Krieg 550 Commando

Overview

The Krieg 550 Commando, sometimes referred to as the SG550 or Sig 550, is a scoped, semi-automatic rifle featured in all of the Counter-Strike games until Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The role of the Counter-Terrorist exclusive semi-automatic sniper rifle was taken over by the higher caliber, more expensive SCAR-20.

Overview

The SG 550 is a powerful semi-automatic sniper rifle available only to the Counter-Terrorists. Along with the G3SG/1, it is known as being one of the most imbalanced weapons in the game despite its disadvantages. For this reason, the SG 550 is banned on many public servers, rendering it useless. Because of this, the AWP is often chosen over the SG-550 and the G3/SG-1 due to its higher damage per shot and better accuracy.

Properties

Hitbox	Primary Attack
Hitbox	Unarmored	Armored
Head	279	262
Chest & Arm	69	50
Stomach	87	63
Leg	52	52
Red signifies a fatal hit.

The SG 550 is a heavyweight weapon. While wielded, the player's movement speed is 210 units per second (the default speed is 250), meaning they suffer heavy speed reduction. While zoomed in, their movement speed is 150 units per second. The SG 550 is one of the many weapons able to shoot underwater.

Advantages

High damage, can kill a target in two hits or less
Higher rate of fire than the AWP or Scout, making it far more forgiving
Accurate when spraying when using 2x magnification in medium to long combat
High magazine capacity (30 rounds) and has the highest capacity of all sniper rifles
Unlike the Terrorist-exclusive rifle equivalent, the G3SG/1, the Sig 550 is cheaper than the AWP and can be used as a half-way point between the Scout and the AWP, if you lack funds
Can be deadly on small groups of enemies
Shares the same 5.56mm ammo used by most assault rifles (which makes obtaining ammunition easier)
Low recoil

Disadvantages

Unwieldy at close range, especially in the hands of an inexperienced player.
Heavy
Quite expensive
When scoped in with 10x magnification, the user can be disorientated by the shaking cross-hair when firing.
Not very accurate at the same ranges as the AWP, Scout, or the G3SG/1, especially when the user is moving, firing unscoped, or spraying
No crosshair when un-zoomed.
Inflicts the lowest damage out of all sniper rifles, even lower than the Scout.

Gameplay

Tactics

Crouch and stop moving for better accuracy.
Do not try to score a headshot if you are unable to; inflicting damage on the torso of targets are powerful enough.
In 1.6 and Condition Zero, there is an accuracy bug where the first two shots of this weapon are very inaccurate, you should shoot them before attacking an enemy so your accuracy will be normal.
Use cover when using this weapon.
At medium and long range, crouch and activate the 2x scope. Aim for the stomach and start firing non-stop. Two to three shots will kill the enemy.
If an enemy does not notice you and he is stationary, take time to shoot his head for a guaranteed kill.
Switch to your sidearm if an enemy player is too close or use the either non-scope or 2x scope and keep firing.
- Due to the high damage, a Desert Eagle is a good backup weapon for engaging enemies at close range.
The SIG-550's accuracy is worse compared to the Scout, AWP and G3SG/1, so be sure attack an unaware enemy if he is armed with the AWP or the G3SG/1. If this is not considered, enemies with an allied sniper can easily counter your tactics.
- In Source, the SIG-550's accuracy is increased, thus it can be used more effectively than in older games.
Unlike the AWP or Scout, if the enemy uses a smoke grenade, you can fire randomly through the smoke and still have a good chance to get a kill.
Zoom in and mark the central red-dot (Counter-Strike 1.6 and Condition Zero) / center (Source) of the crosshairs with a wipeable sketch or marker pen of the color of the crosshair. This way the SG550 can be used unscoped as an semi auto battle rifle. This also works with the G3SG/1 and Scout.
In Assassination maps, Counter-Terrorists cannot purchase the AWP. This is the best replacement if you need to snipe while playing on the Counter-Terrorist side.

Countertactics

Rush at them while they are reloading, but be careful for covering teammates or the user draws a sidearm.
Use flashbangs or smoke grenades to distract them.
Use instant kill weapons like the AK-47 to headshot the user just before he can start shooting.This tactic will be more doable if you can get close to the user, or the SIG user is being occupied.
Attack from behind with SMGs or shotguns.
As with most zoom-capable rifles, the user may not notice things behind them (and sometimes, around them). Knife them or kill them with a shotgun.
Hit the user with a HE grenade and rush him. Try to deal with its user at close before he can pull out his sidearm.
Overpower with an AWP. However if the AWP misses, the SIG user is likely to retaliate due to the loud sound.
Counter it with G3SG/1, since the SG550 is less powerful than the G3SG/1.
If you strike users with multiple teammates, spread out. If you stick too close, a SIG 550 user may decide to rapidly fire to wipe you and your teammates out.

