Overview
This is a guide that explains every SINGLE gun in CS:S, and which gun you should use and don’t. This is all preference on which one to use, but you should still look to get a general idea.
Pistols.
Glock 17:
Price: $400
Country of origin: Austria
Caliber: 9mm parabellum
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds
Weight (loaded): 0.3kg
Projectile weight: 9g
Muzzle velocity: 1932 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 475 joules
Special traits: Can be fired in 3-round burst mode
Damage: Laying toward low
The Glock is low-powered, but accurate. It is the default terrorist starting pistol, and is dirt cheap, but is often not particularly useful unless you are very accurate. If you have a fast finger, buy this gun or join the terrorist team for a free gun. In some versions, this has an unlimited fire rate. If your finger is not so fast, use bursts and go for headshots.
P228:
Price: $600
Country of origin: Switzerland/Germany
Caliber: .357 SIG*
Magazine capacity: 13 rounds
Weight (loaded): 1.03kg
Projectile weight: 8.1g
Muzzle velocity: 1400 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 600 joules
Damage: Medium
The P228 is a small pistol, with average attributes. Many players choose the Desert Eagle over it, as the prices are quite similar, but the P228 is a decent choice if you need a pistol. Its accuracy is around average, but it is more powerful than the USP.
The P228 has a higher rate of fire than the Desert Eagle, a larger magazine, and it only takes about five shots to the chest to kill a target. You can’t snipe with this like you can the Desert Eagle though, and like all other pistols it does not penetrate walls. Learn to use the strong recoil of the gun to increase your ability to hit a target and increase the chances of getting a head shot (it deals over 100 damage to the face). It may have a faster firing rate than other pistols, but its unexceptional middlingness make it mostly a curiosity or a niche gun.
Note: The P228 is only chambered in 9x19mm and appears to be a P229 which is offered in .357 SIG.
Desert Eagle:
Price: $650
Country of origin: Israel
Caliber: .50 Action Express
Magazine capacity: 7 rounds
Weight (loaded): 1.8kg
Projectile weight: 19.4g
Muzzle velocity: 1380 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 1650 joules
Damage: High
The Desert Eagle.50 AE (or “Deagle”) is the most powerful pistol, being able to kill somebody with one headshot. Its magazine is rather small (only 7 rounds), so accuracy when using it is quite important. Most players will choose a Desert Eagle.50 AE if they’re buying a handgun (and have the money).
If you crouch and pick your shots you can snipe with this pistol and get headshots from ranges that most people will think they’re safe during pistol rounds. The bullets also penetrate players and walls, which despite its magazine size, can make this gun shine in close quarters and in forcing foes out of hiding. It is by far the most versatile pistol and probably the best buy in the game, dollar for effectiveness, which is why it’s the most popular handgun for advanced players.
Five-Seven:
Price: $750
Country of origin: Belgium
Caliber: 5.7x28mm
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds
Weight (loaded): 0.618kg
Projectile weight: 2g
Muzzle velocity: 2345 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 465 joules
Team: Counter-terrorists only
Damge: High
The FN Five-seveN has high accuracy and a large magazine, but is lacking in power. Its very low weight does not affect the running speed with the pistol, as all pistols allow the player to run at the same speed (250 units per second).
Good weapon if used correctly, but with this gun the trick is to stay away from close range fights (except if you are sure you can get 2-3 shots to the head). Compared to the dual Berettas, it’s weaker and has a lower rate of fire, but better accuracy and low recoil compared to other pistols. Perhaps a good companion gun to a shotgun or close-in primary weapon.
