M4 vs VEL 46 in MW4
Data updated · Latest official patch:
VEL 46 is ahead on 9 of the 12 key stats that both weapons report; M4 is ahead on 2, and 1 stat is tied. VEL 46's biggest lead is sprint to fire speed (110 ms against 210 ms). M4's is bullet velocity (590 m/s against 565 m/s). Fire rate and magazine size are Activision's numbers; the other key stats are community-reported by CODMunity, read November 4, 2026.
Open both in the compare toolBuild with M4Build with VEL 46
M4 is an assault rifle and VEL 46 is an SMG. This pair has a page because both are among the 12 weapons with the highest Multiplayer pick rate in CODMunity's list.
Official numbers
| Stat | M4 | VEL 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Fire rate | 810 RPM | 952 RPM Ahead |
| Magazine size | 30 rounds | 40 rounds Ahead |
| Reserve rounds | 90 rounds | 120 rounds Ahead |
| Total rounds | 120 rounds | 160 rounds Ahead |
| Unlock level | Player Level 14 | Player Level 5 |
| Weapon levels | 72 | 60 |
| Apex Attachment | M4 Hurricane | VEL 46 Snap |
| Apex blocks | Barrel and Magazine | Stock |
From Activision's launch weapon sheets. A damage table and time to kill are not published.
About M4 and VEL 46
M4
Fully automatic, highly adaptable service rifle that Activision pitches as effective in most engagements.
Apex Attachment, M4 Hurricane: Converts the M4 into a top-loading, high-capacity 5.7x28 mm variant that is lighter, more agile and fires faster. It blocks barrel and magazine attachments.
VEL 46
SMG known for maneuverability and smooth, predictable recoil in fast-paced fights.
Apex Attachment, VEL 46 Snap: Tactical sling for very fast weapon transitions in exchange for stocks. Enables Quick Draw when used with Overkill. It blocks stock attachments.
Community-reported stats
Community-reportedBase values with nothing attached, read from CODMunity on November 4, 2026. Unverified.
Across the 31 rows with a direction, M4 is ahead on 6 and VEL 46 on 21; 4 rows are tied and 0 rows are not compared because a weapon has no value.
- Official numbers: VEL 46 is ahead on magazine size (wide), reserve rounds (wide), total rounds (wide), and fire rate (clear); M4 leads no row of this group.
- Mobility: VEL 46 is ahead on ADS movement speed (wide), firing movement speed (narrow), crouch movement speed (narrow), movement speed (tiny), strafe speed (tiny), sprint speed (tiny), and tactical sprint speed (tiny); M4 leads no row of this group.
- Handling: M4 is ahead on reload time (tiny), and VEL 46 is ahead on sprint to fire speed (very wide), ADS out speed (wide), drop speed (clear), raise speed (clear), and ADS speed (narrow).
- Recoil: M4 is ahead on vertical gun kick (very wide), ADS idle sway (wide), and horizontal gun kick (wide), and VEL 46 is ahead on horizontal recoil (wide) and vertical recoil (narrow). Level on ADS gun bob.
- Range and bullets: M4 is ahead on bullet velocity (narrow); VEL 46 leads no row of this group. Level on damage range and bullet penetration.
- Hip fire and flinch: M4 is ahead on hip idle sway (clear), and VEL 46 is ahead on flinch received (wide) and hip gun bob (moderate). Level on hip turn sway.
- Fire rate and ammo: VEL 46 is ahead on headshot multiplier (moderate); M4 leads no row of this group.
Brackets give the size of the gap as a share of the larger value: tiny under 2%, narrow under 5%, moderate under 10%, clear under 20%, wide under 40%, very wide above.
The widest gaps across both tables are vertical gun kick (M4 16.9 against 52.2), sprint to fire speed (VEL 46 110 ms against 210 ms), and ADS out speed (VEL 46 250 ms against 370 ms).
M4 Hurricane, community-reported effects from CODMunity: Vertical gun kick +104% (worse), Magazine size +67% (better), Total rounds +67% (better), and Horizontal gun kick +58% (worse).
VEL 46 Snap, community-reported effects from CODMunity: Sprint to fire speed −51% (better), Horizontal gun kick +31% (worse), Vertical recoil +30% (worse), and Horizontal recoil +30% (worse).
Attachment effects reported for M4
The community-reported attachments for M4 with the largest change to a key stat, according to CODMunity.
- 60 Round Drum (magazine): Magazine size +100% (better).
- 45 Round Mag (magazine): Magazine size +50% (better).
- No Stock (stock): Vertical recoil +30% (worse).
- Corvus LVL-40 (muzzle): Horizontal recoil −25% (better).
Attachment effects reported for VEL 46
The community-reported attachments for VEL 46 with the largest change to a key stat, according to CODMunity.
- 60 Round Drum (magazine): Magazine size +50% (better).
- 30 Round Mag (magazine): Reload time −28% (better).
- VB-46 Series 11 (barrel): Damage range +28% (better).
