Schmidt Scout

Overview

The Schmidt Scout is a sniper rifle featured in every game of the Counter-Strike series prior to Global Offensive, where it is replaced by the SSG 08.

Overview

The Schmidt Scout, or Scout, is a reasonably weak bolt-action sniper rifle available to both teams. It is known as one of the few weapons in Counter-Strike that requires a great amount of skill. Still, many players use the Scout due to the fact that many public servers ban the other sniper rifles. For this reason, the Scout is one of the most popular weapons in Counter-Strike.

This weapon will always kill a target if a headshot is scored, but will not inflict enough damage to eliminate a player with full health if a headshot is not scored. Given the high mobility even when scoped, this weapon lends itself towards quick actions.

This weapon is often used in early rounds by players who wish to snipe. In later rounds, it will be mainly used by the losing team or by players who have insufficient funds that prohibit them to buy a superior sniper rifle. Normally, it will be replaced by more powerful sniper rifles, such as the AWP and semi-auto sniper rifles. However, a skilled Steyr Scout user can suppress most assault rifles at long range and some other sniper rifles by maintaining their ability to score headshots on their enemies and being concealed with stealth.

Properties

Hitbox	Primary Attack
Hitbox	Unarmored	Armored
Head	299	254
Chest & Arm	74	63
Stomach	93	79
Leg	56	56
Red signifies a fatal hit.

The Scout is an extremely lightweight weapon. While wielded, the player's movement speed is 260 units per second (default speed is 250), meaning a user can move faster. While zoomed in, the movement speed is 220 units per second. The Scout is one of the many weapons able to shoot underwater.

Advantages

Quiet and low muzzle flash.
Unlike the AWP, firing the Scout without using the scope will only affect minor accuracy.
Increases movement speed when wielded
Medium damage
Slightly faster rate of fire than the AWP; reload time is shorter than the other sniper rifles as well
High ammo capacity; fires 7.62 rounds and shares magazines with the AK-47, G3 SG/1 and a few other weapons
Fast reload time in Counter-Strike and Condition Zero
Inexpensive compared to the other sniper rifles

Disadvantages

No crosshair when unzoomed
Requires 2 shots on the body unless a headshot is scored
Bolt action; requires a user to rechamber a round each time the weapon is fired
Low rate of fire
Less accurate than the AWP when viewing down the scope

Gameplay

Tactics

Use this sniper rifle when low on money and in a situation where one must engage targets at long ranges.
- Hit and run tactics can be used with this weapon but only at long ranges.
A silenced KM .45 Tactical is a good sidearm if you need to maintain stealth.
- A Desert Eagle is a good sidearm for Scout users. Use the Scout to engage enemies at a range and switch to the Desert Eagle should an enemy get too close especially with its one-hit headshot. Furthermore, if a bullet from a Scout hits but doesn't kill a target, the Desert Eagle can finish off the target within a few shots (A single hit sometimes).
Switch to the Scout if you need to run, for you can run a little faster while wielding the Scout than you could while wielding any other weapon; even pistols and the knife.
Scoring headshots is easier with this weapon due to its scope and accuracy.
- Accuracy is greatly increased when the player ducks; aim for the head and see the results.
- Prior to Counter-Strike: Source, the Scout requires its user to steady their weapon to be accurate, similar to the AWSM. Crouching can make firing this rifle is more accurate than standing.
  - However, the Scout in Counter-Strike: Source is more accurate, so users don't have always to crouch at long range to score headshots. The potential range issues found in earlier games are also eliminated.
Although the Scout may not always kill enemy opponents unless their health is low, it can cause massive damage that would lead victims very vulnerable to being killed easily and they may retreat often instead of engaging you and your team members.
- Two direct hits on any part of the body will kill.
- The Scout can penetrate multiple targets if they are close and lined up. It's possible to get double kills or even triple kills like the AWSM.
Go for headshots if enemies are distracted by your teammates, when the enemy is unaware of your presence, or you are supporting your team from a distance.
- Working with other team members is a good idea. You can use scout to pick off wounded enemies. If your opponents' health is below 75, one shot from the Scout should do enough damage to kill.
- If you do hit an enemy player with the Scout but that player survives and retreats, it is possible to either rush into the position of the opponent, unless you suspect he is moving back to other groups of opposing team members, or throw an HE grenade to finish him off.
Zoom in and mark the central red-dot (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 Scout can be used unscoped as a bolt-action battle rifle. This also works with the lower recoil sniper rifles like Krieg 550 Commando and the G3SG1.
This weapon can be "fun" to use, as it offers increased speed for the user and is challenging enough for players who are seeking for a weapon that others that cannot easily use. If the Scout is in the right hands of a player who has practiced long enough, this weapon can be deadly and the user can save and gain lots of money (as the weapon is fairly cheap compared to the other sniper weapons).
- Due to the fact that a Scout user's speed is increased, the weapon is very ideal in continuously firing bullets at targets while strafing (moving left and right) thus making enemies frustrated in hitting the user.
- Using this as a frontline combat weapon is NOT recommended, unless you are good at scoring headshots, or you have some teammates to weaken and distract your foes.
- The Schmidt Scout has an advantage if an enemy player is at a very long range and if he is not armed with a sniper rifle. However, beware of experienced players that are armed with weapons like the AK-47 that can kill you instantly with a headshot.

