Sons of the Forest Pistol Location and How to Get the Weapon

Surviving the harsh wilderness of Sons of the Forest requires more than just basic crafting skills and shelter construction. Players must secure reliable ranged weaponry to defend themselves against aggressive cannibal tribes and terrifying mutants roaming the island. The standard pistol serves as one of the most reliable early-game firearms available to help you level the playing field.

Locating the Offshore Lifeboat

Unlike many other advanced tools that are buried deep within underground bunkers, this firearm is located out in the open sea. Players need to head toward the western coastline of the island where a bright red inflatable raft can be seen floating in the distance. You can easily spot its location by checking your GPS tracker for a purple exclamation point marker near the shoreline.

Before making the swim, it is wise to establish a small temporary shelter on the beach to save your progress. The water separating the shoreline from the raft is relatively deep and requires a brief swimming sprint to cross safely. Ensuring your stamina bar is fully active before jumping into the ocean will make the journey much easier.

Surviving the Shark Menace

The waters surrounding the inflatable lifeboat are far from safe due to predatory marine wildlife patrolling the area. At least one aggressive shark constantly circles the perimeter of the raft, waiting for unsuspecting survivors to swim by. If you swim directly into its path without caution, you will take massive physical damage before reaching safety.

To mitigate this danger, players should try to swim in a direct line and climb onto the raft as quickly as possible. You can use the attached boarding ladder on the side of the inflatable craft to pull yourself out of the water. Once you are safely out of the ocean, the shark will no longer be able to harm your character.

Gathering the Weapon and Ammunition

Inside the small interior of the red lifeboat, players will find the corpse of an unfortunate soldier slumped over the floor. The pistol is located directly next to the body, waiting to be added to your inventory system. Simply interact with the firearm to claim it as your primary defensive option for future encounters.

Do not leave the raft immediately after picking up the gun, as several other valuable resources are scattered nearby. You can find extra 9mm ammunition, nutritional emergency rations, and a vital GPS locator beacon inside the survival container. Gathering these items ensures you have enough immediate supplies to sustain yourself during the return trip to the mainland.

Utilizing the Pistol for Island Survival

The pistol provides exceptional precision and decent stopping power against standard enemies during the early stages of exploration. Headshots are incredibly effective, often eliminating baseline cannibals with a single well-placed bullet to save precious resources. However, ammunition is strictly limited across the island, so players should avoid wasting shots on low-tier targets.

You can also upgrade this firearm later by finding specialized attachments like the flashlight mount and the laser sight. These modifications are hidden in various campsites and bunkers scattered throughout the dense forest. Equipping these tools significantly improves your tactical capabilities when fighting in dark caves or during midnight raids on your base.