Primary Weapon

Primary Weapons are the main weapon of usage, and are always automatically equipped first. They include the following:


 * Assault Rifles
 * Sub-machine guns
 * Light Machine Guns
 * Sniper Rifles
 * Riot Shield (Modern Warfare 2 only)
 * Bolt Action Rifle (World at War only)
 * Shotgun (excluding Modern Warfare 2)

Overview

 * Primary Weapons determine the movement speed and turning speed, with SMGs, Shotguns (excluding Modern Warfare 2, where they are no longer a primary weapon) and sniper rifles (in Modern Warfare 2) giving the fastest, and LMG's and Riot Shields giving the slowest. Assault rifles give medium speed, faster than with LMG or with Riot Shield, but less than with SMG, Shotgun or Sniper Rifle. Swapping your weapons does not affect your mobility, nor does swapping out your primary for another type.
 * It is worth carrying a secondary weapon you are experienced with, as swapping to the Secondary Weapon in tricky situations is usually faster than reloading.
 * Primary Weapons contain far more attachments, the only one that the player can't use with a primary weapon is the Tactical Knife.
 * Primary Weapons will determine the character skin you have, for example the Riot Shield will show the user with a heavier armour, however the skin won't affect player abilities, only visability.

Tips

 * Final Stand allows you to use primary weapons when downed. Therefore this works well with Riot Shields, as the shield can cover and protect the whole body.
 * Bling allows two attachments to be used with a primary weapon. Note when picking one up, it says "Bling" (i.e. "FAMAS Bling") and doesn't list both attachments, so you don't know what you can be picking up.
 * In Modern Warfare and World at War sniper rifles provide a Ghillie suit, allowing camouflage. In Modern Warfare 2, the suit is still there, however players must complete the Ghillie in the Mist to unlock the corresponding suits.
 * In Modern Warfare and World at War, the Overkill perk allows both slots to have Primary Weapons. In Modern Warfare 2 this is replaced with One Man Army, which allows the player to swap classes but at the expense of the secondary slot.
 * In Modern Warfare, your primary weapon determines your appearance, therefore players using Overkill with a sniper and another weapon must decide whether they wish to trade the ghillie suit from having a sniper rifle for the extra mobility of a shotgun or SMG.
 * In Modern Warfare 2, the One Man Army changes your outfit to match that of the class you're switching to. For example, if you are using a sniper rifle, and therefore wearing a ghillie suit, and you use One Man Army to change to another class, you will lose the ghillie suit if that class isn't a sniper class.