Many players think of marksman rifles as long-range tools only. I disagree. The M8A1 is a strong pick for mid-range fights when you slot it as a secondary with the Overkill wildcard. The rifle gives you precise burst damage and reliable hits at distances where pistols and SMGs fall short. If you want to test this setup without ranked pressure, use a CoD BO7 Bot Lobby to learn the timing and feel of each burst.

How Overkill changes the game
Overkill lets you carry two primary weapons at once. That change gives you flexibility in fights that move between ranges. When you bring a fast-firing primary and the M8A1 as a backup, you keep close-range power and add a mid-range threat. The M8A1’s burst pattern rewards steady aim and quick taps. While SMGs spray and pistols try to win in close quarters, the M8A1 kills opponents who push from a step too far. This setup forces enemies to rethink a standard push, and that doubt wins many gunfights.

What makes the M8A1 strong at mid range
The M8A1 keeps its damage and its accuracy better than many secondaries at mid range. The rifle’s three-round burst hits hard when you land head or upper chest shots. The recoil is manageable if you control the bursts, and the weapon has less damage fall-off than most pistols or SMGs. You can hold a lane and beat a rival who tries to trade through cover. That control is powerful on maps with medium sightlines where many fights end in the middle distance.

How to use it in fights
Switch to the M8A1 after you finish a close fight to cover pushes from further away. If you clear a room with your main weapon, keep the M8A1 ready so you can handle a flank or an enemy who retreats to a mid-range angle. Aim for the upper chest to head area on the first burst. If the first burst lands, finish with a quick follow-up. The key is to practice the weapon swap and the burst rhythm so you do not lose time. That practice will make the M8A1 feel faster than many handguns and more precise than many SMGs.

Practice and testing in the CoD BO7 Bot Lobby
The buy BO7 Bot Lobby is ideal for fine-tuning the M8A1 as a secondary. Use the lobby to rehearse swapping under pressure, to practice one-burst headshots, and to learn recoil patterns at mid range. Run scenarios where you clear a small room with your primary and then immediately face enemies at a longer sightline.

Where this loadout shines in real matches
Use the M8A1 secondary on maps with medium sightlines or on modes where fights often shift between close and mid range. The rifle gives you control of space and forces enemies to avoid long pushes. It also helps when you need to finish a target that slips from a close fight into a pocket of mid-range cover.