Evaluating the New BEST Pistol In Battlefield 6
With the newest season comes the inevitable question for critics of the sidearm hierarchy—how powerful is the new sidearm compared to the long-reigning monarch—the M44? Will it stake its claim as the new BEST Pistol In Battlefield 6? This technical analysis will place the M357 Treat within the current metagame, providing specific loadout recommendations that utilize rather than maximize Mastery level, which will conclude with a final breakdown of Hollow Point ammo for this sidearm in terms of cost versus benefit.
Contextually, we are looking exclusively at the M44 and the new sidearm as, objectively, other secondary weapons have no way of competing for Time-to-Kill (TTK) potential in the present game.
Unlocking the M357 and Initial Comparison
The new M357 Trait is the M44's aggressive younger sibling and is unlocked through the Seasonal Challenges menu. Typically, this requires 30 kills via specific base pistols (like GGH-22 or M44) and five pistol headshot kills. This process is straightforward as long as the necessary steps are completed.
Raw Stat Comparison (M44 vs. M357 Trait)
| Statistic | M44 (Baseline) | M357 Trait (New Sidearm) | Key Difference |
| Damage | Higher | Lower | M44 stays the harder hitting choice. |
| Rate of Fire (ROF) | Lower | Significantly Higher | M357 speeds up to make up for damage loss. |
| Reload Time | Slower | Significantly Faster | Sustained fights benefit recovery from M357. |
| ADS Time | Slower | Quicker | M357 has high handling responsiveness. |
| Magazine Size | Smaller | Larger | M357 is far more accommodating for sustained fire. |
| Muzzle Velocity | Higher | Lower | M44 still is more potent at extreme range. |
Personal Analysis: Close-Range TTK
I am testing really at 0-5 meter range, where the fights are usually just down to reaction times. At this range, both weapons produce a two-shot kill to the body. However, due to the superior Rate of Fire of the M357, its raw TTK comes in at around 265 milliseconds, comfortably ahead of the M44's 368 milliseconds. Quite the distance indeed makes the case for calling the M357 the better choice for reliability in close quarters, yet the fact needs to be noted that the M44 does still have the one-shot headshot capability within this distance, which is not something the M357 can accomplish without their Hollow Point ammo.
Performance in a Mid-Range and Role Difference
As damage profiles will start to diverge between the two sidearms, the difference becomes more evident:
5 to 20 Meters: Even the M44 has a very pronounced advantage over damages and becomes quite reliable in terms of two-shot or three-shot eliminations. On the other hand, damage drop-off of M357 becomes very sharp, and now it requires three shots to kill to the body.
20 to 35 Meters: Another three shots will kill with M44 and now turns into a kinship with the M357 but committing to only four shots.
Beyond 70 Meters: The kill profile for M44 still remains four-shot (25 damage per shot) whereas the M357 totals up to five shots (20 damage per shot).
While these statistics may indicate that the M44 has a definitive advantage, such an analysis excludes the attachment utility and the intended operational role offered by the M357.
Best Loadout Setup for the BEST Pistol In Battlefield 6
The true potential of the M357 lies in its attachment economy and specialization as a hip-fire weapon for aggressive maneuvers—a role for which the M44 has no real accuracy as the M44 is in most cases left underutilized in its slots even if fully loaded with extended barrel and Hollow Point ammo.
M357 Trait Loadout Configuration
The M357 is best when built for maximum hip-fire accuracy since it requires aggressive moves, such as corner jumping and instant reaction fire, where aiming down sights would prove impractical.
Laser Sight (Must Have): Attach Green Laser Sight because this is most likely the most important component as this boosts the weapon's hip-fire accuracy up to a very reliable rating of 80, but the premium Laser Light Combo is ever so marginally worse with added blinding the enemy feature.
Optic: Just your basic reflex sight (like ST) would do, simply conserving points because this weapon is supposed to be used for hip-fire only.
Ammunition (Priority): The 8-Round Moon Clip is certainly an option which slightly reduces reload time, but that usual slot is occupied, in order to have Hollow Point ammunition. There's no question about prioritizing Hollow Point (which can only be unlocked at Mastery Level 39) for maximizing this sidearm's lethality.
The Need for Hollow Point Ammunition
Hollow Point ammunition completely changes the game for the M357 by altering its headshot damage modifier at various ranges and thus keeps it very relevant as a counter-sidearm:
0-5 Meters: The headshot multiplier, even with Hollow Points, is insufficient to achieve a one-shot kill ($50 \times 1.75$ is less than 100).
5-35 Meters (The Critical Range): This is where the Hollow Point comes into play. Hitting just one headshot and one body shot at this range deals only 95 damage with the standard multiplier when hit. That means you'd need a third shot. With the Hollow Point multiplier, the damage exceeds 100 (104.5 at 5-20m and 101.25 at 20-35m), effectively moving the weapon from a three or four-shot kill down to a two-shot kill when including a headshot.
Beyond 35 Meters: Hollow Point almost never really kicks in; two headshots for a three-shot kill are available even without this specialized ammunition.
Is the M357 the best pistol in Battlefield 6?—Conclusion
The BEST Pistol In Battlefield 6 can be determined only by the type of player:
For High-Accuracy Players: If you can hit M44 headshots almost every time, then M44 is the winner because of the one-shot kill capability as well as high muzzle velocity for medium-range engagements.
For Aggressive/Reactionary Players: If you are one of those who would use your sidearm often in close-range, flustering situations, or invariably resort to corner-peeking and hip-firing up to 35 meters at the enemy, the M357 Trait would be the one to bet on. Its reliability, faster handling, and effective hip-fire build are traits that crowns it a superb secondary weapon for close-quarters survivability. It is at least a contender for the top spot.
Further Guidance for Progression:
While the M357 Trait offers elite performance, new players prioritizing long-term progression should first ensure they have mastered the foundation. If you are still working on unlocking higher-tier gear, review our essential guide on What Are The Best Starter Guns?
