Best MW3 Assault Rifle loadouts & classes ranked (Season 3)

You'll be a master of the mid to long-range when using the best Assault Rifle loadouts in Modern Warfare 3, and every class I've listed here dominates within that space to have you ready for what Season 3 holds.

While SMGs are unmatched at close quarters, I've found that nothing beats the consistency of a strong AR in MW3, especially on the classic MW2 (2009) remastered maps. With a top-tier balance of stability, damage output, and even mobility with the correct attachments, a meta AR class in the game can deliver you countless wins.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Assault Rifles ranked

5. RAM-7

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Best RAM-7 loadout

• Muzzle: Casus Brake
• Optic: MK. 3 Reflector
• Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip
• Magazine: 60 Round Drum
• Stock: HVS 3.4 Pad

If you're on the hunt for firepower, then the RAM-7 bullpup Assault Rifle may be the correct choice for you. Specialising in mid-range skirmishes, this gun devastates enemies with its top-tier TTK.

On top of that, it comes equipped with solid mobility, making it easy to fly around to map, racking up kills as you go.

This is ideal for a player who wants to take a match into their own hands and solo-carry because the RAM-7 has all the tools for the job.

It has dropped slightly down the rankings due to a nerf in Season 3, which takes the neck damage multiplier down from 1.3 to 1.0x. This isn't too significant of a nerf to remove it from the list entirely, but you will definitely find situations where it takes a bit longer to secure a kill.

4. MTZ-556

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Best MTZ-556 loadout

• Muzzle: Shadowstrike Suppressor
• Optic: MK. 3 Reflector
• Stock: MTZ Marauder Stock
• Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip
• Rear Grip: Bruen TR-24 Assault Grip

The MTZ-556 is an all-around monster in MW3, giving you a superfast fire rate, excellent mobility, and great damage to take down your enemies in pretty much any scenario.

It has quickly become one of the most popular options in the current meta in Season 3 - so you'd be remiss to not have this loadout available to choose from in Modern Warfare 3.

The gun remains incredibly fast even with recoil-dampening attachments, so you don't have to worry about your ADS speed too much.

3. Holger 556

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Best Holger 556 loadout

• Muzzle: JAK BFB
• Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip
• Stock: RB Addlle Assault Stock
• Magazine: 40 Round Mag
• Optic: MK. 3 Reflector

While the Holger 556 is on the receiving end of some nerfs in Season 3, it remains a super strong choice that you really can't go wrong with. All damage modifiers below the waist have been reduced by 15%, meaning that you now need all shots to land above those areas to secure a four-shot kill. However, this won't really affect any skilled players out there, as they'll be aiming high anyway!

On the flip side, buffs in Season 2 Reloaded have meant that its overall damage increased to 38 from 35, alongside its max damage range, and a new near-mid damage range variable to balance things out.

This gives the Holger one of the higher base damage values in the game in the Assault Rifle category, giving you the potential to deal serious harm to any opponent unfortunate enough to step into your line of sight.

The weapon is strong at medium-long range despite the recoil nerfs and is perfect for any of the bigger maps or those with longer straight sightlines.

2. SVA 545

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• Muzzle: JAK BFB
• Barrel: STV Precision Barrel
• Optic: MK. 3 Reflector
• Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip
• Magazine: 60 Round Mag

Recent buffs have seen the SVA 545 rise in the rankings - but it always deserved to be there in the first place in my eyes. Unlike any other gun in the game, the SVA fires its first two shots simultaneously - dramatically increasing its time to kill (TTK) if you hit both shots.

Buffs to the MCW and nerfs to the SVA in Season 2 Reloaded have harmed the weapon's ranking ever so slightly, but it still remains one of the best guns in the entire game, and holds the third-highest overall pick rate of 2.82%. It's also one of the few meta Assault Rifles unaffected by nerfs in Season 3, so we could perhaps see a rise in prominence for the SVA.

The attachments that I've chosen emphasise the weapon's control - allowing you to ensure that those first two shots stay on target and give you the greatest chance of a swift elimination. Furthermore, you've even got plenty of room to breathe with the 60-round magazine, letting you spray if you really need to and deal with multiple foes.

1. MCW

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Best MCW loadout

• Barrel: 16.5" MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
• Muzzle: VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor
• Stock: RB Precision Heavy Stock
• Underbarrel: XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop
• Magazine: 40 Round Mag

The MCW is reminiscent of the classic ACR from MW2 (2009) and it's become an instant fan favourite, surging to the top of this list of the best ARs in the game. I always gravitated towards the ACR for its super low recoil back in the day, so it's fantastic to see its strength replicated in MW3 and thriving in Season 3.

Similar to its classic counterpart, the MCW has phenomenal recoil control and stability, making it a complete laser beam in the multiplayer setting. It's by far my favourite Assault Rifle to use for this very reason, as I know that my shots are always going to be on target.

This makes it easy to land those all-important headshots and maximise your damage output. It's also the ultimate AR in Modern Warfare 3 for holding down a power position, as it will consistently rack up eliminations in almost any scenario.

It remains the most picked weapon in the entire game according to WZRanked, with a pick rate of 32.75% which is higher than any of the other Assault Rifles. It has been hit with nerfs once again in Season 3 - with quite a significant reduction to the headshot damage multiplier, taking it down from 1.3x to 1.1x.

This 15% reduction means that the MCW is now not a four-shot kill with a single headshot - but with the nerfs to many of the other top-tier ARs I'd be surprised if this budges the weapon from its place at the top. We shall have to see as the new Season evolves though, as it might prove to be more significant than it initially appears.

Now you know the best AR loadouts in MW3, why not learn which snipers are meta so you can insta-kill foes at long range or the best loadouts for quickscoping? For everything else, be sure to check out our MW3 homepage for the latest news and guides.