The Pistol is mainly used at the start of the game as the first weapon the player obtains, or later when the player has run out of ammunition for other firearms. It is a reliable backup weapon, but not one that should be used as a primary, as it is outclassed by many other weapons in damage, fire rate, and overall effectiveness.
Design[]
The pistol frequently varies in design throughout the series, taking the form of many popular handguns.
2D Universe[]
In Grand Theft Auto, the Pistol in the HUD image resembles the Soviet Tokarev TT-33, but the in-game sprite (before picking up the weapon) shows a revolver instead, possibly a Colt.
In Grand Theft Auto 2, due to the game's futuristic setting, the Pistol assumes a generic design with a small barrel, though the model bears some resemblance to the Calico M950.
In various cutscenes throughout the storylines of GTA San Andreas, the Glock 17 pistol is used instead of the normal M1911. The cutscenes are the following: The Introduction short film, In the Beginning, Ryder, The Green Sabre (ending cutscene), First Base, Mike Toreno (second cutscene), Home Coming, and End of the Line (ending cutscene). Given the fact that the in-game Pistol's magazine capacity (17 rounds) is incorrect for an M1911 but correct for a Glock 17, it may be that the developers originally intended the player to use the model seen in the cutscenes, but this feature was left out for some reason. Note that the M1911 is still used in the cutscenes of the missions Outrider and High Noon.
In Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the Pistol is a Glock 17, being one of the most accurately depicted pistols in the GTA series. However, during the cutscene of Crazy '69', Ray Machowski carries a silver M1911A1 instead. In the first cutscene of Driving Mr Leone, Salvatore is holding the same Glock 17 pistol model that appears in several cutscenes in GTA San Andreas.
In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Pistol is modeled after a Beretta 92F, a modification of the original Beretta 92. It could be intended to be the nearly identical military version, the Beretta M9, likely to do with the fact that the M9 was the standard issue sidearm for the US military, and the game starts off with the protagonist Victor Vance serving in the U.S. Army. However, the game is set in 1984; the 92F was produced during this year, but the M9 was introduced in 1985, replacing the Colt M1911 as the standard U.S. Army sidearm. Also, the magazine capacity of 17 rounds is slightly larger than the Beretta's 15 (there are 17-round magazines for the real Beretta, but they were not in existence in 1984). In the cutscenes of the missions Nice Package, The Mugshot Longshot, Burning Bridges, and Last Stand (ending cutscene), a silver Beretta is used instead of the grey one seen during normal gameplay.
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
In Grand Theft Auto IV, the Pistol is an incorrectly textured Glock 17. "22" is inscribed on the slide, but there is no locking block pin behind the takedown lever, indicating that it is in fact a Glock 17, not a 22. The in-game 9mm caliber and magazine capacity are also those of a Glock 17. The sights on the model are incorrect; the gun's front sight is a duplicate of the twin-post rear sight.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]
“Standard lackely side arm. Its 17 bullet clip doesn't have much stopping power, but it will get the job done.”
— Description in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.
In Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, the Pistol is modeled after a Taurus PT92AF (which is based on the Beretta 92 seen in Vice City Stories). It has a 12-round magazine which would make the magazine closer to that of a PT92C's; 10, 15 and 17-round magazines are standard on the PT92AF. Said weapon's slide seems to be modified to resemble a Colt M1911 in some aspects. In the enhanced version, it appears to have a brown grip instead of black.
Performance[]
2D Universe[]
In its original form in Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto 2, the pistol is one of the least effective firearms, firing only one bullet every second or so, at a rate slower than a machine gun.
3D Universe[]
In Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the pistol generally has poor stopping power, average accuracy, and a fairly short range. In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the weapon is slightly more effective than its previous iterations, having better accuracy, and in San Andreas, capable of one-headshot kill, making it a reliable backup weapon.
In GTA San Andreas, depending on the weapon skill, some of the weapon's attributes change:
At 'Poor' (default) weapon skill, the Pistol has similar stats to other renditions, with average accuracy and range, but slower fire rate.
After reaching the 'Gangster' weapon skill with the Pistol, the weapon slightly improves in accuracy and range (both lock-on and weapon), as well as fire rate.
After reaching the 'Hitman' weapon skill, Carl Johnson will dual-wield them, making them even more effective. Lock-on range also improves slightly and matches with the overall range, and magazine size increases from 17 to 34 rounds.
17-round standard magazine (GTA Vice City - GTA Vice City Stories)
Upper slider
0.45 seconds
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
In Grand Theft Auto IV, the Pistol performs even better. Unlike in previous games, in which the Pistol is soon usurped by other weapons, the Pistol in GTA IV can be used effectively throughout the entire game. By using cover strategically, being patient, and making the shots count, it is possible to complete most missions in GTA IV and its episodes with just a Pistol. It can be fired from cars, and its availability, ammo capacity, and higher fire rate make it more desirable for drive-bys and chases than the Combat Pistol. However, submachine guns are always a better option than pistols if available, mainly because of their fully automatic capability, fire rate, and in some cases higher damage.
In Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, the Pistol performs similarly to the one in GTA IV, but the power, range, and low recoil of the weapon make it significantly more useful despite the pistol holds five less bullets per magazine. This time, it comes with a magazine carrying 12 bullets, though it can be upgraded to 16 bullets with the "Extended Clip". As an addition, the rate of fire can be increased by repeatedly tapping the fire button instead of holding it down.
