Key Takeaways
The Assault Rifle is a general-purpose automatic rifle in Grand Theft Auto V, with different availability and upgrade context in Story Mode and GTA Online.
A flexible automatic rifle
Its fully automatic fire supports sustained engagements at short and medium range, making it a practical rifle when the player needs general-purpose handling rather than a narrowly specialized role.
Story and Online are separate contexts
The weapon appears in both Story Mode and GTA Online, but its purchase route, unlock conditions, and upgrade options must be checked separately rather than treated as one shared progression path.
The base weapon rewards controlled bursts
Automatic fire provides useful pressure, but keeping longer-range shots controlled is more demanding than using a rifle designed around precision. Its strongest use is sustained fire within its practical engagement range.
GTA Online adds a substantial upgrade path
In GTA Online, the Assault Rifle can be converted to an Assault Rifle Mk II at a Weapon Workshop. The Mk II is a functional weapon-system variant with additional attachment and Special Ammo options, not merely a cosmetic change.
Choose it for general-purpose rifle work
The Assault Rifle suits players who want dependable automatic rifle coverage without committing to a close-range SMG role or a more precision-focused rifle role.
Overview
Assault Rifle is a standard automatic rifle in Grand Theft Auto V, serving as a dependable general-purpose firearm for sustained engagements. Its straightforward handling and availability in both Story Mode and GTA Online make it a baseline rifle against which more specialized weapons are judged.
The weapon’s identity is defined less by a special gimmick than by its conventional rifle role. It delivers automatic fire from the rifle slot and is suited to engaging ordinary enemies across short and medium distances, while remaining usable when a fight opens into a longer sightline. That makes it a practical progression weapon rather than a situational tool: it can cover routine combat without requiring a special ammunition system, unusual firing condition, or dedicated setup.
Assault Rifle differs from the game’s carbines and other rifles mainly through its place in the weapon roster and handling profile, not through a unique secondary action. Carbines provide close alternatives for players who prefer a different balance of control and engagement distance, while specialized rifles can emphasize tighter precision or additional customization. Assault Rifle therefore works as a reference point for choosing between broad automatic coverage and a more focused rifle role.
The base weapon is present in both Grand Theft Auto V Story Mode and GTA Online, but the surrounding progression systems are not identical. Story Mode treats it as part of the standard firearm roster, whereas GTA Online places weapons within its broader rank, store, update, and customization structure. The online Assault Rifle Mk II is a separate conversion path rather than a cosmetic label; its workshop requirements and available modifications belong to GTA Online’s Mk II system.
This page exists to distinguish the base Assault Rifle from that Mk II variant and from nearby rifle choices without treating one mode’s availability or customization as universal. Its strengths are consistency and flexible automatic fire; its tradeoff is that it does not replace weapons designed around close-quarters speed, precision shooting, or specialized ammunition. The most useful comparison is therefore role-based: choose it when a conventional rifle is wanted, and compare alternatives when a narrower handling or upgrade profile matters.
Stats & Performance
| Stat | Performance | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 30 | |
| Fire Rate | 68 | |
| Accuracy | 48 | |
| Range | 40 | |
| Reload Speed | 45 | |
| Movement Speed | 70 |
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Rifle |
| Mode | Story Mode and GTA Online |
| Ammo type | Rifle ammunition |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Assault Rifles |
| Magazine | 30 |
| Mk II variant | Available |
Moveset & Combat Behavior
The Assault Rifle is a conventional automatic rifle whose handling is defined by sustained fire rather than a charge, alternate firing mode, or weapon-specific active skill. Its practical role is flexible: it can engage targets across ordinary street and mission sightlines while still producing useful close-range pressure. Because GTA V separates Story Mode and GTA Online weapon systems, the comments here describe the weapon’s general firing behaviour; any Mk II conversion, special ammunition, or attachment effect belongs to the relevant variant rather than the unmodified base weapon.
Automatic fire and engagement distance
The Assault Rifle fires continuously while the trigger is held. That makes it effective for controlled bursts against distant or partially exposed targets, while longer holds provide volume of fire when several enemies are close together. It does not have a charge cycle, lock-on behaviour, projectile arc, or weapon-specific melee action that changes its basic firing pattern. Its useful middle-distance role sits between compact automatic weapons, which are easier to keep on nearby moving targets, and precision rifles, which reward deliberate shots at longer sightlines.
The weapon’s reach is therefore best understood through reliability rather than a single distance claim. At ordinary combat ranges it can support either short bursts or sustained fire, but the player still has to account for the game’s spread and recoil behaviour. Firing continuously is more forgiving when the target is large or close; against a small, distant, or partially covered target, releasing the trigger and reacquiring the aim point is generally more dependable than holding the weapon on full automatic indefinitely.
