Counter Strike - Weapons

Note: To save me a lot of typing, Terrorists = T, Counter-Terrorists = CT

Thanks to Bigfoot for the cs weapon guide. Geist and Jeffrey Lau, for the additional detailed weapon stats. [SO]Tikka for the crosshair screenshots, and the CS team for the use of their weapon images.

Shotguns

M3 Super 90 Combat

Manufacturer: Benelli
Cost: $1700

Detail : A very powerful weapon for its price, its obvious weaknesses are the reload time (each shell loaded seperately), the firing rate and the loss of power making its long range use virtually nil. Can be effective early on in the level as without armour players have little resistence to an upclose shot.
When to Use : Maps where you are likely to find yourself in enclosed spaces, or where you are forced to make a stand. Its good for surprise attacks.
When not to Use : Maps where you have to move a lot, or where running battles occur.
Try to remember : The slow reload time, so when your approaching a hot spot on the map or just sneaking around make sure your ammo is full.

Benelli M3 Super90 Semi-Automatic Shotgun. By Geist (description) and Jeffrey Lau (stats)  Details about how stats are calculated here.

*Benelli M3 Super90
Cost: $1700
Type: Shotgun
Max Ammo: 8 | 32
Reload time: N/A
Number of shots per second: 1.23
Damage: 8 x (11, 5)
Shots to kill: 2(point blank) - a LOT (at range).
Kevlar penetration: 2.20
Recoil type: N/A
Features: can be fired while reloading.
Changes: Slightly more powerful. Slower firing (Old ROF: 1.60. New ROF: 
1.23).

The Benelli M3 is very hard to use effectively, and is perhaps the least favoured weapon of Counterstrike. The rate of fire has been reduced for this Beta, so its even slower firing, meaning that accurate head-shooting is essential. Its close range power is equivalent to that of a large bus, in one shot it will spray a good area in front of you with buckshot, and each pellet that connects with your target will cause damage. It is definitely a short range weapon, at longer distances the pellets will begin to spread out, so it will become impossible to do any significant damage to the enemy. But if you are guarding a sniper from advancing enemies, or creeping through tight corridors, a shotgun can be handy.

xm1014 (M4 Super 90)

Manufacturer: Benelli (and H&K)
Cost: $3000

Detail : Pretty much as the other Shotgun on offer, the extra money buys you a much faster firing rate but other than that there are still the problems of loading time and long range power. There is also the odd problem of firing too fast, being out of ammo before you have a chance to re-adjust your aim.
When to Use : Maps where you are likely to find yourself in enclosed spaces, or forced to make a stand. Good for surprise attacks.
When not to Use : Maps where you have to move a lot, or require accuracy over distance.
Try to remember : The slow reload time, so when your approaching a map hot spot or just sneaking around keep the ammo full as much as possible. Don't let off all the shells in one go :).

Benelli XM1014 Fully-Automatic Shotgun. By Geist (description) and Jeffrey Lau (stats)  Details about how stats are calculated here.

The newest shotgun to the Counterstrike arsenal is again quite hard to use well. The XM1014 is modeled on the real-life version, which is fully automatic, there is no need to cock it between each shot, thus its rate of fire is much greater. The principles are the same as the M3, it sprays the area with buckshot, and has the power to stop anyone in their tracks with some sharp shooting, but with its high rate of fire and small magazine, after about 3 seconds of firing, you'll be on empty. Use this gun for quick, close range attacks, pop in, pepper the area, and get out quick to reload.