Best MW3 loadouts: 8 of the best loadouts in Modern Warfare 3

These are the very best class setups and gun loadouts in the MW3 beta

Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Guide by Ollie Toms Guides Editor

Updated on Nov. 10, 2023

Looking for the best loadouts in Modern Warfare 3? With the full launch of Modern Warfare 3, players have more guns to play with than ever before in Call Of Duty's history. That's thanks mainly to the Carry Forward scheme, which brings all the guns from Modern Warfare 2 across to Modern Warfare 3, on top of the many MW3-exclusive guns added to the game for launch.

What's more, Modern Warfare 3's launch has pushed the health pools of players from 100 up to 150, resulting in one of the slowest time-to-kill stats of any Call Of Duty title. That means picking the right loadout for the task is more important than ever. Below we'll walk you through eight of the very best loadouts in Modern Warfare 3, and how to put them together for yourself.

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8. Renetti loadout

A close-up of the Renetti Pistol in Modern Warfare 3. — Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Here's the best Renetti loadout in Modern Warfare 3:

Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
Ammunition: 9MM High Grain
Rear Grip: EXF Eclipsor Grip
Magazine: 50 Round Mag
Conversion Kit: JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit

Once you kit it out properly, it's easy to forget - and hard to believe - that the Renetti is just a sidearm. This is our pick for the best Pistol in Modern Warfare 3, and it's all thanks to that JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit, a conversion that turns the Renetti into a full-auto SMG.

After that, treat it like an SMG when putting together the other attachments. We've gone for the Monolithic Suppressor to extend the gun's effective range and suppress your shots, and the 50 Round Mag to ensure the kill even while outnumbered (the Renetti conversion really burns through mags with its fire rate, so you'll need it). After that, the 9mm High Grain ammo further increases bullet velocity to help it perform well at a decent range for a Pistol/SMG, and the Eclipsor Grip increases your Sprint-To-Fire and weapon draw speed, making it truly the best sidearm you can get in Modern Warfare 3.

Check out our full guide on the best Renetti loadout in Modern Warfare 3!

7. SVA 545 loadout

A close-up of the SVA-545 Assault Rifle in Modern Warfare 3. — Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Here's the best SVA 545 loadout in Modern Warfare 3:

Muzzle: HMRES Mod Suppressor
Stock: Markeev R7 Stock
Ammunition: 5.45 High Grain
Magazine: 45 Round Mag
Optic: Slate Reflector

The calling card of the SVA 545 is its unique "hyperburst" mechanic, which fires off the first two shots at astonishing speed. This means you need not concern yourself quite so much with recoil control, because this is a gun that you shouldn't be endlessly holding down the trigger with. Its true lethality lies with those first few shots, and this loadout helps you make the most of them.

The HMRES Mod Suppressor and 45 Round Mag are the only real weight-increasing attachments we like to use on the SVA 545, and they're both definitely important for staying in the fight and avoiding detection for as long as possible. The Slate Reflector Optic is our preference for clean rectangular sights to help target acquisition, but you can pick whichever Optic you like.

The 5.45 High Grain ammunition further increases the lethality of those hyperburst shots by dramatically increasing bullet velocity. And finally, the Markeev R7 Stock gives you a plethora of much-needed boosts to movement speed, gun kick control, and sprint speed. It's a tough gun to get used to, but once you do, there aren't many guns that can compete with its potential time-to-kill.

Check out our full guide on the best SVA 545 loadout in Modern Warfare 3!

6. FJX Imperium loadout

A close-up of the FJX Imperium Sniper Rifle in Modern Warfare 3. — Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Here's the best FJX Imperium loadout in Modern Warfare 3:

Muzzle: Nilsound 90
Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
Underbarrel: Field-Wrapped Handle
Ammunition: .408 Explosive
Rear Grip: Skull-40

The FJX Imperium is just about the best gun you can use if you want a quickscope loadout in Modern Warfare 3. It's also our pick for the best Sniper Rifle in MW3 right now, and with this loadout it's easy to see why.

The Nilsound 90 is a great, fairly lightweight suppressor that still increases the Imperium's effective range, making those one-shot-kills more consistent at every range. The ADS nerf is easily counteracted by the VLK LZR 7MW, which dramatically speeds up the handling of the rifle. After that, we've equipped the .408 Explosive ammunition for extra damage to all but ensure those one-shots.

