Modern Warfare 2 Weapon Analysis: M4A1

Modern Warfare 2 is *the* online multiplayer game, right now, and gamers worldwide are looking for that little edge that allows them to dominate the competition. Hopefully, this feature will help. Loading Reality will be publishing a weekly (sometimes more frequently) editorial feature highlighting a single weapon from Modern Warfare 2, bringing with it recommendations for perks, map use, and tactics.

This week: the M4A1.

[-Alpha]

Though I will say that overall all the AR feel the same. Wish IW would put in some damn recoil/sway to make the guns feel better.

Also, Stopping Power is way overpowered and the lack of a counter (juggernaut) makes the balance lopsided.

[LinuxGuru]

Eh...I can definitely tell there's a difference between all the weapons in this game. Different recoil, aiming speeds, weapon sounds, etc etc.

[FarEastOrient]

I'm in Al Taji in Iraq and we love playing the game, our only problem is that the weapons are similar and yet don't feel like the real ones. Why would you want IW to add more recoil/sway, that was the reason why I wasn't a fan of sniper weapons in the first one because in real life I never have as much sway as one does in the game.

But it helps if you use those weapons all the time like we do.

My primary this tour is the M4, last tour it was the M16...

[Bubbles_Kitty_Cat]

Have the reliabilty issues been improved with the M4's over there, FarEastOrient?

I have 3 of them myself and have an occasional failure to feed/fire/eject, but from what I hear you guys have been having some serious trouble with the platform (to the point of getting people killed in the middle of a firefight due to weapon jams).

I love mine, but I would always be worried about having to make a transition if I were actually fighting with one. lol

[macalatus]

@Bubbles,

My gaming friend, FastOreint may not be able to answer that question due to OPSEC reasons!

Sony Gamers Lead the Way!

[Bubbles_Kitty_Cat]

Ah, yes.

My bad.

[wogsy]

I use the SCAR with extended mags and it has done wonders for my k/d ratio.. I went from a 0.81 to my current 1.39 and its only getting higher.. I expect to be a 2.0 k/d ratio in a week or two..

The scar is amazing at short to mid range and pretty damn good at long ranges.. The iron sights are so good on the scar that I can snipe pretty damn good.. I have 7000 odd kills with 600 odd being headshots.

The m4 is just to weak in my opinion.. If you get in a close quarters situation with the M4 then you better pray the other guy is using an acr otherwise your going to die. Stopping power or not.

My setup is..
SCAR-H (extended mags)
Scavenger Pro
Stopping power pro
Ninja pro.
k/d 1.39. Best killstreak 24. Lvl 70 (which I just hit about an hour ago)
And seeing as this is my first call of duty game I think Im doing rather well.

I use a silencer on my Scar for derail but apart from that I just go loud and keep moving regardless of the map..

Using this setup has changed the game for me but its different strokes for different folks. Everyone has their own style.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

"If anyone is within close range to a player using Scrambler, they're radar becomes jammed. This will allow for a Scrambler user (provided they are not found out first) the ability to never use a silencer, freeing up a weapon attachment."

The scrambled also are tipped off you are near.

Nothing like an ACR with thermal scope.

[Gago]

its ok

its very weak though

AK47 is the best gun

[theEnemy]

Dude are you sure you are playing Modern Warfare 2 ?

That gun recoils so much as if your gun has Rumble and Vibrator in it. The damage is almost as good as the M16 and SCAR. Not to mention you'll only get to equip it at Level 70 (Unless you don't like prestiging).

[wogsy]

I can count the nuber of lvl 70's I seen using this gun on 1 finger..

People just think it makes them sound cool and "elite" to say "the ak is the best" but noone freaking uses it because it blows.

I tried that gun for an hour solid and the scar owns it into an oblivion..

People just say the ak is the best gun as they think it makes them sound hardcore, when no level 70 actually uses it!

[n4f]

even in real life it sucks

[DARK WITNESS]

@ wogsy

totally agree. i think i have only come across 2 or 3 people since i started playing the game using that gun.

I was a level 70 for a very long time before i went to 1st prestige and only used the ak for a few games just to unlock the scopes before a dropped it.

these days though, it seems everyone is running round with commando and light weight.

if you like to spray and pray, then ya it may be a good gun, but over all i think you will find your in the minority if you think it's the best gun in the game.

I tend to chop and change my guns between the M16, ACR, scar and fammas. I like anything with high accuracy and good range.

The biggest problem though is they seem really inconsistent at times depending on the connection.

for example. you can be in one game using the Fammas + stopping power and kill targets with one burst, two max. then you will move to a new game with a new host and all of a sudden the guys are taking 4 - 5 bursts to die. since there is no more Juggernaut there is no reason they should be so resistant to such shots. you can switch to a M16 with stopping power and still they are taking 4 bursts and not going down. Then you move to a new host again and suddenly the M16 is back to one burst kills.

anyway, when the game is working as it should by best setup is with the fammas and stricker. At the moment my KD ratio is 2.14, it's dropped because i have been messing around with other weapons and trying to do challenges. my highest before i prestiged was 2.31. In cod4 it's 2.65.

