Master the Lockwood 680 shotgun with optimized attachments, strategic perks, and advanced gameplay tactics for MW3 dominance
Why the Lockwood 680 Deserves Your Attention
Discover how to transform MW3 Season 3’s sole pump-action shotgun into an absolute close-range menace that dominates multiplayer matches with precision engineering.
Pump-action shotguns represent a foundational weapon category throughout Call of Duty history, appearing consistently across every installment regardless of era. Modern Warfare 3 continues this tradition with our comprehensive Lockwood 680 optimization guide for Season 3.
Returning from its previous appearance in Modern Warfare (2019), the classic Remington 870 design resurfaces as the Lockwood 680. This timeless pump-action delivers devastating close-quarters impact while maintaining surprising effectiveness at extended distances compared to other shotguns.
Many players initially dismiss the Lockwood 680 as underwhelming, but strategic attachment selection transforms it from potentially MW3’s weakest shotgun into arguably its most powerful. The critical differentiator lies in understanding precisely which components to combine.
Our detailed Lockwood 680 configuration guide focuses on extending effective damage range to its maximum potential while maintaining the mobility required for aggressive shotgun playstyles.
Perfect Attachment Configuration for Maximum Performance
Achieving peak Lockwood 680 performance requires maximizing damage range while minimizing pellet spread. This dual approach ensures your shots deliver maximum impact at extended distances while maintaining consistent hit registration.
For optimal range enhancement, combine the Crown Breaker Choke with the Bryson Hammerforge Long Barrel. While the Lockwood Defender Heavy Long Barrel previously offered competitive performance, significant Season 2 Reloaded adjustments made the Hammerforge variant superior for Season 3 gameplay dynamics.
The remaining attachment slots should prioritize mobility and handling improvements since successful shotgun gameplay demands constant movement and rapid target acquisition. Both the Sawed Off Mod and Matuzek Xray Skeleton excel here by substantially boosting movement metrics, achieving an impressive Tactical Sprint Speed of 7.4 meters per second. This pace surpasses many SMGs and even exceeds some pistol movement rates.
Modern Warfare 3’s increased base health means the Lockwood 680 frequently requires two shots to eliminate opponents. This creates vulnerability during the pump-action cycle, but the Express Light Bolt directly addresses this weakness by significantly accelerating the shotgun’s rate of fire.
Pro Tip: The Matuzek Xray Skeleton provides both mobility benefits and improved ADS speed, making it essential for winning sudden close-range engagements where every millisecond counts. Combine this with tactical sprint for unpredictable movement patterns that confuse opponents.
Complete Perk and Equipment Synergy
- Permits carrying two primary weapons, enhances weapon switching speed, and enables reloading while sprinting.
- Improves accuracy and reduces aim-down-sights time during jump maneuvers.
- Completely eliminates audible footstep sounds.
- When in motion, prevents detection by UAV systems, enemy radar equipment, and Heartbeat Sensors.
- Timable fragmentation explosive with cookable activation.
- Creates visual obstruction that blocks enemy sightlines and disrupts automated targeting systems.
The Overkill Vest perfectly complements the Lockwood 680 by enabling a meta assault rifle like the Holger 556 to address its inherent range limitations. The sprint-reload capability proves exceptionally valuable with a pump-action shotgun that loads individual shells sequentially.
Covert Sneakers and Ghost T/V Camo become non-negotiable with the Lockwood 680’s approximately 10-meter effective range. Successfully closing distance against aware opponents becomes nearly impossible without these stealth-enhancing perks active.
Assault Gloves provide a crucial tactical advantage during firefights by enabling effective jump-shotting without standard movement penalties. This unexpected maneuver frequently catches opponents off-guard, particularly in close-quarters situations where the Lockwood 680 excels.
For equipment selection, Smoke Grenades effectively counter defensive opponents who maintain distance. They obscure sightlines, allowing safe gap-closing under visual cover. Frag Grenades remain top-tier lethals that deliver devastating results when precisely timed.
Advanced Strategy: Use smoke grenades offensively by throwing them slightly behind enemy positions, then pushing through the smoke from an unexpected angle. Most players watch the smoke edge closest to them, creating flanking opportunities.
Quick Unlock Path and Leveling Strategy
The Lockwood 680 becomes available in MW3 upon achieving Player Level 4, accessible immediately once Gunsmith functionality unlocks. After obtaining the Lockwood 680, you must progress through 27 weapon levels to access its complete attachment arsenal.
Efficient Leveling Method: Focus on playing small to medium-sized maps like Shoot House, Rust, and Shipment where shotgun effectiveness maximizes. Use Double Weapon XP tokens during featured playlists or shipment 24/7 rotations to dramatically accelerate progression. Complete weapon challenges simultaneously for bonus XP rewards.
When to Consider Other Shotgun Choices
Direct comparisons to the Lockwood 680 remain limited since it continues as MW3 Season 3’s exclusive pump-action shotgun, though the Haymaker represents a viable alternative with underappreciated range capabilities.
Situation Analysis: The Haymaker excels in modes requiring sustained pressure rather than single-shot elimination power. Its semi-auto fire rate makes it superior for handling multiple opponents in rapid succession, while the Lockwood 680 delivers more reliable one-shot potential within its optimal range.
Pro-Level Strategies and Common Mistakes
Movement Mastery: The Lockwood 680 demands exceptional movement skills. Practice slide-canceling into shots and jump-peeking corners to minimize your exposure while maximizing surprise factor. The 7.4 m/s tactical sprint speed enables rapid repositioning between engagements.
Range Management: Consistently monitor engagement distances. The optimized Lockwood 680 maintains effectiveness to approximately 12-14 meters, but beyond this you should immediately switch to your Overkill weapon. Developing distance intuition separates average from exceptional shotgun users.
Common Pitfalls: Avoid the temptation to challenge beyond effective range, don’t neglect your secondary weapon, and never stand still during reloads. Always reload while moving to cover or during sprint transitions. Pre-aim common enemy positions at head level since shotguns benefit greatly from upper body/headshot multipliers.
Advanced Technique: Master the “pump cancel” by immediately sprinting after firing then canceling sprint to fire again slightly faster. This advanced movement technique can shave crucial milliseconds off your time-to-kill in close-quarters duels.
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