Finally, to round out the quickscope loadout, the Field-Wrapped Handle and Skull-40 attachments work together to bring the ADS speed, Sprint-To-Fire speed, and sprint speed down as low as possible. All put together, this loadout gives you an absolutely phenomenal sniping loadout, possibly the best out there for core multiplayer.

Check out our full guide on the best FJX Imperium loadout in Modern Warfare 3!

5. Pulemyot loadout

A close-up of the Pulemyot-762 LMG in Modern Warfare 3. — Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Here's the best Pulemyot loadout in Modern Warfare 3:

Conversion Kit: Pulemyot 762B Bullpup Conversion
Muzzle: VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor
Stock: Rubber Recoil Pad
Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip
Magazine: 75 Round Bullpup Belt

It's unusual for an LMG to be ranked so highly in a guide like this, but the Pulemyot is just that powerful. It's our clear pick for the best LMG in Modern Warfare 3 at the moment, because it not only hits like a truck, it also has a startling amount of mobility when kitted out correctly.

Key to this loadout is the Bullpup Conversion Kit, which dramatically improves the Pulemyot's mobility and handling - something that we push even further with the smaller (but still very serviceable) 75 Round Bullpup Belt. After that, the Spiritfire Suppressor helps to increase the range and silence the Pulemyot's punchy shots, while the Rubber Recoil Pad and Bruen Heavy Support Grip help to further increase mobility while also tempering the Bullpup Pulemyot's high recoil.

Check out our full guide on the best Pulemyot loadout in Modern Warfare 3!

4. M4 loadout

A close-up of the M4 Assault Rifle in Modern Warfare 3. — Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Here's the best M4 loadout in Modern Warfare 3:

Muzzle: Harbinger D20
Barrel: Hightower 20" Barrel
Stock: Tempus P80 Strike Stock
Magazine: 45 Round Mag
Rear Grip: Phantom Grip

The M4 has always been a fantastic choice of Assault Rifle for players, and it's probably the most popular gun in COD history. While it doesn't quite take the top spot for the best Assault Rifle in Modern Warfare 3, it's still incredibly reliable and powerful with these attachments.

The Harbinger D20 suppressor and the Hightower 20" Barrel combine to give the M4 a huge boost to effective range and bullet velocity, which not only helps you to use the M4 at longer ranges, but improves the gun's consistency at mid-to-close ranges too. To offset the increased weight, add the Tempus P80 Strike Stock and the Phantom Grip for increased mobility and handling stats, particularly to ADS speed. And finally, just for added reliability, we like to use the 45 Round Mag to ensure you have enough bullets to kill any enemy before reloading.

If you're stuck deciding which of the whopping 21 Assault Rifles to use in Modern Warfare 3, then the M4 is a solid first choice. Give it a go, level it up, and equip it with the above attachments, and you'll become a force of nature on any battlefield.

Check out our full guide on the best M4 loadout in Modern Warfare 3!

3. Striker loadout

A close-up of the Striker SMG in Modern Warfare 3. — Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Here's the best Striker loadout in Modern Warfare 3:

Muzzle: VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor
Barrel: Striker Recon Long Barrel
Stock: Lachmann MK2 Light Stock
Magazine: 48 Round Mag
Optic: Slate Reflector

The Striker was the go-to SMG back in the Modern Warfare 3 beta, and at launch it's still an exceptional close-quarters weapon that deserves a top-tier loadout. The Striker's balance of power, range, and speed is what makes it great, so our attachments are also a fine balance that works to eliminate any of the SMG's natural drawbacks. The Striker Recon Long Barrel adds a lot of range and bullet velocity to make kills cleaner and more reliable, while the Spiritfire Suppressor helps you to avoid flank attacks by keeping you off the enemy's radar.

The 48 Round Mag is a fantastic addition to the Striker especially in the age of 150-health enemies. And the Lachmann MK2 Light Stock helps to offset the extra weight of the Long Barrel, keeping you light on your feet. Finally, add a close-range optic of your choice (we always opt for the Slate Reflector for guns like this) and you've got a devastatingly powerful close-quarters beast, and likely the best SMG in Modern Warfare 3.

