Best Modern Warfare 3 AR class loadouts: Attachments & setups ranked

❘ Updated: 2023-10-09T19:39:33

Activision

Assault Rifles are always a strong option as they provide the perfect balance of damage range, ease of use, and overall versatility. Here are the best Modern Warfare 3 AR loadouts to make the most of these meta weapons, including attachments for each gun.

There’s a very good reason why Assault Rifles are the most used gun class in Call of Duty. These extremely versatile weapons are competitive on every map in the franchise in a way that no other weapon type can match.

This year’s game is no exception to this rule with ARs making up a large bulk of the most popular weapons in multiplayer. Even so, they aren’t all equal with some being top-tier meta and others not even viable.

To help you figure out which is which this guide ranks all assault rifles from worst to best following the Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 update. This list does not include any MW2 weapons as these aren’t competitive in most cases.

Best MW3 Assault Rifles, ranked

There are a total of eight Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare 3 with the Season 2’s BP50 being the latest addition. Though a new AR wasn’t introduced in Season 3, several were rebalanced changing up the meta.

Here are all eight MW3 Assault Rifles ranked from best to worst:

MCW
BP50
Holger 556
SVA 545
RAM-7
DG-56
MTZ-556
FR 5.56

Best MW3 Assault Rifles

These are the five best assault rifles to use in Modern Warfare 3 Season 3:

5. RAM-7

RAM-7 previewed in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Best RAM-7 MW3 Loadout

Muzzle: Komodo Heavy
Barrel: XRK Coremark 40 Heavy Barrel
Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
Stock: HVS 3.4 Pad
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop

The RAM-7 has dominated the Warzone meta for a while now and while it isn’t quite as powerful in multiplayer this AR is still a great option. It can be tricky to use thanks to its hefty recoil but once you figure out how to control it, you’ll be winning the majority of gunfights. The RAM-7 is a high-risk, high-reward weapon best suited to players more confident in their aim.

4. SVA 545

SVA 545 previewed in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Best SVA 545 MW3 Loadout

Muzzle: T51R Billeted Brake
Barrel: STV Precision Barrel
Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Rear Grip: Citadel Grip

Though it has a bit more recoil than the later entries on this list, the SVA 545 is deadly offering one of the best medium-range TTKs of any gun. If you can keep it on target this AR is phenomenal and the loadout listed makes that relatively easy to do. You can even run the SVA 545 in burst fire for a truly accurate rifle and it’ll still be competitive.

3. Holger 556

Best Holger 556 MW3 Loadout

Muzzle: Wrathguard Compensator
Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
Stock: RB Addle Assault Stock
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Rear Grip: Morn-20 Grip

Back in Season 1, the Holger 556 was undoubtedly the best assault rifle in MW3. However, a series of nerfs, the introduction of new weapons, and its competition being buffed have seen it drop off slightly. Don’t underestimate this weapon though as Modern Warfare 3’s rendition of the iconic G36 is still an excellent option that can dominate just about any lobby.

2. BP50

The BP50 in Warzone and MW3 multiplayer.

Best BP50 MW3 Loadout

Muzzle: Shadowstriker Suppressor
Barrel: Lore-9 Heavy Barrel
Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
Stock: Moat-40 Stock
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop

A hefty nerf in Season 3 has seen the BP50 dethroned as the best assault rifle, but it is still a fantastic weapon regardless. It offers great mobility and handling while also having a competitive TTK. This ensures that the BP50 is the strongest AR-SMG hybrid for those wanting a remarkably well-balanced primary weapon that is viable in every situation.

1. MCW

Best MCW MW3 Loadout

Muzzle: T51R Billeted Brake
Barrel: 16.5″ MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Rear Grip: RB Claw-PSL Grip

Though it is a little overrated due to its prevalence in Ranked Play, the MCW is still the best assault rifle in MW3. Its remarkable accuracy makes this AR so easy to use that its slower TTK isn’t even a problem most of the time. Especially on large, open maps where it’s easily possible to laser enemies from over one 100 meters away without missing a shot.

Be sure to check out our other Warzone content to stay ahead:

Best MW3 loadouts | Best Modern Warfare 3 ranked play loadouts | Best Warzone loadouts | Best Warzone Assault Rifle loadouts | 10 most popular guns in Warzone