Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II did not hold back on the amount of options in the machine gun weapon category. Machine guns are fully automatic rifles designed for sustained direct fire. Modern Warfare II has two different classes of machine gun: submachine and light machine gun. They both have their own pros and cons, but can be effective primary weapons on the majority of the maps.
Submachine guns are best in close- and medium-range combat due extremely high fire rates, and its light weight makes it the best weapon type for mobility. The only reason to avoid SMGs is if the map is dominated by open areas and forces you into long range combat where you will be at a disadvantage. On the other hand, lightweight machine guns (or LMGs) are great for long-range combat. The two main disadvantages of a LMG are reload time and mobility due to the size of the guns and the amount of ammunition their magazines typically hold.
Best machine guns in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Below, you will find the best machine guns in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. There will be a mix between SMGs and LMGs to provide you with options depending on your playstyle and circumstance.
1. FSS Hurricane
Damage: 7 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8 out of 10
Range: 5.5 out of 10
Accuracy: 6 out of 10
Recoil Control: 8 out of 10
Mobility: 7 out of 10
Handling: 7 out of 10
The FSS Hurricane is an absolute beast when it comes to SMGs. It has a very high rate of fire while also maintaining an elite level of Recoil Control. The only categories that the FSS Hurricane is average are Accuracy and Range, which are typical for SMGs as they are generally a secondary weapon for short to medium-range situations. The Hurricane holds 50 rounds in the magazine and 100 rounds in reserve. Unlock the FSS Hurricane by reaching Level 16 with the FTAC Recon.
2. Lachmann Sub
Damage: 7 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8 out of 10
Range: 5 out of 10
Accuracy: 6 out of 10
Recoil Control: 8.5 out of 10
Mobility: 8 out of 10
Handling: 8 out of 10
The Lachmann Sub is modeled after the real-life MP5 SMG, which has been a fan favorite across multiple Call of Duty titles. It has no weaknesses outside of the consequences of being an SMG and scores in the upper elite level in all other weapon attributes. It’s compact and uses 9mm ammunition, making it an excellent choice for maps that have you running in and out of cover, and don’t have many large open areas. The Lachmann Sub’s magazine holds 30 rounds and 60 in reserve. Unlock it by reaching Level 12 with the Lachman 556.
3. RAPP H
Damage: 8 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8.5 out of 10
Range: 7.5 out of 10
Accuracy: 7.5 out of 10
Recoil Control: 8.5 out of 10
Mobility: 5 out of 10
Handling: 8 out of 10
The RAPP H is an extremely versatile light machine gun. It has a Damage rating similar to a sniper rifle as well as the benefits of a high Fire Rate from being a machine gun. The RAPP H also scores very high in Recoil Control, which helps to balance out the jerking nature if you are targeting a small group of enemies and don’t want to let off of the trigger. The magazine holds 75 rounds and allows you to carry another 150 bullets in reserve. LMGs are notorious for taking forever to reload, so having a big magazine is key. Unlock the RAPP H by reaching Level 16 with the Lachmann-556.
4. VEL 46
Damage: 7 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8 out of 10
Range: 4 out of 10
Accuracy: 6 out of 10
Recoil Control: 8 out of 10
Mobility: 8 out of 10
Handling: 8 out of 10
The VEL 46 is modeled after the real-life Heckler & Koch MP7. It is one of the few submachine guns that can be reliable as a primary weapon. It has first class Mobility and elite ratings in both Fire Rate and Recoil Control, which makes up for its below-average Range. Maps that favor close- to medium-range combat are the best choice for this weapon especially if paired with a shotgun. The VEL 46 magazine holds 40 rounds and holds 80 rounds of ammo in reserves. This SMG is automatically unlocked at Level 1.
5. 556 Icarus
Damage: 8 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8 out of 10
Range: 7 out of 10
Accuracy: 7.5 out of 10
Recoil Control: 8.5 out of 10
Mobility: 6 out of 10
Handling: 7.5 out of 10
The 556 Icarus is a light machine gun in the M4 platform. It has exceptional Fire Rate and Recoil Control, making it excellent from distance. The level of accuracy and damage this gun inflicts makes it ideal for scoring triple kills and gaining killstreaks. The Icarus’ magazine holds 75 rounds and keeps 150 in reserve. LMGs are known to take the longest to reload, which makes this magazine size a big plus on such a powerful weapon. Unlock the 556 Icarus by reaching Level 14 with the M4 Assault Rifle.
6. Sakin MG38
Damage: 8 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8 out of 10
Range: 7.5 out of 10
Accuracy: 7.5 out of 10
Recoil Control: 8 out of 10
Mobility: 5 out of 10
Handling: 7 out of 10
The SAKIN MG38 is a belt-fed light machine gun. The Recoil Control is amazing on this weapon as it seems to barely pull in any direction when holding down the trigger. Although it is only average when it comes to Mobility, the MG38 is still a safe option for any map. The magazine holds a whopping 100 rounds of ammo and 100 bullets in reserve, which really helps since this weapon seems to have a longer than average reload animation. The SAKIN MG38 is automatically unlocked at Level 1.
7. Fennec 45
Damage: 8 out of 10
Fire Rate: 9 out of 10
Range: 4 out of 10
Accuracy: 7 out of 10
Recoil Control: 8.5 out of 10
Mobility: 8.5 out of 10
Handling: 8.5 out of 10
The Fennec 45 is the fastest firing small machine gun in the game with an astounding 9 Damage rating. Like most SMGs, it scores low in range, but you can just pair it with a bolt-action battle rifle to balance your loadout. This weapon has no true weaknesses in its class and will clear a room full of enemies with no problem. The Fennec 45 has a 45-round magazine and allow you to carry 60 bullets in reserve. This weapon is unlocked at Level 38.
Although playstyle is very important when choosing a weapon, you also need to ensure you have the best weapon for the circumstances. It’s not wise to use a submachine gun on maps that favor long-range combat and the same goes for lugging around a light machine gun in smaller maps that favor mobility. Be sure to weigh playing style and the battlefield when selecting from these weapon types in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.
Check out our list of the COD MW2 Best Rifles.