Rifle choice is the most important decision in any first-person shooter. Shotguns and SMGs are wildly popular as well, but they are often used as secondary weapons to assault rifles. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II added a new weapon category with this release called the battle rifle. These guns are half-marksman rifle, half-assault rifle, and have full auto and semi-auto firing modes.
Picking the weapon that is best for you should be the overwhelming factor when choosing which rifles to use. Rifles are the workhorse of most loadouts and will affect other decisions while creating a new build. It is best to try each one for a few matches to see if they match your playing style.
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Best rifles in Call of Duty Modern Warfare II
Below, you will find the best rifles in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. There will be a mix between assault and battle rifles to provide you with options depending on your playstyle and circumstance.
Click here for Outsider Gaming’s ranking of best long-range rifles and best machine guns.
1. Lachmann-762
Damage: 8.5 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8 out of 10
Range: 7 out of 10
Accuracy: 7.5 out of 10
Recoil Control: 7.5 out of 10
Mobility: 7.5 out of 10
Handling: 8 out of 10
The Lachmann-762 is a selective-fire battle rifle based on the Heckler & Koch G3. It only takes two body shots or one headshot for a kill, but the recoil is a little wacky right out of the box. Once you reach higher weapon levels you can balance that with attachments. The Lachmann 762 is a very versatile rifle that handles really well especially when it comes to aiming down sight. It has a 20-round magazine and allows 60 bullets to store as a reserve. Unlock the Lachmann 762 at Rank 16.
2. Kastov 762
Damage: 8.5 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8 out of 10
Range: 7 out of 10
Accuracy: 7 out of 10
Recoil Control: 7 out of 10
Mobility: 7.5 out of 10
Handling: 7.5 out of 10
The Kastov 762 is a great assault rifle to run around with. It has exceptional scoring in Fire Rate and Damage, which means you can take out multiple enemies before they know what hit them. It has a quick aim-down-sight reaction compared to other guns in this class, which can save you if you are already taking fire or if the enemy is facing you. The Kastov 762 holds 30 rounds in its magazine and allows you to carry 60 more rounds in reserve. Unlock this weapon by reaching Rank 32.
3. TAQ-56
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 out of 10
Mobility: 8 out of 10
Handling: 7.5 out of 10
The TAQ-56 is a fully automatic assault rifle based on the real-life SCAR-L assault rifle, which has been a heavy fan favorite for years. This weapon performs nearly as well as an SMG when it comes to Fire Rate and Mobility around the map. It has a sharp damage drop off at long range, but rates at the top when it comes to Damage power overall. The TAQ-56 magazine holds 30 rounds along with 60 rounds that you can store in reserve. Unlock the TAQ-56 by reaching Rank 19.
4. FTAC Recon
Damage: 9 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8 out of 10
Range: 6.5 out of 10
Accuracy: 7.5 out of 10
Recoil Control: 7.5 out of 10
Mobility: 8 out of 10
Handling: 8 out of 10
The FTAC Recon is a high-powered battle rifle that packs a major punch. All it takes is three shots to kill as the highest-rated weapon in its class in Damage. It has a blazing-fast Fire Rate and can switch from a single shot or fully automatic based on play style. In single-shot firing mode, you can fire multiple shots with no delay without losing any accuracy or multiple reloads that come with switching it to full auto mode. The FTAC only holds 10 rounds in its magazine and 50 rounds in reserve, but makes up for it with its power. This is a deadly gun straight out of the box and is unlocked by reaching Weapon Level 13 with the M4.
5. M4
Damage: 9 out of 10
Fire Rate: 8.5 out of 10
Range: 7 out of 10
Accuracy: 7.5 out of 10
Recoil Control: 8 out of 10
Mobility: 8 out of 10
Handling: 8 out of 10
The M4 assault rifle has been a staple in many Call of Duty releases due to its high performance and versatility. It has no glaring weaknesses and excels in any combat situation. Rifles can be a liability when it comes to mobility and speed when aiming down the sight, but the M4 at times blurs the line between a rifle and a submachine gun. This is a gun that most players will always have a loadout spot left open for no matter what. The M4 magazine holds 30 rounds and allows you to carry 60 bullets in reserve. This weapon is unlocked automatically at Rank 1.
So there you have the best rifles in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Be sure to weigh playing style and the battlefield when selecting from these weapon types. This is the most important weapon decision you will make.
Looking for more COD content? Here is our article on COD MW2 best sniper loadout.