Left 4 Dead 2 (2009)

Left 4 Dead 2 is a 2009 multiplayer survival horror first-person shooter developed by Valve Software, and the sequel to the 2008 Left 4 Dead. The game was released for Windows and Xbox 360 in November 2009, Mac OS X in October 2010, and Linux in July 2013. Set in Southern United States during a zombie outbreak, players try to survive the outbreak by fighting their way through the horde, controlling one of the four survivors: Coach, Ellis, Nick, and Rochelle.

The following weapons appear in the video game Left 4 Dead 2:

Overview

Left 4 Dead 2 inherits much of the gameplay from its predecessor. In the regular campaign mode, up to four players must cooperate and fight their way through hordes of zombies to reach either a safe house at the end of a chapter or a rescue vehicle at the end of a campaign (which is made up of 3-5 chapters). The game is released with five campaigns: Dead Center, Dark Carnival, Swamp Fever, Hard Rain, and The Parish. Additional campaigns are released in three DLCs: The Passing, The Sacrifice, and Cold Stream. Also added in these DLCs are ports of all campaigns from the original Left 4 Dead, featuring the original survivors but with the new enemy types and weapons from L4D2.

Weapons in Left 4 Dead 2 function similarly to the first game, but many new weapons are added. Players can carry one secondary weapon and one primary weapon. Secondary weapon options include a singe pistol (P220), dual-wielding two pistols (P220 + Glock 26), a magnum pistol (Desert Eagle), or an assortment of new melee weapons. Primary weapons include shotguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, as well as the M79 grenade launcher and the M60 machine gun. Secondary weapons have infinite reserve ammo, while primary weapons have limited reserve ammo and need to be resupplied with ammo piles; the M79 and the M60 are the exception as they cannot be resupplied, and are dropped when their ammo is used up.

Aside from a few places with fixed item spawns, spawns of weapons and other equipment are generally randomized under an "AI Director" system, which determines the spawns of enemies and items to provide a continuously engaging experience. Weapons are generally divided into two tiers, a lower tier 1 and a higher tier 2. Using the secondary fire key will make the player character perform a non-damaging shove with their weapon, which stumbles and pushes back enemies.

Most guns in L4D2 feature equipped flashlights; the lights from these flashlights move accordingly with the weapon's animations.

L4D2 also features deployable crates of incendiary ammo and explosive ammo, which are uncommon spawns and occupy the position of the player's first aid kit. Once deployed, each player can use the deployed ammo crate once, giving their primary weapon an extra magazine of the special ammunition. L4D2 also features laser sight pickups, which are immediately fitted to the player's primary weapon when picked up; in most cases, the lasers appear to come out of the primary weapon's attached flashlight.

On a final note, weapons in L4D2 are not formally named in gameplay; names of weapons noted on this page are primarily sourced from weapon names as marked in Whitaker's gun shop (a location visited in Dead Center chapter 2), as well as some inferred names based on Source entity names.

Pistols

SIG-Sauer P220 SAO

A custom SIG-Sauer P220 is now the default handgun for the Survivors, replacing the M1911 in the first game. It is modeled after a P220 SAO (sans the beavertail) with a slightly shorter than standard slide and barrel. The gun also features a custom reverse two-tone finish, custom sights, and an underbarrel LT-TLP08 tactical flashlight.

SIG-Sauer P220R pistol with Satin Nickel Finish - .45 ACP

The pistol's in-game viewmodel. Note the frame-mounted thumb safety, only found on the P220 SAO.

Nick opens a cash register with his P220 in the cinematic trailer, played at game startup.

Nick draws a P220.

The P220 in idle.

The P220 mid-recoil, showing an ejected casing and the muzzle flash.

Reloading the P220 mid-magazine. Note that it is marked "Triaton P220" on the slide.

Empty reloading a P220; interestingly, the pistols have different reload animations for empty vs non-empty, but only the pistols have this trait.

Releasing the slide.

The melee animation is a quick pistol whip.

