At the start of Chapter 2 in Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur has a fairly basic setup: a Bow, Carbine Repeater, and Revolver.

This route shows how to build a much stronger early-game loadout with dual sidearms, powerful rifles, better hunting weapons, improved Dead Eye, and useful ammunition.

1. Hunt and Skin Three Deer

Leave camp and hunt:

3 Deer

A Buck also works.

Skin each animal after killing it.

The source recommends bringing your horse close before skinning because this shortens the animation.

After all three have been skinned, you unlock access to the:

Master Hunter Off-Hand Holster

at the Trapper.

2. Shoot Three Birds in Flight

Stay in the same area and shoot:

3 birds while they are flying

This completes:

Sharpshooter Rank 1

and unlocks the:

Sharpshooter Bandolier

at the Trapper.

3. Visit the Trapper

Go to a Trapper and buy:

• Sharpshooter Bandolier
• Master Hunter Off-Hand Holster

The Off-Hand Holster allows Arthur to:

Dual-wield two sidearms

Possible combinations include:

• Revolver + Revolver
• Revolver + Pistol
• Sawed-Off Shotgun + Pistol
• Other sidearm combinations

4. Get the $500 Limpany Gold Bar

Travel to:

Limpany

the burned-down settlement near Horseshoe Overlook.

Enter the ruined:

Sheriff’s Office

and look for the Lockbox.

Inside is:

1 Gold Bar

worth:

$500

The source uses this money to pay for most of the equipment needed later in the route.

5. Get the Lancaster Repeater for Free

Travel to:

Rhodes

There is a hidden side activity involving the:

Gunsmith

and a man locked in the basement.

Interact with the situation and then threaten the Gunsmith.

Force him to take you downstairs.

Inside the basement, you’ll find the:

Lancaster Repeater

which you can take for free.

The source describes it as one of the best Repeaters available.

Handle the Basement However You Want

The source simply shoots the prisoner’s chains and leaves.

How you handle the rest of the encounter is up to you.

The important reward for this route is the:

Lancaster Repeater

6. Sell the Gold Bar

Visit the:

Fence near Rhodes

and sell the Limpany Gold Bar for:

$500

You can remain in Rhodes afterward, but the source returns to:

Valentine

for the next upgrades.

7. Buy the Varmint Rifle

At the Valentine Gunsmith, buy:

Varmint Rifle

Then equip it with a:

Medium Scope

The source recommends this setup for making longer-range shots on smaller animals easier.

8. Buy the Springfield Rifle

Next, buy:

Springfield Rifle

and add:

Medium Scope

This gives you a powerful long-range hunting and combat option.

9. Buy Better Ammunition

Stock up on:

• Regular rounds
• High Velocity rounds
• Shotgun Shells

The source specifically recommends:

High Velocity Ammo

for taking down larger animals with well-placed shots.

10. Get Calloway’s Revolver Early

Go to the Valentine Saloon and approach the mission involving:

Jim “Boy” Calloway

However, don’t properly start the mission yet.

Instead:

1. Enter the Saloon.
2. Shove the bartender.
3. Let him run outside.
4. Follow him.
5. Wait until the Question Mark mission marker turns white again.
6. Return inside.
7. Knock out Calloway.
8. Continue until he drops his Revolver.

Pick it up.

Calloway’s Revolver

The weapon is:

Calloway’s Revolver

The source identifies it as a customized:

Schofield Revolver

and considers it one of the stronger sidearms available early.

The source also notes that you can return a day or two later and start the mission properly without breaking it.

RDR2 Hunting Guide: Best Weapons, Perfect Pelts and Master Hunter Tips

11. Complete Americans at Rest

Finish:

Americans at Rest

This opens progression toward the mission in which the gang searches for:

Sean

That mission gives you another opportunity to grab an excellent weapon much earlier than normal.

12. Get the Bolt Action Rifle Early

During the Sean rescue mission, quietly eliminate the first pair of guards.

The most important part comes with the next two guards.

Kill them before they can alert everyone.

One of them carries:

Bolt Action Rifle

Pick it up.

