The best guns in the Modern Warfare 4 beta include a fast-firing SMG, an all purpose assault rifle, and an LMG that can be modded to significantly reduce recoil.

To make the most of your time with the beta weekend, you’ll want to prioritise levelling up only the very best weapons in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.

This guide explains the five best weapons to use in Modern Warfare 4 beta, picked after extensive testing, and plenty of tweaking in the Gunsmith.

Note: that while the Modern Warfare 4 beta will come to Nintendo Switch 2 starting 28th August, it was only available PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC during the initial Early Access beta period. As such, the info below is based on the PS5 build of the game, though we expect the Switch 2 version to be the same in terms of gun balancing and meta.

Modern Warfare 4 Best Guns In The Beta

Now the beta has gone live for players involved in the Early Access weekend, we can start to take a look at the weapons that are emerging as solid choices in the ongoing meta. For testing, we spent time trying out all types of guns, from SMGs to assault rifles, and more.

Here are the five best guns we recommend focusing on in Modern Warfare 4:

• M4
• ISO Nightshade
• FINN LMG
• KG-7 Vulcan
• PPSH

Unsurprisingly, it’s clear that SMGs are once again extremely powerful, pairing well with the very fast 'time to kill' speed and new movement mechanics of Modern Warfare 4. There’s two you’ll want to keep your eye on: the ISO Nightshade and the PPSH-41. The former is one for players that like to aim down sights and strafe, while the latter is the fastest firing main weapon in the beta.

The good news is that there are plenty of other options if you don’t fancy sprinting around every map, sliding and hopping while firing two hundred bullets a second. There’s the ever-dependable M4, an assault rifle that is the perfect choice for those looking to learn the ropes. With the right attachments, you can really dominate at mid-range, which suits some of the current beta maps like Rooftops and Silkworm.

Perhaps the most surprising entry on this list is the FINN LMG. You’ll unlock the Demolition preset class early on, and it’s a great choice that can rack up kills surprisingly fast. Mostly, it’s the high magazine size that stands out, and the recoil and handling can be tweaked to make the weapon feel just as responsive as one of the many assault rifles available.

Finally, you might want to spend some time with the KG-7 Vulcan sniper rifle. Sniping feels great so far in the beta, and you don’t have to sit in one place and wait for enemies to wander into your view. Instead, by keeping the handling stat high, and opting for a lower magnification scope, you turn the gun into a high-powered bolt action rifle that can be used while moving from point to point.

Below, you’ll find a bit more detail on each of our picks, as well as some recommendations on the best attachments to use for each one. While we won’t be going into full loadouts / builds here, you will find some advice on what to pair with each gun.

M4

Let’s kick things off by taking a closer look at the M4. This is often referred to as the 'default gun' in any Call of Duty it features in (which is most of them). It’s a perfectly well-rounded weapon that’s great for new players, while still being absolutely lethal in the hands of those that’ve been using it in various forms over the years. Here’s how to set it up:

Barrel

FT Cannonade 7”

Muzzle

FSS IS300

Underbarrel

FSS TAC90 Grip

Stock

Demo HVR2 Stock

Optic

ZLR Type C (clean, clear sight)

If you’re just starting out in the Modern Warfare 4 beta, you can choose the pre-made Assault class and you’ll get a decent build already set up for you. As soon as you unlock the attachments above, however, switch to a custom class and get tweaking.

Pair the M4 with the Krait P68 pistol, a flash grenade and then either Frag Grenade or Semtex. For Perks, pick Quick Fix, Bomb Squad, and Blood Rush. Explosive damage is particularly brutal at the moment, so Bomb Squad is your best bet, unless you’d rather focus on Killstreaks with the Hardline Perk.

ISO Nightshade

Now for the first SMG build we’re recommending. The ISO Nightshade is available from the get-go as part of the pre-made Stalker class. This SMG has high stability, best for those that want to aim down sights and play a little more carefully. Here are the best attachments for the ISO Nightshade:

Barrel

ZLR MAG-Z 9”

Muzzle

FSS Crackdown

Underbarrel

FSS TAC90 Grip

Rear Grip

Demo STP-1

Laser

Expedite Squad-304

This SMG has an easy to understand recoil pattern, making it great for mid-range battles in addition to close quarters combat scenarios. It’s certainly not the fastest firing gun in Modern Warfare 4 beta (we’ll come to that one later), but it is still one of the best options for those that want to use a lighter, snappier weapon.

