As a veteran Call of Duty player with thousands of hours across the franchise—from World at War to Modern Warfare and beyond—I've mastered countless loadouts. Yet some truly capable firearms have faded into obscurity despite their potential. This guide spotlights the most overlooked weapons in COD history: the versatile shotgun class, Browning M1919, M320 GLM, Double-barreled shotgun, CM901, and M1014. These guns influenced later titles and even Call of Duty: Mobile, where classics like the Rust map demand smart setups for ranked wins.
Shotguns appear as primary weapons in nearly every Call of Duty multiplayer mode, including Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops 4. Unlike rifles, they fire a spread of pellets for unmatched close-quarters devastation, though ineffective at range. Options include pump-action, lever-action, semi-automatic, and more, making them hip-fire kings—perfect for aggressive playstyles often ignored today.
World at War's Browning M1919 machine gun boasted a huge magazine, consistent damage at any range, and downed foes in just a few hits. Unlocked late, players favored quicker alternatives. Its sluggish speed left no time to aim down sights before enemies struck first.
The M320 GLM served as a starter weapon in Modern Warfare 3's Special Ops missions like "Toxic Paradise," "Server Crash," "Invisible Threat," and "Light 'Em Up." Like MW2's Thumper, it fired only from the hip. Absent from Survival mode (except RPG-7), it stood out in a launcher-packed MW3 as a compact, autonomous grenade launcher—no rockets or bullets, just noob-tube solitude.
This double-barreled shotgun fired semi-automatically at 212 RPM—slow for its class but faster than the M1897 Trench Gun. Double Tap boosted it to 283 RPM, sparking a shotgun trend COD later underutilized. Powerhouse despite just two shots before reload; poor range is why it's rarely remembered.
Featured in Modern Warfare 3's Special Ops trailer, the CM901 assault rifle delivered solid damage but suffered from poor range, low fire rate, and shaky accuracy. With superior ARs abundant, MW3 and World at War host many of COD's most forgettable guns.
The M1014 semi-automatic shotgun defined early Modern Warfare, shaping the COD formula we love. Iconic weapons from that era recur across titles, yet this one slipped through the cracks amid flashier options.
