MW3: Best Assault Rifle In Multiplayer [Top 7 Picks]

Snipers and Assault Rifles are my favorite weapon types in Modern Warfare 3. There are a total of 21 ARs available, so it could be hard to choose the best. However, I mostly play with ARs as they are my go-to weapon, which is why it wasn’t hard for me to choose the best Assault Rifle in MW3.

Helpful Reads:

Key Takeaways

There are 21 Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare 3.
M4 and MCW are among the best weapons in MW3, with M4 being the best AR.
The M4 can be unlocked just at level four, and it is pretty balanced.
MCW has better stats than M4, but the latter can be obtained pretty early, making it an ideal choice.
The only disadvantage of the M4 would be its recoil control, so players must spend some time mastering it.

Best Assault Rifles In MW3

Here is the overview of the best ARs in Modern Warfare 3, along with some useful information:

Serial Number	Assault Rifle	Rounds	Reserve	How To Unlock	Best Perks	Best Equipment
1	M4	30	60	Unlocks At Level 4.	Gunner vest, Commando Gloves/Lightweight Gloves.	Frag Grenade and Battle Rage.
2	MCW	30	90	Unlocks At Level 44.	Infantry Vest, Lightweight Boots, Commando Gloves, and Ghost T/V Camo.	Frag Grenade and Battle Rage.
3	SVA 545	30	90	Unlocks At Level 4.	EOD Padding, Lightweight Boots, Infantry Vest, and Scavenger Gloves.	Frag Grenade and Battle Rage.
4	Kastov-74U	30	60	Upgrade Kastov 545 To Level 13.	EOD Padding, Running Sneakers, Overkill Vest, and Ordnance Gloves.	Frag Grenade and Battle Rage.
5	STB-556	30	60	Reach Level 55 To Active The Unlock Challenge.	Infantry Vest, Stalker Boots, Quick Grip Gloves, Tac Mask, and Munition Box.	Smoke Grenade and Breacher Drone.
6	ISO Hemlock	30	60	Reach Level 55 To Active The Unlock Challenge.	Infantry Vest, Stalker Boots, Quick Grip Gloves, Bone Conduction Headset, and Munition Box.	Stun Grenade and Frag Grenade.
7	MTZ-556	30	90	Unlocks At Level 12.	Infantry Vest, Stalker Boots, Commando Gloves, Bone Conduction Headset, and Munition Box.	Battle Rage and Frag Grenade.

7- MTZ-556

Best Early Game MW3 Assault Rifle

If you want a good assault rifle early on, then I would recommend getting MTZ-556. You would just have to reach level 12 in order to get the weapon, so there is not much grinding to do. With MTZ-556, it will become easier for you to level up to get better guns.

I have actually liked the weapon due to its high mobility and fire rate. The damage isn’t bad either, so with the right loadout and class setup, you will be able to have a great experience.

The following are the best Assault Rifle attachments in MW3 for MTZ-556:

Barrel: MTZ Clinch Pro Barrel
Underbarrel: FTAC SP-10 Angled Grip
Rear Grip: Bruen TR-24 Assault Grip
Optic: Slimline Pro
Stock: EXF Close Quarters Assault Stock

The following is the best class setup for MTZ-556:

Perks: Infantry Vest, Stalker Boots, Commando Gloves, Bone Conduction Headset, and Munition Box.
Equipment: Battle Rage and Frag Grenade.

Full Read: Best MTZ-556 Loadout

6- ISO Hemlock

Best Mid Range Assault Rifle In MW3

ISO Hemlock can be unlocked once you reach level 55, as an Unlock Challenge will be activated. All the stats of the gun are pretty good. Even if the gun is not as powerful as it was in MW2, it still can destroy enemies. I would recommend experiencing the mid-range combat with ISO Hemlock, as the handling and recoil control is pretty great.

For the best Assault Rifle attachments in MW3 for ISO Hemlock, check out my recommendation below:

Barrel: Fielder-T50
Underbarrel: SL Skeletal Vertical Grip
Rear Grip: XTEN Grip
Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
Muzzle: Colossus Suppressor

Below is the best class setup for ISO Hemlock:

Perks: Infantry Vest, Stalker Boots, Quick Grip Gloves, Bone Conduction Headset, and Munition Box.
Equipment: Stun Grenade and Frag Grenade.

5- STB-556

MW3 Well-Balanced Assault Rifle

To get the STB-556, you would need to do a little grinding, as the unlock challenge for the weapon will activate at level 55. The recoil control of STB-556 is pretty good, so you won’t have much trouble with it in the mid-range battle. The handling, mobility, and damage are pretty good, too, which makes the weapon pretty balanced.

It is definitely among the best weapons in MW3, so if you are looking for a good, balanced weapon.

