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Best Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare 3Every AR in MW3 ranked from best to worst
Every AR in MW3 ranked from best to worst
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
What are the best Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare 3?Assault Rifles have always been a reliable choice in the Call of Duty franchise thanks to their ease of use and versatility.Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3is no exception, and ARs are currently dominating MW3’s multiplayer.
Whether you’re a new player searching for an easy-to-use weapon that deals consistent damage at all ranges, or an old COD vet whose go-to gun used to be the ACR, the following Assault Rifles will be of interest. Read on for our rundown of thebest Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare 3!
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What is the best Assault Rifle in Modern Warfare 3?
Modern Warfare 3 features a whopping 21 Assault Rifles in total thanks to the game’s Carry Forward option. But if you had to pick one weapon,the best assault rifle in MW3 is the MCW, thanks to its sheer usability which has made it a popular choice among the COD playerbase. It’s an all-around great gun not just for those who prefer Assault Rifles, but for all players in general, and that’s why it also got the top spot in our ranking of thebest guns in MW3.
Here is our tier list of Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare 3:
We’ve highlighted the major details of each AR below, with some more explanation about why we’ve ranked them as we have.
22. Tempus Razorback
Image credit:Activision
At its best, the Tempus Razorback makes for good sniper support - a job that the FR Avancer or the Chimera technically fulfil a bit better. At its worst, it’s a very weak AR that simply can’t go the distance at long range thanks to a poor damage output.
21. M13C
Image credit:Activision
20. TR-76 Geist
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
The TR-76 hits hard as a decent AR in most respects, but its slow fire rate lags behind the competition. The substantial recoil also keeps it from knocking our socks off, but we do have aTR-76 Geist loadout guideif you take a liking to this gun and want to stick with it. The FTAC Ripper 56 and STIP-66 will steady the recoil, while the VLK LZR 7MW will go a long way towards making this feel like a faster gun.
19. Chimera
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
The Chimera’s got the damage output of an AR but the close-range punch of an SMG. It also has an integrated suppressor, making it great for stealth engagements. At close range on small or medium-sized maps, it’s just as monstrous as its namesake, but it falls apart pretty quickly at long range. This somewhat limited usability - combined with the fact that Modern Warfare 3’s increased health pool of 150 makes this weapon less useful than it was in MW2 - keeps it in fairly low ranking, at least for now.
18. M16
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
The M16’s always been a Call of Duty classic, but its three-shot burst lacked potency in MW2 and still isn’t great in Modern Warfare 3. You’ll also need good headshot aim to make the most of this weapon.
Still, it’s always good to enjoy the classics at times, and we have a guide to themost effective M16 loadoutif that’s your style. To give the M16 a little more bang, we suggest using 5.56 High Velocity rounds to make that bullet velocity fly high.
17. FR 5.56
Image credit:Activision
Another three bullet burst weapon, we prefer the FR 5.56 over its competitors thanks to the heavier damage, even if its burst feels inconsistent at times and kicks like a mule. If you’ve got the skill to consistently hit all three burst shots, you’ll dominate with this gun, though there are certainly easier-to-use ARs in MW3.
16. TAQ-56
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
15. Kastov 545
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
The Kastov 545 was in an odd spot in Modern Warfare 2 due to its high similarities to the Kastov-74U, and the same is true here. While the Kastov-74U is one of our favourites, the Kastov 545 feels like a redundant clone with somewhat better range and lower recoil, but weaker damage. We’ll take the original whenever possible, though we do have aKastov 545 loadout guideif you still want to pick the Kastov 545 up.
14. Lachmann-556
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
It’s tricky to get this gun to live up to the potential of its parents, but we’ve got aLachman 556 loadout guideto help you out. Start with the Harbinger D20 muzzle for more bullet velocity, then go with the 15.9" Lachmann Rapp Barrel.
13. Kastov 762
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
The Kastov 762 was Modern Warfare 2’s version of the AK47. A major disruptor in terms of damage, it dealt the highest damage per shot of all ARs in the game. In Modern Warfare 3 it’s still a beast as long as you fix up its erratic recoil.
As detailed in ourKastov 762 loadout guide, load the Kastov 762 with the FTAC Ripper 56 for recoil stability and the Kastov-Rama for better mobility. This will balance the weapon out nicely, and when paired with a good sniper rifle, you’ll have a reliable AR guaranteed to win more than a few matches.
12. MTZ-556
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
The MTZ-556 is an excellent Assault Rifle for new players searching for a starter gun. Those who took a liking to the M13 in past Modern Warfare games will find a lot to like here, as the MTZ-556 handles similarly but outclasses the M13 with its superior fire rate and high mobility.
Our in-depthMTZ-556 loadout guidecontains all you need to know about outfitting this easy-to-use gun. In a nutshell, you’ll want barrels that boost bullet velocity and damage range while reducing idle sway, muzzles that reduce the MTZ-556’s recoil, and drums with a substantial capacity to take advantage of the MTZ-556’s already high fire rate.
