Modern Warfare 3 Armory: Assault Rifles

The M4’s older cousin, the M16 is the standard-issue infantry weapon for the US military. It first saw action in the Vietnam War. It is not an automatic weapon; instead, it fires a three-round burst. It makes up for that low firing rate with superior accuracy and range. It can put you at a disadvantage in close-quarters, however, because you won’t be able to put out as much lead as your opponent. The M16 is best suited for marksmen who prefer to take aimed shots at the enemy from range. You can put Rapid Fire on the M16 in MW3 which will compensate for the slow firing rate. However, that may mess with the accuracy too much for some people. If you like to run’n’gun, this isn’t the weapon for you. Like the M4, the M16 is unlocked once you reach Level 4.

The M16 was my assault rifle of choice in both the original Modern Warfare as well as Black Ops, but I have a love/hate relationship with it in MW3. I used it extensively my first time through the rankings, but I could never really decide whether I liked or hated it. The accuracy and range are nice, but it’s a crapshoot if the enemy gets up close. Hip-firing isn’t that accurate, and your opponent makes up for the lack of accuracy with more bullets. I also don’t like the iron sights. I did start to have more success with it later on when I started using a thermal scope and shotgun, which is a rather unconventional combination. In skilled hands, the M16 can be deadly, but it’s not for everybody. It’s a good weapon, but there are others I prefer instead.

The Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle-Light, or SCAR-L, is a modular rifle from FN Herstal that was made for the United State Special Operations Command and is also known as the Mk 16. It is also one of the competitors to replace the venerable M4 carbine. The SCAR-L is unlocked at level 6 and has a 30 round magazine. Its fire rate is lower than that of the M4, but it does more damage. Also, its iron sights are easy to see through, so you don’t need to go with a red dot or ACOG sight. It also doesn’t have the same damage problem with a silencer as the M4. 

I have yet to use the SCAR-L extensively, but one of my friends is an avid Call of Duty player and absolutely loved the SCAR in MW2. He does not like it nearly as much in MW3, so if you were a fan of the SCAR in MW2, bear that in mind. I’ve played with it a little bit, and I thought that it had good stopping power but more recoil than the guns I’m used to. The recoil’s not bad, but it is an adjustment if you’re used to the M4 or ACR. The iron sights weren’t bad, though.  

I had never heard of the CM901 prior to playing MW3, but it’s a relatively new weapon produced by famed gun manufacturer Colt and is based off of the M16 and M4 designs. The CM designation stands for “Colt Modular” and indicates that it has not been adopted by the US military. It is unlocked once you hit level 18 and is a fully automatic weapon. It is pretty powerful with a silencer equipped, so stealth players may find that appealing.

I have used the CM901 on occasion, and I am not a fan. The first time I used it, I noticed it had a hefty recoil. You have to burst fire it to have any semblance of accuracy. It packs a decent punch but is not as accurate as other weapons. There used to be a glitch where attaching an under-barrel attachment (grenade launcher or shotgun) would increase its rate of fire, but I believe that was fixed in a patch. The iron sights are pretty good, however, and offer you good vision when looking down the sight. Still, there are better weapons to choose from.

The Type 95 is the standard-issue infantry weapon of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, or PLA. Like the M16, it fires a three-round burst and is highly accurate. It does more damage than the M16, and while a few rifles match it in that area, only the MK 14 is more powerful. The Type 95 also boasts the fastest rate of fire of any assault rifle. The three-round burst means you can’t fire it as fast as other weapons, but those three rounds come out faster than three rounds from any other assault rifle. If you like the M16, then you’ll love the Type 95. It’s a superior weapon and is unlocked at level 32.

Up until recently, my only experience with the Type 95 had been when I picked it up off the ground after running out of ammo. I know it was a popular gun; many people even claimed it was overpowered because it was so dominant. I finally equipped it for the first time the other day, and I can see what all the fuss is about. I love it. If you hit your target with a full burst, he’s not getting up. It’s extremely accurate and possesses good range, and unlike the M16, it’s not a liability in a close-quarters fight because of its accuracy and stopping power. The iron sights don’t give you a good picture, so I recommend you put a red dot or some other sight on this gun.

A German assault rifle, the G36C is a compact assault rifle that has seen some upgrades over its previous Modern Warfare variants. It boasts a pretty good rate of fire and has more stopping power than it used to. It is fully automatic and can be equipped once you reach level 42.

