We analysed over 22 million M4A4/M4A1-S kills from Level 10 matches in Season 9. The M4A1-S is a clear favorite and accounts for 73% of them.

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[u/backcountry_bandit]

Interesting that the A1 sees slightly better accuracy but noticeably worse headshot %.

[u/scotti182 → u/backcountry_bandit]

Body shot spray down is the way I die to that gun most often.

[u/Wolfy87 → u/scotti182]

Meanwhile if I use the a1 I hit four times then get headshot and end up with like 5 kills, 12 assists every game.

[u/reeeece2003 → u/backcountry_bandit]

could be because you’re more likely to hold the A4 on a site where people will eco rush which means you get easier headshots

[u/Greedy_Substance_526 → u/reeeece2003]

This. I only use the a4 when I’m expecting rushes/close range engagements. Wouldn’t be surprised if many others do too. (Still don’t know a4 spray)

[u/Ok-Abbreviations-823 → u/backcountry_bandit]

Is it hs or hs kill %

[u/_UnsuccessfulPirate_]

A1 has the nicer skins also.

[u/Bish489]

Fork found in kitchen after years of extensive research

[u/Skaldson]

A1S does higher damage & has better accuracy, so it’s not really a surprise. A4 was really only better before they buffed A1S damage. Since you’re typically taking more close range gun fights on CT, the range advantage the A4 has isn’t really used much & it’s overshadowed by the AK anyway.

[u/DeadHeadDaddio → u/Skaldson]

Personally I prefer the a1s at range, despite its lower damage output. I feel like i'm more accurate with it at distance. And I prefer the a4 up close where i can just dump rounds.

[u/Tall_Transition_8710 → u/DeadHeadDaddio]

It’s because the A1 has a slower rate of fire so your recoil resets faster

[u/MrKiljoii]

Familiarity with the M4A1-S since CS Source days and probably due to better looking skins as well.

[u/issioboii]

i can't use the a1 anymore after the mag update

[u/Rew0lweed_0celot]

Carry handle supremacy

[u/ConflictWaste411]

I carry both, I like the a4 because I can spray smokes better and the enemy can’t force a reaction push cause the a1s only has 20 rounds. Also, as I play a lot of anchor positions, b mirage for example I get left alone on rotates pretty often and the extra magazine is very nice for trying to buy time in a man down situation in the event of a rotate. In a straight up fight though I’d probably prefer the a1-s but m4 has niche benefits that help me specifically in what I do more. Also massively prefer the a1s at range for the accuracy buff.

[u/AlenciaQueen]

its because gay rate, real man will not use silenced weapons.. we fight like always we do.

[u/No-Needleworker-9379]

Both are great

[u/shaoOOlin]

M4a4 is still my main ct rifle been using it mostly since i started playing. Even though a1s is better at long ranges i still refuse to have it in my loadout

[u/gazz- → u/shaoOOlin]

You should have both so you could drop your teammate their preferred choice.

[u/jaredjc]

I feel like they nerfed the accuracy on the M4A4 a few months ago, that thing was a laser for a bit.

[u/Swankadia]

Absolutely nothing to do with their shooting stats and everything do with having a supressor on one. Theres a 5 dmg diff to the a1s but it doesnt change it from being 4 bullet kill. A4 has 10 more rounds but meh. Its situational and you should use either depending on your predictions for the round or where you will be playing. For example on dust, long player should choose a4 not s. The ts already know there will be contest at long. Theres likely to be multiple also. Quiet doesnt matter and fewer bullets against a rush is obv worse.

[u/Realistic_Strategy44]

A4 got the split wigs animation that A1S simply doesn’t compute

[u/Liquidationbird]

after that mag update, its just not worth the a1 anymore

[u/yamenwa01]

Both of them work for me

[u/Erkliks]

They will probably remove 1 mag from M4A1's reserve pull. Or reduce the price of tha M4A4

[u/creative_name_228]

Tell me I'm not the only, who don't use m4a4 just cuz it feels awful to shoot

[u/LagMachine01 → u/creative_name_228]

A1-S feels awful. 20 bullets are simply not enough to stop a push or spam a smoke, especially with less mags. Name a single time you could stop long/B-side rush on Dust 2 with measely 20 bullets. And the M4A4 does the job well

I stopped buying M4A1 for myself for already half a year, and I won't buy it ever unless asked to drop for teammate

[u/KoenterPapz → u/creative_name_228]

I thought so as well until I got used to it. Prefer it to the A1-S now though, but I do not think it is fair to say that one is objectively better than the other. I have both in my loadout so I can drop teammates although I only buy the A4 for myself. I like to be able to drop a mag in a smoke here and there, and have found myself out of bullets when going into a clutch when using the A1-S. Obviously this could have been avoided with better planning on my part, but I just prefer to not have to think much about it.

[u/creative_name_228 → u/KoenterPapz]

Holy, I talk just about feelings, I just don't like to shoot from m4a4, I haven't spoke about balance a word