Best MW3 loadouts: Meta weapons and classes for multiplayer

Modern Warfare 3’s meta is constantly evolving so it can be hard to keep up with what’s still worth using. To help you out these are the best weapons to dominate multiplayer in MW3 Season 3 Reloaded including attachments and loadouts.

Almost 40 weapons received buffs and nerfs in Season 3 Reloaded including some guns that were considered top-tier by the community. Plus the new BAL-27 was added giving players something new to try out. These changes have led to a few standout options taking over and other underrated weapons emerging as meta contenders.

These changes mean that your old loadouts aren’t going to cut it anymore. It’s time to update them and use the best weapons in Modern Warfare 3 to make sure you aren’t handicapping yourself for no good reason.

Here are the best MW3 guns that are currently dominating the multiplayer meta in Season 3 Reloaded.

Contents

• Absolute Meta MW3 loadouts
• Meta MW3 loadouts
• Best off-meta MW3 loadouts
• All guns in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Absolute Meta MW3 loadouts in Season 3 Reloaded

If you want to be as competitive as possible and use the best weapons in MW3, these are the strongest options in the meta right now:

BP50

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

When it was first introduced in Season 2, the BP50 was by far the best weapon in MW3. With SMG-level handling but assault rifle performance elsewhere, it was the ultimate all-rounder. Later nerfs in Season 2 Reloaded made it slightly worse but it still outperformed just about everything else.

Even after receiving even more nerfs in Season 3 Reloaded, the BP50 is still absolutely meta. Amongst assault rifles, the BP50 ranks near the top of almost every key stat including ADS Movement Speed, ADS Time, Fire Rate, Hipfire Accuracy, and TTK. On top of all that, it’s also easy to control thanks to its low recoil making this the best AR in Modern Warfare 3.

MORS

• Barrel: Downfall Light Barrel
• Stock: Icarus Light Stock
• Underbarrel: SL Skeletal Vertical Grip
• Ammunition: HVP Anti-Materiel Slug
• Bolt: Quick Bolt

When it was added in Season 3, the MORS was by far the best sniper rifle in MW3. Given how strong snipers were already, that is quite the statement. Naturally, this led to its getting nerfed in Season 3 Reloaded with the HVP Anti-Materiel Slug no longer able to one shot to the lower leg or foot and its ADS Speed being slowed by 4%.

This is a substantial nerf but all it does is bring the MORS more in line with the other sniper rifles. Given that the XRK Stalker is arguably also absolute meta, it’s a given that the MORS with its superior damage range would be too. Don’t let the nerfs fool you, the MORS is still an elite weapon and terrifying in the hands of a top player.

HRM-9

• Muzzle: Zehmn35 Compensated Flash Hider
• Barrel: Princeps Long Barrel
• Stock: Folding Stock
• Underbarrel: XRK Edge BW-4 Handstop
• Rear Grip: PCS-90 Assault Grip

While the HRM-9 was heavily nerfed in Warzone, the meta SMG actually got a buff in multiplayer. It was a small buff admittedly with its medium damage range being improved by 8%, but with the RAM-9 getting substantial nerfs, that’s more than enough for the HRM-9 to take the top spot. As of Season 3 Reloaded, this is now the best SMG in MW3.  

The HRM-9 has a lot of strengths, with it being able to compete at long range where other SMGs fall short. Equally, its recoil pattern is easy to control and if you can master it then you’ll have an incredible all-around weapon at your disposal. 

Meta MW3 loadouts in Season 3 Reloaded

Although these guns might not quite be as strong as the Absolute Meta options, they can still hold their own even in the most competitive MW3 multiplayer lobbies:

Holger 556

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

In terms of meta assault rifles, this spot could have been taken by three or four different weapons. The SVA 545 is excellent while both the RAM-7 and MTZ-556 have their strengths that make them worth using. However, the Holger 556 beats them all largely thanks to its fantastic TTK with this rendition of the G36 being competitive in every damage range.

