Counter-Strike 2 weapon specifications
| Property | CS2 value |
|---|---|
| Buy price | $1,700 |
| Magazine / reserve | 10 / 20 rounds |
| Damage | 88 body damage |
| Fire mode | Bolt-action |
| Rate of fire | 48 rounds per minute |
| Reload time | 3.7 seconds |
| Armor penetration | 85% |
| Range modifier | 0.98 |
| Accurate range | 47 m |
| Running speed | 230 units/s |
| Kill reward | $300 Competitive · $150 Casual |
Damage by hitbox
| Hitbox | Unarmored | Armored |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 352 | 299 |
| Chest and arms | 88 | 74 |
| Stomach and pelvis | 110 | 93 |
| Legs | 66 | 66 |
Damage and precision
The SSG 08 is a low-cost bolt-action sniper rifle with high precision and lower per-shot damage than the AWP. The recorded head hit is lethal against either armor state; the stomach-and-pelvis hit is lethal without armor at 110 but falls to 93 against armor. Chest and arms take 88 unarmored or 74 armored, and legs take 66. Against an armored opponent, a body hit generally needs a follow-up shot.
Its 47-metre accurate range and scope support long sightlines, while 85% armor penetration helps preserve damage. The weapon still needs the player to stop and place a shot. After firing, the bolt-action cycle and 3.7-second reload make cover important; do not remain exposed waiting for the next round to chamber. The 10-round magazine and 20-round CS2 reserve reward deliberate shots.
Scout role and economy
The SSG 08 is often nicknamed the Scout, a name carried over from the Schmidt Scout role in earlier Counter-Strike editions. In CS2 either team can buy it for $1,700, making it a comparatively accessible sniper option when a team cannot afford an AWP. Its $300 Competitive or $150 Casual kill reward can help offset the purchase, but the player still needs to convert its precision into useful damage.
The Wiki notes that players may switch briefly to another weapon after a shot to draw a sidearm sooner and avoid automatic re-scoping that narrows their view near close targets. This is a situational handling choice: the SSG 08 is vulnerable when an opponent closes distance, and its scoped view should not replace awareness of nearby routes. It is lighter and faster to carry than the AWP, but does not share the AWP’s one-shot body-damage role. Compare AWP, G3SG1 and SCAR-20 before committing team funds.
CS2 handling updates
The source’s March 18, 2026 CS2 update changed magazine-fed reloads: a completed reload discards remaining rounds and takes a full magazine from reserve. This matters even when a sniper has fired only one shot from a 10-round magazine. Reserve ammunition is shown in magazine units where appropriate, with a fill-level display for the current magazine.
This page uses Counter-Strike 2 values only. Older Scout prices, reserves and handling should not be substituted for the CS2 10-plus-20 ammunition record. The SSG 08 is a base-game weapon with no expansion requirement.
Legacy model animation update (August 14, 2025)
The August 14, 2025 CS2 update improved animations for legacy SSG 08 models. The note does not specify which model variants or animation sequences were changed, so this entry records the general model-animation improvement without assigning a particular motion to the current standard model. It does not describe a change to the rifle’s firing, scope or damage behavior.