Recoil, spread, and burst control
The main handling trade-off is between immediate fire volume and precision. Automatic fire can move the shot pattern away from the point of aim, particularly when the player keeps firing rather than resetting between bursts. Short controlled bursts preserve more accuracy while retaining the rifle’s advantage over slower-firing weapons. This is especially relevant when engaging enemies behind cover, where a few well-placed rounds are more useful than allowing a long burst to disperse around the exposed area.
The Assault Rifle does not replace a dedicated precision weapon for careful long-range work. Its general-purpose design instead rewards changing the length of the burst to match the target: brief fire for a distant or exposed enemy, longer fire for a close target or a group, and repositioning when the current angle makes sustained automatic fire difficult to control. Attachments or conversion changes should be treated separately, because they may alter the handling of a configured weapon without changing the base weapon’s identity.
Magazine use and reload timing
The rifle’s magazine supports repeated automatic engagements, but the weapon still benefits from deliberate reload timing. Reloading after every short burst wastes available capacity; waiting until the magazine is empty can leave the player committed to a reload during an enemy push. A practical rhythm is to reload after an engagement or while moving to new cover, rather than interrupting a burst when an immediate target is still exposed.
Magazine size, reload duration, and ammunition availability are mode- and configuration-sensitive details and should be read from the applicable Story Mode, GTA Online, or Mk II data rather than assumed from the weapon’s appearance. The base Assault Rifle also does not gain a special status effect, penetration rule, or conditional damage mode merely from being automatic; those behaviours should not be attributed to it unless a specific ammunition or variant configuration is active.
Base weapon versus Mk II behaviour
The Assault Rifle Mk II is a separate configured form, not simply a cosmetic label. Its conversion and available attachments or special ammunition can change how the rifle is used, so a Mk II setup should not be described as though every behaviour belongs to the standard Assault Rifle. When comparing the two, keep the firing pattern of the shared rifle platform separate from the handling and ammunition effects introduced by the conversion.
Passive Effects
Upgrades & Customization
| Option | Effect | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Clip | Increases the weapon's available magazine capacity. | Available through the weapon customization interface when the component is unlocked for the Assault Rifle. |
| Grip | Improves weapon handling and reduces recoil during sustained fire. | Available through the weapon customization interface when the component is unlocked. |
| Scope | Adds an aiming optic for more controlled aimed fire. | Available through the weapon customization interface when the component is unlocked. |
| Flashlight | Provides illumination while aiming in dark areas. | Available through the weapon customization interface when the component is unlocked. |
| Suppressor | Reduces the weapon's firing signature and supports quieter use; it does not change the Assault Rifle into a different weapon class. | Available through the weapon customization interface when the component is unlocked. |
| Option | Effect | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Assault Rifle Mk II | Converts the base Assault Rifle into its Mk II variant and unlocks the Mk II modification system. | Requires GTA Online, an eligible Weapon Workshop and the conversion option for the base Assault Rifle. |
| Mk II Magazine options | Provides alternative magazine configurations, including extended and drum-style options where available. | Installed through a Weapon Workshop; the exact option set is specific to the Assault Rifle Mk II. |
| Mk II barrel and muzzle options | Changes the rifle's handling and firing characteristics through selectable barrel and muzzle components. | Installed through a Weapon Workshop; component availability is specific to the Assault Rifle Mk II. |
| Mk II optics and camouflage | Adds alternative sights and visual finishes without creating a new weapon entry. | Installed through a Weapon Workshop; individual component availability depends on the Mk II customization system. |
| Option | Effect | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Armor Piercing Rounds | Configures the Assault Rifle Mk II for improved performance against armoured targets. | Requires the relevant Mk II ammunition option and its associated Bunker Research unlock. |
| Full Metal Jacket Rounds | Configures the rifle with ammunition intended to improve penetration through some cover and vehicle-related targets. | Requires the relevant Mk II ammunition option and its associated Bunker Research unlock. |
| Incendiary Rounds | Adds a chance to ignite targets, trading general-purpose ammunition flexibility for an elemental effect. | Requires the relevant Mk II ammunition option and its associated Bunker Research unlock. |
| Tracer Rounds | Adds visible tracer effects to fired rounds for a distinctive firing presentation. | Requires the relevant Mk II ammunition option and its associated Bunker Research unlock. |
| Explosive Rounds | Adds an explosive impact effect to the Mk II rifle's shots, with ammunition and magazine tradeoffs. | Requires the relevant Mk II ammunition option and its associated Bunker Research unlock. |
How to Get Assault Rifle
- Story Mode: completion of The Jewel Store Job.
- GTA Online: Rank 24.
- Sufficient in-game currency in the relevant mode.
- 01Story Mode: Complete The Jewel Store Job. After the mission, visit any Ammu-Nation store and purchase the Assault Rifle from the rifle section. This is a guaranteed vendor purchase once the story unlock is active, not a random drop or mission-reward roll.
