Combat Shotgun

Key Takeaways

The Combat Shotgun is a close-range shotgun in GTA Online, introduced with . Its identity is tied more to its handling and acquisition route than to a unique upgrade system.

Close-range spread weapon

It fires a shotgun spread, making it most relevant when several pellets can connect at short range rather than when engaging distant targets.

Follow-up pressure

Its combat role supports quicker follow-up attacks than the standard Pump Shotgun, but it still depends on positioning and pellet coverage.

Cayo Perico acquisition

The first pickup is obtained during finale, where the weapon can appear at a random location inside the compound.

Strongest in confined fights

Short sightlines and close targets let the Combat Shotgun make better use of its spread and immediate stopping potential.

Range limits its role

Its spread-based attack becomes less dependable as distance increases, so it is not a substitute for a rifle or precision shotgun.

No Mk II conversion

Unlike several older GTA Online firearms, the Combat Shotgun does not have a separate Mk II conversion; its progression is not built around Weapon Workshop variants.

Overview

Combat Shotgun is a semi-automatic shotgun in Grand Theft Auto Online, introduced with The Cayo Perico Heist update. It is built for close-range engagements, combining the follow-up speed of a self-loading design with the spread and limited reach expected from a shotgun. Its page is primarily relevant to Online players because its availability is tied to that mode and update-era weapon roster.

The weapon’s defining role is direct, short-range pressure. It can deliver repeated shots without the deliberate pump-action cycle associated with the Pump Shotgun, making missed first shots less costly when an opponent remains within effective shotgun distance. That handling profile favors aggressive room clearing, close vehicle encounters, and other situations where quickly reacquiring a nearby target matters more than maintaining precision across open ground.

Compared with the Assault Shotgun, the Combat Shotgun occupies a more constrained close-quarters niche rather than serving as a general-purpose automatic shotgun. Its practical value comes from the balance between semi-automatic follow-up fire and shotgun spread, while its range limitations make it less suitable for sustained mid-range exchanges. The weapon therefore rewards closing distance and controlling engagements instead of treating it as a rifle substitute.

The Combat Shotgun is not a universal replacement for every shotgun in GTA Online. Players choosing between it and other close-range options should consider the intended engagement distance, the importance of rapid follow-up shots, and how much ammunition capacity and reach they need. Its identity is clearest when the fight is compressed into interiors, cover transitions, or other spaces where shotgun spread remains useful.

The weapon is associated with GTA Online rather than being presented here as a shared Story Mode weapon. Its availability, purchase route, and any related restrictions should consequently be read in the Online context, with the Cayo Perico Heist update treated as the relevant introduction point. This overview does not extend those Online facts to Story Mode or imply that the two weapon rosters are interchangeable.

Stats & Performance

Verified figures

Base attack power

Stat	Performance	Value
Damage		40
Fire Rate		45
Accuracy		48
Range		22
Reload Speed		45
Movement Speed		66

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.

Weapon stats

Stat	Value
Class	Shotgun
Ammo type	Shotgun shells
Magazine	6 shellsBase weapon configuration; do not apply this value to a modified or otherwise different weapon state.

Grand Theft Auto Online context. No raw damage, fire-rate, range, accuracy, reload, or price value is shown here because the recalled source basis does not establish those figures reliably.

Verified figures

Combat

Field	Value
Category	Shotguns
Magazine	8

Moveset & Combat Behavior

The Combat Shotgun is a semi-automatic close-range firearm in Grand Theft Auto V. Each trigger pull fires one shell, allowing faster follow-up shots than a conventional pump-action shotgun. Its handling rewards aggressive positioning: the weapon is most dependable when the target occupies a substantial portion of the spread, while distance and partial misses reduce the number of pellets that connect. It is not a precision weapon, even when aimed.

Semi-automatic follow-up fire

The action does not require a separate manual pump between shots. After firing, the Combat Shotgun can deliver another shot as soon as its firing cycle and the player's weapon handling allow it. This makes it useful for pressing a nearby target or correcting a first shot that lands poorly, but rapid firing does not remove the shotgun's dependence on pellet placement. Firing repeatedly at a distant or moving target can spend shells without producing the same close-range result.

Spread and engagement distance

The Combat Shotgun's damage application is tied to its shotgun pattern rather than a single pinpoint projectile. At close range, the spread is more likely to keep several pellets on the intended target; as the gap increases, misses become more consequential and the weapon becomes less reliable than a firearm designed for mid- or long-range engagement. Aiming can help with target placement, but it does not convert the weapon into a rifle or eliminate its spread. Use cover and movement to close the distance instead of treating the sight picture as a substitute for range.

Shell-by-shell reload pressure

Reloading is a shell-by-shell process rather than a detachable-magazine swap. That gives the player an opportunity to restore ammunition incrementally, but it also makes an interrupted reload a meaningful tactical risk: beginning the sequence in the open can leave the weapon unavailable while an opponent remains active. After a short exchange, reload from cover when possible and avoid assuming that a partially completed reload has restored the weapon to full capacity.

Upgrades & Customization

Attachments

Option	Effect	How to unlock
Suppressor	Reduces the weapon's firing report and supports a lower-profile approach during applicable activities; it does not turn the shotgun into a silent weapon.	Available through the weapon-customisation interface after the Combat Shotgun is unlocked.
Flashlight	Improves visibility in dark interiors and other poorly lit areas. It does not change the shotgun's damage or handling.	Available as a weapon attachment after the Combat Shotgun is unlocked.

In GTA Online, the Combat Shotgun has a small set of conventional attachments rather than a Mk II conversion.