Countertactics

Use caution. Hide whenever an enemy sniper has spotted you.
- If you suspect an enemy player, who is wielding the Scout, is hiding somewhere in the area, make sure you immediately find cover. If not possible, try to strafe and avoid getting killed by a headshot. If you do get hit by a bullet from the weapon, do not stay still in your previous position as the enemy Scout user will attempt to fire the weapon again without even using the scope.
Don't stop moving and strafing. Enemies armed with the Scout will have trouble hitting you.
Use weapons with a more powerful caliber. The AWP has the advantage against the Scout, since you will most likely to survive if your opponent failed to score a headshot, your shot will almost guarantee the kill.
Avoid all medium and far contact with its users.
SMG or assault rifles are recommended to strike down its user.
If you need to engage its user at long range, an AWP is the best choice.
In the older versions of Counter-Strike, the tactical shield can provide ideal cover and defense against Scout users due to the low damage and bolt-action disadvantages from the weapon.
Make sure when you face this long range weapon you keep moving. Make sure he can't aim at your head.
In most cases, the enemy needs 2 shots to kill you, so seek cover if you are hit, and ask a teammate to flank the user or take him out.
Do not try to rush head-on in a straight line into an enemy Schmidt Scout user as the rifle can shoot at slightly faster rate than the AWP. If your movement is predictable, skilled players can kill you with a headshot. Instead, throw a flashbang to hamper the opponent's aiming, a smoke grenade to cover up your tracks, or a HE grenade to flush him out. Sometimes, strafing and even jumping can increase your chances of surviving.
- Use a Smoke Grenade to cover choke points, half-open doors, or the spot that can be used by snipers as the killing zone to protect yourself.
Like the AWP, the Scout is not effective at close ranges unless the user is experienced on scoring headshots without zooming in. If possible, try to force close quarter combat with the user. Almost any weapons that has a better rate of fire than the Scout can easily take an user down.

Comparison to the AWP

Positive

Higher rate of fire (48 rpm vs 41 rpm)
More accurate without using the scope
Cheaper weapon cost ($2750 vs $4750)
Lighter (260 unit per seconds vs 210 unit per seconds)
Faster reload time (2.3 or 3 seconds vs 2.5 or 3.5 seconds)
More ammo in reserve (90 rounds vs 30 rounds)
Cheaper ammo cost ($80 vs $125)
Shots fired at long range are harder to hear than the AWP

Neutral

Both weapons are bolt-action sniper rifles
Same magazine capacity
Both weapons are equipped with a scope, thus no crosshair

Negative

Lower damage (the Scout will not be able to kill targets instantly unless it scores a headshot or the target has low health)
At long range, the Scout is less accurate than the AWP (The AWP has 100% accuracy when standing still or when crouching while the Scout has only 100% accuracy when fired at a crouched position)

Appearances

Condition Zero

In Tour of Duty, there are 3 bots that use the Scout as their main weapon. They are:

Weasel (T): Easy (with the Glock-18 as a sidearm)
Splinter (T): Fair (with the Glock-18 as a sidearm)
Eddie (CT): Cost 2 (with the Five-SeveN as a sidearm)

Other bots will purchase the Scout when they cannot afford the AWP. If they cannot afford the Scout either, they will buy the Galil/FAMAS, which is followed by the MP5 as a last resort.