[JeffGUNZ]

"even in real life it sucks". Really? Either you never shot one or have no training or experience using a firearm. The AK is one of the most reliable and deadly assault rifles in our time. I saw a documentary about an AK47 being found buried in the ground for over 20 years, they dug it up, reloaded it and it fired consistently without a jam. The gun is simple, it's not complex, which makes it universally used. The AK is the most preferred Assault Rifle in the world.

In this game, it is crucial you fire the AK the same way you do in real life. You have to fire it in bursts. 3-4 rounds and release the trigger and then fire again. If you attempt to hold the trigger down you will lose your sight alignment and miss your target. Try using it and ONLY shooting in bursts. Your whole beliefs on this weapon will change and you will love it.

[ThePistolWhippedDog]

The M4 is nothing more than a shortened barrel M16 (AR15) rifle intended for close quarter urban combat. It shoots the 5.56mm (.223) round which is basically the same size bullet as the famous varmint cartridge the .22. Yes the brass on the 5.56mm is larger but its still necked down. The bullet penetration on this round is terrible to say the least, yes i know u yankees have a hard time admitting u might be 2nd or even 3rd at something but it is what it is. Your famous M1 Garand from WWII was made by a Canadian and it shot a real round- 7.62mm (.308). Yes you can tell what country im from......EH?

[macalatus]

But my gaming friend, your Canadian Armed Forces still pledges to the British Queen and therefore an ignored, red-headed step sibling to the British forces!! ;)

Sony Gamers Lead the Way!

[cyberwaffles]

macalatus got you good that time mr. canadian.

also, the M4's encumbrance and shooting platform makes it an ideal overall rifle for close range and even long. quit hating on it because of your bastardized country's loyalty.

[A LIVING LEGEND]

The 5.56 round is a high velocity low penetration round.Lots of brass and little lead.It is the 223.,widely used for varmint hunting /killing.
In time the the U.S will abandon it(the 7.62 NATO round was superior) and probably opt for a heavier round.
The AK fires a heavier bullet but with that comes reduced accuracy and range in favor of increased stopping power and penetration values.
A likely middle ground is ideal,yet unproven entirely.
The 303. British or some variant is probably best.Heavier and more costly to produce but highly effective.
Of course,the M16 or it's variants likely rule MW2..........

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Scar-H uses 7.62x51mm but either the Scar series or the KAC PDW which uses the 6x35mm round may replace the m-16 series.

[Commodore]

Stopped caring about this garbage game along time ago. The M4 was amazing in the first game and then they made it a P.O.S. in this game.

[A LIVING LEGEND]

It was designed as a close quarters- counter ops rifle with minimization of casualties in mind.A shotgun is preferable but with a 'shotty' comes certain considerations.War time considerations.
And rightfully so,yet in war there are casualties.
The M4 carbine(meaning simply fully auto with a shortened barrel) is a decent urban weapon.However it's shortened barrel becomes a downfall in ranged firefights.
For ranged firefights,call upon the 338. and don't ask why.It compares with/or exceeds anything in it's category and beyond.A 250 grain bullet at 2500 ft.per second........

[ThePistolWhippedDog]

Hmmmmmmmmmm? weren't the Canadians the only ones to complete their objectives on D-Day? not to mention our dominant roles in WWI? Yes WWI the war the Americans were scared of. We roll! we're ½ crazy & ½ drunk but we ROLL!

[macalatus]

Once again, my gaming friend, since the Canuck Army has always been considered the "tag alongs" of the British Army, your forces' contributions have been sadly...ignored. Due to that, Americans are more well-known in winning D-Day and for letting the French regain their rights to eat cheese instead of bratwurst...regardless who accomplished what.

Sony Gamers Lead the Way!

[ASSASSYN 36o]

And it's funny you say that...you used mostly American made weapons to accomplish it. Idiot. History is more enjoyable if you know it.

World war I Canada
Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
Colt "New Service" Revolver 1900-1928 (also used by the NWMP and RCMP from 1905-1954) United States
Colt Model 1911 Pistol 1914-1945 United States
Smith & Wesson 2nd Model "Hand Ejector" Revolver 1915-1951 United States
[edit] Rifles
Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
Ross Mk.III 1913-1916 Canada
Lee Enfield (SMLE) Mk.III 1916-1943 United Kingdom
[edit] Machine Guns
Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
Colt Machine Gun 1914-1916 United States
Vickers Machine Gun 1914-1919 United Kingdom
Lewis Machine Gun 1916-1939 United States
[edit] Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Model Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins Details
Armoured Autocar Armoured Car United States/ Canada Commercial Autocar trucks covered with armour plate and armed with several machine guns.
Mk.V tank Tank 1918 United Kingdom Used by the Canadian Tank Corps in 1918. Never used in combat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

The U.S. may have entered the war late. But it supplied the Allies with tanks, planes, armour, pilots, and small arms. If not for that support and the lacking range of the Luftwaffe fighters/bombers the U.K. would have fallen.

