Quake3World

So how can I make it so the player doesn't start out with a machine gun??

You can't, actually

Let me clarify that: you can't, without a mod.

Eraser is correct, although you can remove all bullets from the player on spawn...

info_player_deathmatch target_give ammo_bullets

Set the bullets count key to -100, that takes away the standard 100 starting bullets or 50 in TDM.

I should have clarified, themuffinman actually had the answer I was looking for, thanks by the way