Sharpshooter 8 is the wall. If you've spent any significant time roaming the Heartlands or the swamps of Lemoyne, you know exactly which challenge I’m talking about. You have to rdr2 disarm 3 enemies without reloading or switching your weapon. It sounds simple on paper, right? Just shoot the guns out of their hands.
It’s never that easy.
Most players end up accidentally killing their targets because they’re using high-velocity ammo or aiming a fraction of an inch too high. Or worse, you get two disarms, and Arthur automatically cycles a round or reloads because you panicked and hit the wrong button. It’s frustrating. It's tedious. Honestly, it’s one of the most mechanically annoying tasks in Red Dead Redemption 2. But there are ways to cheese it, and there are ways to do it legitimately if you have the patience of a saint.
The Mechanics of a Proper Disarm
To actually rdr2 disarm 3 enemies, you need to understand how the game registers a "disarm." You aren't just looking for the gun to fall. The enemy has to actually survive the encounter for a moment and lose the weapon specifically because of your shot. If you blow their arm off with a shotgun, it doesn't count. If you kill them with a headshot while they happen to be holding a gun, it doesn't count.
Dead Eye is your best friend here, but it’s also your worst enemy.
By the time most players reach Sharpshooter 8, their Dead Eye has likely leveled up to the point where it automatically marks targets or stays active until the meter drains. This is a problem. If your Dead Eye level automatically reloads your weapon when you activate it, you’ve already failed the challenge before you even fired a shot. You have to be meticulous.
Why Your Shots Aren't Counting
A lot of people aim for the hand. That’s a mistake. In the Rockstar engine, hitting the hand often registers as a lethal hit or just a standard limb wound that doesn't force a drop. You want to aim for the weapon itself—specifically the barrel or the frame of the rifle or revolver.
Also, distance matters. If you’re too far away, the bloom of your reticle—even in Dead Eye—might cause the bullet to stray into the NPC’s chest. You want to be close enough to see the wood grain on their carbine but far enough away that they don't turn your head into a canoe with a double-barrel shotgun.
The Cornwall Kerosene & Tar Method
This is the gold standard for most players. Go to the Cornwall Kerosene & Tar factory in the Heartlands. There are guards everywhere. They carry long arms (rifles and repeaters), which have much larger hitboxes than revolvers. Larger hitboxes mean an easier time for you.
Grab a Poison Arrow.
I know, it sounds weird. Why an arrow? Because the bow doesn't "reload" in the traditional sense that breaks the challenge, and poison arrows have a unique effect. If you shoot a guard in the leg with a poison arrow, they will drop their weapon almost immediately as the poison kicks in. Do this to three guards in quick succession.
You don't even have to use Dead Eye for this if you’re a decent shot. Just whistle, get their attention, and start tagging legs. Since you aren't reloading a magazine, the game keeps the "streak" alive. It feels a bit like a developer oversight, but hey, after three hours of trying to shoot revolvers out of Raiders' hands in Rhodes, you'll take the win.
The Sniper Approach at Hanging Dog Ranch
If you prefer the "proper" way, head over to Hanging Dog Ranch in Big Valley. This is O’Driscoll territory. There’s a guy usually stationed in the barn loft with a bolt-action rifle. He’s a perfect target because he stays relatively still.
Here is the trick to rdr2 disarm 3 enemies with a long-scoped rifle:
Do not use the Rolling Block if you can help it. Use a repeater with a medium scope or the Carcano if you’ve unlocked it late-game. However, the repeater is actually safer because it holds more rounds. If you use a rifle that requires a reload after every shot, you have to be incredibly careful not to let Arthur chamber a new round in a way that resets the counter.
- Find a group of enemies (the guards at the gate work too).
- Drink some Potent Snake Oil. You need that meter to stay gold.
- Aim for the elbow or the forearm of the weapon-side arm.
- If they drop the gun and cower, move to the next guy.
Whatever you do, do not tuck your gun away. Do not swap to your binoculars to see if it worked. If Arthur puts that gun on his back, the challenge resets. It’s a cruel world in the 1890s.
Dealing with the "Automatic Reload" Bug
One thing that drives the RDR2 community crazy is the "automatic reload" glitch. Sometimes, even if you have 6 bullets left in the chamber, entering Dead Eye will magically refill the magazine. This counts as a reload. To avoid this, make sure your weapon is already fully loaded before you start the engagement.
Better yet, don't exit Dead Eye between shots. If you have a high enough level of Dead Eye where you can stay in the mode after firing, stay in it. Tag the three guns and fire all at once. It’s risky because the NPCs move, but it’s the most foolproof way to ensure the game doesn't think you cheated the "no reload" rule.
The Rhodes Parlor Trick
If you're looking for a low-stress environment, go to Rhodes. Find the guys leaning against the fence near the saloon or the ones guarding the entrance to the Gray plantation. These guys are usually carrying repeaters.
The beauty of the repeater is the surface area. If you hit the stock of the gun, it counts. Use regular ammunition. High-velocity or Express rounds have too much "punch" and often result in a kill even if you hit the weapon. You want the weakest, most basic bullet you have. It’s the one time in the game where being underpowered is actually an advantage.
A Note on Honor and Bounty
Look, you’re going to get a bounty. There’s no way around it. Disarming three people usually involves a massive shootout with lawmen or gang members. Don't worry about your honor meter. You can get that back by fishing and releasing a few trout or saying "Hey there, mister" to everyone in Saint Denis for twenty minutes.
Focus on the task. If you see the notification pop up on the side of the screen saying "Sharpshooter 8: 1/3," stay calm. Take a breath. If you miss the second shot, don't panic. Just don't reload. If you’re using a Lancaster Repeater, you have 14 rounds. That is plenty of opportunities to get those last two disarms without needing to thumb in another cartridge.
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Summary of Actionable Steps
- Switch to a Bow with Poison Arrows: This is the easiest way to bypass the reload mechanics entirely. Shoot them in the leg; they drop the gun, you get the credit.
- Visit Hanging Dog Ranch or Cornwall Kerosene: These locations provide high-vantage points and enemies with large rifles that are easier to hit.
- Use Standard Ammo: Stop using Express or High-Velocity rounds for this. You want to hit the gun, not pierce through it into the guy's femoral artery.
- Stay in Dead Eye: If your level allows it, try to get all three disarms in a single Dead Eye sequence to prevent the game from registering a reload or a weapon swap.
- Watch the weapon stock: Aim for the bulk of the rifle, not the trigger guard.
Once you finally hear that "challenge complete" chime, save your game immediately. You don't want to get mauled by a random cougar on the way to the post office and realize your last save was back in Chapter 2.
The next challenge in the chain is actually easier, so take heart. You've passed the hardest part of the Sharpshooter tree. Now, go pay off that $200 bounty you just racked up in Valentine.