity: 20
Reserve Ammo: 80
How to Unlock: Unlocked at Level 16.
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - COR-45COR-45 Base Round Capacity: 14
Reserve Ammo: 56
How to Unlock: TBA
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - TYRTYR Base Round Capacity: 5
Reserve Ammo: 20
How to Unlock: TBA

There are 4 confirmed MW3 Handguns.

MW2 Handguns

Weapon Gun Info
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - P890P890 Base Round Capacity: 8
Reserve Ammo: 16
How to Unlock: Unlocked by default.
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - X12X12 Base Round Capacity: 17
Reserve Ammo: 34
How to Unlock: Unlocked at Level 31.
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - X13 AutoX13 Auto Base Round Capacity: 17
Reserve Ammo: 34
How to Unlock: Unlocked by leveling the X12 to Level 10.
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - .50 GS.50 GS Base Round Capacity: 7
Reserve Ammo: 14
How to Unlock: Unlocked at Level 13.
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - BasiliskBasilisk Base Round Capacity: 5
Reserve Ammo: 20
How to Unlock: Unlocked at Level 39.
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - 9mm Daemon9mm Daemon Base Round Capacity: 15
Reserve Ammo: 75
How to Unlock: Get 15 Operator headshot kills with pistols.
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - GS MagnaGS Magna Base Round Capacity: 7
Reserve Ammo: 14
How to Unlock: Get 30 headshot Operator kills using the .50 GS
Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) - FTAC SiegeFTAC Siege Base Round Capacity: 32
Reserve Ammo: 64
How to Unlock: Get 50 hipfire Operator kills using handguns.

There are 8 confirmed MW2 Handguns that can be carried forward to Modern Warfare 3.

Carry Forward Explained

How to Use Handguns

Pair with a Riot Shield

If you're planning to use a Handgun as your main weapon through a match, it's best to pair it with a Riot Shield as the latter provides excellent defense which can boost your survivability in a hectic firefight. These shields will also protect you from behind each time you bring out your handgun.

You can equip a Riot Shield in your primary loadout slot, then your Handgun as your secondary.

Backup Weapon for Sniper and Marksman Rifles

Handguns can act as backup weapons while using Sniper and Marksman rifles as they can be quickly swapped to incase an enemy rushes in your sniping position.

They're also a better option to use whenever you run out of ammo with your sniper rifles since switching to a handgun is always faster then reloading.

Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) Related Guides

Modern Warfare 3 - Guns and Weapons

List of All Guns and Weapons

All Guns and Weapon Guides

Guns and Weapon Guides
Best Guns Tier List All New MW3 Guns
All Returning Guns in MW3 Recommended Weapons for Challenges

All Guns and Weapons by Type

Guns and Weapons by Type
Assault Rifles Battle Rifles
Submachine Guns Shotguns
Light Machine Guns Marksman Rifles
Sniper Rifles Handguns
Melee Weapons Launchers

Author

    Please participate in our site
    improvement survey
    12/2025
    Would you assist in
    improving Game8's site?
    ×
    This survey will take about 1 minute.
    Your answers will help us to improve our website.
    We are listening to our users' valuable opinions and discussing how to act on them.
    The information collected through this survey will be used for the purpose of improving our services. In addition, the information will only be disclosed a part of a statistic in a format that will not allow identification of personal information.
    Begin Survey

    All rights reserved

    Guide Index