Wondering what pistol to use on eco rounds? Keep reading for an overview of the three pistols in the $500 slot. All advice is drawn from statistical comparisons between the Five-SeveN and the CZ on CT side as well as the Tec-9 and the CZ on T side.
Between the reliable $300 P250 and the iconic $700 hand cannon Desert Eagle lie the middle grounds of three distinct $500 pistols: the Tec-9, Five-SeveN, and CZ75-Auto. Often seen as ideal weapons for eco or half-buy rounds, it is crucial to understand their differences in order to determine which device of destruction is best for you. Because you’re restricted to only one $500 pistol — similar to the (much less one-sided) Desert Eagle versus R8 choice in the $700 slot —it’s key to decide which one you prefer before heading into a match.
For the T-side you must choose between the Tec-9 or the CZ75, with the Counter-Terrorists facing a similar choice between the CZ75 or Five-SeveN as well. Being vastly different in their capabilities while still occupying the same slot, some comparisons need to be made in order to paint a clearer picture of your choice. To start, here is a quick breakdown of each pistol, detailing which situations they excel in.
The Five-SeveN is a semi-automatic pistol exclusive to the CT-side. It shines with its high armor penetration and ability to kill in one headshot at close or medium ranges. These facets combine to make it an effective choice even against armored opponents. Alongside that, double-tapping with the Five-SeveN is very easy given the low recoil in its first two shots, meaning that you could score efficient headshot kills in low economy situations.
A large magazine size of 20 bullets coupled with a gargantuan reserve of 100 relegates ammo conservation to an afterthought. Despite this, the Five-SeveN’s fairly high spread means you should steer away from continuously firing past the first three bullets. A faster reload time compared to the other $500 pistols is the cherry on top of this reliable, armor-shredding pistol.
However, the Five-SeveN has a few drawbacks to consider. In particular are its high running inaccuracy and its low fire rate of 400 RPM, the latter of which results in it having the slowest time-to-kill out of the three pistols compared. At its price, and without a specific eco round niche, it may behoove you to buy a cheaper P250 or stronger Deagle instead (economy permitting).
Opposite the CT’s Five-SeveN is the Terrorist-exclusive, semi-automatic Tec-9. Similar to its counterpart, the Tec-9 boasts a hefty 18 round magazine with 90 in reserve and one-shot headshot lethality against helmets. It also features high armor penetration and extreme accuracy, making the Tec-9 the Terrorist force-buy pistol of choice.
The Tec-9 sustains an infamous aptitude for rushing in and catching Counter-Terrorists off-guard. With significant first-shot accuracy, high rate of fire, and incredibly low running inaccuracy, the Tec-9 thrives in chaos and movement. It also has the highest base damage out of the three pistols, giving it the fastest time-to-kill compared to its competitors. The Tec-9 is about as accurate while running as the Five-SeveN and CZ are while standing still. This means that running and tap firing while bursting onto a site is an actual, valid strategy to try and overwhelm your fully-armored enemies.
Despite the strengths of this rush-loving gun, there are some weaknesses present. The high rate of fire may lure you into a false sense of security, hoping that eventually one of the many bullets may hit. However, random recoil and heavy inaccuracy after the first few shots can lead to your downfall.
The CZ-75 — accessible to both Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists alike — is the only fully automatic pistol available. It is markedly different from its $500 alternatives, showcasing an exceptionally fast fire rate but hampered by limited ammunition and challenging recoil. The CZ-75 excels in quickly killing a singular opponent with a deadly spray — at a fire rate of 600 RPM, it equals that of the AK-47 or AUG. If you can learn to control the difficult recoil, you could efficiently harness its very fast TTK to kill with one bullet to the head and one more anywhere else.
Unfortunately, a fully automatic pistol must come with some downsides. Of note, the CZ carries only two magazines — 12 bullets in the starting clip, and one more set of 12 in reserve. As such, this is not the type of pistol to spray and pray — you must be certain that your bullets are hitting someone or else you will quickly run out of options. The slow reload and equip times discourage using it as a secondary weapon in conjunction with your primary as well.
High recoil, spread, and disastrous damage drop-off also causes the CZ to be ineffective for spraying past close range (100 units or 3 meters). It is also more inaccurate when standing still compared to the Tec-9 or Five-SeveN, meaning tap firing is not much of an option either. Lastly, it only has a kill award of $100 per kill compared to $300 per kill for all other pistols.
As a Terrorist, your goal is moving and taking map control from the Counter-Terrorists. Unless you are lurking or holding for pushes, the half-buys or low economy rounds that would require a Tec-9 or CZ involve bursting onto site as a collective unit. With this in mind, the Tec-9 is universally preferred on the T-side, given its insane running accuracy and one-tap potential.
However, there are specific cases where the CZ-75 can be useful. If you are aware of certain repeated CT aggressions, the CZ is an excellent weapon as a lurk on a light buy to ensure a quick stop to the push. Ideally, you are holding for one CT to push, in order to quickly kill them and take their gun. High inaccuracy while moving or at long ranges means that entering a site with a CZ is strongly discouraged.
Determining which pistol gets the $500 slot is much less one-sided on the CT-side. It is much more of a personal preference based on your playstyle while defending. The Five-SeveN is fairly versatile, lending itself more for multikill plays: it can be used in a coordinated push to eliminate the Terrorists before they execute. It can also be used in a position where you plan on getting a kill and then falling back further into site. The large number of bullets could be helpful against rushes, allowing you to dodge around cover without needing to reload.
The CZ is a much more niche weapon, best used as a one-and-done pistol. The goal of using it during an eco buy should be to quickly kill one enemy to then steal their stronger weapon. Painfully slow reload times ensure that you cannot hope to use 12 bullets in the initial push and live to reload the next magazine. Thus, playing only tight and close angles is strongly recommended. Just like on the T-side, only equip the CZ if you are comfortable using it and have a plan of action.
In general, the Tec-9 is the pistol that most stands out in its price category. As a cheap gun in a half or force buy, it completes the job of entering onto site very well, better than any other pistol could.
On the flip side, the precarious CT economy, with its expensive rifles and utility, gives less reason to buy more expensive pistols when low on money. Very low economy rounds may force your team to full save, barring the occasional P250 or Deagle buy. With slightly more money, force rounds will see MP9s, Scouts, and FAMASs being purchased instead. As such, the Five-SeveN or CZ most definitely sees less server time. It is still important to choose which of the two you prefer for more variety in your defensive plays.
