Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3

Primary Weapons

Detailed breakdown of all primary weapon types in Battlefield 3, including popular choices and their characteristics.

·Multi-source verified (93/93)

Primary weapons are the backbone of your loadout, defining your combat role. Each class has access to specific weapon types, with a wide variety within each category. Experiment to find weapons that suit your playstyle and the map you're playing on.

Primary Weapons - Battlefield 3 screenshot
Primary Weapons

Assault Rifles

  • M16A3: Versatile, high rate of fire, excellent all-rounder.
  • AEK-971: Extremely high rate of fire, devastating in close quarters.
  • AK-74M: Reliable, good accuracy, solid choice for medium range.

Carbines

  • M4A1: Balanced, good for all ranges, popular choice for Engineers.
  • G36C: Good accuracy and control, slightly lower rate of fire.

PDWs

  • MP7: High rate of fire, excellent for close-quarters combat.
  • P90: Large magazine capacity, good for sustained fire.

Light Machine Guns (LMGs)

  • M249: High rate of fire, large magazine, excellent for suppressive fire.
  • PKP Pecheneg: High damage, good accuracy, slower rate of fire.

Sniper Rifles

  • M98B: Highest damage, excellent for long-range engagements.
  • SV98: Balanced sniper rifle, good all-rounder.

Shotguns

  • 870 MCS: Pump-action, high damage in close quarters.
  • DAO-12: Semi-automatic, faster follow-up shots.