Glock 26

A Glock 26 pistol is used as the second handgun for dual wielding. It has the Glock 26's short grip and slide shape, but its slide and frame are stretched to the length of a standard sized Glock like the Glock 17. The Glock is also the world model used for pistol spawns, even though the first pistol the player character will pick up is a P220; the P220 worldmodel appears when the player switches their sidearm and drops their pistols.

Glock 26 - 9x19mm Parabellum. Note the rounded shape of the slide end, something not found on full-sized Glock models until well after the game released.

The Glock pistol's world model.

The Glock pistol's view model. Note the extended magazine.

Nick draws a Glock and a P220. Note that the Glock's slide is being racked.

Idle with the akimbo pistols.

The Glock mid-recoil. The pistols are fired alternatingly, going from the P220 to the Glock and back.

Non-empty reload; Nick drops both pistols' magazines...

...reloads the Glock...

...and reloads the P220.

The P220 locks back when it runs dry. Reloading right now will play the empty reload animation below instead of the non-empty reload above.

Empty reload; the empty magazines are dropped...

...the Glock is reloaded...

...the P220 is reloaded...

...and both pistols' slides are released; only the SIG is lucky enough to actually have its slide release pressed, though.

Desert Eagle Mark XIX

The Desert Eagle Mark XIX is a new sidearm in Left 4 Dead 2. It has more recoil and a slower rate of fire than the other pistols, and cannot be dual-wielded, but it has much more stopping power and greater accuracy. The pistol holds 8 rounds like the .44 Magnum version, though the sign in Whitaker's gun shop claims it is the .50 AE version. This weapon usually kills common infected with a single shot.

Interestingly, its flashlight is attached via a rifle scope ring mount and an aftermarket underbarrel rail.

Magnum Research Desert Eagle Mark XIX - .50 AE

The Desert Eagle model. Note the lack of a bore on the muzzle end.

Drawing the Desert Eagle with a rack of the slide.

Nick holds the Desert Eagle in front of Whitaker's gun shop.

Mid-recoil. Note the cocking serrations visible inside the wafer-thin rear part of the slide.

Mid-magazine reload of the Desert Eagle.

Empty reload. Note the markings, which say "1337 WEAPON INDUSTRIES (yOgi) PWN" and "MADE IN SHYVILLE".

Releasing the slide.

Shotguns

Remington 870 Police Magnum Riot

The "Pump Shotgun" returns from the first game with a new but similar model. It now resembles the Remington 870 Police Magnum Riot Shotgun, but it still has a Ithaca 37-like magazine tube.

Remington 870 Police Magnum Riot Shotgun - 12 Gauge

The Pump Shotgun model.

"Weren't they supposed to be saving our asses?" Coach holds a "Pump Shotgun" in the cinematic trailer.

Drawing the shotgun with a pump of its handle. Note that the front of the magazine tube is disconnected from the rest of the magazine tube, likely a modeling error.

Coach holds the Remington 870 Police Magnum Riot.

Coach fires the shotgun.

Reloading. Note the "Police Tactical 12" marking, completely different from the "Renegade Rangemaster" markings of the first game.

The melee push animation of the shotgun.

Remington 870 Marine Magnum

The "Chrome Shotgun" is a new pump-action shotgun in Left 4 Dead 2, modeled after a Remington 870 Marine Magnum with a Mariner NP3 finish. It has a ventilated rib and ghost ring sights. It has a tighter spread than the "Pump Shotgun", but deals slightly less damage.

Remington 870 Marine Magnum - 12 Gauge

The in-game model of the "Chrome Shotgun. Note the vented rib with a tactical sight sitting on the top, not a feature of the real weapon.

Coach fires his Remington 870 Marine Magnum.

Drawing the shotgun. The two pump-action shotguns have identical animations.

Nick holds the "Chrome Shotgun".

The shotgun's pumping animation.

Reloading the shotgun. Note that it is also marked with "Police Tactical 12". The two pump-action shotguns' reloads also consist exclusively of loading shells into the magazine, without any chambering animation, even if the weapon was emptied.

