Summary
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3has stolen the spotlight. Its release has driven theCODCommunity back to its roots. The game brings back memorable maps and a nostalgic UI which reignite the spirits of the OG fans.Modern Warfare 3can’t seem to do anything wrong at this point.
The variety ofdifferent weapons inCall of Dutyis what makes it such a good game to play. Since the debut ofMW3, players have been trying to find the right weapons to use. Having the most overpowered weapon in the lobby is a goal many players wish to accomplish. While some players are fans of the ARs, others love the SMGs, but there are also players that are absolutely crazy about marksman rifles. This guide helps players select the best weapon with the help of this Top 10 list.
Updated on June 05, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:Marksman Rifles might never reach the popularity of assault rifles or SMGs in Call of Duty unless they rule the meta. Surprisingly, that was the case with Kar98k when it was added to the game back in Season 4.
Although the weapon is now nerfed, Kar98k is still quite powerful in long-range battles as it has the highest effective range among the best marksman rifles that a player can choose from. With that massive meta shake-up, it is worth going over the ranking and making some changes.
262
150
6.4 m
240 ms
Movement Speed
4.9 m/s
The Lockwood MK2 is a high-power and lever-action rifle that is suitable for mid-range gunfights. It has great mobility and amazing accuracy. Therecoil of the gunis pretty balanced and has good handling. It is a fun weapon to use with great stats to back it up.
Lockwood MK2 has the shortest effective range among all the weapons on this list, which makes it pretty weak against targets that are more than 7 meters away from the player. While having the highest Headshot Damage, the weapon is only suitable for close quarters and game modes where enemies are not too far away.
114
72
46 m
4.3 m/s
EBR 14 is a returningweapon from the previousCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. It uses 7.62x51mm NATO rounds, making it a powerful gun to use. The EBR inflicts great damage and has a fast firing rate. It also has a great range, making it a worthy weapon to use in long-distance fights.
Despite all these stellar statistics, EBR 14 is quite a heavy weapon, making the player character move slower than usual. This could be a massive downside in small maps where players have to move a lot to avoid getting shot at and to surprise their opponents.
154
98
48.3 m
290 ms
4.6 m/s
The TAQ-M is an amazing Marksman Rifle, it just doesn’t rank higher than other options players have. It uses the 8.5mm Sniper round, making it easily one of the best rifles to use at long ranges. It offers great accuracy while providing great handling.
Overall, TAQ-M is quite balanced in most of its statistics. It offers a decent perfect range for a marksman rifle while keeping both upper body and headshot damages high enough to remain effective. The ADS Time is also short, which is another plus for this weapon.
90
55
35.8 m
In the bottom three, players can expect the Tempus Torrent, a highly versatile and hard-hitting gun. While using the 7.62 rounds, the gun offers a decent damage range and great accuracy.
It has increased mobility and enhanced handling. Match this gun with the right attachments, and the result will be one of themost lethal Marksman Rifles in the game. However, similar to Lockwood MK2, Tempus Torrent is also a heavy gun, which makes the player character move at a slower pace than the other enemies.
240
151
10.4 m
270 ms
4.8 m/s
The SA-B 50 isn’t a bad weapon by any means, especially since it’s a swift and impactful Bolt-action Rifle. This rifle excels in providing significant long-range support. Supported by sniper ammunition, the SA-B 50 boasts exceptional damage capabilities, making it a formidable choice.
Looking at the damage units, SA-B 50 is a tempting option on this list, especially knowing that it is lightweight enough to let players move at a significantly higher speed. Effective range is the only part that SA-B 50 falls short, but for close-quarter game modes, this should not be a big deal.
251
180
13 m
354 ms
4.5 m/s
Ranked in the middle is theSP-R 208, a Bryson bolt rifle, renowned for its excellence in mid-range gunfights. This rifle exhibits commendable mobility, enabling swift movement, and boasts exceptional accuracy, perfect for precision shots. Its excellent recoil control further enhances accuracy, rendering it a highly viable choice.
Dealing the highest upper body damage among the weapons on this list, SP-R 208 is a solid choice for players who are confident or skilled enough at landing headshots. The weapon’s 13-meter range makes it only work well in close-quarter battles.
84
47 m
The KVD Enforcer, anMW3weapon, uses 7.62 ammo rounds, making it highly capable of destruction with a huge damage range and accuracy. The rightattachments would make this gununstoppable.
The weapon is quite capable in long-range gunfights, and thanks to its considerably brief ADS time, players will have a better chance of shooting the first shot at the opponent with this weapon, especially in maps and game modes where constant movement is inevitable and players cannot stay stationary and hold angles for a long time.
121
66
40.6 m
245 ms
4.4 m/s
TheMCW 6.8 secures a spotin the top 4, being hailed as the new DMR of Warzone. Renowned for its sheer lethality, this firearm stands as a powerhouse during combat. Its marksman attributes include exceptional accuracy and an impressive damage range.
Looking at the statics, MCW 6.8 should have been placed behind KVD Enforcer, but that could only happen by ignoring the recoil. MCW 6.8 comes with an easily controllable horizontal recoil, which makes it a better gun for steady fires. It also has a much higher bullet velocity.
153
95
22.9 m
300 ms
Number 3 on the list is theMTZ Interceptor. It is rated so highly due to its ability to shut down any enemy attack within seconds. This rifle uses the trusty 7.62 ammo rounds, making it great for long-range gunfights. The MTZ has great accuracy, which mixed with its recoil control makes it a must-have weapon.
Sacrificing some range to gain more damage on the upper body and headshot shouldn’t be a bad idea, especially if the weapon still remains strong in mid-range fights. That is the exact quality expected from the MTZ Interceptor, which comes with a higher ADS time but a lighter weight compared to MCW 6.8.
75
65
35.6 m
235 ms
The number 2 undisputed marksman rifle is the DM56. It uses the 5.56 NATO rounds, making it a terrific force. The gun has an excellent fire rate along with the ability to smash everything in its path. The mobility of the weapon allows players to move around easily during fights. It is the King of this category and is unchallenged.
Although DM56 has the lowest damage rate among all weapons listed here, it comes with 20 rounds per magazine, which is almost as high as an assault rifle. Reloading in fast-paced gunfights is one of the major nightmares for every player, and DM56 will help a lot with that.