Dual-Elites
Price: $800
Country of origin: Italy
Caliber: 9mm parabellum
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (15 rounds on each pistol)
Weight (loaded): 1.15kg
Projectile weight: 8g
Muzzle velocity: 1280 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 606 joules
Damge: Medium
Team: Terrorists only
The Berettas are not particularly useful apart from the fact that there are two of them, which doubles the firing rate over a single pistol. They have poor accuracy, and only average power, so are best used as spray weapons (and with considerable success in some cases). However, due to their high price and poor attributes, it’s best to go for a cheaper pistol, or a sub-machine gun instead, unless you practice a lot with them, in which case they can actually perform better than many SMGs. Their long reloading time is also a significant weakness.
Practice makes perfect. Once you become proficient with these you become a very formidable force. You can also buy these during the first round of a new map, which will give you a significant advantage in terms of magazine size. Headshots are key with this gun.
Shotguns.
M3 Super 90:
Price: $1700
Country of origin: Italy
Caliber: 12 gauge
Magazine capacity: 8 rounds
Rate of fire: 68 RPM
Weight (loaded): 3.5kg
Projectile weight: 3.8g/pellet
Muzzle velocity: 1250 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 2429 joules
Damage: High
The M3 Super 90 is an incredibly powerful weapon, but has a long pump and reload time. One shot to the head or even a close shot to the body, with most or all of the BBs connecting, will be fatal, but mis-timing the shot will mean you have to evade their fire until you’ve pumped for the next shot. The M3 Super 90 works considerably better at close range, but some people have been known to snipe with one. In either case the BBs the gun puts out always have the off chance of striking a foe in the head, doing near-fatal damage each.
For the price, this is one of the best buys in the game, but only in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. It can be something of an equalizer against a better-financed team when money is tight. In a panicked close-range fight it can sustain its low rate of fire for a long time and a reduced rate of fire after that.
XM1014:
Price: $3000
Country of origin: Italy
Caliber: 12 gauge
Magazine capacity: 7 rounds
Rate of fire: 400 RPM
Weight (loaded): 4kg
Projectile weight: 3.8g/pellet
Muzzle velocity: 1250 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 2429 joules
Damge: High
The XM1014 is an auto-shotgun, meaning it doesn’t have the pump time of the M3 super 90. It allows you to fire off all 7 rounds in two seconds or less, and can be effective against a mass of enemies. However, it is somewhat less powerful than the M3 Super 90, so at least two and often more shots will be required to kill somebody. It is also almost double the price of the M3 Super 90 and considerably heavier. For the CTs, $100 more will buy the far more versatile M4 Carbine. Probably the single worst buy in the game for the price, this shotgun, though often scorned by those killed by it as a “noob cannon”, “noob stick”, “noob shotty”, is actually not that effective in almost anyone’s hands.
This is pretty obvious, but the bots’ behavior is quite strange, since they shoot, load, shoot, load, etc. This increases the accuracy of the gun by taking out the recoil, so do that if you are stuck with a group of people, with no where to run. At least you won’t waste any ammunition if you die.
Rifles and Machine Guns.
IMI Galil
Price: $2000
Country of origin: Israel
Caliber: .223
Magazine capacity: 35 rounds
Rate of fire: 675 RPM
Weight (loaded): 4.35kg
Projectile weight: 4g
Muzzle velocity: 2013 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 1712 joules
Team: Terrorists only
Damage: Weak
The Galil has a high rate of fire, and decent accuracy, but terrible recoil and relatively little power. It is what you have as a cheap rifle, and its 35-shot magazine offers a lot of potential damage overall but because of its statistics it is a gun at war with itself: it cannot be an effective sniper because of its low damage nor is it a great short-range gun despite its high fire rate, because of its high recoil. It does a decent job at short to medium range but excels at nothing. Either spray full auto and hope your target gets unlucky and catches a bullet in the face while running or try to land solid chest shots in bursts.
One thing it might be good at is spraying through walls at close range when you suspect an enemy, since like all rifles, the Para, and the Desert Eagle, it can pierce walls and objects, and its large magazine makes it better equipped than most for sustained fire. If you do rely on spraying this is the one gun that is probably in most danger of running out of ammo, because you still get the standard 120 rounds total.