Benelli M4 Super 90

The Benelli M4 shotgun returns from the first game, again as a Second Tier shotgun. Despite being modeled with a civilian 4-shot magazine tube, it has a 10-round capacity in-game; this capacity in reality would require an aftermarket magazine tube extension, which would've extended the magazine tube beyond the shotgun's barrel. A flashlight is clipped on the weapon's magazine tube, right in front of the handguard.

Benelli M4 Super 90 with 4-shot tube - 12 Gauge

The Benelli M4 Super 90 model.

Drawing the shotgun; Coach extends the shotgun's collapsible stock.

Coach holds the Benelli M4.

Mid-recoil.

Reloading.

Regardless if the shotgun was empty or not, the end of the reload always shows the users operating the shotgun's bolt.

Franchi SPAS-12

The Franchi SPAS-12 in its semi-auto mode is a new semi-automatic shotgun added in Left 4 Dead 2. It has a 10 round capacity, while the real SPAS-12 has a max capacity of 8+1. Compared to the Benelli M4, it has a tighter shot spread and does more damage per shot, but to compensate, it shoots less pellets per shell.

Franchi SPAS-12 with the stock folded and the butt-hook removed - 12 Gauge

The SPAS-12 shotgun model.

"Kill all sons of bitches!" Ellis pumps a round into his newfound SPAS-12.

The drawing animation of the SPAS-12; Coach gives the charging handle a forceful rack.

Coach holds the SPAS-12.

Unlike Gordon Freeman, Coach loads the shells into the correct place when reloading.

Like the Benelli M4, the end of a reload always shows the users operating the bolt of the shotgun.

SMGs

Ingram MAC-10

The MAC-10 is a new submachine gun added in Left 4 Dead 2. It is fitted with the famous Mitchell Werbell suppressor, a strap on the barrel to serve as a makeshift foregrip (like in Counter-Strike: Source), and a flashlight attached to the suppressor with zip ties. Based on the fact that it does more damage and has more recoil than the Uzi, it's likely chambered in .45 ACP. The MAC-10 holds an incorrect 50 rounds in a 30-round magazine.

Ingram MAC-10 with a Mitchell Werbell suppressor - .45 ACP

The MAC-10 model.

Nick unloads a MAC-10 on a Tank in the cinematic trailer. Note that the muzzle flash is still present despite the suppressor. This also happens in-game in third person.

Rochelle draws her MAC-10. Note that the strap is completely static and does not react to gravity in animations like these.

Rochelle idles with the MAC-10. Despite the fact that the front strap is supposed to be used as a makeshift foregrip (like in Counter-Strike: Source), no characters actually use it ingame, preferring instead to put their offhand just in front of the trigger on the underside of the weapon, as they do with the Uzi. Also note that the bolt is forward, as it was incorrectly depicted as closed-bolt until the Last Stand update.

Firing the MAC-10. Note that even though the muzzle flash is absent, the surrounding areas around the player are still lit up.

Rochelle reloads her MAC-10. Note that the magazine actually has bullets in it.

Finishing the reload with a rack of the bolt.

IMI Uzi

The Uzi returns from the first game, featuring the exact same model and attributes of being a tier 1 weapon, having a 50 round capacity despite having a 32-round magazine model, and having a flashlight taped on its handguard.

IMI Uzi - 9x19mm

The Uzi model.

Rochelle and Nick open up on the zombie horde. Nick has an Uzi.

Rochelle draws her Uzi with a rack of the bolt. This shot also shows the flashlight on the right side of the handguard.

Holding the Uzi.

Rochelle unloads her Uzi on the park. Note the reciprocation of the charging handle; this was fixed in the Last Stand update.

Rochelle reloads her Uzi.

Racking the bolt at the end of a reload. The two SMGs have the exact same animations.

Rifles

M16A2

The M16A2 from the first game appears in Left 4 Dead 2. Though it says "M16 A2" on the lower receiver, it fires in full auto like the M16A1 or M16A3. It has the highest rate of fire out of all the assault rifles, and it still has an unrealistic magazine capacity of 50 rounds despite being modeled with 30-round STANAG magazines.

