The M4A1 is an absolute close-ranged beast in Battlefield 6. It combines the best traits of an assault rifle and an SMG into a compact package that can do a little bit of everything within those medium-ranged encounters. This gun is perfect for players who love getting into the thick of combat, though it's far from terrible if you prefer hitting enemies from flanks and off-angles instead.

The following is a guide on how to use the M4A1 Carbine in Battlefield 6. We'll be going over its strengths and weaknesses, as well as one of the most well-rounded builds for the weapon that you can use in your usual gameplay.

battlefield 6 review
Battlefield 6 Review: A Chaotic, Non-Stop Blast

Battlefield 6 is an explosive FPS with adrenaline-fueled multiplayer that is truly Battlefield at its best.

By 

How to Use The M4A1 in Battlefield 6

BF6 M4A1 inspect animation

Battlefield 6: M4A1 Base Stats

Damage

25 (falls off at ~10m)

Rate of Fire

900 RPM

Mag

30

Hipfire

54

Precision

29

Control

43

Mobility

60

ADS Speed

200

Reload Speed

2.2s

Projectile Velocity

504

Headshot Multiplier

x1.34

Carbines are in the middle ground between ARs and SMGs — they deal more damage than SMGs at range, and they're better at spraying down enemies from close range compared to most assault rifles. The M4A1 leans more toward the SMG side of things with its high rate of fire, and it performs best in the 0–50 meter range.

While the M4A1 has a maximum damage value of 25, it starts suffering from damage fall-off at about 10 meters. Here are some important damage breakpoints to know about this weapon:

  • The M4A1 kills in four body shots if the target is within 10 meters.
  • Between 10 and 15 meters, the M4A1 kills in five body shots.
  • Any target beyond 15 meters will need 6 body shots to kill.

This gun is built for close quarters, but if you tap-fire it, you can take out enemies from much farther away. It excels in the tighter spaces on maps like New Sobek City and Siege of Cairo.

Best M4A1 Build in Battlefield 6

Best M4A1 build in BF6

This setup doubles down on the M4A1's intended role as a close-quarters bullet hose. It'll still be effective against targets that are far away, but hitting moving targets might be more difficult due to the gun's low projectile velocity.

BF6 M4A1 CQB Build

Muzzle

Linear Compensator

Accessory

5mw Red Laser

Foregrip

Ribbed Vertical

Barrel

11.5" Short Barrel

Magazine

30-round Fast Mag

Ammo

Lightweight

Ergonomics

Improved Mag Catch

Optic

Optic of choice

With this build, you'll get:

  • High hipfire accuracy with no visible laser
  • Significantly reduced horizontal recoil control
  • Slightly worse ADS accuracy while moving
  • Faster reloads
  • Faster ADS movement speed

Combining the Short Barrel with the 5mw Red Laser makes the M4A1 an incredibly accurate hipfire weapon within 10 meters. Since the laser isn't visible to enemies, you don't risk giving away your position when you're aiming at someone.

The Linear Compensator and Ribbed Vertical Grip combo does a great job at reeling in this gun's harsh recoil. It will still kick upward hard and curve to the right, but it won't be as bad as usual. Keep in mind that by using a Linear Compensator, you'll be 3D spotting yourself for the enemy team when you fire the weapon. This shouldn't be an issue when fighting at close range, but when you're plinking at someone from farther away, you better be ready to reposition.

Compared to other BF6 weapons, the M4A1 isn't as effective when it comes to longer-ranged fights. You can tap-fire the gun to great effect, but compared to something like the M277, the M4A1 will feel inconsistent due to its accuracy, recoil, and damage profile. Be disciplined when fighting the enemy, and only pick fights that you know you can win.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Battlefield 6 tag page cover art
Battlefield 6
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget
9 /10
Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
October 10, 2025
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

ESRB
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s)
Battlefield Studios
Publisher(s)
EA
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
All platforms
Cross Save
Via EA Account
Franchise
Battlefield
Number of Players
Single-player
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unsupported
PC Release Date
October 10, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
October 10, 2025
PS5 Release Date
October 10, 2025
Genre(s)
FPS, War & Military, Action
OpenCritic Rating
Strong
X|S Optimized
Yes