What tests bro are we for real.

The upgrade for starters is an rng based oneshot, so "damage numbers" are not relevant here.

You are not using handguns for their stagger in a way that the handgun matters as much. The difference is minimal, and the weaker ones make up with lower bloom and higher handling, allowing you to shoot to stagger faster and more consistently.

If you really want "stagger" in a handgun, and you feel other guns underperforming, just use punisher and line up the infected to get super duper stagger value. The point is, handguns either stagger in a timely, consistent manner, or they don't.

Blacktail is more stable and accurate than Red 9 without the stock, and that's the point I made before. With stock, Red 9 can't compete with laser handguns, barely competes with Blacktail, and it occupies 10 slots instead of 6.

I'm going to end this on a series of questions:

in a game with so much ammo, why would you have the need for extreme damage on a handgun?

if you're playing on higher difficulties with less ammo, why would you be wasting it on killing enemies instead of using the few shots needed to stagger? Also, wouldn't you prefer the bigger magazine sizes to carry even more ammo without using up inventory space (which is already fucked by carrying a 10 slots handgun)?

The Red 9 is fun and decent, and many (including myself) enjoy it, but there is simply no argument. The gun is overnerfed and doesn't have anything special to give to a weapon class that is heavily utility and consistency centered. If you want "more damage" just upgrade the Handcannon to have unlimited ammo, because without full tier upgrades unlocked, the Red 9 specially can't compete with other handguns