11. M13B
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
When comparing the M13B and the M13C in terms of which AR is actually better, the M13B 100% takes the cake with an excellent fire rate and much more versatility for long range engagements. The fact that it won’t destroy you with excessive recoil also helps. OurM13B loadout guidehas the full details on maximising this gun, starting with the Harbinger D20 muzzle attachment.
10. ISO Hemlock
Image credit:Activision
The ISO Hemlock was a great heavy-hitter at one point in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0 until it got nerfed to oblivion and even banned from ranked play. It still boasts excellent time-to-kill stats at mid-range, and time will tell if it evolves into a top choice once again in MW3. At the moment, however, certain other guns have risen in the ranks to become more reliable choices.
9. FR Avancer
Image credit:Activision
8. STB 556
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
Previously known as the AUG, the STB 556 is a wonderful AR for going up against all manner of other rifles at mid-to-long range. There’s very little recoil on this weapon, and it has the potential to outclass a lot of sniper rifles with its world class accuracy. For that smooth as butter, no recoil feel when you fire off a shot, the STB 556 is a nice choice. OurSTB 556 loadout guidehas tips for pushing the gun’s bullet velocity and range a bit further with attachments like the 24.4" Bruen S-620 barrel.
7. RAM-7
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
Last seen in 2019’s Modern Warfare - and initially named the TAR-21 in the original Modern Warfare trilogy - the RAM-7 returns in Season 1 of Modern Warfare 3 to deliver blazing shots in a very compact frame. This is an all-around solid AR with a great fire rate that excels at aggressive tactics. Equip it, jump into the thick of combat, and unleash a barrage of bullets, preferably with an ammunition upgrade like the 40 Round Mag attached. While its default range isn’t anything special and the recoil needs some work, our guide to thebest RAM-7 loadoutcan go a long way towards fixing this gun’s shortcomings.
6. DG-58
Image credit:Activision
A powerful mid-to long range AR, the DG-58 is a bullpup AR with a mighty three-shot burst similar to the M16. It’s a superb starting AR with nice accuracy, handling, and a pulsating fire rate that’ll have you massacring opponents left and right. The DG-58 is especially deadly when Manual Fire Behaviour is switched to “Hold” in MW3’s settings. This lets you hold down a single button to keep firing, transforming all burst guns into full-auto weapons. In the DG-58’s case, it amplifies the gun’s low recoil and smooth firing into a smooth-as-butter feel that seems far superior to the game’s other three-shot-burst rifles. If this sounds appealing, take a look at ourDG-58 loadout guidefor tips on outfitting this weapon.
5. Holger 556
Image credit:Activision
It’s still early to tell if the Holger 556 will unseat the well-known heavy hitters at the top of this list, especially if it receives a nerf. Nevertheless, we’ve ranked it high for now, and ourHolger 556 best loadout guidecontains all the attachments you need to make this gun soar.
4. Kastov-74U
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
Once upon a time, this was our pick for MW2’s best AR. In Modern Warfare 3, the Kastov-74U continues to win us over thanks to its unique hybrid feel between an Assault Rifle and a SMG. Despite its light frame, the Kastov-74U doesn’t sacrifice anything in the damage department, proving itself a monster at run and gun assaults.
The tradeoff is a lower fire rate than the other ARs here and a hefty recoil, which we strive to fix in ourKastov-74U loadout guide. Put the Echoline GS-X on this gun as well as the FT Tac-EliteStock and it’ll be much smoother handling as you take on the opposition with ease.
3. SVA 545
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
Using the SVA 545 is all about assuming the role of a fast killing machine that ambushes foes and zips around the map, and if you have a trained trigger finger, this gun ranks as one of the game’s deadliest. For more on how to complement the SVA 545, check out ourModern Warfare 3 guide to the best SVA 545 loadouts.
2. M4
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
We’ve got a detailed guide tobest M4 loadoutto help you teach this old gun a few new tricks. With improvements to control, stability, and range - and perhaps a SMG as your secondary weapon - the M4’s relatively low time-to-kill won’t be a bother in the slightest.
1. MCW
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision
Kit the MCW out appropriately, and you have a firearm that doubles as a smooth laser beam in ranged combat. This rifle also performs admirably at close-quarters scuffles, and ourMCW loadout guidehas the full rundown on the most versatile combos. For an easy start, go for the 16.5" MCW Cyclone Long Barrel to increase bullet velocity, range, and stability.
That finishes our look at the best Assault Rifles in MW3. If you’re ready to diversify to different firearms and also want a quick look at some of the most usable kit combinations in the game, be sure to check out our list of thebest Modern Warfare 3 loadouts. If you need more help picking out the right gun for you, head to our Modern Warfare 3 primers on thebest Sniper Rifleandbest Battle Rifle.
