Best MCW Loadouts In Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

The infamous ACR from past CoD titles has made its return in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, featuring a wide range of customization options to suit any playstyle. This weapon is well known for its minimal recoil, great range, and ease of use. Thankfully, the MCW lives up to that legacy.

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But as with most weapons in MW3, a weapon’s base performance doesn’t tell the full story. By experimenting with various attachments, you can morph the MCW into a monstrous long-range dueling weapon or a close-quarters SMG. This guide will showcase how to create both types of builds, using some of the MCW’s exclusive barrels, stocks, and aftermarket part attachments.

General Use MCW Build

Excluding this weapon’s conversion kit, the MCW’s base stats force it into a mid-range dueling role. Its attachments don’t play kindly to CQC builds without some serious modifications, so we recommend building around recoil control and range. The MCW dominates at longer distances thanks to its low recoil, yet the weapon starts to experience damage falloff past 27m. Considering how large most MW3 maps are, bumping this up is downright essential to getting the most out of this gun.

That’s why we use the 16.5” MCW Cyclone Long Barrel. This gives you an effective range of 32 meters before damage falloff, making it much easier to hit your optimal TTK on maps like Estate and Wasteland. For recoil, we opt to use the RB Regal Heavy Stock which gives as much recoil reduction as most MW2 muzzles. We then use the DR-6 Handstop grip to counteract some of the stock’s penalties. To round off the build, we use the Shadowstrike Suppressor to hide our minimap pings and any red dot optic for easy target tracking.

This configuration has a slightly faster ADS speed of 228ms compared to a base MCW, but the lengthy 221ms sprint to fire delay means you must keep your distance. Fortunately, the low recoil and high aiming stability provided by your barrel attachment makes this weapon a headshot magnet. You also have decent strafe speed with this gun. Pop out of cover, land a few headshots, then retreat to heal.

Loadout Recommendations

Since this build wants to stay at a distance, you’ll find the Gunner Vest to be a solid choice. It sacrifices Covert Sneakers for a second primary weapon, the Mag Holster perk, and the ability to spawn with max ammo. A more defensive playstyle is encouraged with this vest, so we recommend using a powerful close-range weapon as your secondary in the event of a spawn flip. For perks, Marksman Gloves greatly reduce incomng flinch while Ghost keeps you off the enemy’s radar while strafing. If you tend to stand still in gunfights, use EOD or Tac Mask instead.

The equipment you bring doesn’t matter for this build. You’ll find general success with Semtex grenades for flushing targets out of cover and Stims for healing yourself. Your Field Upgrade should be changed based on the mode. For objective modes, use the A.C.S. or Trophy System. For TDM and similar modes, use Dead Silence or a Comm Scrambler.

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SMG MCW Build

The Jak Raven Kit aftermarket part converts the MCW’s ammo to .300 BLK. This makes the weapon fire significantly faster, but it guts the two good things about the MCW: its accuracy and recoil control. Since the conversion kit is arguably worse than the base MCW, we recommend leaning into the kit’s strengths by making an SMG build. This involves gutting the weapon’s range in exchange for fast ADS times and sprint to fire speed.

Equipping the Jak Raven Kit will give you access to a new suite of ammo attachments and adjust the MCW’s barrel and stock. The kit removes your stock by default, making this weapon shake uncontrollably with sustained fire. You can fix this by equipping any stock—we use the MCW Ironback Tactical Stock. Speed is key with this receiver, so we’ll be using the Kimaru Silentshot Integral Suppressor barrel. This reduces your range to SMG levels but offers faster ADS speed, a lower sprint to fire delay, and a built-in suppressor. We use our last two slots to mitigate recoil, opting for the snappy FTAC MSP-98 Handstop grip and Blackout Low Grain ammunition.

All five attachments work together to keep the MCW’s recoil under control while keeping your character off enemy radar. An ADS speed of 207ms is quite fast for an AR, and the 154ms sprint to fire delay is respectable for an assault rifle, although you will be outgunned by an SMG user and even certain pistols. Stick to close range fights with this build, as your damage falloff begins at 14 meters with this configuration, the same as most SMGs. The good news is that you have an exceptional strafe speed of 3.5m/s and stay off the radar while firing, making this a great weapon for aggressive flanking.

Loadout Recommendations

Aggressive SMG builds tend to perform the best with a stealth loadout, and this MCW build is no exception. We recommend the CCT Comms Vest since it gives you two gear slots and a powerful information perk. Killing a target and walking over their corpse will ping nearby enemies on your minimap. Your radar is also zoomed out slightly. It’s important that you stay off the enemy’s radar to flank effectively, so you’ll want to use Ghost to hide from the minimap while moving. You’ll also want to use Covert Sneakers to muffle your footstep audio. Assault Gloves let you jumpshot with no penalties, and Mag Hoslter makes reloading the MCW much faster.

Unfortunately, the CCT Comms Vest removes your Tactical and Lethal equipment slots, so you’ll have to rely on Field Upgrades for any form of utility. Thankfully, you have a few good options. DDoS is a great choice that recharges quickly. Use it before entering a building to disable any potential traps inside. If you miss having Stims, consider using a Med Box.

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