FAMAS:
Price: $2250
Country of origin: France
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Magazine capacity: 25 rounds
Rate of fire: 1100 RPM
Weight (loaded): 3.4kg
Projectile weight: 4g
Muzzle velocity: 2212 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 1712 joules
Team: Counter-terrorists only
Damage: Regular, Not To Strong
The FAMAS is a decent weapon compared to some other rifles and SMGs. It has an unmatched rate of fire and is very accurate, but it is not very powerful. It has a burst fire mode which is useful for ammo conservation or when you have a very itchy trigger finger. This gun excels at long range, it gives a skilled user the ability to easily pull of single shot headshots, its effectiveness at close range is only limited by its low magazine capacity. Always use burst mode for long-range combat and aim for the head or the upper body. A couple burst shots will definitely kill, since the burst firing mode will make the weapon way more accurate compared to shooting manual bursts in the automatic mode.
AK-47
Price: $2500
Country of origin: Russia
Caliber: 7.62 M43
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Rate of fire: 600 RPM
Weight (loaded): 4.79kg
Projectile weight: 7.9g
Muzzle velocity: 2329 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 1992 joules
Team: Terrorists only
Damage: Beast!
The AK47 is one of the classic weapons included in every game. It is powerful, has a high rate of fire, and good accuracy if fired in small bursts. Most terrorists will use the AK47 almost exclusively, and it’s a safe bet for any player on any map. Remember to fire in small bursts only, as in longer bursts, all the accuracy is lost and you will most likely miss your target by a long way. This weapon will kill anyone with a single headshot, no matter if they wear a helmet or not.
M4A1 Carbine
Price: $3100
Country of origin: USA
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (maximum 120 rounds with three spare magazines)
Rate of fire: 1905 RPM
Weight (loaded): 0.22kg
Projectile weight: 4g
Muzzle velocity: 4990 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 570 joules
Special traits: Can be fitted with a silencer
Team: Counter-terrorists only
Damage: Beast!
The M4A1 is the counter-terrorists’ equivalent of the AK47. It is powerful, has a rapid rate of fire, and is slightly more accurate than the AK47, especially when only a few shots at a time are fired. It is a capable weapon in the hands of any player, and most counter-terrorists will use it if they have the money available. If you crouch when firing with the M4A1, headshots are very easy to achieve, and you will kill with one headshot, unless the opponent is smart enough to wear a helmet.
Many people find it easier with a silencer in certain conditions. For example, when facing a large group of enemies at the double-doors in de_aztec. If you are sure you can kill them, since they don’t have good accuracy, put on the silencer and start spraying at their lower bodies. The recoil should bring up the attack box, shooting their chests, or possibly even their heads. Also, reload after you have about five bullets left: if your foes charge, you can quickly switch to a secondary and then back to the M4 to empty your magazine at them. As always, attaching the silencer reduces damage and recoil.
SG-552
Price: $3500
Country of origin: Switzerland
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Rate of fire: 727 RPM
Weight (loaded): 3.1kg
Projectile weight: 4g
Muzzle velocity: 2900 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 1570 joules
Special traits: Has a usable scope
Team: Terrorists only
Damage: High
The SG-552 is a more expensive weapon (which raises the question of why the terrorists can purchase it). It is about as powerful as the M4A1, but has a higher rate of fire, and the addition of a scope, enabling both sniping and assault tactics to be used. It is a very good all-round weapon, but many players can’t buy it due to its high price.
To snipe, zoom in on the enemy, and shoot one shot at a time. It actually seems more accurate than the AUG or the counter-terrorist version. In at most six accurate shots, you can kill someone from medium/long range. However, you should only use the scope at long-range, as the rate of fire falls dramatically when scoping
AUG:
Price: $3500
Country of origin: Austria
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Rate of fire: 727 RPM
Weight (loaded): 4.09kg
Projectile weight: 4g
Muzzle velocity: 2900 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 1570 joules
Special traits: Has a usable scope
Team: Counter-terrorists only
The AUG is the counter-terrorist equivalent to the SG-552. It also has a scope, and is about as powerful as the SG-552. However, it is considerably heavier, and therefore will impede movement more than the other weapons. Despite this, it is a very good weapon both for assault and sniping, and it’s only the high price which prevents many players from using it.