[ThePistolWhippedDog]

Have your tanks, planes, aircraft carriers, battery operated laser guns or intelligence agencies caught bin laden? something funnies goin on............................

[JeffGUNZ]

No, but they caught Saddam Huessan

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Aren't you Canadians using our (American) weapons! CF-18's...and sitting in our NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defence Command).

And you Canadians don't have aircraft carriers. Do you know why...because you can't afford them...we (U.S.) have 11!

And most Canada's armored ground force is American made.

[A LIVING LEGEND]

To uncertainty.
It is tradition......not 'new religion'
We all are gone eventually yet some of what we were remains.
So easily we forget our ties to our past.
It actually means very little to me but still........a bond once made is a bond never broken.=)
I live in the BEST country in the world.......not by choice but rather by design.I owe someone for this and I am fairly certain who.My grandparents of English decent.......and so.=)
How far from topic I(we) have gone
........

[ThePistolWhippedDog]

When you say we are "Tag alongs" thats only in Americas point of view lets be clear on that. The USA doesn't represent 100% of the worlds view. You guys as well as us CANUCKS came from the same island and we owe some amount of respect for that i would hope. I'm quite sure if u asked a brit who they would rather have fighting beside them they would choose a Canadian. You mention only your victories but not Vietnam or the war you've already lost in Iraq. Your country is in a mess & mine aint, maybe Obama will save the sinking ship but i think D1ck Cheney took the only life raft. Last time i saw him he was wearing a Haliburton T-shirt paddling towards shore...........

[Corepred4]

you really think people would rather fight next to a canadian? instead of an american? what video game are you playing, lol. lmao @ red headed step child reference, that made my day. and he's right about you guys being ignored, i had no idea canadians ever fought in any war! lol i need to pay more attention.

[n4f]

I see that you live in a different planet. By any chance do you live in usa and did u have any us military experience

[ThePistolWhippedDog]

What game am i playing? lol more like what planet are u on? what do they teach u egotistical narrow minded yankees down there in history class? pay more attention would be one way of putting it ore get your swelled head out of your ass would be another. We fought & we died just like u.

[Jack-Pyro]

I agree with your statements that Canada has a fine army and that you guy's more than deserve credit for your exploits over the years....you really need to come down off that high horse.

If I'm in any combat situation, I don't care if your Canadian, American, British, Australian, of flocking Scotch/Irish. If were gonna work together and bring the baddies down, then I'm happy to have you by my side.

Guess what my friend, if I put an American soldier and a Canadian soldier together in a room, you know whats gonna happen, I can tell you whats not going to happen, they're not gonna start arguing about which army is better, because you know what, they'll both know that they both kick ass, no questions asked.

Also about the whole Bin Laden thing.....I don't see you doing anything personally to find him, so I don't think you should be able to talk down to America as a whole about it. (seriously, who the hell do you think you are?)

As a closing statement let me say this....I do not in any way support the Iraqi war, in fact I've been protesting the damn thing for over 5 years now. You might even call me a goddamn Tree Hugging Hippie, I'm a Registered Socialist as well, but that dose not mean I'm anti military. No No, I'm pro military, what I'm against is going over to a foregin nation and starting a damn battle over corporate gain. If we're being posed a genuine threat by an evil foregin power then hell yes, Go Troops, I'll even sign up for the USO. But if were in another country to esentially trade blood for oil, then your damn right I'm opposed too it, I can't see any reason why anybody should support it.

*rant over* Long story short, Armies Rock, War for Profit Sucks.

[LastDays]

@ 2.1

What kind of socialist are you? My family are communists so I'm actually the moderate of the family by being a democratic socialist.

[Jack-Pyro]

I belong to the SWA (Socialist Workers of America) which you could almost describe like a big union.

I refuse to vote in most National Elections (though local and state I'll vote) and the last candidate that I even remotely liked was Dennis Kucinich (did I spell that right)

[A LIVING LEGEND]

We fought and we died.Horribly.as anyone else.
I didn't fight and didn't die....here I am. =)
One should beware of the actual facts before one decides to make assumptions.

PistolWhipped is in fact correct(on his assertion that Canada helped win the worst war in mankind's history).
Don't take my word....educate yourselves.Or simply disagree.

[A LIVING LEGEND]

An ignored black haired step-son of independence........pledging allegiance to a charter of rights meant to free yet ultimately shackled......
Fealty.In one way or another.

[QQcrybaby]

Correction it is the shooter on xbox. Counter strike has at least 3x the players on pc (where fps is played at a competitive level).

[chrisius]

The FAMAS owns everything. Snake told me so.

[ambientFLIER]

It's a good gun...mostly because I play hardcore only, which means that its weak stopping power is not an issue. Sounds cool, too. Favorite gun is still the M16 rifle.