Best Submachine Guns (SMGs) and Submachine Guns List

This is a list of all Submachine Guns (SMGs) in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3). Read on to learn more about the stats of each Submachine Gun and how to unlock them!

Best Submachine Guns (SMGs)

1. Rival-9: Fastest Time-to-Kill for SMGs; Best SMG for Small Maps
2. Striker: Excellent SMG for Medium-Range
3. AMR9: Well-Balanced SMG perfect for Kitting with Attachments

Rival-9

The Rival-9 lets you quickly take out enemies faster than usual as it has an impressive Time-to-Kill due to how fast this gun shoots. It's the best SMG to use particularly in smaller maps like Rust or Meat where you'll often engage in close-quarters combat.

Best Rival-9 Loadout and Build

Striker

The Striker is the only SMG that can perform really well at medium-range fights and it deals slightly more damage than the other Submachine Guns.

Since you won't be having that much of an issue with Range while using this, you can definitely bring this out in larger maps in Ground War or Invasion.

Striker Best Loadout and Build

AMR9

The AMR9 is the most well-balanced SMG in terms of base stats. This makes it the best Submachine Gun to build around attachments for to your own liking and preference.

You can build it up to be more viable in long-range fights or even speed up its ADS for some aggressive plays upclose.

Best AMR9 Loadout and Build

List of All Submachine Guns (SMGs)

MW3 Submachine Guns

Weapon	Gun Info
Rival-9	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 90 How to Unlock: Unlocked at Level 14.
Striker	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 70 How to Unlock: Unlocked by default.
AMR9	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 90 How to Unlock: Unlocked at Level 21.
WSP Swarm	Base Round Capacity: 32 Reserve Ammo: 96 How to Unlock: TBA
Striker 9	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 90 How to Unlock: Complete 5 Daily Challenges
WSP-9	Base Round Capacity: 25 Reserve Ammo: 75 How to Unlock: TBA
HRM-9	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 90 How to Unlock: Unlocked by reaching the A21 Classified Sector of the Season 1 Battle Pass
RAM-9	Base Round Capacity: 32 Reserve Ammo: 96 How to Unlock: Unlocked by reaching and completing the B6 Sector of the Season 2 Battle Pass.

MW2 Submachine Guns

Weapon	Gun Info
VEL 46	Base Round Capacity: 40 Reserve Ammo: 80 How to Unlock: Unlocked by default.
MX9	Base Round Capacity: 25 Reserve Ammo: 50 How to Unlock: Unlocked by leveling the STB 556 to Level 13.
Lachmann Sub	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 60 How to Unlock: Unlocked by leveling the Lachmann-556 to Level 12.
Vaznev-9K	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 60 How to Unlock: Unlocked by leveling the Kastov-74u to Level 13.
FSS Hurricane	Base Round Capacity: 50 Reserve Ammo: 100 How to Unlock: Unlocked by leveling the FTac Recon to Level 16.
Minibak	Base Round Capacity: 64 Reserve Ammo: 128 How to Unlock: Unlocked by leveling the Kastov-74u to Level 18.
PDSW 528	Base Round Capacity: 50 Reserve Ammo: 100 How to Unlock: Unlocked at Level 5.
Fennec 45	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 60 How to Unlock: Unlocked at Level 38.
ISO 45	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 60 How to Unlock: Get 45 kills without taking any damage using SMGs.
Lachmann Shroud	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 60 How to Unlock: Get 30 operator hipfire kills with SMGs.
ISO 9mm	Base Round Capacity: 33 Reserve Ammo: 66 How to Unlock: Unlocked in the Season 6 Battle Pass.
Bas-P	Base Round Capacity: 30 Reserve Ammo: 60 How to Unlock: TBA

There are 12 confirmed MW2 Submachine Guns (SMGs) that can be carried forward to Modern Warfare 3.

Carry Forward Explained

How to Use Submachine Guns

Equip a Pair of Tactical Pads

With Tactical Pads equipped in your Loadout, you can ADS (Aim Down Sights) with your Submachine Gun while performing a Tac Slide. This is particularly helpful as you'll often be running and sliding around in a match with an SMG equipped due to the amazing movement speed benefits that come with it.

Attach a Silencer

By equipping a Silencer to your Submachine Gun, you remove the ability to be seen as a 'red-dot icon' on the enemy team's mini-map while you're shooting. This allows for some quick and silent kills when you're planning for some sneaky plays during a match.

Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) Related Guides

List of All Guns and Weapons

All Guns and Weapon Guides

All Guns and Weapons by Type