Pistols
The pistols are the cheapest guns in the game. They are a player's secondary weapon, and usually are only used in pistol-only rounds; at the start of the game when nobody can afford larger guns; or when ammunition supplies for the larger guns have been exhausted. They are only semi-automatic, and typically lack power, but can be quite effective if aimed carefully.
Glock 18
- Price: $400
- Country of origin: Austria
- Caliber: 9mm parabellum
- Clip capacity: 20 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 0.9kg
- Projectile weight: 8g
- Muzzle velocity: 1132 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 475 joules
- Special traits: Can be fired in 3-round burst mode
- Team: Terrorists only
The Glock is widely regarded as one of the worst pistols in the game. Far from the actual real-life gun, Counter-Strike: Source's Glock is low-powered and inaccurate. It is the default terrorist starting pistol, and is dirt cheap, but not particularly useful unless set to burst mode or otherwise fired exceedingly rapidly.
USP tactical
- Price: $500
- Country of origin: Germany
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Clip capacity: 12 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 1kg
- Projectile weight: 15.2g
- Muzzle velocity: 886 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 553 joules
- Special traits: Can be fitted with a silencer
- Team: Counter-terrorists only
The USP is the default counter-terrorist starting pistol, and is much better than the Glock, packing a greater firepower into a similar size and weight. The added advantage of being able to silence the USP means that counter-terrorists often have an advantage in pistol rounds (i.e. at the start of a new game when nobody's got any money).
P228
- Price: $600
- Country of origin: Switzerland/Germany
- Caliber: .357 SIG
- Clip capacity: 13 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 1.03kg
- Projectile weight: 8.1g
- Muzzle velocity: 1400 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 600 joules
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's slightly lacking in power.
Desert Eagle
- Price: $650
- Country of origin: Israel
- Caliber: .50 Action Express
- Clip capacity: 7 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 1.8kg
- Projectile weight: 19.4g
- Muzzle velocity: 1380 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 1650 joules
The Desert Eagle (or "Deagle") is the most powerful pistol, being able to kill somebody with one or two headshots. Its clip is rather small (only 7 rounds), so accuracy when using it is quite important. Most players will choose a Desert Eagle if they're buying a handgun (and have the money).
FN-57
- Price: $750
- Country of origin: Belgium
- Caliber: 5.7x28mm
- Clip capacity: 20 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 0.618kg
- Projectile weight: 2g
- Muzzle velocity: 2345 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 465 joules
- Team: Counter-terrorists only
The FN-57 has a decent accuracy and a large clip, but is slightly lacking in power. It is, however, exceedingly light, being the lightest pistol in game, and so allows you to move very fast when wielding it.
Dual 96G Elite Berettas
- Price: $800
- Country of origin: Italy
- Caliber: 9mm parabellum
- Clip capacity: 15 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 1.15kg
- Projectile weight: 8g
- Muzzle velocity: 1280 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 606 joules
- Team: Terrorists only
The Berettas are not particularly useful apart from the fact that there are two of them, which doubles the firing rate. They have poor accuracy, and only average power, so are best used as spray weapons. However, due to their high price and poor attributes, it's best to go for a cheaper pistol, or a sub-machine gun instead.
Sub-machine guns
The sub-machine guns are the next cheapest, and pack more firepower than the pistols. Many players prefer to use SMGs over full-blown rifles due to the weight advantage (SMGs weigh less, and therefore the player can move faster) and the fact that if they're aimed properly, they can kill just as effectively and quickly as a rifle or shotgun.
MAC10
- Price: $1400
- Country of origin: USA
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Clip capacity: 30 rounds
- Rate of fire: 857 RPM
- Weight (loaded): 3.82kg
- Projectile weight: 15.2g
- Muzzle velocity: 919 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 584 joules
- Team: Terrorists only
The MAC10 is similar in many respects to the TMP. However, its rate of fire is slower, and its power is greater. You can use the MAC10 in a similar fashion to the TMP, and it copes well at close range, but since its accuracy is appalling, you can't effectively snipe or fire long-distance with one.
