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