Do you want to try the strongest light machine gun in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare? Then you are in the right place. We will show you all the important facts about the PKM and explain how to use the weapon correctly, which setups, builds, and loadouts are worth it, and what alternatives there are.
What kind of weapon is the PKM? The PKM is a light machine gun (LMG) and the strongest weapon of its kind. This type is particularly well suited for suppressing enemies and holding areas. With the right builds, the PKM is also usable for distance and fast playstyles.
How powerful is the PKM? Here are the basic stats for the PKM in standard configuration:
- Rate of fire: 759 rounds per minute
- Damage (to the upper torso): 34 (up to about 37.5 meters), 30 (from 37.5m)
- Required bullets for a kill (to the torso): 3-4, depending on distance
- TTK (for torso hits): 158ms (up to about 37.5 meters), 237ms (from 37.5m)
- Reload time: 6.77 seconds (4.61 seconds with dexterity)
With these stats, the PKM is still stronger than the new Holger-26, introduced with Season 1 in the Battle Pass. It remains a leader in its category. YouTuber TheXclusiveAce shows some additional data about the PKM in the video:
The best attachments and setups for the PKM
How do I best modify the PKM? With the Gunsmith feature of Modern Warfare, you can attach many different mods (attachments) to the weapon and change its characteristics. There are even some blueprints that allow you to use pre-made setups and unique skins.
Depending on which mods you equip the PKM with, you favor different playstyles. We have compiled three different setups for you here.
Setup 1: Fast fighter/attacker
- Barrel: Compact 18.2″ barrel
- Laser: 1mW laser
- Stock: No stock
- Ammunition: 150-round belt
- Grip: Patterned grip tape
This setup compensates for some of the general disadvantages of machine guns and allows you to play the PKM more like in a strong run&gun build. You sacrifice accuracy and damage for speed. The PKM behaves more like assault rifles or SMGs.
By forgoing a sight, you are better suited for close combat and fast movements. Top players tend to avoid sights anyway. The laser improves hip fire.
The setup is particularly well-suited for fast-paced and action-packed modes such as Kill Confirmed, Deathmatch, or Free-for-All. If you have trouble aiming well, you can find some tips on recoil and better aiming here.
Setup 2: The supporter
- Barrel: Extended 26.9″ barrel
- Sight: Any small sight, like G.I. Mini Red Dot
- Stock: FORGE TAC ultralight or Grip: Patterned grip tape
- Underbarrel: Merc Foregrip, Angled Grip, or Ranger Foregrip
- Ammunition: 150-round belt or Extra: Dexterity (with Blue Extra: Looting)
With this setup, you are more there to support a small fireteam. You are still mobile enough to move in a team, but you don’t stand at the front, instead, you provide fire cover.
To play this setup best, focus on capturing and defending key points. It is suitable for all multiplayer modes with important objectives to hold. This setup is especially useful in the large mode Ground War.
Setup 3: The camper
- Barrel: Heavy 25.9″ barrel
- Stock: FORGE TAC Stalker or Muzzle: Silencer (Monolith)
- Underbarrel: Bipod
- Ammunition: 200-round belt
- Grip: Rubberized grip tape or Sight: any medium-range sight, such as Cronen C480 Pro Sight
The third setup is intended for you to cover a whole area with bullets from medium to long range, thus preventing enemies from crossing a certain area. You protect an area, even if alone, if necessary.
With the optional silencer, you have even more range and are harder to detect. While this may prevent you from deterring enemies, it might give you more kills. We explain how silencers work here.
Play this setup best on larger maps where you can effectively prevent enemies from reaching a specific point.
How to build the best loadouts for the PKM
These loadouts provide the best classes: With each setup of the PKM, you aim more for support than for reckless assault on enemy positions. Accordingly, the builds are somewhat different from those of other weapons.
However, they all have in common that you try to accumulate as many killstreaks as possible. Which of the many different killstreaks you take is up to you. However, helicopter support and the VTOL Jet are particularly useful.
Build 1: Attacker
- Secondary weapon: .50 GS or .357 as shotgun
- Blue perk: KRD
- Red perk: Hardline or Kill Chain
- Yellow perk: Combat Stant
- Equipment: C4 and Stim
- Field upgrade: Ammo box and/or Dead Silence
Build 2: The supporter
- Secondary weapon: any
- Blue perk: KRD or Looting
- Red perk: Hardline or Pointman
- Yellow perk: Shrapnel
- Equipment: Thermite and Flash Grenade
- Field upgrade: Tactical Insertion
Here it should be noted that Shrapnel and Thermite are a necessary combo, as two Thermite grenades can already take out most vehicles in Ground War. Make the most of it.
Build 3: The camper
- Secondary weapon: Pila or Combat Knife
- Blue perk: Cold-blooded
- Red perk: Ghost or Alert
- Yellow perk: Amped, Scout or Eager (with Pila)
- Equipment: Claymore or Proximity Mine and Gas Grenade
- Field upgrade: Ammo box
Pros and cons of the PKM
PKM vs. M91 – What alternatives are there?
These LMGs are also worth it: The PKM is the strongest weapon in its category. However, there are two LMGs that could potentially outperform the PKM.
The first is the M91. While it has a slightly stronger drift to the left during sustained fire, it is generally a bit more accurate at longer distances. Otherwise, it is only slightly worse than the PKM.
The second is the new Holger-26. In its standard variant, it is not particularly strong. However, it can be converted into the secret assault rifle G36. The G36 is very strong and even comparable to the M4A1 as the strongest assault rifle.
The big advantage is that the G36 plays like an assault rifle but still counts as an LMG. So if you have difficulty with LMG kills in some challenges, use the G36. It also counts for these challenges and is particularly strong in close-quarters combat.
If you also want to specialize in other weapons, check out our other weapon guides:
