AP Pistol
Fully automatic sidearm valued for vehicle combat and short-range sustained fire.
Key Takeaways
The AP Pistol is a fully automatic handgun whose value comes from sustained close-range fire rather than precision shooting. Its availability and unlock conditions differ between Story Mode and GTA Online.
Automatic pistol identity
The AP Pistol fills the automatic-pistol role, allowing continuous fire from a compact handgun platform.
Close-range pressure
Its automatic fire is most useful when rapidly pressuring targets at short to medium range, where sustained fire matters more than careful single-shot placement.
Mode-specific availability
The AP Pistol appears in both Story Mode and GTA Online, but its progression, purchase, and unlock conditions must be checked separately for each mode.
Ammunition and control tradeoff
Automatic fire improves follow-up shots but can consume ammunition quickly and is less economical or controllable than deliberate semi-automatic pistol fire.
No Mk II conversion
Unlike some GTA Online firearms, the AP Pistol is not presented as a base weapon with a separate Mk II conversion path, so its progression should not be described through Mk II special-ammunition upgrades.
Compared with conventional pistols
Compared with a conventional semi-automatic pistol, the AP Pistol emphasizes sustained automatic fire over slower, more deliberate trigger control.
Overview
The AP Pistol is a compact automatic pistol in Grand Theft Auto V, available in both Story Mode and GTA Online. It occupies the space between a conventional sidearm and a compact automatic weapon, offering rapid fire in a pistol-sized package without becoming a full submachine gun.
Its defining trait is its automatic fire mode: the AP Pistol can continue firing while the trigger is held, making it more suitable for quick bursts and sustained close-range pressure than the game’s ordinary semi-automatic pistols. That behaviour gives it a distinct role even when several other sidearms are available.
The weapon is useful when the player wants a responsive backup gun that can be drawn and fired quickly at short or moderate distances. Its compact format keeps it relevant for general-purpose encounters, while its automatic operation rewards controlled bursts rather than treating it like a precision pistol. The practical result is a sidearm focused on handling and fire output rather than deliberate single-shot accuracy.
Compared with a standard pistol, the AP Pistol is less about carefully spaced trigger pulls and more about managing automatic fire. Compared with an SMG, it preserves the identity and convenience of a handgun, but does not replace the broader role of a dedicated automatic weapon. This makes it a practical middle ground for players who want automatic capability without changing their weapon category.
The AP Pistol exists as a base weapon rather than a separate Mk II family member. Its Story Mode and GTA Online appearances should be treated as distinct availability contexts, since acquisition, pricing, progression, and workshop systems can differ between them. Those mode-specific details belong to the acquisition and availability sections rather than to the weapon’s core identity.
Statistics
In-game values on GTA V's 0–100 stat bars, with the real magazine figure alongside. Taken from the project's verified weapons database, not from generated text.
- CategoryHandguns
- Magazine18
- Story ModeYes
- OnlineBase Game
- How to getAmmu-Nation
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar handguns
| Weapon | Damage | Fire Rate | Accuracy | Range | Magazine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Pistol | 28 | 85 | 40 | 18 | 18 |
| Stun Gun | — | 10 | 25 | 8 | 1 |
| Perico Pistol | 30 | 48 | 55 | 20 | 12 |
| Pistol | 30 | 45 | 55 | 20 | 12 |
| SNS Pistol | 26 | 48 | 45 | 15 | 6 |
Damage, fire rate, accuracy and range are GTA V's own 0–100 stat scales; magazine is the real figure. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- Story Mode: completion of “Three’s Company.”
- GTA Online: Rank 33.
- No separate DLC, NG+, or one-per-playthrough gate is required for the standard AP Pistol acquisition route.
- 01In Story Mode, complete the main story mission “Three’s Company.” After its completion, visit any Ammu-Nation store in Los Santos or Blaine County and purchase the AP Pistol from the pistol section. The weapon is a guaranteed store unlock rather than a random mission drop.
