The M5A3 is an Assault Weapon in the game Battlefield 2042. Read on to learn more about the firepower, accuracy, range, and handling of this weapon, as well as the available attachments and their respective effects.

M5A3 Latest Updates and Changes (Update #3.1)

Update #3.1 (December 09, 2021)

All Updates and Patch Notes

M5A3 Overview

M5A3 Weapon Info and Stats
Description
The US Military's standard-issue rifle since 2034, the M5A3 can be chambered for a variety of rounds for either semi or automatic modes.
Class	Rate of Fire	Mag Size	Zoom
Assault	750	30	1.25x
Firepower	Accuracy	Range	Handling
50	50	50	50

How to Get M5A3

The M5A3 is automatically unlocked from the start of the game.

M5A3 Bullets to Kill and Time to Kill (BTK and TTK)

M5A3 Bullets to Kill (BTK)

M5A3 BTK
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Attachments listed for TTK and BTK were tested on a player with no body armor and no additional attachments on the gun.

M5A3 Time to Kill (TTK)

M5A3 TTK
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The TTK was computed by using the following formula: (60/Rate of Fire)*(BTK-1).

The Close Range magazine has the fastest TTK at close to mid range (0-30m). Since most fights are done in this range, you can get away with only using this ammo type for the loadout. However, the bullet damage falls off at around 40m, so swapping to the High-Power ammo type would be ideal to cover long and open areas.

BTK and TTK for All Guns

M5A3 Best Loadouts

Complete Loadout

Weapon Attachments
Sight / Scope	Fusion Holo (Short-Range) TV 2X (Mid-Range) Bravo 3x (Long-Range)
Ammunition / Ammo	Close Combat (Short-Range) and (Mid-Range) High-Power (Long-Range)
Underbarrel / Grip	Flashlight (Short-Range) Rattlesnake Light Grip (Mid-Range) LWG Grip (Long-Range)
Barrel	6KU Suppressor (Short-Range) Shortened Barrel (Mid-Range) Warhawk Compensator (Long-Range)
Weapon Loadout
Secondary	MP-28
Throwable	Frag Grenade
Gadget	Ammo Crate

Attachment Loadouts

Best Attachments for Close to Mid-Range

This loadout focuses on keeping yourself agile in close quarters and increases your overall time to kill (TTK) with the Close Combat or Shortened Barrel attachment. The Rattle Snake Light Grip will help you retain your accuracy as you strafe left and right.

You can also choose to equip the flashlight if you want to get a slight edge. Don't brush off its blinding effect at close range as it can give you a few precious milliseconds in hiding your head against more skilled players.

Opting for the 6KU Suppressor can also help in preventing yourself from appearing on enemy minimap.

Best Attachments for Long Range

The TV 2X or Bravo 3X scope is best for long-range engagements thanks to its clear reticle. The variable scopes and anything higher than 3x just doesn't justify its increased recoil. The High-Power Magazine is an excellent choice for ammunition since it gives the lowest TTK. The Subsonic magazine is also a fair choice if you pair it with the silencer as the combination from both will make it harder for enemies to find you. By being at long-range, the LWG Grip will work excellently since you won't be punished as badly for standing still against targets far away.

Best Specialist for M5A3

M5A3 is the most balanced gun as it is both good at short to mid-range encounters. You can use it essentially for any Specialist, but the supporting roles suit it well.

Specialist	Strengths
Falck	Allows Falck to cover fire for allies or even kill enemies while healing allies with the S21 Syrette Pistol from the back line.
Rao	Gives Rao a chance to fight back from various distances and survive if he gets interrupted while using his Cyber Warfare Suite.
Angel	Provides allies with armor and ammo using his Loadout Crate while also providing suppressive fire from behind.

M5A3 Attachments and How to Unlock

Muzzle & Barrel Attachments

Attachment	Increases (+)	Decreases (-)	Effects	Unlock Req.
Extended Barrel	Projectile Velocity	Rate of Fire	Acc: +5 Rng.: +5 Hnd.: -5	15 M5A3 Kills
Wrapped Suppressor	Suppresses Sound No Minimap Spotting While Firing	Effectice Range	FP: -5	60 M5A3 Kills
Champion Muzzle Brake	Vertical Recoil Control	Horizontal Recoil Control	Acc: +2	90 M5A3 Kills
Shortened Barrel	Rate of Fire	Projectile Velocity	Acc: -5 Rng.: -5 Hnd.: +5	120 M5A3 Kills
Tactical Compensator	Horizontal Recoil Control	Vertical Recoil Control	Acc: +2	150 M5A3 Kills
Warhawk Compensator	Horizontal Recoil Control	Vertical Recoil Control	Acc: +2	180 M5A3 Kills
ARCOM Tactical Muzzle Brake	Vertical Recoil Control	Horizontal Recoil Control	Acc: +2	270 M5A3 Kills
6KU Suppressor	Suppresses Sound No Minimap Spotting While Firing	Effectice Range	FP: -5	30 M5A3 Kills

