If you enjoy close-range combats within confined maps, shotguns are the ultimate choice. However, being this near to enemies exposes players to danger. To stay effective and safe, prioritize a high-damage shotgun with the right loadout. Here is the Modern Warfare 3 Best Shotgun Loadout to help you excel in the shotgun playstyle.
Key Takeaways
- Shotguns are used in close-range combats, mostly in smaller maps in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.
- Players can easily one-shot enemies with a shotgun if they’re using a good loadout.
- Riveter is currently the most powerful Auto shotgun and goes well with a Pneumatic Integrated Suppressor Barrel.
- Players can also try two other great shotguns, the Lockwood 680 and Lockwood 300, along with the loadout mentioned.
Here is a quick overview of all three Shotguns with Best Loadout:
| Weapon | Barrel | Underbarrel | Stock | Ammunition | Magazine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockwood 680 | Bryson Hammerforged Long Barrel | XRK Edge BW-4 Handstop | Sawed Off Mod | – | – |
| Riveter | Pneumatic Integrated Suppressor | FTAC Sp-10 Angled Grip | Demo LTS Stock | .410 Gauge Slug | 30 Round Mag |
| Lockwood 300 | Matuzek 812 Barrel | – | Heist Stock Mod | 12 Gauge Slug | – |
If you’re looking for a well-thought-out loadout, then make sure to go through all three of these shotgun loadouts. I made sure to go with different shotguns for each best loadout, so there’s a variety of weapons to choose from.
Best Lockwood 680 Loadout
Though Lockwood 680 isn’t on the same level as Riveter, it still holds decent potential with the right attachments. A good loadout setup will enhance the versatility of this shotgun, along with some side improvements to help players one-shot target with ease.
Attachments
| Attachment Name | Type | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Bryson Hammerforged Long Barrel | Barrel | Reach Lockwood 680 Level 3 |
| Sawed Off Mod | Stock | Reach Lockwood 680 Level 17 |
| XRK Edge BW-4 Handstop | Underbarrel | Reach Beta Ripper Level 9 Reach Rival-9 Level 9 |
| Titanic Heavy Bolt | Bolt | Reach Lockwood 680 Level 6 |
To increase the shotgun’s bullet velocity, range, player’s movement speed, and ADS speed, I’ve chosen Bryson Hammerforged Long Barrel. The Underbarrel, XRK Edge BW-4 Handstop, also increases movement speed along with other speed tweaks to the weapon.
The Stock I’ve suggested will increase Sprint to Fire speed immensely, making it go perfectly well with the first two attachments. For the Bolt, I suggest Titanic Heavy Bolt for Rechambering Accuracy as it’ll impact your speed too; however, you can choose Express Light Bolt too.
Class Setup
Here are the perks and secondary weapons for Lockwood 680 best loadout:
- Vest: Infantry Vest
- Gloves: Scavenger Gloves
- Boots: Lightweight Boots
- Gear: EOD Padding
- Secondary Weapon: Renetti
- Lethal: Frag Grenade
- Tactical: Flash Grenade
Best Riveter Loadout
Without a doubt, Riveter is currently dominating over the other shotguns. Riverter is a full-auto with an impressive Fire Rate, which makes it a killing machine in close-ranged combat. Some weapon attachments can even make this weapon a decent medium-long-range weapon choice. If you enjoy playing with this beast of a shotgun, here is the best Loadout:
Attachments
| Attachment Name | Type | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumatic Integrated Suppressor | Barrel | Reach Riveter Level 24 |
| FTAC Sp-10 Angled Grip | Underbarrel | Reach KV Inhibitor Level 14 |
| Demo LTS Stock | Stock | Reach Striker Level 12 |
| .410 Gauge Slug | Ammunition | Reach Riverter Level 10 |
| 30 Round Mag | Magazine | Reach Riverter Level 19 Reach Renetti Level 16 |
The only Barrel I enjoyed the most on Riveter is the Pneumatic Integrated Suppressor due to it making players less detectable. Other benefits include bullet velocity and damage range; a must for powerful shotguns like Riveter. For the Underbarrel, pick FTAC Sp-10 Angled Grip. It’ll improve the weapon’s horizontal recoil and bring overall stability to it.
Equip Demo LTS Stock for increased versatility. For Ammunition, there’s no better option than the .410 Gauge Slug, as it improves the overall weapon’s ranged damage along with the range itself. Increase your magazine’s capacity to 30 by equipping 30 Round Mag.
Class Setup
Here are the perks and secondary weapons for the Riveter best loadout:
- Vest: Gunner Vest
- Gloves: Quick-Grip Gloves
- Boots: Lightweight Boots
- Gear: Tac Mask
- Secondary Weapon: Renetti
- Tactical: Flash Grenade
Best Lockwood 300 Loadout
One of the most powerful shotguns, the Lockwood 300 is a fan-favorite from previous Call of Duty games. So, if you’re looking forward to dominating enemies with Lockwood 300, here is a Lockwood 300 loadout:
Attachments
| Attachment Name | Type | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Matuzek 812 Barrel | Barrel | Reach Lockwood 300 Level 14 |
| Heist Stock Mod | Stock | Reach Lockwood 300 Level 23 |
| 12 Gauge Slug | Ammunition | Reach Lockwood 300 Level 27 |
| STOVL Tac Laser | Laser | Reach Bryson 800 Level 10 |
The best Barrel for the Lockwood 300 is the Matuzek 812. It provides the shotgun with Damage Range, Bullet Velocity, and Recoil Control for better handling. For Stock, Heist Stock Mod is a great choice in such a fast-paced environment as it focuses on movement speed along with sprint-to-fire speed.
Class Setup
- Secondary Weapon: X13 Auto (Or any other you prefer)
- Tactical: Stun Grenade
- Lethal: Semtex
My Verdict on Best Shotgun Loadouts
Currently, I’m enjoying Riveter the most, especially its automatic fire rate, which is extremely game-breaking and dominate every single match I played. You can easily lock enemies down without them getting a chance to attack you back. However, if you’re looking to try out another shotgun, give the Lockwood 680 or Lockwood 300 a try. Both these shotguns are a decent pick for close-mid-ranged combats, and with the mentioned loadout, they’ll become even better. I hope these Loadouts help in winning rounds with your favorite Shotgun. Happy Gaming!
Check out our other Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 coverages:
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Meet Ayesha, a business student and a Game Guides writer whose passion for gaming knows no bounds. With a keen interest in simulation and RPG genres like Disney Dreamlight Valley, Starfield, and Final Fantasy Series, she’s been sharing her expertise at VeryAli Gaming for a year now, enhancing the gaming experience for players worldwide. Check out what Ayesha likes to play on her Steam.