Colt M16A2 select-fire rifle (Safe, Semi, 3-round burst) - 5.56x45mm

The M16A2 model.

Nick and Rochelle unload on the zombie horde. Rochelle has an M16.

The group readies to kill some zombies. Rochelle carries an M16.

The draw animation of the M16A2 shows the survivors racking the charging handle.

Holding the M16A2.

Firing the M16A2.

Reloading the weapon; for some reason, the magazine model has a casing-like model clipped inside of it.

Whacking the bolt catch.

AKM

The AKM is a new weapon in Left 4 Dead 2. It features a 40-round capacity despite being modeled with standard 30-round AK magazines, and also has the lowest rate of fire of the assault rifles, but makes up for that with a higher damage. The in-game model has the wider front sight of an AK-47. Like the MAC-10, it has a flashlight secured via zip ties to the weapon's handguard.

AKM - 7.62x39mm

The in-game AKM model.

The draw animation of the AKM shows the survivors pulling the AKM's charging handle with their index finger.

Holding the AKM.

Firing the weapon. Note that a model of a full cartridge stands in for the casing model.

Reloading the AKM.

Chambering the weapon.

FN SCAR-L

The FN SCAR-L is a new assault rifle in L4D2. It holds an unrealistic 60 rounds of ammunition while being modeled with a 30 round STANAG magazine, and fires in a three-shot burst, a firing mode that real SCAR-Ls do not have. It has a very high accuracy and deals more damage than the M16. Its model seems to have been based on the FN SCAR 16S, a civilian version of the SCAR-L with a 16" barrel and a M16A2 flash-hider.

Third-generation FN SCAR-L - 5.56x45mm

FNH USA SCAR 16S Black - 5.56x45mm NATO

The FN SCAR-L model. Note the missing side rail.

Ellis readies his SCAR-L. Note 16" barrel.

Drawing the SCAR-L.

Holding the weapon.

Firing the weapon.

The reload animation starts with the user manually pulling back the bolt; this is unnecessary in reality, as the SCAR's bolt automatically locks back upon empty.

Replacing the magazine. Note the markings on the side of the weapon, which claims that the weapon is a "MK 17 Mod 3". "MK 17" is the US military designation of the 7.62mm SCAR-H (though its full designation is "MK 17 Mod 0", with "Mod 3" implying a future variant of the weapon). The magazine also looks disproportionately large compared to the in-game M16, for some reason.

Pressing the bolt catch.

Ruger Mini-14

The Ruger Mini-14 returns from the first game. Like in the first game, it is the most accurate weapon in the game, and has a capacity of 15 rounds despite being modeled with a 10 round magazine.

Ruger Mini-14 Standard Model Semiautomatic Rifle (Pre-2005) with 30 round magazine attached - 5.56x45mm

The Mini-14 model.

Ellis holds the Ruger Mini-14.

The scope reticle.

Ellis fires the Ruger Mini-14 from the hip.

Removing the old magazine.

Slamming in a new magazine. There is no chambering animation.

Heckler & Koch G3SG/1

The Heckler & Koch G3SG/1 is a new scoped semi-auto sniper rifle in L4D2. It is modeled after the H&K G3SG/1 (or a scoped HK91 given the absense of a paddle magazine release), with some features from the H&K MSG90A1, namely the stock, trigger group, and barrel length. It also has an AK-74 muzzle brake. Its magazine holds 30 rounds even though it's modeled with a 20 round magazine.

Heckler & Koch G3SG/1 - 7.62x51mm NATO.

Heckler & Koch MSG90A1 - 7.62x51mm NATO. Note the forward assist.

The HK G3SG/1 model. Note the AK-74 muzzle brake, possibly recycled from a scrapped AK-74M model.

The HK G3SG/1 model. Note the absence of a forward assist.

Ellis gets his Sniper Rifle knocked away.

Ellis draws the rifle. The drawing animation gives a slightly better look at the body of the sniper rifle.

Idle.

Ellis pulls back the bolt to begin the reload.

Removing the old magazine.

Inserting a new magazine. Note that the magazine is loaded with spent cases.

