All weapon balancing in Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 Reloaded: RAM-9 nerf, FR 5.56 buff, and more

The latest patch for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 Reloaded has just gone live, introducing crucial changes including weapon balancing and bug fixes. This update aims to ensure that all weapons have balanced stats, eliminating any overpowered or underpowered attributes.

Notably, the RAM-9 and AMR-9, which previously dominated close-range combat, have been nerfed, while the FR 5.56 AR has received significant buffs to enhance its effectiveness in gunfights

That said, this article will provide all the weapon changes that Modern Warfare 3 received with the Season 3 Reloaded update.

All weapon buffs and nerfs in Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 Reloaded

Assault Rifles

BP50

Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.4deg/s to 3deg/s (+25%).
Increased hipfire spread maximum from 6.7deg/s to 7.2deg/s (+7%).
Increased moving hipfire spread maximum from 4.7deg/s to 5.2deg/s (+11%).

SVA 545

Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.6deg/s to 3.3deg/s (+27%).
Increased hipfire spread maximum from 7.3deg/s to 7.8deg/s (+7%).
Increased moving hipfire spread maximum from 5.3deg/s to 5.8deg/s (+9%).

RAM-7

Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.6deg/s to 3deg/s (+15%).

MTZ-556

Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.6deg/s to 3.1deg/s (+19%).
Increased hipfire spread maximum from 7deg/s to 7.4deg/s (+6%).
Increased moving hipfire spread maximum from 5.3deg/s to 5.4deg/s (+2%).

Holger 556

Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.6deg/s to 3.4deg/s (+31%).
Increased hipfire spread maximum from 7.5deg/s to 7.8deg/s (+4%).
Increased moving hipfire spread maximum from 5.5deg/s to 5.8deg/s (+5%).

MCW

Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.6deg/s to 3.2deg/s (+23%).
Increased moving hipfire spread maximum from 5.3deg/s to 5.6deg/s (+6%).

DG-56

Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.4deg/s to 2.8deg/s (+17%).
Increased moving hipfire spread maximum from 3.3deg/s to 5deg/s (+52%).
Added medium damage range, 29 damage to 38.1m.
Decreased minimum damage from 29 to 25 (-14%).

FR 5.56

Decreased sprint to fire time from 231ms to 216ms (-6%).
Decreased aim down sight time from 260ms to 250ms (-4%).
Increased aim down sight movement speed from 2.7m/s to 2.9m/s (+7%).
Increased bullet velocity from 680m/s to 720m/s (+6%).
600mm FR Longbore Barrel
Removed hipfire spread minimum benefit.
Decreased hipfire spread penalty by 8%.
Decreased aim down sight speed penalty by 20%.
Replaced aiming idle sway penalty with benefit.
435mm FR 435 Barrel
Removed movement speed penalties.
Removed hipfire spread penalties and benefits.
Increased recoil control benefit by 5%.
Added firing aim stability benefit.
Removed bullet velocity benefit.
Removed damage range penalty.
Decreased aim down sight speed penalty by 2%.
Decreased aim down sight movement speed penalty by 3%.
Removed aiming idle sway penalty.
395 FR Minibore Barrel
Replaced hipfire spread minimum penalty with benefit.
Added sprint to fire speed benefit.
Removed aiming idle sway penalty.
FR Sprinter Stock
Removed tactical sprint speed benefit.
Added aim down sight speed benefit.
Decreased aiming idle sway penalty.
Added flinch resistance benefit.
Recon Stock Pad
Removed crouch movement speed benefit.
Added movement speed benefit.
Replaced hipfire spread penalty with benefit.
Added sprint to fire speed benefit.
Removed aim down sight speed benefit.
FR Anchor Comb
Removed tactical sprint speed penalty.
Decreased sprint to fire speed penalty by 3%.
Added aiming idle sway benefit.
FR TON-618 Comb
Decreased aim down sight speed penalty by 18%.
Removed aiming idle sway benefit.
Added firing aim stability benefit.
FR Giga Comb
Increased aim down sight speed benefit by 2%.
Removed aim down sight movement speed penalty.
Added flinch resistance penalty.
RMT Rear Grip
Increased aim down sight speed benefit by 2%.
45 Round Magazine
Decreased movement speed penalties.
Decreased aim down sight speed penalty by 4%.
60 Round Magazine
Decreased movement speed penalties.
Decreased aim down sight speed penalty by 7%.
Many FR 5.56 Attachments have been reworked to increase their appeal and the overall viability of the Weapon.

