If you haven’t been keeping up with our CoD: Modern Warfare weapons series, you might want to do that before continuing. We’ve already covered the assault rifles, submachine guns and shotguns and today we will focus on the best light machine guns in the game.
As was the case with shotguns, there are five representatives in the LMG weapon class. If you like to cover your opponents with a hail of bullets, you're sure to find the right weapon among those five.
LMGs – a portable bullet factory
Machine guns are big and bulky, but they have a good reason for that – huge magazines. The mobility of LMGs makes them unsuitable for close combat, but once again, this is countered by large magazine size, good range, high damage and a respectable fire rate. LMGs are perfect for taking larger open areas or blocking passages with continuous fire. Of course, they can also be used in other niche situations but are generally a fit for more passive players.
3. Holger-26
The Holger-26, like most of our third places, is an outsider in its class. Its design is strongly reminiscent of the German G36 assault rifle and, depending on the attachments, it also plays more like an assault rifle.
The Holger-26 is not unlocked by leveling up. During Season 1 it could be obtained at level 15 of the Season Pass, in Season 2 it becomes available through a challenge: In 25 different matches you have to kill two long range kills each with an LMG. This is relatively easy, but takes time. When you finally own the Holger, you have the LMG with by far the best mobility and very low recoil. That makes it easy to play with, almost like an assault rifle. Although it can even be converted to a melee weapon, similar to a submachine gun, we recommend an all-round build:
- Muzzle: Muzzle brake
- Visor: Integrated hybrid visor
- Shank: FSS Ranger
- Underrun: Command Front Grip
- Handle: Granulated handle tape
With these attachments the weapon is very easy to control and has good range and precision as well as sufficient mobility, so it can keep up with some assault rifles. If you would like to be even more mobile, you can switch to a 30-round magazine in terms of ammunition - but since we are looking for the best LMGs, we prefer to keep the big magazine. The sight can also be changed to a red dot sight, because we like the possibility to switch between red dot and scout sight depending on the battle distance.
The playing style with the Holger-26 is not much different from an assault rifle played at a distance. As long as you avoid close combat, you have a solid companion.
2. M91
The M91 makes second place in our ranking. It is exactly what you would expect from a machine gun, but it also has its disadvantages.
The M91 is unlocked at level 25 and has the highest damage in the LMG class. Range and precision are also very good, but the mobility is terrible and the fire rate leaves something to be desired. For these reasons the M91 is best played very passive and at longer distances. This is exactly what the following assets are aiming at:
- Muzzle: Silencer (monolith)
- Run: M91 Special unit
- Visor: Integrated hybrid visor
- Shaft: FORGE TAC Stalker
- Underrun: Command Front Grip
These attachments further increase the range and compensate for the recoil of the weapon, making it even more accurate. Since this weapon is absolutely not suitable for run-and-gun gameplay, we recommend the monolithic silencer, which increases the range and does not directly reveal your position when firing. For the sight, we definitely recommend one with at least 3x magnification. Since we like to keep all options open, we decide here for the integrated hybrid sight.
With the M91 you have to adapt your playing style to the weapon. It's strongest when you find a fixed spot from which you have a good view of important points on the map, such as passages, flag points, etc. The large magazine makes it possible to defend an objective alone against a whole team. Hope you like coffee though, because you could easily drink a couple by the time this thing reloads.
1. PKM
And first place goes tooo the PKM! It is unanimously regarded as the best LMG in Call of Duty because it offers a good balance between damage and mobility. It's not for nothing that it is also present in our best Warzone loadouts.
PKM is the best LMG and is available to us right from the start. The damage is not quite as high as the M91, but the fire rate is higher and the mobility is much better. In addition, the PKM offers a very high range and the best precision of the LMG class. If you improve the strengths of this weapon with attachments, you create a true monster:
- Muzzle: Muzzle brake
- Visor: Integrated hybrid visor
- Shaft: FORGE TAC Stalker
- Underrun: Command Front Grip
- Handle: Patterned grip tape
These attachments further improve range and mobility. The recoil is very easy to control and the patterned grip tape also increases the speed when aiming. The muzzle brake reduces recoil, but can also be replaced with the monolithic silencer, which increases range and does not immediately give away your position. Here too, a sight with at least 3x magnification should be chosen to keep the enemy in check at longer distances. We also like the VLK 3.0x visor, but if you can have two in one, why not? Go for the integrated hybrid sight.
The playing style for the PKM is similar to the M91. Even though the mobility is much higher, it's still an LMG, which is best played from a fixed position on medium to long distances. It can be played a bit more offensive than the M91, but not as offensive as the Holger.
Are you the Rambo type or do you keep away from light machine guns? In case of the latter, here are some assault rifles, submachine guns and shotguns to choose from instead.