Produced by Bushmaster, the Adaptive Combat Rifle, or ACR, is an updated version of a design created by Magpul Industries in Erie, Colorado. It is intended to compete for a US Army contract to replace the M4. The ACR made its initial appearance in Modern Warfare 2 and is returning for Modern Warfare 3. It is fully automatic and available upon reaching level 50.

This is by far my favorite assault rifle in MW3. I loved it in MW2, and it’s only gotten better. It has practically no recoil and is a very stable firing platform as a result. It’s light and has awesome iron sights. The iron sights are so good that I chose not to put a sight on the ACR, and I’m someone who generally hates iron sights. I love using it with a silencer. The only drawback the ACR had in MW2 was its lack of stopping power, but that has been changed in MW3. It’s now one of the more powerful assault rifles available. The ACR inflicts a good amount of damage and is a very stable, accurate weapon. I highly recommend it.

Based on the M14 rifle (the predecessor to the M16), the MK14 Enhanced Battle Rifle was initially built to be used by the US Navy Special Warfare units such as the SEALs. In recent years, the US Army has begun equipping infantry marksmen with the MK14. Unlike every other assault rifle available in MW3, the MK14 is a semi-automatic weapon. It’ll fire as fast as you can pull the trigger, but that will still be slower than any opponent you face. However, it makes up for it by being the most accurate and powerful rifle available. It also boasts the greatest range. It’s basically an assault sniper rifle without the high-powered scope. One shot to the head will put down an opponent. This gun is for marksmen who prefer to engage targets and medium- to long-range. It takes some getting used to because it is so unlike any other weapon, but once you get skilled using the MK14, you can dish out quite a bit of punishment. The MK14 is available once you rank up to level 60.

I have used the MK14 a bit, mainly as a change-of-pace weapon. I’m a sniper at heart (Sniper Rifle/BR combo in Halo), so the challenge of this gun appeals to me. I wasn’t a huge fan of the FN FAL or M14 in Black Ops, but I do like the MK14 in MW3. It packs quite a wallop, and you’re not at as big a disadvantage in a close range fight as you would think. You can fire it pretty quickly, and it only takes a couple of hits to take out a guy. It does put a premium on marksmanship and accuracy, though, so that may steer some players away. The MK14 doesn’t have much recoil, but the iron sights are terrible. You’ll have to equip a better sight. I prefer a red dot, but you can go with an ACOG and make it into a mini sniper rifle. I don’t like this gun with the silencer. Some people claim it’s effective with one, but in my experience, I’ve noticed it takes a few more shots to kill an enemy. Plus, it just sounds so wimpy with a silencer equipped. One of my friends is an avid Call of Duty player, and he loves the MK14. He likes the power and how you can kill an enemy with two or three rounds if you’re accurate enough. It gives you the advantage if you’re first in the fight. The MK14 is not for everybody, but if you master it, you’ll be rewarded.

One of the classic firearms of all time, the AK-47 is a Soviet-era assault rifle that is recognizable due to its banana-shaped magazine. Its extreme ruggedness, dependability, durability, and simple design have made it a staple all over the world. It is a fully-automatic weapon that has a lower fire rate and higher recoil than other assault rifles in MW3. Accuracy suffers as a result of the recoil, especially at range, but the AK makes up for it with superior stopping power. It fires a heavy shot. The iron sights aren’t bad, but a red dot sight is a significant improvement.  The AK-47 is unlocked at level 68.

I have not used the AK-47 much except for when I’ve picked it up after depleting all my ammo, but when I have used it, I’ve liked it. The accuracy is better than you would think; the higher recoil would seem to impair accuracy, but the lower rate of fire compensates for that. The kick is greater, but by the time the next round is being fired, the recoil has dissipated for the most part. The AK-47 takes a little getting used to, but it can be quite effective once you know how to use it. Still, I wouldn’t choose it over the ACR.

The FAD is a Peruvian assault rifle featuring a “bullpup” design where the magazine is located behind the trigger. The design makes for a more compact weapon. The FAD is the last assault rifle you can unlock and is available at level 78. It has the largest magazine of any rifle; each magazine holds 40 rounds. The FAD boasts one of the highest firing rates of any assault rifle in the game, but it also inflicts the least amount of damage.