Facebook: http://facebook.com/XboxAhoy Twitter: http://twitter.com/xboxahoy This time, we're covering the Mk 48. The bigger brother to MW3's Mk 46, this fully-automatic LMG is a higher-calibre variant, and is the first LMG unlocked. The Mk 48 is a Belgian weapon, manufactured by FN Herstal. It is a derivative of the FN Minimi design - also known by its US Army name, the M249 SAW, and its USSOCOM designation: the Mk 46. The Mk 48 is a scaled-up variant of the Minimi design, firing the full-power 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge instead of an intermediate one. This means the Mk 48 is similar in role to FN's other offering in this calibre - the FN MAG, or M240. However, a high degree of part commonality between the M249 SAW, Mk 46, and Mk 48 means that maintenance and repair is simplified for those who employ only the Minimi-derived designs. In-game, damage is high, amongst the highest of all automatic weapons: you can expect to kill in 3 shots at almost any range, with 4 shots needed only at a very extreme distance, beyond most sightlines in-game. One headshot up close will deal damage sufficient to secure a two-shot kill, although it is generally better to keep your enemy at an arm's reach with the LMGs. Penetration ability is innately high, and the generous damage and large magazine makes the Mk 48 particularly well suited to finding targets behind cover. Rate of fire is slow, at 625 rounds per minute: this does make the weapon easier to control, but harms close-range potential. Rapid fire will improve this output to 750 rounds per minute, but will mandate more frequent reloads, and greatly increase recoil. Hipfire spread is relatively high: and while you have plenty of fire-power on tap, the slower fire rate will make for unreliable hipfire performance. Handling is generally slow, as you'd expect for an LMG - but the recoil is mild, permitting accurate automatic fire out to quite some distance. Everything about this weapon favours aimed fire from a good position: with a 480 millisecond aim time, nearly half a second, you can't exactly snap onto targets quickly. Switch times are also relatively slow - but not cripplingly so, and your movement speed is of the slowest tier, at 90% of maximum speed. This is slightly faster than LMGs in previous games, but you still won't keep pace with other weapons. Magazine capacity is excellent: 100 rounds between reloads, as you should expect from an LMG. Extended clip confers a 35% advantage, granting 135 rounds instead. With such capacity comes severe disadvantage in reload times: and indeed, the Mk 48 has the slowest reload of any weapon, at 7.97 seconds. This obviously means you'll be left vulnerable for a long time while restocking - you should seek to reload in a safe place, away from the heat of battle. This weapon, like most LMGs in Call of Duty, rewards those who can employ the weapon from a prepared position. Speed is not your ally, and to use the Mk 48 effectively you will have to rely on anticipation of your enemy's movement. From a good position overlooking a narrow chokepoint, you can inflict untold amounts of damage: repelling entire teams twice over without ever reloading. Well-rounded knowledge of sightlines and flanking routes will serve you well, and keeping an eye on the radar will help you to prepare for incoming assailants. Fire in short bursts to prolong your magazine's lifespan, and to ensure accuracy: but don't be afraid to pin the trigger and unleash your weapon's fury in circumstances where you're in danger of becoming overwhelmed. Be wary of enemy snipers, too - they have the power to eliminate you in one shot, and are the only opponents to truly pose a threat to your ranged dominance. The Mk 48 is a weapon capable of sustained, high-damage fire - with consistent performance out to a very long range. At a distance, few other automatic weapons can boast the same level of per-shot damage, and none match the 100-round magazine capacity. Paired with low recoil and excellent ability to penetrate cover, the Mk 48 can reach out and touch distant enemies like no other weapon. Unfortunately, close quarters combat is often unavoidable, given the prevalence of SMGs: and in such firefights you will be at a severe disadvantage. All you can do is have a degree of faith in your team-mates to cover your flank, and leave the rest to your sidearm and bouncing betties. Still, the LMGs have ample strengths to outweigh these close-range shortcomings, and although their niche may seem narrow, a well placed defender with an LMG can swing objective games towards victory. When the wind blows in your favour, there's simply nothing that can argue with this LMG's immense power: any hapless foe that wanders into your killzone can be confident that the Mk 48... ...will mark their grave.