According to the source, the Bolt Action Rifle normally becomes available around the middle of Chapter 3, but this lets you acquire it:

Early and for free

Your Early Rifle Setup

At this point, you’ll have several excellent long guns:

• Lancaster Repeater
• Springfield Rifle
• Bolt Action Rifle
• Varmint Rifle

That gives you options for:

• General combat
• Hunting
• Long-range shooting
• Small animals
• Larger animals

13. Collect a Valerian Root

As a bonus, ride near:

Emerald Ranch

and collect:

Valerian Root

The source uses this to boost:

Dead Eye experience

14. Use the Fence Jump Trick

After using the Valerian Root, immediately:

Jump over a nearby fence

According to the source, Arthur keeps the item’s effect while the Valerian Root remains in your inventory.

You can then repeat the process.

The source uses this trick repeatedly to raise:

Dead Eye to Level 8

within a short amount of time.

15. Collect Feathers From Larger Birds

Shoot larger birds and collect:

Feathers

The source combines these with regular Shotgun Shells to craft:

Small Game Arrows

Why Small Game Arrows Matter

Small Game Arrows are useful for hunting:

• Small animals
• Birds
• Animals needed for Challenges

They’re especially helpful when you need to preserve small-animal carcasses or Pelts.

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Complete Early-Game Weapon Route

Here is the entire setup in order:

1. Leave Camp.
2. Hunt 3 Deer.
3. Skin all three.
4. Unlock the Master Hunter Off-Hand Holster.
5. Shoot 3 birds in flight.
6. Complete Sharpshooter Rank 1.
7. Visit the Trapper.
8. Buy the Sharpshooter Bandolier.
9. Buy the Master Hunter Off-Hand Holster.
10. Visit Limpany.
11. Collect the $500 Gold Bar.
12. Travel to Rhodes.
13. Discover the Gunsmith basement.
14. Get the Lancaster Repeater.
15. Visit the Fence.
16. Sell the Gold Bar.
17. Return to Valentine.
18. Buy the Varmint Rifle.
19. Add a Medium Scope.
20. Buy the Springfield Rifle.
21. Add a Medium Scope.
22. Buy Regular and High Velocity Ammo.
23. Buy Shotgun Shells.
24. Start the Calloway encounter without fully beginning the mission.
25. Knock out Calloway.
26. Pick up Calloway’s Revolver.
27. Complete Americans at Rest.
28. Progress to the Sean rescue mission.
29. Kill the relevant guards quietly.
30. Pick up the Bolt Action Rifle.
31. Collect Valerian Root near Emerald Ranch.
32. Use the fence-jump trick.
33. Raise Dead Eye.
34. Shoot larger birds.
35. Collect Feathers.
36. Craft Small Game Arrows.

Weapons You End Up With

By following this route, your early Chapter 2 arsenal can include:

• Calloway’s Revolver
• Lancaster Repeater
• Bolt Action Rifle
• Springfield Rifle
• Varmint Rifle
• Bow with Small Game Arrows
• Starting sidearm for dual-wielding

Best Weapon for General Combat

The:

Lancaster Repeater

is a strong all-around option.

It offers good handling and works well for typical firefights.

Best Early Long-Range Weapon

The:

Bolt Action Rifle

is especially valuable because the source obtains it long before its normal unlock point.

The:

Springfield Rifle

also gives you another strong long-range option.

Best Hunting Weapon

The:

Varmint Rifle

is useful for smaller animals.

Meanwhile:

High Velocity Ammo

with stronger rifles helps against larger game.

Best Early Sidearm Upgrade

The combination of:

Off-Hand Holster

and:

Calloway’s Revolver

gives you a much stronger sidearm setup than Arthur starts Chapter 2 with.

Final Result

Within the early part of Chapter 2, this route gives Arthur a balanced loadout for nearly every common situation:

• Dual-wielding for close combat
• Lancaster Repeater for general firefights
• Bolt Action Rifle for powerful ranged shots
• Springfield Rifle for hunting and long range
• Varmint Rifle for small game
• Small Game Arrows for delicate hunting
• Improved Dead Eye
• Better ammunition capacity through the Bandolier

Instead of waiting for the story to gradually unlock better equipment, you can build a capable early-game arsenal almost immediately and carry it through a large portion of Red Dead Redemption 2.