Best M4 loadout in MW3 – our top attachments, class build, and perks

Best M4 loadout in MW3 – our top attachments, class build, and perks
Antony Terence Updated on by

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Looking for the best M4 loadout in MW3? As a reputed assault rifle from previous Call of Duty titles, the M4 is a killing machine that shreds foes with its excellent fire rate and recoil. While it’s not the most powerful AR in the game, it’s an easy pick if you’ve already used it in previous titles.

If you’re considering a nimble SMG, the best WSP Swarm loadout in MW3 might be up your alley. As for tackling opponents in multiplayer, we’ve got some MW3 tips and tricks for you to master its battlegrounds. And if you’re considering buying the game, check out our extensive Modern Warfare 3 review.

An image of the M4 in the MW3 Gunsmith. Image captured by VideoGamer.
An image of the M4 in the MW3 Gunsmith. Image captured by VideoGamer.

Best M4 loadout and attachments in MW3

If you’re on the hunt for the best M4 loadout in MW3 with the right attachments, we’ve got you covered:

  • Barrel: Hightower 20″ Barrel
  • Muzzle: Harbinger D20
  • Rear Grip: Phantom Grip
  • Stock: Tempus P80 Strike Stock
  • Optic: MK. 23 Reflector

Our M4 loadout makes effective use of the Hightower 20″ Barrel’s boost to damage, recoil control, and bullet velocity. This addition makes the M4 a monster at medium range. But it comes with its downsides which are countered by the other attachments. The Harbinger D20 muzzle boosts damage too and helps with recoil control in our best M4 loadout in MW3. 

As for balancing these items, we’ve got the Tempus P80 Strike Stock to improve ADS speed. The Phantom Grip lets you boost the ADS speed and sprint-to-fire speed as well. These two perfectly balance out the downsides brought by the barrel and muzzle choices. When it comes to optics, most of them will do the trick. Based on my experience with the game, I’m partial to the MK. 23 Reflector optic that doesn’t complicate aiming.

✓ Antony’s annotation

Use attachments that don’t reduce your ADS speed by too much

As I was tinkering with the gun to make this guide, I made the mistake of lowering my ADS (aim down sights) speed. This made it difficult for me to aim at foes at the right moment. All that damage means little if your enemy gets enough time to react.

An image of the M4 in action against foes in MW3. Image captured by VideoGamer.
An image of the M4 in action against foes in MW3. Image captured by VideoGamer.

Best M4 perks and equipment in MW3

Here’s the best equipment that goes well with the M4 in MW3:

  • Vest: Infantry
  • Gloves: Assault Gloves
  • Boots: Covert Sneakers
  • Gear: Ghost T/V Camo
  • Lethal: Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Stun Grenade
  • Field Equipment: Trophy System

The Infantry Vest increases your Tac Sprint duration and reduces its refresh time, making it an ideal partner for a mobility-based playstyle. This goes great with the Assault Gloves that boost accuracy and time to ADS while jumping. Considering MW3 has decent mid-air accuracy, jumping and gunning foes down is viable at close ranges. Our best M4 loadout in MW3 accounts for this and lets you use it to your advantage.

As for the boots and gear, Covert Sneakers in MW3 and Ghost T/V Camo work together to make you a stealthy predator. The former turns your footsteps silent while the latter keeps you untraceable from UAVs and other systems. Frag and Stun grenades round out the equipment list. As for protecting yourself from said throwables, the Trophy System could be put to good use.

How to unlock M4 fast in MW3

Get to level 55 and complete the M4 challenge to unlock it in MW3. This can take a while so watch out for the next double XP weekend in MW3. Also, we’ve got some tips on how to level up fast in MW3. Use these methods to rake up enough XP to hit level 55 in the game. Unlocking the gun is just the first step, though. You’ll need to take it out to combat to level up the weapon itself for its attachments.

Is the M4 worth it in MW3

The M4 ranks on our best MW3 assault rifles list. Its solid firepower paired with decent recoil makes it a great AR in MW3. While other assault rifles are better in certain situations, the M4 is great at punishing targets at close to medium ranges. Use the right attachments to get even more offensive firepower out of it.

That covers the best M4 loadout in MW3. Players considering assault rifles can check out our best MCW loadout in MW3 as well. We’ve also got a guide on MW3 Zombies tips and tricks if you’re considering the revamped game mode. MW3 is out on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Best M4 loadout MW3 FAQ

Is the M4 good in MW3?

This reliable assault rifle offers a solid fire rate while dealing enough damage to take out multiple foes with a single magazine in MW3.

What is the best weapon to pair the M4 with in MW3?

The Renetti pistol’s solid damage makes it a good companion for the M4’s auto fire.