Key Takeaways
The Pump Shotgun Mk II is the GTA Online conversion of the Pump Shotgun, adding Mk II weapon-workshop customization and researched ammunition options to the platform’s close-range shotgun role.
Online Mk II conversion
It is a GTA Online weapon variant rather than a Story Mode weapon, and obtaining it requires the base Pump Shotgun plus access to a Weapon Workshop.
Close-range shotgun role
Its defining combat identity is a manually cycled pump-action shotgun built around powerful close-range blasts rather than sustained automatic fire.
Ammunition flexibility
The Mk II platform can use researched special ammunition, allowing its role to change beyond the standard shell loadout.
Major limitation
The pump-action firing cycle limits follow-up speed compared with faster-firing shotgun alternatives, making missed shots costly.
Base-versus-Mk II distinction
The Mk II is more than a cosmetic variant: its workshop conversion and ammunition system distinguish it from the standard Pump Shotgun.
Overview
Pump Shotgun Mk II is the GTA Online upgrade variant of the Pump Shotgun, built for close-range engagements rather than sustained automatic fire. Its identity comes from the pump-action firing cycle and the Mk II weapon system, which adds a broader attachment and ammunition framework than the standard weapon. It is not a separate Story Mode firearm.
The weapon occupies the conventional close-quarters shotgun role: it delivers its value during brief encounters where the target is nearby and the shooter can manage the interval between shots. Each discharge is followed by a pump-action cycle, so handling it is different from using an automatic shotgun such as the Assault Shotgun. The weapon's effectiveness therefore depends on positioning, timing and keeping the next shell available rather than simply holding the trigger.
The Mk II designation marks a progression path through GTA Online's Weapon Workshop system, not merely a cosmetic label. Once the base Pump Shotgun has been converted, the player can use the Mk II attachment and ammunition framework where the relevant options have been unlocked. This gives the variant a wider customisation role than the standard Pump Shotgun, while its fundamental close-range, pump-action identity remains intact.
Its main distinction from the regular Pump Shotgun is the combination of that familiar firing behaviour with Mk II-specific modification support. The variant should therefore be understood as a configurable progression choice for players who want to tune a pump shotgun within GTA Online's weapon systems, rather than as a wholly different shotgun class. The exact options available depend on the conversion and applicable unlocks.
Because it belongs to GTA Online's Mk II ecosystem, its availability and upgrade context should not be carried over to Story Mode. The weapon is most relevant after the player has access to the required workshop infrastructure and wants a close-range shotgun that can use the additional Mk II system. Comparisons with the base Pump Shotgun should focus on conversion access and available customisation, while comparisons with automatic shotguns should focus on firing rhythm and handling rather than treating the weapons as interchangeable.
Stats & Performance
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Shotgun |
| Mode | GTA Online |
| Ammo type | Shotgun shells |
Requirements & Scaling
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Conversion requirement | Weapon WorkshopThe base Pump Shotgun must be converted through the Mk II weapon system. |
Moveset & Combat Behavior
The Pump Shotgun Mk II remains a close-range, pump-action shotgun in . Its defining handling trade-off is straightforward: each trigger pull produces a heavy spread of pellets, but the weapon must cycle between shots. It therefore rewards deliberate timing rather than sustained fire. Missing at short range is costly because the follow-up shot is not immediate, while firing into a nearby target makes the spread and high per-shot impact more useful than precision aiming.
Pump-action firing cycle
The weapon fires one shell per trigger pull and uses a pump cycle before it can fire again. This gives it a clear rhythm in close combat: fire, allow the action to cycle, then reacquire the target. The cycle also makes rushed follow-up shots less forgiving than a semi-automatic shotgun. It is most dependable when the player commits to a short engagement window instead of trying to track a target through repeated rapid shots.
Spread and engagement distance
The Pump Shotgun Mk II is governed by shotgun spread rather than rifle-like precision. Multiple pellets can connect at close range, so positioning and target proximity matter more than placing a single exact hit. As distance increases, the spread makes individual pellet hits less reliable and reduces the weapon's consistency against small or partially exposed targets. Aim discipline still matters: firing from too far away can waste a shell without creating the close-range pressure for which the weapon is designed.
Mk II ammunition effects
In , the Mk II platform can use specialised ammunition through the when the relevant options are available. These ammunition types change the weapon's practical role rather than simply improving every situation: incendiary ammunition adds a chance of setting targets alight, flechette ammunition changes the shot's damage profile, and explosive slugs trade the normal shotgun behaviour for explosive impact. Armour-piercing ammunition is useful for targets where protection matters. These options consume their own ammunition supply, so switching away from standard shells can make the weapon less forgiving during extended play.
Reload behaviour and combat use
The Pump Shotgun Mk II uses shell-by-shell loading rather than replacing a detachable magazine in one action. Reloading therefore restores capacity incrementally and can leave the player vulnerable if started at the wrong moment. In practice, it is safer to reload after creating distance or securing cover, and to retain a loaded shell when entering a likely close-range encounter. The weapon's strongest use is a controlled breach or ambush at short range; open-ground fights and targets outside reliable spread distance favour a different firearm.