- 02In GTA Online, reach Rank 33, then visit any Ammu-Nation store and purchase the AP Pistol from the pistol section. Rank 33 is the Online unlock condition; the weapon is obtained through a guaranteed purchase, not a one-time reward or enemy drop.
Availability
Requires Complete “Monkey Business.”
Base-game Story Mode availability; not an Online unlock.
Requires Reach Rank 33.
Base GTA Online weapon; availability is separate from Story Mode progression.
Mechanics and Handling
Automatic Fire and Close-Range Control
The AP Pistol uses a fully automatic fire mode rather than the slower semiautomatic pattern of many conventional pistols. Holding the trigger produces a rapid stream of rounds, allowing quick follow-up hits without repeated trigger presses. This makes it effective when a target must be engaged immediately, but sustained fire is harder to place than short controlled bursts: recoil and accumulated spread make the later rounds less dependable, especially when firing at a more distant target.
Vehicle and Drive-By Handling
Its compact pistol format makes the AP Pistol suitable for drive-by use, where its automatic fire can put pressure on nearby targets while the player is moving. The weapon is most naturally used at short to moderate engagement distances; it can produce fast follow-up fire against a single target, but it is not a substitute for a rifle when precision and consistent reach matter. Firing in brief bursts helps preserve control while retaining its main advantage over slower pistols.
Reloads, Suppression, and Attachments
The AP Pistol reloads through a detachable magazine, so the main handling interruption comes when its magazine is exhausted rather than from a manual single-round loading process. Plan reloads between encounters or behind cover because automatic fire can consume ammunition quickly. In modes where the weapon can receive attachments, a suppressor changes its firing signature without changing the weapon into a different fire-mode class; it remains an automatic pistol. The attachment is therefore a stealth and presentation choice, not a replacement for burst control or range discipline.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Fully automatic fire lets the AP Pistol deliver rapid follow-up shots without requiring separate trigger pulls, making it effective when a target must be pressured at close range.
- Its compact pistol format makes it practical for vehicle combat and as a readily available backup weapon when a primary firearm is inconvenient.
- The weapon supports a suppressor, giving players a quieter option for engagements where reducing report is useful.
Weaknesses
- Automatic fire can consume ammunition quickly and makes sustained fire less forgiving when recoil or spread causes shots to miss.
- Its pistol-range role makes it less dependable than an SMG, rifle, or other longer-range firearm against distant targets or enemies spread across open ground.
- Its close-quarters strengths do not compensate for the broader engagement control offered by larger primary weapons in prolonged fights.
Best uses
- Use it for drive-by combat and other situations where a compact automatic weapon is more practical than a rifle.
- Use it in close-range encounters that reward rapid follow-up fire, particularly against exposed targets.
- Choose the suppressed configuration when a quieter sidearm is more useful than maximum engagement range or sustained primary-weapon capacity.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Class and firing role | Primary distinction from AP Pistol | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Pistol | Compact automatic fire in a pistol slot; balances mobility with sustained fire | Close-range personal defense and drive-by use | — |
| Combat Pistol | More deliberate shot-by-shot operation rather than AP Pistol's automatic fire | Players who prefer controlled pistol fire | — |
| Machine Pistol | An automatic alternative with a different handling and ammunition profile; compare the applicable mode and configuration | Close-range automatic fire when choosing between automatic sidearms | — |
| Micro SMG | Uses the SMG category rather than the AP Pistol's pistol category, affecting weapon-slot context and role | A compact automatic option when an SMG slot is preferable | — |
Used In
- Ammu-NationThe AP Pistol is sold by Ammu-Nation in Story Mode after the relevant story unlock and in GTA Online once its Online weapon requirement is met.
- Monkey BusinessIn Story Mode, completing Monkey Business makes the AP Pistol available for purchase at Ammu-Nation; the mission is an unlock association rather than a direct weapon reward.