MACHINE GUNS!!!! 😀
M249:
Price: $5750
Country of origin: Belgium
Caliber: 5.56 parabellum
Magazine capacity:100 rounds
Rate of fire: 600 RPM
Weight (loaded): 7kg
Projectile weight: 6g
Muzzle velocity: 3930 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 600 joules
The M249-SAW is a very expensive weapon, with a high rate of fire and a 100-round belt. Each round does not inflict a particularly high amount of damage, and it isn’t particularly accurate unless fired in single shots or short bursts, but the spray power from an M249 is almost unbeatable. Due to the fact it carries a large ammunition bin, the advised way of using an M249 is to shoot anything that is vaguely out of the ordinary. Shoot round corners as you jump round them. Shoot at anything that moves.
You can use this in a closed space, like cs_office, or a large place, like de_aztec. For close spaces, shoot at every corner, and for large spaces, when you are being shot at, keep your finger on the trigger and search for the enemy. When you see some red blood, keep it there and either: spray (if it is close-range) or burst (in either situation, preferably long-range). Also, for both situations, use it for covering fire when facing the group (or person, please do it in group-vs-group), aka shooting at the group without bursting. The new players would retreat, and the pros would stay, leaving your team to kill the pros, unless they are smart enough to retreat once their whole team retreats or everyone besides the pro died. This weapon is somewhat like the AWP with the scout; it is expensive, and it is sort of hard to use effectively. People also say this weapon is a stupid person’s weapon, and pros don’t use this, but that is false. If you can kill three people using this with a expert level
Sniper Rifles! (No AWPS)
WARNING, THIS SECTION WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE AWP BECAUSE THAT THING IS OVERPOWERED! ALSO, THIS SECTION WOULD NOT INCLUDE DAMAGE!
Scout
Price: $2750
Country of origin: Austria
Caliber: 7.62 NATO
Magazine capacity: 10 rounds
Weight (loaded): 3.3kg
Projectile weight: 8g
Muzzle velocity: 2800 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 2200 joules
Special traits: Has a usable scope
The scout is the cheapest sniper rifle, but does the least damage, taking two body shots or one shot to the head to kill somebody, and is bolt action, meaning the gun must be ♥♥♥♥♥♥ after every shot, taking time. The scout is the most accurate sniper rifle, and is very light, allowing for fast running speeds. The accuracy of the scout is such that it will still be moderately accurate while strafing, unlike the AWP.
If you are inaccurate don’t use the scout, because if you are unable to hit people in the head you will be very ineffective with the scout. If you aren’t very accurate, use the automatic sniper rifles instead, as they give you more opportunity to take repeat shots. Also, the scout is widely believed to be a pro gun, so if you are good with it that’s great, but beware that it is known as a pro weapon because it is very difficult to use effectively.
G3/SG-1
Price: $5000
Country of origin: Germany
Caliber: 7.62 NATO
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds
Weight (loaded): 4.41kg
Projectile weight: 8g
Muzzle velocity: 2800 feet/second
Muzzle energy: 2200 joules
Special traits: Has a usable scope
Team: Terrorists only
Along with the SG-550, the G3/SG-1 is an auto-sniper, and as such is banned on most servers. When sniping with the G3/SG-1, it is important not to get carried away with the fact that this gun is an auto-sniper: each consecutive automatic shot is considerably less accurate than the last, and going overboard with rapid fire will quickly empty the twenty-round magazine. It is a powerful weapon, and its shots can go through walls and boxes, normally killing with two shots.
Credits
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CS:S Wiki!