Counter-Strike 2 weapon specifications
| Property | CS2 value |
|---|---|
| Buy price | $1,300 |
| Magazine / reserve | 5 / 15 shells |
| Pellets per shot | 8 |
| Damage | 30 per pellet · 240 if all eight hit |
| Fire mode | Pump-action |
| Rate of fire | 71 rounds per minute |
| Reload time | 2.4 seconds |
| Accurate range | 4.6 m |
| Armor penetration | 75% |
| Range modifier | 0.45 |
| Running speed | 225 units/s |
| Kill reward | $900 Competitive · $450 Casual |
Damage by pellet hitbox
| Hitbox | Unarmored | Armored |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 120 | 90 |
| Chest and arms | 30 | 22 |
| Abdomen and pelvis | 37 | 28 |
| Legs | 22 | 22 |
Pellet spread and close-range damage
One MAG-7 shot releases eight pellets. The 30 damage entry is per pellet; 240 represents the sum only if all eight connect before other damage modifiers. A spread can distribute those pellets across different hitboxes or miss some entirely, so the maximum is not guaranteed damage. The hitbox table lists a single pellet’s damage by location. At short range the pattern stays concentrated enough to make the weapon threatening; farther away, spread and the 0.45 range modifier sharply reduce dependable damage.
The recorded accurate range is 4.6 metres. This is a very short engagement window, so hold a doorway, narrow corridor or site entrance and let the opponent come close rather than pursuing a rifle through open space. Armor penetration is listed at 75%. A missed or partially connected shot leaves the player waiting through the pump action before the next shot can answer.
Magazine reload and purchase value
Unlike shotguns that load one shell at a time, the MAG-7 replaces its five-shell magazine. The source identifies it as the fastest shotgun reload when empty, recorded at 2.4 seconds; the replacement still prevents firing while the animation completes. It carries 15 reserve shells, so the initial magazine and reserve together supply four full magazines. Since CS2’s March 2026 reload change discards the rounds left in a replaced magazine, count the remaining shots before reloading.
At $1,300 the MAG-7 can be a compact defensive purchase for a Counter-Terrorist, and its listed kill reward is $900 in Competitive and $450 in Casual. The close-range damage can repay the buy, but the weapon is highly dependent on position. Coordinate with a teammate carrying a rifle to cover longer sightlines. Compare the Terrorist Sawed-Off, the shared Nova and automatic XM1014 for different shotgun roles.
CS2 ammunition, range and positioning
The CS2 record lists a $1,300 purchase price, five shells in the magazine and 15 shells in reserve. That reserve figure is CS2-specific: the older CS:GO article lists 32 reserve shells, which must not be carried into the current table. With three full magazines in reserve, replacing an empty magazine can supply three additional full loads. A magazine replacement is different from loading a single shell at a time, so the weapon cannot resume firing partway through the reload animation.
Each shot sends eight pellets. The table’s 30 damage is per pellet, while 240 is the theoretical aggregate if all eight connect before armor and hit-location effects. The hitbox table is also per pellet, not a whole-shot total. Spread may put pellets on different hitboxes or cause some to miss. At the listed 4.6 m accurate range, the MAG-7 is best understood as a very short-range weapon; its 0.45 range modifier means damage falls away quickly as distance grows.
The 71-round-per-minute figure reflects the slow pump-action firing cycle. A missed or partial shot leaves a delay before the next attack, and the five-shell magazine makes each attempt valuable. Its 225 units-per-second running speed is lower than knife movement and should not be mistaken for a special mobility tool. The listed 75% armor penetration affects how much damage armor absorbs; it does not eliminate the importance of placing multiple pellets.
Defensive and economy use
The MAG-7 is most relevant when a Counter-Terrorist can hold a short approach and control where the engagement begins. A close doorway, compact corridor or site entrance can bring an attacker into the weapon’s useful distance. Long exposed angles favor rifles, because the shotgun’s spread and range falloff make distant hits less dependable. Teammates with rifles can cover those longer sightlines while the MAG-7 player protects a close route.
The $1,300 purchase can fit a constrained buy or an anti-eco plan, and the listed reward is $900 in Competitive or $450 in Casual. Those are mode-labelled CS2 values. The reward can offset part of the purchase after a successful elimination, but it does not make an exposed rush safe. Compare the CT-only MAG-7 with the Terrorist Sawed-Off, the shared Nova and the XM1014 when choosing a shotgun with a different firing and reload pattern.
CS2’s March 18, 2026 magazine-reload change discards rounds remaining in a magazine when it is replaced and represents reserves using magazine or shell units as appropriate. This makes a premature top-off costly: check the current magazine count and reserve display before starting a reload in a contestable area. The update is distinct from the MAG-7’s older edition history.
Spread pattern and movement accuracy
The Wiki describes the MAG-7 spread as clustered with a slight upward and rightward tendency. Outside very close range, aim around the upper chest rather than relying on a head-level shot; the pattern can carry pellets upward while the weapon fires. The weapon’s high jumping accuracy is a distinct property among shotguns. A player may time a jump-peek near a short corner, fire just before descending and then return to cover, but the narrow useful range and predictable landing still create risk.
Jumping accuracy does not make the MAG-7 a long-range weapon. Its 4.6-metre accurate range, strong damage falloff and slow pump cycle remain central limitations. It is particularly suited to an ambush against one opponent, not an open approach into several enemies. If the player survives an economical round, the Wiki recommends replacing the shotgun with a stronger recovered weapon when available.
Recoil viewmodel correction (June 7, 2023)
The June 7, 2023 Limited Test update fixed a recoil-viewmodel regression affecting high-punch weapons such as the MAG-7: in some cases the displayed weapon model moved toward the ground instead of upward. The note describes the direction of the first-person viewmodel animation, not a change to the MAG-7’s recoil pattern, shot spread or damage.
Appearance improvement (June 7, 2023)
The June 7, 2023 update listed the MAG-7 among weapons whose appearance was improved. No particular model, material or component was identified, so this is recorded as visual polish rather than a change to performance or statistics.