The only downside to using the Holger 556 is that after its nerfs in Season 3 it is less forgiving than before. For a four-shot kill, you’ll need to land every shot above the waist while a three-shot kill requires two headshots. It also received further nerfs in Season 3 Reloaded with its hipfire spread being made less accurate Even so, this is still a tremendous AR that can get work done even in the toughest lobby.

RAM-9

• Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
• Stock: HVS 3.4 Pad
• Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Rear Grip: Retort 90 Grip Tape
• Comb: Recon Comb

These days there’s an argument for several SMGs with almost all of them being viable. It largely depends on playstyle, but beyond the HRM-9 you can’t overlook the RAM-9 which is the next best option. It’s highly mobile, extremely accurate, and has a competitive TTK when compared to other submachine guns.

What used to give the RAM-9 the edge over the alternatives is that it was a rare case of a gun with a meta-defining TTK that was also easy to use. However, Season 3 Reloaded saw its damage range decreased by 12% and its recoil increased by 4%. The RAM-9 is still strong but after these nerfs it is no longer the best SMG in MW3.

Renetti (JAK Ferocity Carbine)

• Conversion Kit: JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit
• Muzzle: ELR Blackfire Compensator
• Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
• Stock: Ravage-8
• Magazine: 30 Round Mag

The Renetti is a secondary weapon, but in terms of performance, it competes with the best primaries in MW3. More specifically, it’s the Renetti with the JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit equipped that is so strong, transforming the burst weapon into a rapid-fire machine pistol. With this configuration, it has a TTK of 280 ms beyond 40 meters. That’s assault rifle range in a weapon that can fit in your pocket.

This Conversion Kit does give the Renetti quite a lot more recoil and lowers its mobility greatly, so it’s not perfect by any means. Even so, this is the best secondary weapon in MW3 right now and there’s little reason to use any other sidearm until it gets nerfed.

SOA Subverter

• Muzzle: Zehmn35 Compensated Flash Hider
• Barrel: Dozer-90 Long Barrel
• Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
• Underbarrel: XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop
• Magazine: 7.62×51 30 Round Mag

The SOA Subverter was nerfed in Season 3 with its ADS Speed and Sprint To Fire Speed being reduced. Then in Season 3 Reloaded, Sledgehammer struck again, this time lowering its TTK beyond 38m. These nerfs have weakened the battle rifle, but as long as you stick to close and medium range where it excels it is still fantastic.

In its maximum damage range, the SOA Subverter has a spectacular TTK of 258ms. That is faster than every other AR, SMG, BR, and LMG in Modern Warfare 3. This is the hardest-hitting automatic weapon you can use and if you are skilled enough to control the SOA Subverter, no other gun can compete with it.

Best off-meta MW3 loadouts in Season 3 Reloaded

These off-meta weapons might not be your first choice but when used right they are still seriously powerful and can even leave the best MW3 weapons outmatched.

BAS-B (JAK Outlaw 277)

• Muzzle: Shadowstrike Suppressor
• Barrel: Wyvern’s Respite Long Barrel
• Optic: Corio Eagleseye 2.5x
• Stock: Sawed Off Mod
• Conversion Kit: JAK Outlaw-277 Kit

Modern Warfare 3 was already stacked when it came to semi-auto weapons. From the MTZ Interceptor to the KVD Enforcer, there have always been great options for those with the skill to use them. However, those guns may as well be removed at this point because the BAS-B with the JAK Outlaw -277 conversion kit has completely replaced them.

With the potential for a one-shot kill at any range, fantastic handling, a huge 20 round magazine, and a rapid-fire rate, the BAS-B outclasses every other semi-auto weapon in MW3 Season 3 Reloaded. This converted battle rifle won’t be for everyone as you need to land headshots for it to be effective but in the right hands, this off-meta gun can beat just about anything.