Deleted Scenes

The Scout has appeared in many missions of Deleted Scenes, mainly because it is a very balanced sniper rifle and, in Deleted Scenes, the Scout is considered to be CT exclusive. Unlike its multiplayer version, the Scout has ability to kill enemies with one shot in easy difficulty, in which players can treat the Scout like the AWP. The Scout appears in the following missions:

Building Recon: Found on a bed.
DrugLab: Found inside a house after the canyon part.
Motorcade Assault: Found on a weapon box at the area where many hostile snipers are present that are protecting the VIP.
Thin Ice: Found above a container box.
Downed Pilot: Found in the wreckage of the plane.
Rise Hard: Found next to a vent and before the Hind encounter.
Run!: As a starting loadout, also used for assassinating the Yakuza leader.

Achievements

Counter-Strike: Source

Weapon

Schmidt Scout Expert
Kill 1,000 enemy players with the Schmidt Scout.

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.

Gallery

Main article: Schmidt Scout/Gallery

Trivia

The Scout was first added in beta 4.0 of Counter-Strike.
The database file name for this weapons is scout.
Fierce debate almost always surfaces in public servers (but rarely licensed tournaments) about the advantages of skill vs power in respect to the Scout and AWP. The conclusion on the Scout supporter's side is that the AWP is too "cheap" and easy to kill with and "true" players use precision and fast internet to land headshots with the Scout. The AWP side however, debates that there is no need to sacrifice time and effort to kill an enemy with an inferior weapon when the threat can be ended with one shot. An additional argument is that the AWP is often used in tournaments and leagues by professional players. A very high degree of skill is required to use this weapon well, much higher than the one needed to use the AWP correctly. In the right hands, this weapon is deadly, because of the fast animations, reload time and high stun resistance.
- Since many servers ban the AWP and semi-automatic sniper rifles, the Scout is usually the best weapon to use for long range combat.
The Steyr Scout in the German version of Left 4 Dead 2 is a direct port of the Counter-Strike: Source version, which uses a 15 round magazine instead of 10.
In Deleted Scenes, the Scout has a different firing sound and the capability to kill in one hit.
- In Deleted Scenes, if the Scout is used by a friendly NPC, it won't do maximum damage to the player, but it can gib other NPCs. However, if used by the player, it won't gib anything but will kill most NPCs instantly.
- The Scout appears to be exclusive to CTs in Deleted Scenes while the AWP appears to be exclusive to the Terrorists.
- If the Scout is used by an NPC, there is no laser sight, even if that NPC attacks the player. However, this can only be seen in third party missions.
While wielding the Scout, players has a running velocity of 260 units, meaning users can somehow run faster than without any equipment, including the knife.
In Counter-Strike: Source, the in-game model appears to be that of the first-generation Steyr Scout, distinguishable by how the scope is mounted towards the front of the rifle, rather than at the back like most sniper rifles.
- However, the player model features the scope on the back of the rifle.
This weapon is not available in Assassination mode. In fact, this is the only weapon that cannot be purchased on both teams in assassination.
- Although players cannot buy the Steyr Scout in Assassination maps, in Counter-strike 1.5, the Scout can be bought by pressing 5 on the keyboard while in the rifle purchase menu. This has been fixed in Counter-Strike 1.6.
In Counter-Strike: Condition Zero and Deleted Scenes, the Scout model is based on the Steyr Scout Elite.
The only Counter-Terrorism unit to officially use the Scout in real-life are the Taiwanese Thunder Squad and Kazakhstani SWAT units.
Even though the Scout is a bolt-action sniper rifle, the bolt animation is not shown in third-person in Counter-Strike: Source, unlike the AWP. The user will simply fire the Scout without ever cocking the gun like in older versions.

External links

Steyr Scout at Wikipedia.