Upgrades & Customization
| Option | Effect | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Pump Shotgun Mk II conversion | Adds the Mk II attachment, ammunition and livery configuration system to the standard Pump Shotgun. | Weapon Workshop |
| Option | Effect | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Armor Piercing Rounds | Uses armor-piercing ammunition for targets where that ammunition type is effective. | Relevant Gunrunning Research unlock |
| Explosive Slugs | Replaces standard shells with explosive ammunition and changes the weapon's impact behaviour. | Relevant Gunrunning Research unlock |
| Flechette Rounds | Uses flechette ammunition as an alternative to the standard shell type. | Relevant Gunrunning Research unlock |
| Incendiary Rounds | Uses incendiary ammunition, adding an ignition effect when the ammunition's effect triggers. | Relevant Gunrunning Research unlock |
| Option | Effect | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Clip | Increases the Pump Shotgun Mk II's shell capacity compared with the default magazine configuration. | Weapon Workshop |
| Suppressor | Adds a suppressor configuration for players prioritising reduced firing noise. | Weapon Workshop |
| Muzzle Brake | Adds a muzzle-brake configuration intended to alter the weapon's firing handling. | Weapon Workshop |
| Heavy Barrel | Adds the heavy-barrel configuration, changing the weapon's barrel setup for a different handling profile. | Weapon Workshop |
| Holographic Sight | Adds an optical sight configuration for aiming through the weapon's sight picture. | Weapon Workshop |
| Grip | Adds the grip configuration to the weapon's handling setup. | Weapon Workshop |
| Option | Effect | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Mk II livery | Applies a cosmetic finish to the weapon. | Weapon Workshop |
How to Get Pump Shotgun Mk II
- GTA Online access; the Pump Shotgun; access to a Weapon Workshop; sufficient in-game currency for the conversion. Pump Shotgun Mk II is not available in GTA V Story Mode.
- 01In GTA Online, obtain the standard Pump Shotgun through the normal weapon-purchase route at Ammu-Nation. The Mk II form is not a separate Story Mode pickup, mission reward, boss drop, or one-per-playthrough item; it is an upgrade of the standard Pump Shotgun.
- 02Take the standard Pump Shotgun to a Weapon Workshop that supports Mk II conversions, such as one installed in a compatible player-owned service vehicle or property. Use the workshop's weapon-upgrade menu and select the Pump Shotgun Mk II conversion; the resulting weapon remains available in GTA Online after the conversion.
Story Mode
The Pump Shotgun Mk II is a GTA Online weapon and is not available as a Story Mode weapon.
GTA Online
- Requires
- Own the Pump Shotgun and access to a Weapon Workshop for Mk II conversion.
Introduced with the Gunrunning update. Special ammunition and some Mk II attachments may require separate Research unlocks.
Builds & Best Uses
Strengths
- The shotgun's close-range pellet spread makes it effective when several pellets can connect at short distance, especially against targets that cannot easily disengage.
- Its pump-action firing cycle gives each shot a deliberate rhythm, allowing the player to control ammunition use rather than continuously spraying.
- As a Mk II weapon in GTA Online, it can use the Mk II modification system, including special-ammunition options when the relevant research and workshop requirements are met.
Weaknesses
- Pellet spread reduces consistency as distance increases, so the weapon is a poor choice for sustained mid- or long-range engagements.
- The pump-action cycle limits follow-up speed compared with faster-firing shotgun alternatives; a missed close-range shot can leave a vulnerable recovery window.
- Special ammunition can impose tradeoffs such as reduced capacity or narrower tactical use, so the Mk II conversion does not make every loadout universally preferable.
Best uses
- Use it for close-quarters fights where short sightlines make pellet spread and the pump-action timing manageable.
- Choose it for deliberate room-clearing or ambushes when the player can secure the first shot and use cover during the firing cycle.
- Consider the Mk II version when a specific special-ammunition effect fits the encounter; use a faster-firing shotgun when repeated follow-up shots matter more than ammunition flexibility.
Weapon Comparisons
| Attribute |  Pump Shotgun |  Assault Shotgun |  Heavy Shotgun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relationship | Pump-action; uses the same deliberate shot-to-shot handling family | Automatic shotgun with faster follow-up fire | Semi-automatic shotgun with a less deliberate firing rhythm than the Pump Shotgun Mk II |
| Firing profile | Choose Pump Shotgun Mk II when special ammunition or Mk II attachments matter; choose the base model for standard, non-workshop use | More forgiving when several targets are close together, while the Pump Shotgun Mk II better suits deliberate individual shots and ammunition selection | A practical alternative when sustained close-range fire is more important than the Pump platform's pump-action handling and Mk II ammunition options |
| Best comparison point | — | — | — |