Check out our full guide on the best Striker loadout in Modern Warfare 3!

2. Lockwood 300 loadout

A close-up of the Lockwood 300 Shotgun in Modern Warfare 3. — Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Here's the best Lockwood 300 loadout in Modern Warfare 3:

Muzzle: GW Max-99
Barrel: Matuzek 812 Barrel
Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
Stock: Heist Stock Mod
Trigger Action: Maelstrom Dual Trigger

The Lockwood 300 is head and shoulders above the other Modern Warfare 3 Shotguns at the moment, and it's all thanks to that Maelstrom Dual Trigger - a unique attachment which allows you to fire both shots at once. That means double damage, which is more than enough to absolutely obliterate even the 150-health players of Modern Warfare 3.

By extending the range as much as possible with teh GW Max-99 and Matuzek 812 Barrel attachments, the range reduction enforced by the Maelstrom Dual Trigger is more or less eliminated, allowing you to use it comfortably at close range. After that, all that's left is to increase the Sprint-To-Fire time as much as possible with the VLK LZR 7MW and the Heist Stock Mod. Once everything is put together, this Lockwood 300 loadout allows you to tear around corners and through pathways on any of the Modern Warfare 3 maps, instantly one-shot-killing any enemy you come across. It's a frighteningly powerful weapon.

Check out our full guide on the best Lockwood 300 loadout in Modern Warfare 3!

1. MCW loadout

A close-up of the MCW Assault Rifle in Modern Warfare 3. — Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Activision

Here's the best MCW loadout in Modern Warfare 3:

Muzzle: HMRES Mod Suppressor
Barrel: 16.5" MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
Magazine: 40 Round Mag
Rear Grip: RB Rapidstrike Grip
Optic: Slate Reflector

The MCW (or ACR) is currently considered among the very best, most effective weapons in Modern Warfare 3. It hits like a truck, is laser-accurate, and is easy to use even without the perfect set of attachments, making it a great weapon to upgrade early on. And with the above attachments equipped, our best MCW loadout becomes more or less unstoppable.

Let's get the obvious choices out of the way. Most good loadouts in MW3 will have a magazine upgrade thanks to the increased TTK, so here we've opted for the 40 Round Mag to give us some leeway during fights. And the Slate Reflector (or any optic of your choice) helps massively with target acquisition - although if you feel like you can do without an optic, we'd recommend using that final attachment slot on the ever-useful 5.45 High Grain Ammunition.

The 16.5" MCW Cyclone Long Barrel is among the heaviest Assault Rifle barrels, but the incredible upgrade to bullet velocity, damage range, and recoil control is too good to ignore. The same is true of the hefty HMRES Mod Suppressor, which extends the range and accuracy further while also keeping our shots from highlighting us on the enemy's minimap. To compensate, we've also added the RB Rapidstrike Grip, which improves our handling with a sizable boost to our ADS speed and Sprint-To-Fire speed. Overall this results in a MCW that's very slightly slower than the default, but unbelievably accurate and easy to use.

Check out our full guide on the best MCW loadout in Modern Warfare 3!

More Modern Warfare 3 loadouts

We have plenty more top-tier Modern Warfare 3 loadouts for you to check out besides the class setups above! We're working on bringing a loadout guide to the entire Modern Warfare 3 weapon list, but in the meantime you can check out all our loadout guides below:

Assault Rifle loadouts

SMG loadouts

Shotgun loadouts

LMG loadouts

Sniper Rifle loadouts

Marksman Rifle loadouts

Battle Rifle loadouts

Best MTZ-762 loadout in Modern Warfare 3

Pistol loadouts

That wraps up our guide on the very best gun loadouts in MW3 in the current meta. You can also check out our guides on the best Battle Rifle and best Marksman Rifle in Modern Warfare 3 if you'd prefer top give these hard-hitting off-meta weapons a try. Alternatively, check out our guide on the best guns in Modern Warfare 3 for a full tier list of every gun in the game. Alternatively, if you're more interested in the campaign, you can check out our Modern Warfare 3 campaign mission list guide.