Comparison to the G3SG1

Positive

Cheaper cost ($4200 vs $5000)
Larger magazine size (30 rounds vs 20 rounds)
Cheaper ammo cost ($60 vs $80)
Lower recoil
Shorter reload time in 1.6 and Source (4 seconds vs 4.7 seconds)

Neutral

Same movement speed (210 unit per seconds)
Same ammo in reserve (90 rounds)
Both weapons are equipped with a scope

Negative

Lower damage
Less accuracy, especially in early games
Low accuracy without scope
Longer reload time in Condition Zero (4 seconds vs 3.7 seconds)

Achievements

Counter-Strike: Source

Weapon

Krieg 550 Kommando Expert
Kill 500 enemy players with the Krieg 550 Commando.

Kill

Snipe Hunter
Kill 100 zoomed-in enemy snipers.

Eye to Eye
Kill a zoomed-in enemy sniper with a sniper rifle of your own.

Hip Shot
Kill an enemy with an un-zoomed sniper rifle.

Miscellaneous

Happy Camper
Get two kills standing in the same spot with a zoomed sniper rifle.

Appearances

Condition Zero

Tour of Duty Bots

Unlike most other weapons, bots in Tour of Duty never purchase the Krieg 550 Commando as their main weapon for balancing reasons. Instead, they will purchase the AWP as their main weapon. However, they will purchase the Krieg 550 Commando if they are unable to afford the AWP.

Tour of Duty Missions

The Krieg 550 Commando is challenged to be used by players in Dust II missions:

Normal: Kill 2 enemies with the Krieg 550 Commando without dying.
Hard / Expert: Kill 3 enemies with the Krieg 550 Commando without dying.

It is also challenged to be used in Airstrip:

Hard / Expert: Kill 2 enemies with the Krieg 550 Commando and survive the round.

Deleted Scenes

The SG 550 appeared very rarely in the missions of Deleted Scenes. It appears only in the mission Lost Cause and it can be found on a weapon box after the player blow some crates up with RC bombs. Additional 5.56 ammo is not available in that mission.

Trivia

In the Counter-Strike beta, the G3SG/1 was the semi-auto sniper rifle for both factions. In Counter-Strike 1.0, the SG 550 was added as the Counter-Terrorist exclusive semi-auto sniper rifle and meanwhile, the G3SG/1 became the Terrorist exclusive semi-auto sniper rifle.
Despite using a smaller caliber, the SG 550 has similar effectiveness of the G3SG/1 in Source, due to the increased accuracy and tighter group of impact. So far, this is the most powerful 5.56 weapon in the series.
The database file name for this weapon is sg550.
As with the G3SG/1, many servers restrict and/or ban this weapon due to its high power and semi-automatic mode that can kill the targets quickly. These servers typically have the tag [No Auto] in their name.
The SG 550 is the only Sniper rifle available for the CTs in assassination maps. As a result, it's often a good weapon to counter enemy AWP users.
The suffix Commando in its name is a misnomer as the term denotes the smallest possible derivative of a full sized assault rifle with a shortened barrel, used for close quarter engagements by special forces (ex. SIG SG 552 Commando for the SIG SG 552 and Colt Commando for the Colt M16). The term SIG SG 550 Marksman/Sharpshooter is most appropriate.
In Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Deleted Scenes, the SG 550 is less accurate than its multiplayer counterpart. Moreover, this weapon is only used in the mission Lost Cause without reserve ammunition. However, it has decent power as it can kill in 1~2 hits, though its performance is hampered by a "knockback" effect. It is extremely limited use weapon, only used to kill a single law wielding enemy that appears in a tower just a door away after rifle is obtained.
Because it is less accurate compared to other sniper rifles, higher level bots that use the SG 550 will usually fire in short bursts which may sometimes struggle to kill enemies at almost any range. However, if the difficulty is set to easy, bots will always spray bullets and they can use it effectively. In Counter-Strike: Source however, bots can achieve multi-kills with the SG 550 regardless of difficulty.
In early games, CT bots will pick up G3SG/1 to replace the Scout and SG 550, while the Terrorist bots may replace the Scout or the G3SG/1 for the SG 550.
The Krieg 550 fires unrealistically slow; in real life, it fires at 700 RPM which is fast as the Krieg 552, a weapon that is used by the Terrorists. This feature is made for balancing purposes.
The Kreig 550 has the same reload animation as the M4A1.

External links

SIG SG 550 at Wikipedia