The best Sidewinder loadout and class setup in MW3

I’ve been asking around Modern Warfare 3 lobbies since multiplayer launched what the worst weapon in the game is, just so I can get my hands on it and try it myself.

Every single player I ran into had the same answer: The Sidewinder battle rifle. So, I gave it a try to see whether the Sidewinder really is as bad as they say. And you know what, the community is wrong: This isn’t just the worst weapon in MW3, it may be one of the worst in the entirety of Call of Duty’s history.

But that’s okay, because I made it work, and it’s a serviceable gun if you know how to use it properly. Here’s the best loadout and class setup for the Sidewinder in MW3.

Best Sidewinder loadout and class setup in MW3

The Sidewinder is a heavy battle rifle introduced in MW3, and from the get-go, this weapon has a serious problem with recoil control. Before season two, firing this fully-automatic weapon for more than two shots in a row was a guarantee that you would struggle with accuracy and probably miss. As per the game’s season two patches, however, the gun has received some buffs. Its bullet velocity was increased to 600m/s, and the recoil and gun kick has been decreased “significantly”.

Best Sidewinder build in MW3

• Conversion Kit: JAK Thunder LMG Kit
• Barrel: Rattleback Deadeye 16″ Barrel
• Stock: RB Regal Heavy Stock
• Underbarrel: Holger Vertical Grip
• Rear Grip: RB Borealis Grip

Arguably, the Sidewinder’s biggest problem now is its very slow rate of fire. Nevertheless, you can get it to almost work in your favor with the right class and attachments.

I went all-out on improving the weapon’s recoil, with the Holger Vertical Grip and the RB Borealis Grip doing the hard work in controlling the weapon. To really succeed with the Sidewinder, however, you’ve got to fundamentally change the gun with the JAK Thunder LMG Kit.

This Conversion Kit turns the battle rifle into an LMG with a 50-round magazine that fires faster the longer you hold down the trigger. It’s great for supporting teammates on an objective and just ripping holes through walls, but that’s about it.

In general, once you’ve leveled this weapon up and unlocked all of its camos, it’s just not worth using in its current state. There are just many more, better options for all kinds of archetypes in the game and not just battle rifles.

Its recent buffs are great, and with its raw power, don’t be surprised to see it become a viable option as season two progresses. However, the low rate of fire might still deter most players.

Best Sidewinder class setup in MW3

• Vest: Gunner Vest
• Secondary: Lockwood 680
• Tactical: Stun Grenade
• Lethal: Semtex

• Field Upgrade: Trophy System

• Gloves: Quick-Grip Gloves
• Gear: Tac Mask or EOD Padding

We’re sacrificing movement here for a dual-weapon setup that should serve well in both mid and short-range engagements. A mobile Lockwood 680 build with a fast draw time (thanks to the Quick-Grip Gloves) means your up-close fights are just one buckshot away from a win.

The Sidewinder actually has a decent shot in the mid-range battle, but we’ll stick with a Tac Mask or EOD Padding for the gear just to rule out stuns and flashes or explosive damage. The Trophy System closes out a great tactical and objective-based build designed to protect you and your teammates from incoming explosives.

At the end of the day, if you can make this weapon work, you can use anything in MW3.