Explain simply

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By GamGem ResearchLast updated 6 Oct 2026

No change to the G3SG1’s numbers in Valve’s file since May 2024.

CS2 weapon · Sniper · T side G3SG1

Valve: “High risk/reward automatic sniper rifle.” The pricy G3SG1 lowers movement speed considerably but compensates with a higher rate of fire than other sniper rifles.

Distance to decision 30 m

5 m20 m30 m40 m60 m

Target & armour

Buy G3SG1 when…

You can take the first headshot — one helmeted headshot kills at every distance to 60 m.

Valve’s buy menu: “Consider only under special circumstances.”

Save or go cheaper$5,000

You need $6,000 for it with armour — $1,900 more.

Price: $5,000
Kill reward: $300
Damage: 80
Armour pen: 82.5%
Fire rate: 240 RPM
Ammo: 20 / 40
Reload lock: 4.67 s
Run speed: 215
Penetration: 2.5
Accurate range: 66.26 m

Damage & kill outcomes @ 30 m

Hits to kill, by zone and armour
Zone	None	Kevlar	Helmet
Head	1	1	1
Chest	2	2	2
Stomach	2	2	2
Arms	2	2	2
Legs	2	2	2

Head vs Kevlar + helmet at 30 m: 251 damage per hit → 1 hit to kill · TTK 0 ms.

derived · damage × range modifier^(units ÷ 500) × zone × armour, rounded down

Armour breakpoints

Where head hits-to-kill change, 0–60 m

no armour

0 m – 60 m+1 hit

Kevlar

0 m – 60 m+1 hit

Kevlar + helmet

0 m – 60 m+1 hit

Against Kevlar + helmet: no change out to 60 m.

Damage over distance

3200

0 m15 m30 m45 m60 m

Head · no armour
Head · helmet
Chest · Kevlar
Chest · no armour

Here: 251 damage per hit at 30 m.

1st shot spreadscoped

Sure to hit a 30 cm plate to66.26 m

At 30 m the first shot can land up to 7 cm from the crosshair.

unscoped: sure to 5.84 m.derived · 0.1524 m ÷ (spread + inaccuracy) — Valve’s own 30 cm plate

Spray & firing mode

Phase

10 bullets · 2.25 s of fire at 240 RPM · 10 left in the magazine.

Valve’s recoil inputs: kick 30 ± 4 · direction variance 30.Valve’s file holds these inputs, not the path the bullets take — so no path is drawn here.

Firing mode guidance

spray6+ shots · inside 33.1 mCommit and pull down
burst2–3 shots · 33.1–66.26 mStop, then reset between bursts
tap1 shot · past 66.26 mReset fully between shots

At 30 m: spray.rule · ours: tap past its standing accurate range (66.26 m), spray inside half of itSpread still varies shot to shot — a guide, not a guarantee.

What beats the G3SG1?

Weapon · edge30 m · headCost

R8 Revolvercheaper1 hit$600
Desert Eaglefaster fire1 hit$700
SSG 08cheaper1 hit$1,700
AK-47faster fire1 hit$2,700
SG 553faster fire1 hit$3,000
AWPcheaper1 hit$4,750
SCAR-201 hit$5,000
USP-Sfaster fire2 hits$200

Hits to kill from Valve’s file at your distance and armour — not win rates. Shotguns left out: pellets decide.

Economy context

Your cash

G3SG1 + Kevlar + helmet$6,000$1,900 short
G3SG1 + Kevlar$5,650$1,550 short
G3SG1 alone$5,000$900 short
SSG 08 + Kevlar + helmet$2,700$1,400 left

Kill reward $300 — 17 kills pay the gun back. Armour: Kevlar $650, with helmet $1,000 (Valve’s items_game.txt).

Counterplay tips

Fight it beyond 66.26 m: past its standing accurate range even the first shot is not sure to land.
Catch it moving: on the move its first shot is only sure within 1.01 m.
It needs 2 chest hits at 15 m against armour — trade it rather than duel alone.
It moves at 215 u/s — re-peek fast; it is slow to follow.
Drop its holder first: they lose a $5,000 gun, and each kill it makes pays them $300.

Yes — 251 damage to a helmeted head at 30 m.

Buy now or save now?with $4,100

If you lose	0 kills	1 kill	2 kills
+$1,400after wins	save$5,500 next	save$5,800 next	save$6,100 next
+$1,900a half’s first loss	save$6,000 next	save$6,300 next	save$6,600 next
+$2,400	save$6,500 next	save$6,800 next	save$7,100 next
+$2,900	save$7,000 next	save$7,300 next	save$7,600 next
+$3,400the cap	save$7,500 next	save$7,800 next	save$8,100 next

rule · ours: buy when a lost round still leaves $6,000 for it with full armour. Loss bonus and kill reward: Valve’s source

Share this scenario

30 m · Kevlar + helmet · head1 hit to kill · 0 msSave or go cheaperG3SG1

gamgem.com/counter-strike-2/weapons/g3sg1#30m-helmet-head

Sources & evidence

Damage · armour · range: weapons.vdata · 10f3693c · 2026-09-23
Price · kill reward: $5,000 · $300
Fire rate · magazine: 240 RPM · 20/40
Range modifier · penetration: 0.98 · 2.5
Description · buy-menu lines: csgo_english.txt
Loss bonus · armour prices: gamemode_competitive.cfg · items_game.txt

Valve’s files, read 2026-10-06:weapons.vdata items_game.txt gamemode_competitive.cfg

All the maths runs in your browser, from Valve’s weapon file (10f3693c, 2026-09-23).