Once again, use the Krait P68 as a sidearm, and bring Flash Genades and Semtex along with you. For Perks, you should try the Quick Fix, Fast Hands, and Blood Rush Perks. This will allow you to trigger healing and stamina recovery after a kill, and you can reload your weapon much faster. The Seeker Drone is fun to use with this build as it can scout ahead and highlight enemies in your path.

Finn LMG

Now for the FINN LMG, which has blown us away with its versatility, and in how viable it is on the majority of the available maps. It’s a very heavy weapon, so customise it with the attachments below to keep a good balance between mobility, handling and damage range.

Barrel

TT Seongun 508MM

Muzzle

Corvus Lvl-40

Underbarrel

Bipod (Go prone and mount to turn this gun into an ultra–powerful recoilless rifle)

Rear Grip

Schlager KM60-G

Optic

Slimline Elite

Early on, it’s fine to practise with the FINN LMG by picking the Demolition pre-made class. It comes with a Rocker Launcher as a sidearm, great for taking down attack choppers. After you’re at around level 10 on the weapon, however, start equipping custom attachments.

For a sidearm, go with the Krait P68 pistol, and try out the Seeker Drone or the Personal Radar to get the jump on hidden enemies. For Perks, go for Quick Fix, Bomb Squad and Blood Rush. One thing to note with this build is the Bipod, which allows you to mount the weapon when prone.

Get set up in a good spot, and you can absolutely laser enemies with hard-hitting and fast-firing heavy rounds. This weapon is particularly good on the Silkworm map.

KG-7 Vulcan

Sniping is very fun indeed in Modern Warfare 4, though you will need to level up the KG-7 Vulcan to get the most out of it. As the maps included in the beta aren’t particularly big, experiment with using a 2.1x optic, moving from spot to spot while firing bolt-action rounds at your foes. Here’s the setup we recommend:

Barrel

Haebang Naseon v.5 26”

Magazine

6 Round Mag

Comb

TT Type 40 Comb

Optic

KV Corsac Holo

Laser

XRK Clutch-LS

The Vulcan has great range and accuracy, and yes, you can quickscope with this build. Bring the Krait P68, equipped with the GW MDL-2 laser, and the XRK Severance 68 Muzzle. Snapshot Grenades are a good way to make sure you’re not being flanked by sneaking enemies, and you can either bring Proximity Mines or Semtex, depending on whether you want to booby trap sniping spots, or stay on the move.

The High Alert Perk has saved our skin multiple times while playing the beta, highlighting the screen with an orange warning pulse when you’re being spotted by enemies who are lining up a shot. Use Fast Hands so you’re not killed during lengthy sniper reload animations, and then Lethal Reach so you can use your knife automatically by pressing the melee button. Lethal Reach really helps when you’re being rushed, and don’t have time to switch to your sidearm.

PPSH

Finally, the PPSH-41 SMG. This is an extremely fast-firing weapon that’s the best choice if you’re wanting to run, gun, and fire from the hip. The attachments below ensure you have fast sprint to fire speeds, and solid hipfire accuracy:

Barrel

Hanbit Chimmuk-Intr

Underbarrel

Mire-50 TAC Grip

Magazine

53 Round Mag

Rear Stock

Hanbit RDW-F

Laser

XRK Clutch-LS

As before, bring the Seeker Drone along with you to scout out the path ahead, and the Krait P68 pistol for emergencies. You can experiment with Flash or Concussion Grenades, as they both make it difficult for enemies to track you as you rush in. Go for Semtex for a more dependable way to take out enemies at choke points, or give the Zip Gun a whirl – it’s a lightning-fast automatic pistol that can be used as a last-ditch attempt to take down a rushing enemy.

Quick Fix, Fast Hands, and Blood Rush are essential for this build, as they’ll keep you moving, regenerating health, and reloading quickly. Fast Hands is particularly worth selecting here, to counteract the slightly smaller magazine size we’ve gone for. This SMG is unbeatable on smaller maps like Transit 213.

So, with our choices on the table - what weapon takes your fancy in the Modern Warfare 4 beta? Let us know in the comments.