Every figure shows its source. Where a source is missing, the number is a placeholder — and it is never written as fact.

By GamGem ResearchLast updated 6 Oct 2026

No change to the M249’s numbers in Valve’s file since May 2024.

CS2 weapon · Heavy · both sides M249

Valve: “At least you won't have to reload....” A strong open-area LMG, the M249 is the perfect choice for players willing to trade a slow fire rate for increased accuracy and a high ammo capacity.

5 m20 m30 m40 m60 m
Target & armour
Buy M249 when…

You can take the first headshot inside 9 m — one helmeted headshot kills there.

Valve’s buy menu: “Consider only under special circumstances.”
Save or go cheaper$5,200
You need $6,200 for it with armour — $2,100 more.
Price
$5,200
game data
Kill reward
$300
game data
Damage
32
game data
Armour pen
80%
derived
Fire rate
750 RPM
derived
Ammo
100 / 200
game data
Reload lock
5.70 s
game data
Run speed
195
game data
Penetration
2.0
game data
Accurate range
15.71 m
derived

Damage & kill outcomes @ 30 m

Hits to kill, by zone and armour
ZoneNoneKevlarHelmet
Head112
Chest455
Stomach344
Arms455
Legs555

Head vs Kevlar + helmet at 30 m: 95 damage per hit → 2 hits to kill · TTK 80 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 – 9 m1 hit
  • 10 m – 60 m+2 hits
Against Kevlar + helmet: 1 change between 0 and 60 m.

Damage over distance

  • Head · no armour
  • Head · helmet
  • Chest · Kevlar
  • Chest · no armour
Here: 95 damage per hit at 30 m.

1st shot spread

Sure to hit a 30 cm plate to15.71 m

At 30 m the first shot can land up to 29 cm from the crosshair.

derived · 0.1524 m ÷ (spread + inaccuracy) — Valve’s own 30 cm plate

Spray & firing mode

Phase
10 bullets · 0.72 s of fire at 750 RPM · 90 left in the magazine.
Valve’s recoil inputs: kick 25 ± 2 · direction variance 50.Valve’s file holds these inputs, not the path the bullets take — so no path is drawn here.

Firing mode guidance

  • spray6+ shots · inside 7.9 mCommit and pull down
  • burst2–3 shots · 7.9–15.71 mStop, then reset between bursts
  • tap1 shot · past 15.71 mReset fully between shots
At 30 m: tap.rule · ours: tap past its standing accurate range (15.71 m), spray inside half of itSpread still varies shot to shot — a guide, not a guarantee.

What beats the M249?

Weapon · edge30 m · headCost
Hits to kill from Valve’s file at your distance and armour — not win rates. Shotguns left out: pellets decide.

Economy context

  • M249 + Kevlar + helmet$6,200$2,100 short
  • M249 + Kevlar$5,850$1,750 short
  • M249 alone$5,200$1,100 short
  • Nova + Kevlar + helmet$2,050$2,050 left
Kill reward $300 — 18 kills pay the gun back. Armour: Kevlar $650, with helmet $1,000 (Valve’s items_game.txt).

Counterplay tips

  • Fight it beyond 15.71 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 0.96 m.
  • It needs 5 chest hits at 15 m against armour — trade it rather than duel alone.
  • It moves at 195 u/s — re-peek fast; it is slow to follow.
  • Drop its holder first: they lose a $5,200 gun, and each kill it makes pays them $300.

No — 2 hits to a helmeted head at 30 m (95 each).

Buy now or save now?with $4,100

If you lose0 kills1 kill2 kills
+$1,400after winssave$5,500 nextsave$5,800 nextsave$6,100 next
+$1,900a half’s first losssave$6,000 nextsave$6,300 nextsave$6,600 next
+$2,400save$6,500 nextsave$6,800 nextsave$7,100 next
+$2,900save$7,000 nextsave$7,300 nextsave$7,600 next
+$3,400the capsave$7,500 nextsave$7,800 nextsave$8,100 next
rule · ours: buy when a lost round still leaves $6,200 for it with full armour. Loss bonus and kill reward: Valve’s source

Share this scenario

30 m · Kevlar + helmet · head2 hits to kill · 80 msSave or go cheaperM249
gamgem.com/counter-strike-2/weapons/m249#30m-helmet-head

Sources & evidence

Damage · armour · range
weapons.vdata · 10f3693c · 2026-09-23
Price · kill reward
$5,200 · $300
Fire rate · magazine
750 RPM · 100/200
Range modifier · penetration
0.97 · 2
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.vdataitems_game.txtgamemode_competitive.cfg

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