- 02GTA Online: Reach Rank 24, then visit any Ammu-Nation store and buy the Assault Rifle from the rifles category. The weapon is a standard Ammu-Nation purchase in Online rather than rotating Gun Van stock or a limited-time reward.
- 03The Assault Rifle is not missable and is not limited to one copy per playthrough. After its mode-specific unlock, it can be reacquired through the applicable Ammu-Nation route; no DLC, NG+, or special mission completion is required beyond the Story Mode unlock described above.
Story Mode
- Status
- Available from Ammu-Nation after the relevant story progression
- Requires
- Complete The Jewel Store Job
- Price
- GTA$8,550
Story Mode availability; this entry is separate from GTA Online.
GTA Online
- Requires
- Reach Rank 24
- Price
- GTA$8,550
The base Assault Rifle is available in GTA Online; its Mk II conversion is a separate Weapon Workshop progression option.
Builds & Best Uses
Strengths
- Full-auto fire lets the Assault Rifle maintain pressure while the player tracks moving targets, rather than requiring a separate trigger press for every shot.
- Its rifle configuration gives it a more useful mid-range role than close-range-only weapons such as many SMGs and shotguns, while retaining enough handling flexibility for ordinary street combat.
- The weapon supports sustained engagements against groups because the player can keep firing through a target transition instead of repeatedly recovering from a single-shot or pump-action cycle.
- Its straightforward handling makes it a practical general-purpose choice when the loadout needs one firearm for mixed encounters rather than a narrowly specialised range role.
Weaknesses
- Automatic fire consumes ammunition more quickly when the trigger is held, making uncontrolled bursts less efficient than deliberate shots and increasing the cost of missed fire.
- The Assault Rifle is less forgiving at long range than a precision-oriented rifle: spread and automatic recoil make small or distant targets harder to hit consistently.
- Its general-purpose design gives up close-quarters specialisation to shotguns and precision advantages to dedicated long-range rifles, so it is not the strongest fit for either extreme.
- Maintaining fire on a target can obscure visual feedback and reduce shot discipline, particularly when the player relies on long sprays instead of controlled bursts.
Best uses
- Use it as a default street-combat rifle when encounters alternate between nearby enemies and targets across open roads, courtyards, or other medium-distance spaces.
- Fire short controlled bursts when engaging distant or partially exposed targets; this preserves the rifle's flexibility without treating its automatic mode like a precision weapon.
- Use sustained fire against moving groups when rapid target transitions matter more than conserving ammunition, especially in encounters where enemies approach from several directions.
- Pair it with a more specialised close-range or precision weapon when the mission regularly shifts between confined interiors and long sightlines; the Assault Rifle then covers the middle of that range spread.
Weapon Comparisons
| Attribute |  Assault Rifle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 33 |
| Fire Rate | 68 | 78 | 80 | 70 | 65 |
| Accuracy | 48 | 50 | 55 | 48 | 55 |
| Range | 40 | 42 | 45 | 38 | 48 |
| Magazine | 30 | 30 | 30 | 24 | 30 |
| Attribute | Assault Rifle |  Carbine Rifle |  Special Carbine |  Bullpup Rifle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class and role | A conventional full-auto rifle profile; it does not specialise in precision shooting or close-range spread. | A practical alternative for players who prefer a more controlled rifle feel; exact stat-bar differences depend on the game mode and source scale. | Its identity is closer to a precision-leaning assault rifle than the Assault Rifle's straightforward automatic profile. | Provides another rifle handling profile for medium-range engagements; the comparison should be made using the same mode and stat representation. |
| Handling distinction | Available in Story Mode and GTA Online; GTA Online also has an Assault Rifle Mk II conversion with separate workshop and upgrade considerations. | Base weapon is distinct from its Mk II form in GTA Online; do not treat the Mk II conversion as the same configuration. | The base weapon and Special Carbine Mk II are separate configurations in GTA Online, with Mk II attachments and special-ammunition options tied to the Weapon Workshop system. | GTA Online's Bullpup Rifle Mk II is a separate conversion, so its attachments and special-ammunition options should not be applied to the base weapon. |
| Upgrade or availability context | You want a straightforward automatic rifle and do not need the more specialised handling of the alternatives below. | Choose it when flexible rifle handling matters more than using the Assault Rifle platform. | Choose it when you want an automatic rifle that better supports deliberate aiming and controlled bursts. | Choose it when the Bullpup Rifle's handling and available conversion options fit your loadout better than the Assault Rifle. |
| Choose it when | — | — | — | — |
Trivia
- In GTA Online, the Assault Rifle Mk II is treated as a separate conversion of the base Assault Rifle rather than merely an alternate name for it. The Mk II system is not part of the Story Mode weapon roster, making the two entries a mode-specific distinction rather than interchangeable versions.