In other words, the Pistol can be an excellent all-around weapon for earlier stages of the game, although its efficiency might be lower compared to an Assault Rifle or Carbine Rifle.
During the mission Complications, when Michael confronts Franklin, he states it is a 9mm weapon. However, the descriptions at Ammu-Nation and on the Social Club website claim it is a .45 caliber weapon.
The Pistol can be purchased at every gun store, as well as being found in various places listed below. All Police Officers carry this Pistol as their standard service weapon and therefore the player can easily gain control of one if they have not yet unlocked any gun stores or are in need of more ammunition. Street criminals or gang members will also use these and even shoot at the player if provoked.
Obtainable from most of the gangsters across the state (e.g Ballas, Vagos, GSF, Rifas). Some prostitutes also carry pistols, all drug dealers also carry them, as do most street criminals and some pedestrians.
East Hook - Can be found on the first-floor ledge of a cylindrical silo-type structure off Mohanet Avenue. The player can easily reach it with a tall vehicle like a Cavalcade or an Ambulance.
Willis - Can be found behind and to the left of the parking lot off Freetown Avenue. This parking lot is also located to the left of the small parking space where Stevie'sComet is found during the mission No. 1.
Northern Gardens - Can be found in the changing room of the Triangle Club. Note: this pistol should be attempted only as a last resort, because once picked up the player will receive a one star wanted level and the patrons and guards will begin shooting at the player.
Usually wielded by injured enemies as a last resort weapon to attack the player, replacing their previous weapons, before they eventually die by bleeding out.
The player is always provided one when they log in for the first time, regardless of if they complete or skip the original GTA Online Introduction. It is also provided to players automatically through the Career Builder available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
Trivia[]
3D Universe[]
In the 3D Universe, with the exception of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the sound effect for the pistol is also used for the Colt Commando and the Assault Rifle in Max Payne and Max Payne 2, respectively, albeit higher in pitch.
In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, if a law enforcement officer (be it VCPD, Vice Squad, SWAT, FBI or Military) is wasted then revived by a paramedic, they will automatically equip a pistol if the player climbs on the top of a vehicle while having a wanted level.
In the 3D Universe games, with the exception of GTA III, police officers are usually the only characters who hold Pistols with two hands instead of a single hand.
In GTA San Andreas, the guards of the Four Dragons and Caligula's casinos hold them with two hands as well.
Some gang members in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories also hold them with two hands.
In GTA San Andreas, anyone who shoots while crouching will also hold the pistol with two hands, including the player.
However, the police officers in the Impound Garages will hold the pistol with a single hand.
The police officers in Grand Theft Auto III will hold the pistol with two hands when the player is busted.
In GTA San Andreas, NPCs using the pistol have a unique strafing animation while shooting. In addition, they hold a hand to block bullet casings when shooting.
If CJ recruits unarmed GSF members in GTA San Andreas, they will always automatically receive a Pistol.
In GTA San Andreas, some soldiers on a six-star wanted level other than the mission Robbing Uncle Sam can also wield this weapon instead of their usual Carbine Rifle which means they are less dangerous than soldiers that carry their exclusive weapon.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]
The Pistol from Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars has the same sound from the 9mm Pistol in the first Max Payne, also published by Rockstar Games.
Grand Theft Auto V[]
Unlike Franklin, Michael and Trevor already have the Pistol in both of their inventories when unlocking them both as playable characters. Franklin himself does not acquire one until his second mission.
In the mission Complications, Michael refers to the gun as a 9mm, while Ammu-Nation advertises it as a .45 caliber. This inconsistency must be a developer oversight; however, the real-life Taurus PT92 is in fact a 9mm handgun. Moreover, in the enhanced version, the pistol has "9mm" printed on the slide, thus suggesting the Ammu-Nation ad is incorrect.
Various GTA Vartworks feature Michael and Franklin holding a full-size Glock pistol. However, no Glock pistol appears in the game except in one case. All normal police officers will spawn with a model of a Glock pistol in their right holster, however, they are never used. When attacked, the normal Pistol will spawn in their hand and the Glock will still remain in the holster.
Various artworks featuring the Glock
Similarly, an artwork depicts Trevor Philips with a pistol appearing to be a M1911A1, similar to the GTA San Andreas model.
The Grand Theft Auto IV iteration of the Pistol makes several appearances on TV shows, carried by Merryweather Guards and in LSPD uniform holsters, and several promotional arts for the game, suggesting it was supposed to appear as a usable sidearm, but was ultimately scrapped along with the M1911 and M16-styled rifle.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
If the player has a pistol without a silencer, the player can do a special suicide animation; the character puts the gun to their head and pulls the trigger. The bullet coming from the gun can actually hurt and kill other players.
This animation also applied to the Mark II variant after patch 1.41.
Oversights[]
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
Sometimes when the player recruits a GSF member who is smoking weed and enters a car, that member may sometimes "shoot" weed when performing a Drive-By Shooting instead of using his Pistol. This can also happen randomly when a group of GSF members is chased by cops while driving in a car.
See Also[]
Handguns - General category to all types of handguns.
