Rainbow Six Siege offers a wide variety of weapons, though each operator only has access to a handful of them. Sometimes, when choosing operators with similar abilities, the weapon becomes an important factor to consider.
While you must be able to control the recoil of the weapon of your choice to use it effectively, it is not best to always stick with the low recoil weapons. Sometimes, you have to accept a harder recoil for higher stats, which you can master with a little bit more practice.
This list is based on Year 9 Season 2 data.
15. AK-12/Type-89
DPS: 566.6
AK-12
| Operators | Fuze and Ace |
| Damage | 40 (Body) – 30 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 850 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.40 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 5th shot |
Type-89
| Operators | Hibana |
| Damage | 40 (Body) – 30 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 850 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.30 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 2nd shot |
AK-12 and Type-89 both share almost identical stats in Rainbow Six Siege, though the horizontal recoil pattern for Type-89 is a bit harsher, which makes it more difficult to control at extended fire.
While the reload time for Type-89 is shorter than that of AK-12, that is a little compensation for such a strong horizontal recoil. Also, don’t forget that AK-12 comes with a 30-bullet magazine, while Type-89 can fire 20 bullets with each magazine.
Both weapons come with the ACOG sights and they share the same attachments. However, Hibana, the only owner of Type-89 in Siege benefits from a Bearing 9 as her secondary weapon, which is a sheer edge over the loadouts of Fuze and Ace.
14. C75 Auto
DPS: 583.3
| Operators | Dokkaebi, Kali, Vigil, Thorn, and Sentry |
| Damage | 35 (Body) – 26 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 1000 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.34 seconds |
| Reload Time | 2.90 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical |
C75 Auto is not a comfortable weapon because you are forced to use it with the iron sight, which leaves much less clear vision on the screen for the player to follow their target, especially if the target goes downward.
That being said, the weapon’s vertical-only recoil and significant DPS make it a reasonable choice for operators like Thorn that don’t have anything better in their secondary slot.
The lack of customization on C75 Auto comes to attention even more when you realize that the barrel can only be modified with a silencer. So, you don’t have anything to tune down the recoil or at least increase the damage.
13. SPSMG9 With Extended Barrel
DPS: 588
| Operators | Kali and Clash |
| Damage | 36 (Body) – 27 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 980 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.36 seconds |
| Reload Time | 2.70 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical |
SPSMG9 is the best secondary SMG when it comes to recoil control, much better than SMG-11, SMG-12, and C75 Auto.
You can begin with a Muzzle Brake if you find the recoil hard to control, and then switch to Extended Barrel when you learn the pattern.
The lower fire rate compared to other secondary SMGs is the key to SPSMG9’s milder recoil, though that also reduces the DPS rate. If you are a Kali or Clash player, SPSMG9 is by far the best choice for close and mid-range gunfights.
12. SMG-12
DPS: 592.6
| Operators | Dokkaebi, Vigil, and Warden |
| Damage | 28 (Body) – 21 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 1270 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.36 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.00 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 2nd shot |
Even the pro players in Siege cannot fully control the massive recoil of SMG-12. You really need to focus on burst shots with this weapon, or you will be drilling the ceiling.
The lack of a Muzzle Brake is one big reason why SMG-12 cannot be tamed as easily as other secondary SMGs. The only compensation for this massive recoil though is the 32-bullet magazine, which is even bigger than some primary SMGs.
Despite placing on the 12th place due to its DPS, we don’t recommend SMG-12 as a secondary weapon, unless you don’t have any better choices.
11. SC3000K
DPS: 600
| Operators | Zero |
| Damage | 45 (Body) – 33 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 800 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.40 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 3rd shot |
If we had a chart to draw the recoil control and DPS for weapons in Rainbow Six Siege, then SC3000K would stand somewhere very close to the most efficient part of the chart.
SC3000K comes with both vertical and horizontal recoil, and yes, that’s hard to master, but at least the recoil is not as harsh as that of F2 or Type-89. So, you can learn the pattern pretty well if you put enough effort into it.
Even without the Extended Barrel, SC3000K has a solid place among all the primary weapons, especially with access to ACOG sights, which makes it significantly effective in long-range gunfights.
10. F2
DPS: 604.3
| Operators | Twitch |
| Damage | 37 (Body) – 27 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 980 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.10 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 2nd shot |
While F2 stands above SC3000K in this list due to its higher DPS rate, the truth is that Twitch’s assault rifle is not an easy weapon to master.
Both vertical and horizontal recoils on F2 are pretty strong, and it does require a fast reaction after the first shot to keep the aim where you want it to be. And that’s with a Muzzle Brake equipped.
Such high recoil makes it pretty difficult for players to use ACOG sight on F2. So, although it is a perfect advantage, you can barely use it effectively when the recoil is hardly tameable.
9. Bearing 9
DPS: 604.9
| Operators | Glaz, Hibana, Tachanka, Echo, and Thunderbird |
| Damage | 33 (Body) – 24 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 1100 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.36 seconds |
| Reload Time | 2.70 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical |
Bearing 9 is another decent secondary SMG in Siege that comes with lots of customization options, which allows you to modify it in the way that benefits you the most.
While the recoil is not as simple as that of SPSMG9, it is still far better than SMG-12, and quite controllable for the burst fires.
For Tachanka and Glaz players, Bearing 9 is a savior in close-range battles. It is also a solid support for Hibana, Echo, and Thunderbird, especially if you decide to proceed with a shotgun as your primary.