- 212 LC40 Comp (muzzle): Horizontal recoil −25% (better).
| Stat | M4 | VEL 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility | ||
| Movement speed | 4.70 m/s | 4.77 m/s Ahead |
| ADS movement speed | 2.51 m/s | 3.22 m/s Ahead |
| Sprint speed | 6.18 m/s | 6.26 m/s Ahead |
| Tactical sprint speed | 7.26 m/s | 7.33 m/s Ahead |
| Crouch movement speed | 2.20 m/s | 2.25 m/s Ahead |
| Strafe speed | 3.60 m/s | 3.65 m/s Ahead |
| Firing movement speed | 4.15 m/s | 4.28 m/s Ahead |
| Handling | ||
| ADS speed | 240 ms | 230 ms Ahead |
| ADS out speed | 370 ms | 250 ms Ahead |
| Sprint to fire speed | 210 ms | 110 ms Ahead |
| Reload time | 2600 ms Ahead | 2633 ms |
| Raise speed | 933 ms | 800 ms Ahead |
| Drop speed | 667 ms | 550 ms Ahead |
| Recoil | ||
| Vertical recoil | 40.6 | 39.6 Ahead |
| Horizontal recoil | 17.1 | 12.5 Ahead |
| Vertical gun kick | 16.9 Ahead | 52.2 |
| Horizontal gun kick | 3.3 Ahead | 4.2 |
| ADS idle sway | 0.40° Ahead | 0.54° |
| ADS gun bob | 0.09° Tie | 0.09° Tie |
| Range and bullets | ||
| Bullet velocity | 590 m/s Ahead | 565 m/s |
| Damage range | 100% Tie | 100% Tie |
| Bullet penetration | 13.0 in Tie | 13.0 in Tie |
| Hip fire and flinch | ||
| Hip idle sway | 1.31° Ahead | 1.63° |
| Hip gun bob | 1.15° | 1.09° Ahead |
| Hip turn sway | 20.9° Tie | 20.9° Tie |
| Flinch received | 0.29x | 0.22x Ahead |
| Fire rate and ammo | ||
| Headshot multiplier | 1.20x | 1.30x Ahead |
"Ahead" marks the better value of a row; "not reported" means no value, not zero.
Pick rates and tiers
Community-reportedOther sites' own figures and opinions about M4 and VEL 46, not Activision data.
| Figure | M4 | VEL 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplayer pick rate (CODMunity) | 5.6% | 7.4% |
| ggranked tier | Tier S, 819 ms time to kill | Tier S, 753 ms time to kill |
| DMZ Radar tier | Tier S | Tier B |
| Community builds listed | 3 Multiplayer and 2 DMZ | 4 Multiplayer and 2 DMZ |
Latest official changes
The newest patch notes that change M4 or VEL 46, as listed on this site.
M4: First weapon tuning update, October 28, 2026
- Max Damage Range changed from 990 to 1,020 (+3%).
VEL 46: First weapon tuning update, October 28, 2026
- Left Lower Arm Damage Multiplier changed from 0.95 to 1 (+5.3%).
- Left Upper Arm Damage Multiplier changed from 0.95 to 1 (+5.3%).
- Left Hand Damage Multiplier changed from 0.95 to 1 (+5.3%).
- Right Lower Arm Damage Multiplier changed from 0.95 to 1 (+5.3%).
- Right Upper Arm Damage Multiplier changed from 0.95 to 1 (+5.3%).
- Right Hand Damage Multiplier changed from 0.95 to 1 (+5.3%).
Weapon pages, builds and tools
More weapon comparisons
Other pair pages with M4
Other pair pages with VEL 46
Frequently asked questions
What do the Apex Attachments of M4 and VEL 46 do?
M4 Hurricane (M4): Converts the M4 into a top-loading, high-capacity 5.7x28 mm variant that is lighter, more agile and fires faster. It blocks barrel and magazine attachments. VEL 46 Snap (VEL 46): Tactical sling for very fast weapon transitions in exchange for stocks. Enables Quick Draw when used with Overkill. It blocks stock attachments.
Where is M4 ahead of VEL 46, and where is VEL 46 ahead?
On CODMunity's base values (community-reported, read November 4, 2026): M4 is ahead on vertical gun kick (very wide), ADS idle sway (wide), horizontal gun kick (wide), hip idle sway (clear), bullet velocity (narrow), and reload time (tiny). VEL 46 is ahead on sprint to fire speed (very wide), ADS out speed (wide), horizontal recoil (wide), magazine size (wide), reserve rounds (wide), total rounds (wide), and 15 other rows.
How often are M4 and VEL 46 picked, and what tiers do they have?
CODMunity's Multiplayer pick rate is 5.6% for M4 and 7.4% for VEL 46, so VEL 46 is picked about 1.3 times as often. ggranked places both weapons in tier S. ggranked gives a time to kill of 819 ms for M4 and 753 ms for VEL 46; that is the site's own calculation, not a published value. DMZ Radar places M4 in tier S and VEL 46 in tier B. These are community figures, not Activision data: CODMunity and the tier lists, read November 4, 2026.