Thumbing the bolt handle to close the bolt.

Machine Guns

Browning M2

The Browning M2 heavy machine gun appears as the standard mounted machine gun of Left 4 Dead 2.

A Browning M2HB on a vehicle mount - .50BMG

The Browning M2 model.

Rochelle fires a Browning M2.

Rochelle observes the Browning M2 mounted on the balcony of the plantation visited at the end of Swamp Fever.

Rochelle mans the M2 HMG.

Rochelle opens fire. Note that casings can actually be seen ejecting as the gun fires.

The M2 overheats; compared to the L4D1 Minigun, the M2 is both quicker to overheat and takes longer (significantly longer) to cool down.

The red hot barrel can be seen even when the M2 isn't being manned.

GE M134 Minigun

The GE M134 Minigun from the first game appears in L4D2 ports of the first game's campaigns. The time needed to spool up the barrels and start firing seems to be slightly decreased.

General Electric M134 with first pattern spade grip mount and crosshair sights. Note the lack of flash suppressor and three disked barrel cluster - 7.62x51mm NATO

The GE M134 Minigun model as seen from the first game.

Bill looks at the mounted Minigun at the rooftop of Mercy Hospital.

Bill uses the Minigun.

The Minigun fires.

The Minigun overheats.

M60 machine gun

The M60 machine gun was added to Left 4 Dead 2 post-release. It is found in five campaigns: L4D2's ports of No Mercy, Death Toll, and The Sacrifice from L4D1, as well as The Passing and Cold Stream. The M60 carries 150 rounds of ammo and cannot be reloaded or resupplied; once the 150 rounds are used up, the gun is immediately dropped much like with the Grenade Launcher.

An Achievement called "Till it Goes Click" (a reference to The Big Lebowski) requires the player to mow down 25 infected with the M60 without letting go of the trigger.

M60 - 7.62x51mm NATO

The M60 model.

Ellis holds the M60. Note that for whatever reason, the cartridges on the belt are pitch black.

Firing the M60.

Looking downwards shows a bit more of the M60.

Other

M79 grenade launcher

The M79 grenade launcher acts appears as a special primary weapon with an uncommon spawn rate. It deals high explosive damage but is single shot, requiring a reload after every shot, and its explosions can easily damage other survivors. The M79 comes with 30 grenades plus one already in the weapon, and cannot be resupplied; once all ammo are used up, the M79 is dropped and the survivor is left with just their secondary weapon.

The M79 can kill a Tank in only 2-5 hits (on Normal difficulty). It can also use incendiary and fragmentation rounds if incendiary or fragmentation ammo boxes are used. For some bizarre reason, the M79 can also use a laser sight, even though it grants it with almost no benefit.

M79 grenade launcher - 40mm

The M79 grenade launcher model. Note that the trigger is missing in this image for some reason.

Ellis fires a 40mm round at a Tank.

The group readies to kill some zombies. Ellis has an M79.

Nick holds an M79.

Nick fires the M79.

The fired grenade round creates unrealistic smoke effects mid-flight, likely to help the players know where is the grenade flying towards.

The grenade round explodes, and Nick opens up his M79 to reload.

The fired grenade's casing is removed; a full grenade appears to stand in for the casing. Note that the casing is marked with "PWN 40MM HE NADE", but only "PWN" can be seen here.

Nick inserts a new grenade round.

Flicking the M79 shut.

German/International Version

Because of the strict censorship in Germany (and also in Australia and elsewhere in the world), Valve decided to add 4 Counter-Strike: Source weapons to those versions of the game as compensation. Players were able to use them in non-censored versions of the game if they play with someone with the German version or in custom campaigns set to spawn them, before they were officially added to all versions of the game with the Last Stand update in 2020.

Aside from the addition of the shove animation (which are extremely generic), all of the animations for the international weapons are identical to their animations in Counter-Strike: Source.

Heckler & Koch MP5N

The MP5N is one of the four international weapons in L4D2. It has a lower rate of fire than the normal SMGs in the game, but it has a slightly higher accuracy than Uzi while its damage per shot is almost the same as the MAC-10 while keeping the Uzi's damage-per-second stat. Like all SMGs in the game, it has a 50-round capacity, incorrect for this weapon instead of the real 30.