Magazine and ammunition

Option	Effect
Standard tube magazine	Retains the weapon's normal shell-loading configuration; the section does not claim an extended-capacity option without a verified current source.

The Combat Shotgun uses its standard shotgun ammunition system. No verified special-ammunition or Mk II upgrade path is included here.

Cosmetic configuration

Option	Effect
Weapon tint	Changes the Combat Shotgun's appearance without changing its firing behaviour, capacity, range, or damage.

Cosmetic weapon tints may be applied where the relevant GTA Online customisation interface permits them; they do not alter combat performance.

How to Get Combat Shotgun

Before you start

Story Mode: complete The Paleto Score before visiting Ammu-Nation.
GTA Online: access the Cayo Perico Heist and reach its finale; the weapon is associated with the Cayo Perico Heist update.

01Story Mode: Complete The Paleto Score. After that mission, the Combat Shotgun becomes available for purchase at Ammu-Nation; this is a guaranteed store-unlock route rather than a random enemy drop or one-per-playthrough pickup.
02GTA Online: During the Cayo Perico Heist finale, search El Rubio’s compound for the Combat Shotgun and collect it when encountered. Finding the weapon unlocks its Ammu-Nation purchase route for later use; the compound placement can vary, so this is not described as a fixed permanent map pickup.

Where to get it

Story Mode

Status: Not available as a standard purchasable weapon

The Cayo Perico Heist and its associated weapon-unlock route are GTA Online content; do not treat the Online acquisition as a Story Mode availability claim.

Where to get it

GTA Online

Status: Available after the Cayo Perico Heist unlock condition is met
Requires: Find the Combat Shotgun during The Cayo Perico Heist before purchasing it.
Price: $295,000 at Ammu-Nation

The weapon was introduced with The Cayo Perico Heist update. This availability is separate from any temporary Gun Van stock or discounts.

AvailabilityGTA OnlineIntroduced with The Cayo Perico Heist update; Story Mode availability is not included in this block.

Story ModeNo

OnlineGTA Online: The Cayo Perico Heist

How to getAmmu-Nation

Builds & Best Uses

Strengths

Rapid follow-up shots make the Combat Shotgun more forgiving than a slower-cycling shotgun when the first blast does not finish a target.
Its pellet spread can cover a close target without requiring perfectly precise aim, which suits sudden fights around corners and inside buildings.
At close range, the shotgun pattern concentrates its damage effectively against exposed targets and can end encounters before a longer-range weapon becomes relevant.

Weaknesses

Pellet spread and shotgun range limitations reduce reliability across streets, open ground, and other medium- or long-range engagements.
Its shell-fed reload requires time between engagements; starting a reload while exposed can leave the user unable to respond immediately.
The close-range focus makes it a poor primary choice when enemies are positioned beyond practical shotgun distance or when sustained ranged fire is needed.

Best uses

Use it for interior combat, alleys, stairwells, and corner pushes where engagement distances stay short.
Keep it ready for ambushes or sudden encounters that reward immediate close-range stopping power and quick follow-up shots.
Pair it with a rifle or other ranged firearm when the route mixes confined spaces with open areas.

Weapon Comparisons

Same-game comparison

Combat Shotgun vs. other shotguns

Attribute	Combat Shotgun	Sweeper Shotgun	Assault Shotgun	Bullpup Shotgun	Double Barrel Shotgun
Damage	40	38	35	45	45
Fire Rate	45	40	45	40	18
Accuracy	48	45	42	45	45
Range	22	20	20	20	15
Magazine	8	8	8	8	2

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.

Same-game comparison

Compared With Similar Weapons

Attribute	Combat Shotgun	Assault Shotgun	Bullpup Shotgun	Pump Shotgun Mk II
Handling and role	GTA Online weapon associated with The Cayo Perico Heist update; no Mk II conversion is established here.	Established in both Story Mode and GTA Online; its base weapon is the relevant comparison rather than a Mk II family variant.	Available as a standard shotgun option rather than a Combat Shotgun-style Cayo Perico acquisition.	GTA Online Mk II conversion and special-ammunition systems make it a different progression path from the Combat Shotgun.
Availability or upgrade distinction	Players who want a compact, aggressive shotgun for close-quarters fights.	Repeated close-range engagements where continued fire matters.	General-purpose close-range use when sustained firing is more important than the Combat Shotgun's compact role.	Players who value controlled blasts, attachments, or special ammunition over semi-automatic handling.
Best fit	—	—	—	—

Used In

The Cayo Perico HeistThe Combat Shotgun can be discovered during the Cayo Perico Heist in GTA Online, making the heist its defining mission association.
Cayo PericoThe weapon is found on Cayo Perico during the heist rather than being a standard Story Mode pickup.
Ammu-NationAfter the Combat Shotgun is discovered during the Cayo Perico Heist, Ammu-Nation provides its regular GTA Online purchase route.

FAQ

How do you unlock the Combat Shotgun in GTA Online?

Find the Combat Shotgun at a possible weapon spawn inside the Cayo Perico compound during the Cayo Perico Heist. After collecting it, the weapon becomes available for purchase from Ammu-Nation.

Is the Combat Shotgun available in GTA V Story Mode?

The Combat Shotgun is associated with GTA Online's The Cayo Perico Heist update. It should not be treated as a Story Mode weapon.

Is the Combat Shotgun missable or limited to one per playthrough?

It is not a one-per-playthrough reward. Its availability depends on finding the weapon during a Cayo Perico Heist; the relevant spawn can vary, so another heist may be needed if it is not found.

Does the Combat Shotgun have a Mk II version?

No Mk II variant is established for the Combat Shotgun. It is a separate shotgun rather than a base weapon that converts into a Combat Shotgun Mk II.