For a standard handheld drive-by in GTA V and GTA Online, the AP Pistol is the weapon most guides name as the best all-round choice. It is automatic and combines accuracy, fire rate, and magazine capacity in a way that suits shooting while the car is moving. The recommendation comes from game reference guides and gameplay guides, not from a controlled test or an official Rockstar ranking, so treat it as the strongest common answer rather than a settled fact.
The question has two readings. If you mean firing a gun held in your hands from the driver’s or passenger’s seat, the answer is the AP Pistol. If you mean a gun built into the vehicle itself, the answer depends on the vehicle, so that case is covered separately below.
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Two different things people mean by “shooting from a car”
A handheld drive-by uses a weapon your character carries. You fire it out of an open window while driving or riding as a passenger. A weaponized vehicle is different: its guns are part of the car, and their controls and firing position are set by the vehicle’s design. Rockstar’s update notes describe both kinds of weaponized vehicles and turret-style mounts. Comparing a pistol with a mounted gun is not a like-for-like question, so the two are handled separately here.
Why the AP Pistol is the usual pick for handheld drive-bys
The AP Pistol is the choice the reference material keeps returning to. The GTA Wiki entry on the weapon and a dedicated gameplay guide both point to it for drive-bys, and the Games Learning Society guide calls it “undoubtedly” the best option, which is that author’s opinion rather than an official ranking. The reasoning in these guides rests on three traits:
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- Accuracy: the pistol is easier to keep on target than heavier options when the car is turning or bouncing.
- Automatic fire: it keeps shooting while you hold the trigger, which matters when you have only a short window before you pass the target.
- Magazine size: it carries enough rounds to fire through a chase without reloading in most cases.
Magazine sizes and the extended magazine
The GTA Wiki lists the AP Pistol’s standard magazine at 18 rounds and its extended magazine at 36 rounds. The extended magazine reduces how often you have to reload, which is useful when you are firing while moving and cannot easily reload safely. Whether the extended magazine is available to you depends on the mode you play and your progression, and the wiki entry does not give a publication date for these specifications, so check them against the in-game weapon screen before relying on them.
How the alternatives compare
The table below sets the AP Pistol against the other options the guides mention for shooting from a vehicle. The guides rate the AP Pistol higher overall, but each alternative has a use case.
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| Option | Best use | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| AP Pistol | General handheld drive-by | Balanced accuracy, automatic fire, and 18-round standard or 36-round extended magazine. |
| Micro SMG | Automatic alternative when you want a submachine gun | Usable from a vehicle, but the guide rates the AP Pistol higher for accuracy and sustained effectiveness. |
| Throwable weapons | Area effect or stopping a pursuer | Timing is harder while driving, according to the guide. |
| Sawed-Off Shotgun | Close target while riding a motorcycle | Short range limits it to situations where the target is very near. |
| Vehicle-mounted weapon | When you mean a weaponized vehicle | The right choice depends on the vehicle, the seat that controls the gun, and the target. It is not the same decision as picking a handheld firearm. |
Choosing by situation
- Chasing a car on the highway: use the AP Pistol and prioritize the extended magazine if you can get it, so you are not reloading mid-chase.
- Close target on a motorcycle: the Sawed-Off Shotgun is the guide’s specific suggestion for this case, because the range is short.
- Pursuer you need to slow down: throwables can work, but expect harder timing while driving.
- Weaponized vehicle: identify the vehicle and which seat controls the gun, then judge the weapon by that setup and target rather than by the handheld comparison.
Online restrictions to know first
In GTA Online, Rockstar’s starter tips say Passive Mode prevents you from attacking other players and from using weaponized vehicles. If you are trying a drive-by against other players or using a weaponized vehicle online, check whether Passive Mode is active before you start, because it blocks both.
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What is not established here
- Current button mappings for each platform. Check the controls screen in your pause menu, because they are not covered in the sources used for this article.
- Whether every weapon in the game is currently eligible for a drive-by. Some guides list only a subset, so confirm a specific weapon in-game before relying on it.
- A current official ranking. The AP Pistol recommendation comes from guide authors, not from Rockstar.
- Balance over time. Rockstar updates can change weapon stats and availability, so a recommendation that holds now may shift after a patch.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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