Counter-Strike 2 weapon specifications
| Property | CS2 value |
|---|---|
| Buy price | $5,200 |
| Magazine / reserve | 100 / 200 rounds |
| Damage | 32 |
| Fire mode / rate | Automatic · 750 rounds per minute |
| Reload time | 5.7 seconds |
| Armor penetration | Not separately specified for CS2; source labels 80% as CS:GO |
| Penetration power | 200% |
| Range modifier | 0.97 |
| Running speed | 195 units/s |
| Kill reward | $300 Competitive · $150 Casual |
Hitbox damage (CS2 and Global Offensive)
| Hitbox | Unarmored | Armored |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 127 | 102 |
| Chest and arms | 31 | 25 |
| Abdomen and pelvis | 39 | 31 |
| Legs | 23 | 23 |
Damage, accuracy and ammunition
The M249’s hitbox record is shared by CS2 and Global Offensive. It lists 127 damage to an unarmored head and 102 to an armored head; the chest and arms take 31 or 25, the abdomen and pelvis 39 or 31, and the legs 23. The 100-round magazine lets the player continue firing while opponents cross a lane, but the 750-round-per-minute rate still consumes ammunition quickly. The 200-round reserve supplies two additional full magazines before accounting for the loaded belt.
The source presents a 16-metre accurate range for Global Offensive only, so this entry does not label that measurement as a CS2 value. The M249’s high recoil and inaccuracy make continuous fire a close-range choice; burst or tap shots are easier to manage at greater distance. Its 5.7-second reload is a major exposure window. The weapon’s 195-unit running speed also makes rotation slower than with a rifle.
Positioning and purchase cost
The Wiki describes the M249 as an open-area light machine gun for players willing to trade a large ammunition supply for a slow, heavy weapon. A defended lane can benefit from sustained fire against several opponents, but a player who attempts to rotate or duel across a long sightline may expose the machine gun’s weight and recoil. Agree on the route with teammates, cover a flank and identify a safe reload position before starting to fire.
At $5,200, the M249 is a costly specialist purchase; a Competitive kill award of $300 does not quickly repay it. The source recommends the Negev as a far cheaper machine-gun alternative. Compare those two choices with the AK-47 or M4A4 if the round needs a conventional rifle. Include armor, grenades and the rest of the team’s buy in that decision instead of treating the 100-round magazine as free value.
CS2 reload behavior
The March 18, 2026 CS2 ammunition update changed magazine-fed reloading. A completed reload discards ammunition left in the M249’s current belt and takes a full replacement from reserve; reserve is displayed in magazine units and the current magazine fill level is shown. With 100 rounds loaded, a partial belt can still be a substantial resource, so do not reload merely because a few shots have been fired.
The M249 is available to both teams in the CS2 buy system. Earlier Counter-Strike weapon-pool or matchmaking history is not used here to imply current availability; the specifications on this page are limited to CS2-labelled values and hitbox data shared with CS:GO.
Bullet-belt animation (July 18, 2023)
A July 18, 2023 CS2 Limited Test update added a bullet-belt animation to the M249. This changes the weapon’s visual animation. The note does not report a capacity, reload, fire-rate or damage adjustment, so the belt should not be interpreted as a mechanical weapon change.
Weapon appearance update (June 15, 2023)
The June 15, 2023 Limited Test notes listed visual improvements to the M249. They do not describe the exact model change or any effect on capacity, accuracy, firing or reload behavior.