H&K MP5N - 9x19mm

Nick aims the console-acquired MP5N at Ellis' head.

Nick reloads his MP5N, while looking at the world model. Note the laser sight appearing from ether, as the developers never bothered with the flashlight attachments and didn't model a flashlight-equipped handguard for Counter-Strike: Source like the one in Counter-Strike: Condition Zero.

Steyr Scout

The Steyr Scout with an extended magazine adapter is one of the four international weapons in L4D2. It has a lower rate of fire than other sniper rifles in game, but good accuracy. Erroneously holds 15 rounds instead of 10.

Steyr Scout - 7.62x51mm NATO.

Nick holds the console-acquired Scout. The bolt along with its handle is positioned too low this time, making the bolt itself invisible.

Nick ~~holds his Scout like a pistol~~ reloads his Scout, while looking at the world model. Note the scope is mounted differently between the viewmodel and the worldmodel; this was also the case in Counter-Strike: Source.

Accuracy International AWSM

The Accuracy International AWSM is one of the four international weapons in L4D2. It has the slowest rate of fire (excluding the Grenade Launcher) in the game but inflicts a high amount of damage per shot. Incorrectly holds 20 rounds instead of 5.

Accuracy International AWSM with fixed stock - .338 Lapua Magnum

Nick holds the console-acquired AWSM with an invisible laser sight.

Nick hits Coach with the AWSM's solid stock, while simultaneously breaking the wooden pallet.

Nick reloads his AWSM this time without magazine clipping through the mag well, while looking at the world model with solid stock and absent bipod.

SIG SG 552

The SIG SG 552 is one of the four international weapons in L4D2. It has a 2x scope and two rates of fire, determined by whether the scope is in use. Without looking down the scope, it has the highest automatic rate of fire out of all assault rifles. Incorrectly holds 50 rounds instead of 20.

SIG SG 552 - 5.56x45mm.

Nick holds the console-acquired SG 552, while Coach balances on a chair.

Nick reloads his SG 552. Note fire selector is set to semi-auto.

World model. Note the laser sight appearing out of thin air like the flashlight.

Unusable Weapons

AK-74M

The AK-74M appears in several concept arts and in-game campaign posters. It is worth noting that developer commentary says that the in-game AK-47 is partially AK-74, indicating that AKM might have replaced AK-74M at some point in development.

AK-74M - 5.45x39mm

A concept art piece. Most of them (including posters) show Coach and Nick with an AK-74M, and Rochelle and Ellis with a Mk. 18.

The poster of the Dark Carnival campaign. Pay attention to Nick's AK stock: note the cutout for a scope mount on its left side, a feature of AK-74M or the AK-100 series.

Mk. 18 Mod 0

The Mk. 18 Mod 0 appears in several concept arts and in-game campaign posters. It also appeared in several concept arts/posters for the previous game, specifically in Francis' hands. This may or may not be the same model later used in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive as its "M4A4".

Mk. 18 Mod 0 with LMT rear sight, Crane stock, and RIS foregrip - 5.56x45mm

A concept art piece. Note the similarities to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's "M4A4". Oh, and the closed scope covers.

The poster of The Parish campaign. Note the stock's shape, compare with the "M4A4".

Springfield Armory M1911-A1

The HUD icons for the Springfield Armory M1911-A1 pistols in Left 4 Dead is still used as the HUD icons for the single-wielded and dual-wielded pistols in Left 4 Dead 2, though the actual weapons have been changed to the P220 and the Glock 26, and the M1911 itself is not found in-game.

Springfield Armory M1911-A1 "Mil-Spec" Parkerized version with Springfield logo grips - .45 ACP

High Standard Model K-1200

The "Pump Shotgun"'s HUD icon still shows its HUD icon from the first game, which resembled a High Standard Model K-1200 Riot Deluxe Model, even though its actual model has been changed and now resembles a different shotgun.