TMP
- Price: $1250
- Country of origin: Austria
- Caliber: 9mm parabellum
- Clip capacity: 30 rounds
- Rate of fire: 857 RPM
- Weight (loaded): 1.3kg
- Projectile weight: 8g
- Muzzle velocity: 1280 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 606 joules
- Team: Counter-terrorists only
The TMP (or "Schmidt Machine Pistol") is the cheapest counter-terrorist sub-machine gun, but is very useful if wielded correctly. It may not be particularly powerful, but its rate of fire is almost unmatcheable, and is thus an exceedingly effective spray gun, especially in confined spaces. If aimed properly, and fired at the right time, one player can take down most of an enemy team with headshots, using only a TMP.
- Price: $1500
- Country of origin: Germany
- Caliber: 9mm parabellum
- Clip capacity: 30 rounds
- Rate of fire: 800 RPM
- Weight (loaded): 3.42kg
- Projectile weight: 8g
- Muzzle velocity: 1132 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 637 joules
The MP5 navy has a high rate of fire, decent accuracy, and decent power. If you aim for the head, you can pull off consistent headshots typically before the other person has time to react. It's a heavy weapon, and so you can't move particularly quickly, and the accuracy is poor at longer ranges, but up-close it's good.
UMP
- Price: $1700
- Country of origin: Germany
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Clip capacity: 25 rounds
- Rate of fire: 600 RPM
- Weight (loaded): 2.27kg
- Projectile weight: 15.2g
- Muzzle velocity: 1005 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 625 joules
The UMP is similar in many respects to the MP5 navy, but has a slower rate of fire. It is a slightly more powerful weapon, and is somewhat lighter, but the slower rate of fire means that you can't pull off the "surprise kills" you can with the MP5 navy.
P90
- Price: $2350
- Country of origin: Belgium
- Caliber: .338 lapua magnum
- Clip capacity: 50 rounds
- Rate of fire: 900 RPM
- Weight (loaded): 3kg
- Projectile weight: 2g
- Muzzle velocity: 2345 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 465 joules
The P90 is the ultimate sub-machine gun. It has a massive rate of fire, with decent accuracy and lower power, meaning that it's best used as a spray weapon. The large clip (largest in game excluding the machine gun) lends itself to this, and so the P90 should always be used to spray at people's heads.
Shotguns
The shotguns are a special group of weapons. Most players can either use shotguns properly, or they can't. Correct use of a shotgun entails precise timing (not necessarily good aim) about when to shoot, especially with the pump-action M3 super 90, as mis-timing of a shot can mean death due to pumping time.
M3 super 90
- Price: $1700
- Country of origin: Italy
- Caliber: 12 gauge
- Clip capacity: 8 rounds
- Rate of fire: N/A
- Weight (loaded): 3.5kg
- Projectile weight: 3.8g/pellet
- Muzzle velocity: 1250 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 2429 joules
The M3 super 90 is an incredibly powerful weapon, but has a long pump and reload time. One shot to the head with this shotgun will kill somebody, 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. However, this isn't advised.
XM1014
- Price: $3000
- Country of origin: Italy
- Caliber: 12 gauge
- Clip 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
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 is quite deadly. However, it is slightly less powerful than the M3 super 90, so usually two shots will be required to kill somebody. It is also almost double the price of the M3 super 90 and considerably heavier. Regardless, it's a very powerful weapon, without the pump drawback of the M3 super 90.
Rifles
The rifles are the most powerful automatic weapons, and the most commonly-used. Players need a fair amount of money to be able to buy one, and they therefore typically only appear during the second round of a game, after pistols have been used in the first round. Due to the firepower of any of these rifles, aim is not a requirement of use, but their effectiveness can increase dramatically if the seconds are taken to crouch down and aim for a player's head. Doing so will mean two or three shots are fired instead of ten.
IMI Galil
- Price: $2000
- Country of origin: Israel
- Caliber: .223
- Clip 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
The Galil has a high rate of fire, and decent accuracy, but is low-powered. It is good as a cheap rifle, and will get you many successes, but other more-powerful rifles are likely to win in a straight fight.