8. M4 With Extended Barrel
DPS: 612.5
| Operators | Maverick and Striker |
| Damage | 49 (Body) – 36 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 750 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.60 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 2nd shot |
If it wasn’t for the horizontal recoil, M4 would be much more popular than this in Siege. Though, you still don’t have any other assault rifle options when choosing Maverick.
The weapon comes with an exceptionally good damage rate with an Extended Barrel, but the lack of a Muzzle Brake makes the vertical recoil also become stronger.
Still, M4’s horizontal recoil is better than Type-89 or even AK-12 when you use a Muzzle Brake.
7. C8-SFW With Extended Barrel
DPS: 613.8
| Operators | Buck |
| Damage | 44 (Body) – 33 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 837 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 2.90 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical |
Speaking of functionality, C8-SFW is the best weapon that Rainbow Six Siege has ever delivered. Packing a shotgun and an assault rifle in a single weapon is a dreamy combination and opens up many opportunities on its own, but that’s not even all for Buck’s primary AR.
C8-SFW also comes with a milder vertical recoil even without the Muzzle Brake. Of course, you will still need some training to tame it, but it wouldn’t be harder than R4-C or F2. So, if you sink yourself in Buck, you are in for some great treats!
6. R4-C With Extended Barrel
DPS: 616.3
| Operators | Ash and Ram |
| Damage | 43 (Body) – 32 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 860 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.40 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 2nd shot |
Nothing is more important than a fast-firing weapon for an entry fragger like Ash. R4-C delivers what it should, and you can master with a Muzzle Brake quite easily, though that will not give you the best DPS.
Using an Extended Barrel is the only way to maximize DPS on R4-C which comes at a cost of harsher vertical recoil. Knowing that R4-C also has a horizontal recoil, it might be too much to control for a run-and-gun scenario, but that’s what it takes to be a running killing machine.
5. Bearing 9 With Extended Barrel
DPS: 660
| Operators | Glaz, Hibana, Tachanka, Echo, and Thunderbird |
| Damage | 36 (Body) – 27 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 1100 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.36 seconds |
| Reload Time | 2.70 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical |
With the extended barrel attached, Bearing 9 deals more damage than most primary SMGs and even some assault rifles in Siege.
So, you only need to tame the recoil now, and that’s the most difficult part. Using Bearing 9 without a Muzzle Brake makes the recoil almost as harsh as that of SMG-12.
Not that you can’t overcome it, but the vertical kick will be too intense and require a much faster reaction after your first shot to keep it on a straight line.
4. SC3000K With Extended Barrel
DPS: 666.6
| Operators | Zero |
| Damage | 50 (Body) – 37 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 800 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.40 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 3rd shot |
We already talked about SC3000K being underrated with a Muzzle Brake, but if you main Zero more often and want to improve your stats, there is no better way than replacing the Muzzle Brake with an Extended Barrel.
This single change will add 66 units to the weapon’s DPS and will increase the damage rate to 50, something that you barely see in an assault rifle in Siege.
This, of course, boosts the vertical recoil a bit higher and will require more practice to master the pattern, but it is still better than an F2 with a Muzzle Brake.
3. F2 With Extended Barrel
DPS: 669.6
| Operators | Twitch |
| Damage | 41 (Body) – 31 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 980 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.52 seconds |
| Reload Time | 3.10 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical and Horizontal* *Horizontal recoil starts from the 2nd shot |
F2’s lack of a vertical grip already makes the vertical recoil almost uncontrollable, but when you switch the Muzzle Break with an Extended Barrel, the weapon begins to fly from your hands.
Despite claiming the third spot on this list, F2 with an Extended Barrel is not our suggestion for a competitive game. It just takes too much effort to control this intense recoil, so much that it really doesn’t make sense.
When you can reach higher than this DPS with a well-modified SMG-11, then why you should torture yourself with an F2 and tolerate such a harsh horizontal recoil?
2. SMG-11
DPS: 677.3
| Operators | Amaru, Smoke, Mute, and Solis |
| Damage | 32 (Body) – 24 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 1270 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.36 seconds |
| Reload Time | 2.70 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical |
Better than SMG-12 and C75 Auto, SMG-11 is the most effective secondary weapon in Siege’s history. The weapon is still a popular choice for every Smoke or Mute player, and you can see it being used in esports events more often than any other weapon.
Yes, it is hard to master the vertical recoil of SMG-11 even with a Muzzle Brake and a vertical grip, but you can absolutely do it with enough training.
It is not harder to control than an F2 or an SMG-12. It has a higher reload speed and ADS speed than all assault rifles in the game, and that’s why defenders love to use this weapon.
1. SMG-11 With Extended Barrel
DPS: 740.8
| Operators | Amaru, Smoke, Mute, and Solis |
| Damage | 35 (Body) – 26 (Arms and Legs) |
| Rate of Fire | 1270 RPM |
| ADS Time | 0.36 seconds |
| Reload Time | 2.70 seconds |
| Recoil | Vertical |
The only weapon in Rainbow Six Siege that goes beyond a DPS rate of 700 is an SMG-11 modified with an Extended Barrel. This attachment boosts the damage rate of the weapon by 3 units, and that’s huge.
Of course, you will have a harder time controlling SMG-11 with an Extended Barrel, but still, the recoil pattern is easier to deal with than SMG-12. So, it is not impossible to master it.
For long-range battles, SMG-11 with an Extended Barrel could be a liability, after all. So when your primary weapon is a shotgun, it is best to go with a Muzzle Brake on SMG-11. However, if you already have a good primary for long-range shots, then SMG-11 with the Extended Barrel could rule the game in close quarters.
