Unlike other tactical games such as the Rainbow Six and Spec Ops series, SWAT 3 has a very limited but very realistic list of weapons available.  In fact there are only five weapons to choose from, the M4A1, MP5A2, MP5SD2, Benelli M1 Super 90, and the Springfield Armory 1911A1 pistol.  However each weapon is modeled more realistically and with more attention to detail than perhaps any other game.  Each weapon is equipped with two types of ammunition, and a tactical flash light.  The following will give you a brief overview of the weapons and its ammo types and a guide on how to use it in the game.  Also if any of the information is inaccurate please report it here. 

Special thanks goes out to HK Pro, Sierra Studios, Benelli USA, and Colt.com for the superb information.

M4A1 | MP5A2 | MP5SD2 | M1 Super 90 | 1911A1

Colt M4A1 Carbine

-Overview of the M4A1

The M4 Carbine is the latest member of the famous AR15 family of rifles.  Once exclusive to military special operations and special HRT units, the M4 was officially adopted into the US military in 1994 and in the year 2000 by the LAPD SWAT team.  The M4 is essentially an improved version of the CAR15 which itself is a shortened M16.  The M4 fires the 5.56x45mm NATO round through a 14.5 inch barrel and has an effective range of 300 meters.  The A1 variant is able to fire in either semi-automatic or fully automatic rates of fire.  On fully automatic the M4A1 is capable of a cyclic rate between 700 to 950 rounds per minute (RPM) but is set at 750 RPM.  Its increased diameter gas port and refined angle of feed ramp makes this weapon the most reliable of the M16 family.

The M4 weighs in at only 5.65lbs and has an overall length between 29.8" to 33" depending on stock position.  These features make the M4 especially formidable in CQB situations by providing firepower approaching that of the full size M16 but with handling comparable to most submachine guns.  

The flat top receiver on the M4 is able to be fitted with various optical sights such as the 4X ACOG sight.  The sight configuration of choice for LAPD SWAT is the standard A2 back sights with a tritium 'glow in the dark' front sight.  On the upper right side of the barrel is the Surefire Millennium M500A flashlight system.  The on/off pressure switch is wireless and is built into the M4's hand guard.

Another interesting feature of the M4A1 is its less-than-lethal capabilities.  This feature utilizes a specially integrated secondary barrel.  The M4A1's less-than-lethal capabilities can easily be accessed by a flip switch conveniently located on the left side of the hand guard.

-Primary ammunition-5.56x45mm NATO Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)

When fired from the 14.5 inch barrel the 55 grain, hollow point bullet has a muzzle velocity of approximately 2800-2900 feet per second. The M4A1's anodized aluminum constructed magazine holds 30 rounds of .223 ammunition.

-Secondary ammunition-Atlantis Arms Punch less-than-lethal rounds

The Atlantis Arms is a less then lethal lead shot acrylic bag. This non-penetrating ammunition is designed to disperse it's velocity over a broad surface area. Velocity of the "punch" is 500 feet per second; range is 25 to 100 ft.

-Game play with the M4A1

Out of the five weapons in SWAT 3 the M4A1 provides the most lethality bullet for bullet.  It doesn't have the 800 rounds per minute of the MP5 but because of its large amount of power a cyclic rate that high really isn't necessary.  Also because of its power the M4A1 is perhaps the most effective firearm in SWAT 3's arsenal against suspects dressed and armed in military uniforms and weapons.  (which seem to be one of the more common types of suspects in SWAT 3)  Despite the fact that the M4 can't be equipped with full metal jacket rounds the M4 with its JHP rounds still provide even more penetration than the MP5A2 but will not pass through the body of its target. 

The M4A1 is also equipped with less-than-lethal ammunition which has the potential to be quite useful in situations such as high risk warrants where it would be ideal that the main suspect be taken in alive.  However there are only three missions like this and most of the time in these missions compliance is usually just as effective.  And less-than-lethal ammunition is usually suicide in the other missions so it would be ideal to stock up on JHP ammunition and just one less-than-lethal magazine (you can't carry zero magazines of a certain type of ammo).

The M4 is also next to the Benelli M1 the largest weapon in the game thus its control is harder to manipulate than a weapon like the MP5.  So shooting and hitting your intended target while moving or shooting immediately after a quick maneuver is harder to do, so with this weapon slow down or don't even move at all when firing.  I would advise coming to a complete stop before letting off a round.        

Despite some minor set backs the M4A1 in my opinion is perhaps the most useful weapon in the game since it can drop a suspect the fastest and buy you a fraction of a second which will probably save your life.

M4A1 | MP5A2 | MP5SD2 | M1 Super 90 | 1911A1