FAMAS
- Price: $2250
- Country of origin: France
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Clip 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
The FAMAS is quite a poor rifle. It has a slow rate of fire, low power, and only average accuracy. It is on the default buy list for the Counter-Terrorists, but should be taken off as soon as possible. Few players like or use the FAMAS to any degree.
AK47
- Price: $2500
- Country of origin: Russia
- Caliber: 7.62 NATO
- Clip 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
The AK47 is one of the classic weapons included in every game. It is powerful, has a high rate of fire, and average 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.
M4A1 carbine
- Price: $3100
- Country of origin: USA
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Clip capacity: 30 rounds
- Rate of fire: 685 RPM
- Weight (loaded): 3.22kg
- Projectile weight: 4g
- Muzzle velocity: 2900 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 1570 joules
- Special traits: Can be fitted with a silencer
- Team: Counter-terrorists only
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 most likely kill with one headshot.
SG-552 commando
- Price: $3500
- Country of origin: Switzerland
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Clip 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 useable scope
- Team: Terrorists only
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.
AUG
- Price: $3500
- Country of origin: Austria
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Clip 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 useable scope
- Team: Counter-terrorists only
The AUG is the counter-terrorist equivalent to the SG-552. It too 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
There is only one machine gun: the M249-SAW. It is one of the most expensive weapons, but also has one of the highest firing rates, and can be used very effectively as a spray gun. Contrary to popular belief, the machine gun is actually quite accurate when firing one round at a time, and can be used to snipe in a similar manner as a rifle.
M249-SAW
- Price: $5750
- Country of origin: Belgium
- Caliber: 5.56 parabellum
- Clip capacity: 100 rounds
- Rate of fire: 600 RPM
- Weight (loaded): 6kg
- Projectile weight: 4g
- Muzzle velocity: 3000 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 1600 joules
The M249-SAW is an exceedingly expensive weapon, with a very rapid firing rate. Each round does not inflict a particularly high amount of damage, and it isn't particularly accurate unless fired semi-automatically, 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 vaguelly out of the ordinary. Shoot round corners as you jump round them. Shoot at anything that moves.
Sniper rifles
The sniper rifles are the most specialised weapons available. They are all either non-automatic, or semi-automatic, and designed for careful aiming over long distances. They all boast telescopic sights, and several of them (especially the AWP) are banned on many servers due to their extreme firepower. Before using a sniper rifle on the internet, it is adviseable to practice carefully with bots locally, as it takes skill to wield a sniper rifle well. When buying a sniper, it is always a good idea to buy a good pistol as well, since snipers are extremely poor in close-range combat (since they don't have crosshairs unless zoomed, and zooming in at close-range is not advised).
Scout
- Price: $2750
- Country of origin: Austria
- Caliber: 7.62 NATO
- Clip capacity: 10 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 3.3kg
- Projectile weight: 8g
- Muzzle velocity: 2800 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 2200 joules
- Special traits: Has a useable scope
The scout is the cheapest sniper rifle, but does the least damage, taking at least two shots to the head to kill somebody. It is not the most accurate, but does have a scope, and is quite lightweight, so is good for sniping then running.
G3/SG-1
- Price: $5000
- Country of origin: Germany
- Caliber: 7.62 NATO
- Clip capacity: 20 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 4.41kg
- Projectile weight: 8g
- Muzzle velocity: 2800 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 2200 joules
- Special traits: Has a useable 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 clip.
SG-550
- Price: $4200
- Country of origin: Switzerland
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Clip capacity: 30 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 7.02kg
- Projectile weight: 4g
- Muzzle velocity: 3100 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 1650 joules
- Special traits: Has a useable scope
- Team: Counter-terrorists only
As with the G3/SG-1, the SG-550 is an auto-sniper, and banned on many servers. The SG-550 is less powerful than the G3/SG-1, but fires faster and is $800 cheaper. Its accuracy falls dramatically with each consecutive automatic shot, so it's best to fire one or perhaps two shots at a time, then pause and re-aim.
