LM-S

The LM-S has never appeared in a Call of Duty title, meaning Modern Warfare 2 will act as its debut game. Depending on its popularity, it could feature in future titles, but for now, it’s unclear if the LM-S will feature amongst the best Modern Warfare 2 guns.

The Marksman Rifles have the ability to kill a target in one hit if they strike the head, but they usually hit in other places besides the head. Marksman Rifles are basically the “light snipers,” which can only one-shot to the neck or head but have more than enough range for every map. 

At this point in the game, there is just one sniper rifle available, therefore we don’t have a lot of options when compiling a list of the top Modern Warfare 2 sniper rifles. However, due to the dominance of the Kar98k, we have grown used to seeing marksman rifles in the sniper rifle category. Unfortunately, the LM-S falls short of what you would expect from a sniper and is more akin to a DMR gun that depends on players reigning in the precision. However, you won’t be successful with the LM-S as a one-shot sniper rifle, unless you can find the right attachments.

LM-S Overview

The Marksman Rifles are leagues ahead of most of the competition when it comes to high damage at long range, and the LM-S is the best of the bunch. The Lockwood MK2 delivers single-shot damage at a reliable rate, but the LM-S semi-auto fire is an incredible tool that cannot be ignored. Most other weapons that perform well at this range are relegated to single shots with lengthy pauses between those shots, so the LM-S has an immediate leg-up on the competition.

Design

The LM-S in the game is technically a marksman rifle, but in real life, it’s a sniper rifle. The design of the LM-S is based on a real-life Heckler & Koch PSG1. It was introduced into the service in 1972, shortly after the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. The PSG1 is a very high-end sniper rifle designed with police and counter-terrorist uses in mind, and while an excellent weapon, it is slightly on the heavy side for something a soldier would want to lug around in the field.

Read: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Weapons

How to Unlock The LM-S in Modern Warfare 2

By upgrading your current weapons, you can unlock new weapons via Modern Warfare 2’s Gunsmith system. However, certain weapons are only accessible when you progress in rank. Weapon progression can lead to the Marksman Rifle.

You need to be aware of the weapons platform to gain access to the LM-S. The first weapons platform you’ll gain access to is the Tempus Armament, with the M4 acting as the base accessible weapon. And you’ll access future weapons platforms as you progress through the game.

As for the Lachmann Meer Manufacturer, you need to level yourself all the way to Rank 16 to unlock the Weapons Platform. As soon as you’re done, you’ll get your hands on the very first Lachmann weapon, the Lachmann-762. Now, use the Lachmann-762 to advance through the Weapons Platform until you reach level 17. Once it does, you will unlock the LM-S.

LM-S Stats

The LM-S is a strong contender for the best marksman rifle in Modern Warfare 2, beating out the Lockwood MK2 thanks to its incredibly accurate semi-auto fire. Taking advantage of Modern Warfare 2’s speedy TTK, the LM-S can rapidly take down your opponents.

Read: Best LM-S Loadout in Modern Warfare 2 

Damage

The LM-S’s characteristics and this high damage per bullet make the LM-S quite powerful while retaining a good amount of versatility in terms of accuracy and fire rate. The LM-S has high bullet penetration power, allowing the LM-S to deal heavy damage through most walls, although it is much less likely to get one-shot kills.

Fire Rate

The LM-S’s rate of fire is limited, but due to how powerful the LM-S is in terms of one-shot kill potential, the fire rate feels more of a luxury than a weakness. Semi-automatic sniper rifles can be fired as fast as the user can shoot.

Accuracy 

The LM-S has some odd accuracy traits for a sniper rifle. It has the second lowest amount of idle sway for a sniper rifle, and its crosshairs are somewhat thick.

Recoil 

The LM-S’s recoil is quite heavy. However, the LM-S can have either high or low power and recoil, allowing for follow-up shots if the first did not kill.

Handling

The LM-S’s handling characteristics are quite poor. The hip-fire spread is ludicrously large. The LM-S will need 400 milliseconds to aim down the sight.

Reload

The reload speeds on the LM-S are also quite slow, taking 3.2 seconds to reload a completely empty mag. This is fairly typical, but in the grand scheme, it is quite slow, and the player will need to conceal themselves while reloading.