M16

• Muzzle: Zehmn35 Compensated Flash Hider
• Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
• Underbarrel: SL Skeletal Vertical Grip
• Ammunition: 5.56 NATO High Grain Rounds
• Rear Grip: Sakin ZX Grip

Both burst guns and the M16 have a long history in Call of Duty. This burst rifle once dominated the meta in the original Modern Warfare (2007) and rose again in Black Ops Cold War. It isn’t quite that strong in MW3 but following some big buffs in Season 3 it is at least the best burst gun in the game.

With the right loadout, this old-school assault rifle is a genuinely great gun. Thanks to its short burst delay, two-burst and even three-burst kills result in a competitive TTK and aren’t that hard to get. You’ll have to treat it right and not get too aggressive but don’t be surprised when you start racking in killstreaks once you learn how to use the M16 properly.

MCW (JAK Raven Kit)

• Conversion Kit: JAK Raven Kit
• Muzzle: T51R Billeted Brake
• Barrel: Second Line Mammoth Heavy Barrel
• Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
• Underbarrel: FTAC SP-10 Angled Grip

The MCW has always been one of the most used weapons in MW3 but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s the best. This popular AR is somewhat overrated due to its prevalence in Ranked Play and the CDL. However, it only sees such wide use in those formats due to the strict restrictions limiting the use of other weapons.

Even so, the MCW is still a great option in multiplayer. You shouldn’t be using the regular version anymore but with the JAK Raven Kit equipped this popular assault rifle is fantastic. It’s easy to use, has a competitive TTK, and works on just about any map or mode. It might not be top-tier, but the MCW may very well be the gun for you.

All guns in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Reloaded

Now we’ve gone over Modern Warfare 3’s best weapons and loadouts, let’s check out all the other guns players can use in MW3 Season 3 Reloaded:

MW3 Assault Rifles

Weapon	Guide
DG-56	Loadout/Class
FR 5.56	Loadout/Class
Holger 556	Loadout/Class
MCW	Loadout/Class
MTZ-556	Loadout/Class
SVA 545	Loadout/Class
RAM-7	Loadout/Class
BP50	Loadout/Class
BAL-27	Loadout/Class

MW3 SMGs

Weapon	Guide
AMR9	Loadout/Class
Rival-9	Loadout/Class
Striker	Loadout/Class
Striker 9	Loadout/Class
WSP-9	Loadout/Class
WSP Swarm	Loadout/Class
HRM-9	Loadout/Class
RAM-9	Loadout/Class
FJX Horus	Loadout/Class

MW3 Battle Rifles

Weapon	Guide
BAS-B	Loadout/Class
MTZ-762	Loadout/Class
Sidewinder	Loadout/Class
SOA Subverter	Loadout/Class

MW3 LMGs

Weapon	Guide
Bruen Mk9	Loadout/Class
DG-58 LSW	Loadout/Class
Holger 26	Loadout/Class
Pulemyot 762	Loadout/Class
TAQ Eradicator	Loadout/Class
TAQ Evolvere	Loadout/Class

MW3 Snipers

Weapon	Guide
KATT-AMR	Loadout/Class
KV Inhibitor	Loadout/Class
Longbow	Loadout/Class
XRK Stalker	Loadout/Class
MORS	Loadout/Class

MW3 Shotguns

Weapon	Guide
Haymaker	Loadout/Class
Lockwood 680	Loadout/Class
Riveter	Loadout/Class

MW3 Marksman Rifles

Weapon	Guide
DM56	Loadout/Class
KVD Enforcer	Loadout/Class
MCW 6.8	Loadout/Class
MTZ Interceptor	Loadout/Class

MW3 Handguns

Weapon	Guide
COR-45	Loadout/Class
Renetti	Loadout/Class
TYR	Loadout/Class
WSP Stinger	Loadout/Class

Check out these additional MW3 guides to improve your gameplay and make sure you are well informed on all things multiplayer:

Best Modern Warfare 3 AR class loadouts | MW3 Complete Map List | MW3 Best Settings on PC | MW3 Best Controller Settings