Lachmann-762 (MWII)

Increased maximum damage range from 19.3m to 30.5m (+58%).
Increased near-medium damage range from 37.1m to 43.2m (+16%).
Increased medium damage range from 48m to 55.9m (+16%).

M13C (MWII)

Increased maximum damage range from 17.8m to 25.4m (+43%).
Increased near-medium damage from 27 to 28 (+4%).
Increased near-medium damage range from 33.5m to 39.4m (+17%).
Increased leg and foot damage multipliers from 0.88x to 1x (+14%).

Battle Rifles

SOA Subverter

Added near-medium damage range, 33 damage to 38.1m.
Decreased minimum damage from 33 to 26 (-21%).
The SOA Subverter is now a 6-shot kill within the minimum damage range.

MTZ-762

Decreased aim down sight time from 280ms to 260ms (-7%).
JAK Thunder LMG Kit
Decreased aim down sight time benefit by 20ms.

FTAC Recon (MWII)

Fire Type: Semi-Auto
Increased minimum damage from 45 to 50 (+11%).
Within its maximum damage range, the FTAC Recon is now a guaranteed 3-shot kill, or 2-shot kill to the head.
Fire Type: Full-Auto
Increased upper torso, arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x (+10%).
Within its near-medium damage range, the FTAC Recon (full-auto) 3-shot kill with 1 to the head and 2 to the upper torso

SO-14 (MWII)

Fire Type: Semi-Auto
Increased maximum damage from 46 to 50 (+9%).
Increased near-medium damage from 35 to 46 (+31%).
Increased medium damage from 32 to 40 (+25%).
Increased minimum damage from 30 to 38 (+27%).
Within its maximum damage range, the SO-14 is now a consistent 3-shot kill.
Fire Type: Full-Auto
Decreased sprint to fire time from 307ms to 261ms (-15%).
Decreased aim down sight time from 290ms to 270ms (-7%).
Decreased torso, arm, hand, leg, and foot damage multipliers from 0.8x to 0.74x (-8%).

Submachine Guns

RAM-9

Increased horizontal recoil from 16.9deg/s to 17.6deg/s (+4%).
Increased vertical recoil from 42.9deg/s to 44.4deg/s (+3%).
Decreased maximum damage range from 12.7m to 11.2m (-12%).

AMR9

Increased near-medium damage from 25 to 29 (+16%).
Increased medium damage from 23 to 24 (+4%).
Increased minimum damage from 21 to 22 (+5%).
Increased lower arm and hand damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x (+10%).

HRM-9

Increased medium damage range from 30.5m to 33m (+8%).

WSP-9

Decreased sprint to fire time from 110ms to 66ms (-40%).

WSP Swarm

Decreased maximum damage range from 6.9m to 5.6m (-19%).

Shotguns

KV Broadside

JAK Jawbreaker
Removed aim down sight spread.
Decreased hipfire spread penalty from 100% to 30%.
Muzzle Attachments can now be equipped.

Riveter

Decreased aim down sight spread by 10%.
Decreased spread while aiming down sight allows a more consistent 3-shot kill within the Riveter's medium damage range.
.410 Gauge Ball Ammunition
Increased aim down sight spread by 10%.
Increased maximum damage from 33 to 37 (+12%).
Increased near-medium damage from 26 to 33 (+27%).
Increased medium damage from 21 to 27 (+29%).
Increased minimum damage from 19 to 25 (+32%).
With the Ball rounds equipped, the Riveter now performs considerably better within its 3-shot kill range.