The following are the best Assault Rifle attachments in MW3 for STB-556:

Barrel: 18″ Bruen Guerilla
Underbarrel: FFS Sharkfin 90
Rear Grip: STIP-40 Grip
Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
Ammunition: 5.56 High Velocity

The following is the best class setup for STB-556:

Perks: Infantry Vest, Stalker Boots, Quick Grip Gloves, Tac Mask, and Munition Box.
Equipment: Smoke Grenade and Breacher Drone.

4- Kastov-74U

Best Close Range MW3 Assault Rifle

A gun from Modern Warfare 2, Kastov-74U, is back in MW3, and I don’t think it has suffered any nerfs. The gun is as good as before, but it is not the best currently. That is mainly due to other good options available, or there could be some slight nerfs. Regardless, Kastov-74 U is one of the best weapons in MW3.

You can get it by leveling up the Kastov 545 to level 13. Kastov-74U is a pretty light weapon, and even in spite of that, the damage is pretty good. As the gun is pretty light, it can be great in close combat.

Below are my recommendations for the best Assault Rifle attachments for Kastov-74U:

Barrel: Shorttac 330mm
Underbarrel: Phase-3 Grip
Magazine: 45 Round Mag
Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
Ammunition: 5.45 High Velocity

Below is the best class setup for Kastov-74U:

Perks: EOD Padding, Running Sneakers, Overkill Vest, and Ordnance Gloves.
Equipment: Frag Grenade and Battle Rage.

3- SVA 545

MW3 Best Mid & Close Range Assault Rifle

If you are looking for a weapon that is a beast in close-range combat, then you should give SVA 545 a try. I am really fascinated by its damage at close range, as it fires the first two rounds at almost the same time. The damage fire range, accuracy, mobility, recoil, and every other stat of the weapon is nearly perfect.

While the fire rate is extremely good, do keep in mind that after the first two rounds, it will drop slightly.

The following are my recommendations for the best Assault Rifle attachments for SVA 545:

Stock: FT TAC-Elite Stock
Muzzle: HMRES Mod Suppressor
Rear Grip: Demo-X2 Grip
Magazine: 45-Round Mag
Ammunition: 5.45 High Grain

The following is my take on the best class setup for SVA 545:

Perks: EOD Padding, Lightweight Boots, Infantry Vest, and Scavenger Gloves.
Equipment: Frag Grenade and Battle Rage.

More About Best MW3 SVA 45 Loadout

2- MCW

Best Mid & Long Range Assault Rifle In MW3

While many players consider MCW the best AR in MW3, I think there is one weapon that is better than it. MCW is arguably a beast and definitely one of the best weapons in MW3. You might remember it as ACR in Modern Warfare 2, so the weapon is almost the same.

It will be unlocked automatically at level 44. Fire rate, handling, and accuracy stand out the most as stats. With that said, the other stats are pretty good, too, making MCW a perfect AR in Modern Warfare 3.

Check out my recommendation for the best Assault Rifle attachments in MW3 for MCW below:

Barrel: 16.5” MCW Cyclone
Stock: RB Regal Heavy Stock
Muzzle: L4R Flash Hider
Rear Grip: RB Claw-PSL Grip
Optic: MK.3 Reflector

Below is my recommendation for the best class setup for MCW:

Perks: Infantry Vest, Lightweight Boots, Commando Gloves, and Ghost T/V Camo.
Equipment: Frag Grenade and Battle Rage.

1- M4

Best MW3 Assault Rifle In All Aspects

Arguably, the most iconic and loved weapon in the whole Call of Duty franchise is the M4. I have ranked M4 as the best assault rifle in MW3 due to its great performance in close and mid-range combats. With a perfect loadout, things can’t go wrong with M4, so I would highly recommend you try it.

The best thing about M4 is that you can unlock it just at level 4. So, with just a few matches, you will reach the level and wield one of the best weapons in MW3.

The following is my take on the best Assault Rifle attachments for the M4:

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

The following is the best class setup for M4:

Perks: Gunner vest, Commando Gloves/Lightweight Gloves.
Equipment: Frag Grenade and Battle Rage.

My Thoughts On The Best Assault Rifle

I think M4 and MCW are the best choices to go for in MW3.

Among all the Assault Rifles, the seven best are ranked according to their worth and my experience in MW3. I would recommend you to try them all. However, if you want to find the best one, just try the top 3 weapons.

That’s almost everything you would want to know about the MW3 Best Assault Rifle. If you have any queries regarding the guide, you can ask me in the comments section. If you are having trouble with levelling up, check out the YouTube video on an alternative method to unlock the weapons.

While you are at it, check out my other guide on how to complete the Halo Hat Trick Achievement in MW3. After that, if you are having trouble checking with completing the Floater Trophy achievement, read my guide on how to complete it. Lastly, if you have faced any type of bugs, errors, or crashes, visit the page for the guide on how to fix them.

Was this article helpful?

Thanks! Do share your feedback with us. ⚡

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. ✍