Range

When using the LM-S in Modern Warfare 2, you’ll want to be aware of your surroundings and ensure that enemies aren’t sneaking up on you. The LM-S will allow you to cover the field at a mind-long range, so minimizing the enemy’s chances of overpowering you at close range is a must. 

Lachmann Meer Weapons Platform

This Marksman Rifle is part of the Lachmann Meer Manufacturer Weapons Platform and can be modified using a selection of receivers that can be unlocked as the user levels up and progresses through the weapons platform.

Blueprints

Currently, no blueprints are available for the LM-S and will be listed once the game officially launches. The only blueprints available consist of the Side Impact Blueprint and the Frontal Impact Blueprint.

Bugs 

Many have reported marksman rifles to be weak in the “MW2” beta due to the game’s having an extremely fast time to kill compared to the previous “Call of Duty” games. It’s important to remember that this is only the beta and that the developers could fix this problem before the game’s official launch on October 28. The game was littered with numerous bugs in the Open Beta and players were requested to use the report to provide Infinity Ward with the necessary feedback so they could make the final touches to the game before Day One for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.

LM-S Attachments

Attachments for specific weapons can be unlocked as the player levels up. Additionally, newer attachments can be unlocked by progressing through the weapons platform.

The LM-S boasts a tremendous number of attachments due to cross-support across the Lachmann Meer Platform. Players can swap out optics, under barrels, grips, magazines, and barrels for the Lachmann platform of weapons to mix and match and create the ultimate rifle setup.

Any weapon on the Lachmann Meer Platform that has an unlocked attachment can be equipped with any weapon on the platform. As for universal attachments, they can be equipped with any weapon in the game, irrespective of the weapons category or platform.

Optics	HMW-20 HYBRID FIRE POINT SZ LONEWOLF OPTIC SCHLAGER 4X FORGE TAC DELTA 4 SZ REFLEX  SZ MINI
Under barrel	FORGE TAC RIPPER-54 LOCK GRIP PRECISION-40 FSS SHARK FIN 90 TL 40 FIRE DRAKE GRIP VX PINEAPPLE VERT GRIP
Magazine	10 ROUND MAGAZINE 20 ROUND MAGAZINE
Rear Grip	LACHMANN TCG-10 S-GRIP ZERO LMK64 GRIP LM CRONUS REAR GRIP
Stock	MEER RECOIL 56 FACTORY STOCK LACHMANN S76 FACTORY STOCK LM-S FACTORY G79 STOCK LACHMANN S9 FACTORY STOCK FT MOBILE STOCK NO STOCK
Muzzle	POLAFIRE SUPPRESSOR SAKIN TREAD-40 COMP DARK KX30 FLASH HIDER CLASSIFIED CLASSIFIED
Laser	CORVUS PEQ BEAM-5 FJX ULTRABEAM SR
Ammunition	7.62 HIGH-VELOCITY AMMUNITION

Perks Available for LM-S

• Quick Fix
• Basic: Tracker
• Survivor
• Bonus: Spotter
• Ultimate: Bird’s Eye

Tactical Equipment For LM-S

• Heartbeat Sensor
• C4

Heartbeat Sensor

The Heartbeat sensor allows you to mitigate the LM-S’ dwindling performance at close range by being alerted to enemies moving in on your position. With semi-regular use, the heartbeat monitor will give you a huge amount of information about your environment and any opponents attempting to get the drop on you.

C4 

Using C4 with the LM-S grants you an additional tool for defense and area denial, enabling you to lock down approaches to your position and lure enemies into traps. The C4’s proximity allows you to fortify your position and scatter the opposition the moment they step into the C4’s proximity. With careful timing, C4 can be an incredible explosive option for your loadout.

Alternatives

If you find that the LM-S doesn’t quite cut it for you, then there is another option for you to try out, such as the Lockwood MK2. It is the only marksman rifle available in Modern Warfare 2 beta other than the LM-S.

Lockwood MK2 is already catching the attention of players dropping into the two beta weekends. Designed to act as a hybrid between an assault rifle and a sniper, marksman rifles tend to feature a high damage output alongside mobility levels superior to the aforementioned categories.