Light Machine Guns

DG-58 LSW

Decreased horizontal recoil from 7.28deg/s to 6.35deg/s (-13%).
Decreased vertical recoil from 52.65deg/s to 47.89deg/s (-9%).
Increased minimum damage from 33 to 35 (+6%).
Increased torso, arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x (+10%).
With the DG-58 LSW, a 4-shot kill is now possible if 2 shots hit the torso.

TAQ Eradicator

Decreased sprint to fire time from 252ms to 210ms (-17%).
Decreased aim down sight time from 340ms to 330ms (-3%).

Holger 26

Increased neck damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1.2x (+9%).

Marksman Rifles

MTZ Interceptor

Decreased maximum damage range from 38.1m to 30.5m (-20%).

Sniper Rifles

MORS

Increased aim down sight time from 560ms to 580ms (+4%).
Decreased lower leg and foot damage multipliers from 1x to 0.95x (-5%).
HVP Anti-Materiel Slug Ammunition
Increased bullet velocity penalty from 15% to 20%.
While equipped with HVP Anti-Materiel Slug Ammunition, the MORS can no longer one-shot kill to the lower leg or foot.

Handguns

COR-45

Increased movement speed from 5.2m/s to 5.4m/s (+4%).

Renetti

Increased movement speed from 5.2m/s to 5.4m/s (+4%).

TYR

Increased movement speed from 5.1m/s to 5.3m/s (+4%).

WSP Stinger

Increased movement speed from 5.7m/s to 5.9m/s (+4%).

P890 (MWII)

Increased movement speed from 5.2m/s to 5.3m/s (+2%).

.50 GS (MWII)

Increased sprint speed from 5.7m/s to 5.8m/s (+2%).

X12 (MWII)

Increased movement speed from 5.2m/s to 5.4m/s (+4%).
Increased sprint speed from 6m/s to 6.1m/s (+2%).

Basilisk (MWII)

Increased movement speed from 5.1m/s to 5.3m/s (+4%).

FTAC Siege (MWII)

Increased movement speed from 5.1m/s to 5.3m/s (+4%).

GS Magna (MWII)

Increased sprint speed from 5.7m/s to 5.8m/s (+2%).

9mm Daemon (MWII)

Increased movement speed from 5.3m/s to 5.5m/s (+4%).
Akimbo 9mm Daemon Rear Grip
Removed 10% movement speed penalty.
Decreased hipfire spread minimum from 2.4deg/s to 1.7deg/s (-29%).
Decreased hipfire spread maximum from 5.5deg/s to 5deg/s (-9%).
Removed 26% damage penalty.
Increased lower torso, arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1.3 (+18%).

Melee

Gladiator

Decreased standing lunge distance to 1.3m, matching that of the Combat Knife.

Check out our other Call of Duty-related articles:

About the author

Animesh has been a Call of Duty writer at Sportskeeda for close to two years. A fervent enthusiast of the iconic Mario Bros. franchise and several first-person shooter games, his love for gaming pushed him to merge his passion and profession, and eventually land a writing job in the genre. When creating content, he prioritizes quality and accuracy over speed, verifying multiple official sources. This has helped his meticulous first-person shooter guides garner over two million reads.

Although Animesh holds a Master’s degree in Commerce, he would willingly go back to school; just as long as the school is Hogwarts, so he can jump into the world of spell-casting and fly on broomsticks. He admires gamers Shroud and Beaulo, and would recommend story-driven games like Red Dead Redemption, Skyrim, and Far Cry 3 for their captivating narratives and deep player engagement.

Animesh also enjoys multiplayer games such as Valorant, Apex Legends, and Warzone. When he keeps his controller aside, he plays football and badminton, reads books, and cooks.

Know More

Edited by Ritoban "Veloxi" Paul