AWP
- Price: $4750
- Country of origin: UK
- Caliber: .338 lapua magnum
- Clip capacity: 10 rounds
- Weight (loaded): 6kg
- Projectile weight: 16.2g
- Muzzle velocity: 3000 feet/second
- Muzzle energy: 7000 joules
- Special traits: Has a useable scope
The AWP is the largest and most powerful sniper rifle, killing in one shot in most cases. It is banned on most servers, but if you are allowed to use it, make good use of the scope. The AWP's scope is very detailed, and proficient snipers can jump out from behind cover, zoom in twice, fire and kill somebody then hide again multiple times and not get hurt. Skilled AWP users are highly respected in the world of Counter-Strike: Source and training for hours offline with bots is the best way to go about learning.
Grenades
These weapons can be thrown, and are irretrievable once thrown. Skilled players will bounce them off walls so that they land around corners; this is especially useful with flashbang grenades, which you don't want to look at once they've been thrown.
Flashbang grenade
- Price: $200
- Special traits: You can only carry two of them
The flashbang grenade is a good cheap way to keep the enemy from hitting you. When it goes off, any players (even your teammates) looking at it - or a reflective surface showing it - will be blinded for several seconds. Any players in the close vicinity will also be completely blinded. When thrown ahead of a rushing force, a flashbang is invaluable; one method of using it is to stop just before a corner, and bounce one off a wall to go off around the corner before you jump round.
Smoke grenade
- Price: $300
- Special traits: You can only carry one of them
Smoke grenades release large volumes of smoke - enough to cover about six square metres - when they go off. In the middle, the smoke is thick enough to completely blind people going through it, and somebody outside the smoke cannot easily see people inside it. Smoke grenades can be used in a similar fashion to flashbangs, although their use has to be pre-planned and you must remember to wait about ten seconds after the grenade goes off, for the smoke to populate the area.
High-explosive grenade
- Price: $300
- Special traits: You can only carry one of them
A high-explosive grenade (or frag grenade) explodes a few seconds after being thrown, hurting or killing any players (even your teammates) near it; the damage given depends on how far away from the grenade you are. Grenades are useful to throw when you know somebody is (for example) around a corner, but jumping out to shoot them would be too risky: they're bedded in, and your accuracy would be thrown by the movement.
Miscellaneous
Other weapons are: explosives, not actually weapons, or gametype-specific, and can't be categorised with the others.
Knife
The knife is given to all players automatically at the start of each round, cannot be dropped, and doesn't cost a thing. It is the least effective weapon, but - since it requires no ammunition - can be used again and again. It is one of the ultimate humiliations to be knifed to death in Counter-Strike: Source.
Kevlar
- Price: $650
Kevlar is an invaluable asset to have once the first few rounds have been completed, as it adds an extra layer of protection, and reduces the damage caused by enemy fire. It does not, however, make you invulnerable.
Kevlar and helmet
- Price: $1000
Purchasing kevlar and a helmet is more expensive than buying just kevlar, but provides better protection, especially when playing against players who fire consistent headshots. The addition of a helmet protects your head, but as with the kevlar it only reduces the damage caused by bullets and does not make you invulnerable.
Nightvision
- Price: $1250
Nightvision is so rarely used or needed it's almost a waste of money to purchase it. However, it does allow you to see better in the dark, and therefore can be quite useful in dark maps (a green overlay is put on your vision, and everything's brighter). In bright maps, however, it is a waste of money to buy, as using nightvision in a bright area actually makes your vision worse (things get too bright).
C4 explosive
- Team: Terrorists only
At the start of every round on a bomb diffusal map, a random terrorist is given the C4 to plant. They may drop this, and it doesn't cost them anything, but they have been entrusted with it, and it is their duty (unless they drop it) to blow things up with it.
Bomb defusal kit
- Price: $200
- Team: Counter-terrorists only
When playing a bomb defusal map, a bomb defusal kit is an invaluable thing to buy. You can defuse the bomb without one, but having one accelerates the process considerably, and once the bomb's been planted, there is precious little time to waste before it goes off.