Scope Attachments

Attachment	Increases (+)	Decreases (-)	Effects	Unlock Req.
TV 2X	Zoom Level Enhanced Target Visibility	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Rng.: +1 Hnd.: -1 Zoom: 2x	0 M5A3 Kills
Fusion Holo	Enhanced Target Visibility	N/A	Zoom: 1.25x	0 M5A3 Kills
M22 3.5x	Zoom Level	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Rng.: +4 Hnd.: -4 Zoom: 3.5x	From a distance of 150m: 100 M5A3 Kills
Bravo 3x	Zoom Level	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Rng.: +3 Hnd.: -3 Zoom: 3x	25 M5A3 Kills
UH-1 Smart 1.5x	Enhanced Target Visibility Target Info	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Hnd.: -1 Zoom: 1.5x	30 M5A3 Kills
8R Holo	Enhanced Target Visibility	N/A	Zoom: 1.5x	60 M5A3 Kills
Maul Hybrid 1.5-3x	Zoom Level Toggle Optic	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Rng.: +3 Hnd.: -3 Zoom: 3x	120 M5A3 Kills
Ghost Hybrid 1.25-2.5x	Zoom Level Toggle Optic	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Rng.: +3 Hnd.: -3 Zoom: 2.5x	150 M5A3 Kills
XDR Holo	Enhanced Target Visibility	N/A	Zoom: 1.25x	160 M5A3 Kills
Raven 4x	Zoom Level	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Rng.: +5 Hnd.: -5 Zoom: 4x	240 M5A3 Kills
Shan 2.5x	Zoom Level Enhanced Target Visibility	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Rng.: +2 Hnd.: -2 Zoom: 2.5x	300 M5A3 Kills
K8 Holo	Enhanced Target Visibility	N/A	Zoom: 1.25x	330 M5A3 Kills
M11 6x	Zoom Level Toggle Optic	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Rng.: +6 Hnd.: -6 Zoom: 6x	360 M5A3 Kills

Magazine and Ammo Attachments

Attachment	Increases (+)	Decreases (-)	Effects	Unlock Req.
Close Combat	Recoil Control Reload Speed Rate of Fire	Effective Range	FP: -5 Acc: -5 Rng.: -5 Hnd.: +5	30 M5A3 Kills
High Power	Ammo Capacity	Reload Speed	FP: +5 Acc: +5 Rng.: +5 Hnd.: -10	90 M5A3 Kills
Subsonic	Tracer Visibility Muzzle Flash Visibility Reduction	Reload Speed Projectile Velocity	FP: -5 Rng.: -5 Hnd.: -5	150 M5A3 Kills
Armor Piercing	Penetrate Vehicle Armor Penetrates Light Materials	Infantry Damage Reload Speed	Hnd.: -5	210 M5A3 Kills
Standard Issue / Extended Mag	Ammo Capacity	Reload Speed	Hnd.: -5	270 M5A3 Kills

Grip & Underbarrel Attachment

Attachment	Increases (+)	Decreases (-)	Effects	Unlock Req.
BCG Light Grip	Accuracy while Static	Accuracy while Moving	Acc: +5 Rng.: +2	30 M5A3 Kills
Rattlesnake Light Grip	Accuracy while Static	Accuracy while Moving	Acc: +5 Rng.: +2	120 M5A3 Kills
Cobra Grip	Accuracy while Static	Accuracy while Moving	Acc: +5 Rng.: +2	150 M5A3 Kills
LWG Grip	Accuracy while Static	Accuracy while Moving	Acc: +5 Rng.: +2	210 M5A3 Kills
40mm Incendiary	Incendiary Grenade Launcher	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Hnd.: -10	Using the 40mm HE Underbarrel: 50 M5A3 Kills
Flashlight	Blinding Effect	Detectable		60 M5A3 Kills
ADR Bipod	Allows deployment Sway Stability While Deployed	Immobile While Deployed	Acc: +5 Rng.: +5	90 M5A3 Kills
40mm HE	Fragmentation Grenade Launcher	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Hnd.: -10	180 M5A3 Kills
40mm Smoke	Smoke Grenade Launcher	Aiming Down Sight Speed	Hnd.: -10	240 M5A3 Kills
Masterkey	Shotgun Underbarrel	Aiming Down Sight Speed		300 M5A3 Kills
LS-1 Laser Sight	Hipfire Accuracy	Detectable	Acc: +10 Rng.: +1	330 M5A3 Kills

M5A3 Skins

Factory (Common) How to Unlock: Default Weapon Skin.	Central Desert (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 59
Desert Technical (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 19	Forest Technical (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 93
Forest Multi-Terrain (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 8	Desert Flecktarn (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 71
Wildwood (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 65	Winter Woodland (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 78
Winter Mixed (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 13	Dryfire (Common) How to Unlock: Reach Level 86
Carbon Gravemaker (Rare) How to Unlock: 30 M5A3 Kills	Tier 1 (Epic) How to Unlock: 1200 M5A3 Kills

Battlefield 2042 Related Guides

List of All Weapons

Battlefield 2042 Weapon Classes

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SMGs	LMGs	Utility
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