Key Takeaways
The Sweeper Shotgun is a semi-automatic shotgun built around rapid magazine-fed follow-up shots rather than single-shot burst damage. Its availability and handling should be kept separate from Story Mode weapon data.
Online-focused weapon
The Sweeper Shotgun is associated with and should not be presented as a universal Story Mode weapon without mode-specific verification.
Rapid semi-automatic fire
Its defining mechanic is semi-automatic operation, allowing repeated shots without the manual cycling associated with pump-action alternatives.
Magazine-fed reload pattern
The weapon uses a detachable magazine, giving it a different reload rhythm from tube-fed shotguns such as the Pump Shotgun.
Close-range pressure
Rapid follow-up shots make the Sweeper Shotgun suited to close-range pressure, where its shotgun spread and firing behaviour can be brought into play quickly.
Tradeoff against heavier shotguns
Its emphasis on firing speed does not make it a universal replacement for shotguns that concentrate more impact into individual shots or offer a different range profile.
No Mk II assumption
The standard Sweeper Shotgun should be documented separately from Mk II weapon families; a Mk II conversion should not be implied without a confirmed upgrade route.
Overview
The Sweeper Shotgun is a semi-automatic shotgun in Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online, built around rapid close-range follow-up fire rather than the deliberate pacing of a pump-action weapon. It is a practical roster weapon for players who want sustained shotgun pressure without moving into the role of a full automatic combat shotgun.
Its defining behaviour is the ability to fire successive shells quickly, making it forgiving when the first blast does not fully stop a target or when several enemies are pressing from short range. That handling profile makes the Sweeper Shotgun most natural in confined spaces, during vehicle dismounts, and in other encounters where keeping the weapon ready for another immediate shot matters more than carefully timing each trigger pull.
The weapon occupies a middle position among GTA V's shotguns. A pump-action shotgun generally emphasizes a stronger deliberate shot cycle, while the Sweeper Shotgun trades some of that measured rhythm for faster follow-up attacks. It is therefore less about a single carefully staged blast and more about maintaining close-range pressure as a target moves, survives the first hit, or is joined by another nearby opponent.
The Sweeper Shotgun is present in both Story Mode and GTA Online, but its availability, purchasing route, and any surrounding progression rules should be treated as mode-specific rather than combined into one universal acquisition claim. GTA Online also separates ordinary weapon ownership from later weapon-system features, so the standard Sweeper Shotgun should not be described as interchangeable with a Mk II firearm merely because other GTA weapons have Mk II versions.
This is a straightforward choice for players who want a compact close-quarters shotgun with a fast firing rhythm and little emphasis on long-range precision. Its role is narrower than that of a weapon intended for sustained engagement across open ground, but within its effective combat space its repeated-shot behaviour gives it a distinct place between slower pump-action options and more specialized automatic shotguns.
Stats & Performance
| Stat | Performance | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 38 | |
| Fire Rate | 40 | |
| Accuracy | 45 | |
| Range | 20 | |
| Reload Speed | 45 | |
| Movement Speed | 68 |
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Weapon class | Shotgun |
| Fire mode | Fully automatic |
| Ammunition | Shotgun shells |
| Mk II conversion | Not available |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Shotguns |
| Magazine | 8 |
Moveset & Combat Behavior
The Sweeper Shotgun is a semi-automatic shotgun built around rapid follow-up shots rather than a deliberate pump-action rhythm. Each trigger pull fires a close-range spread, allowing the player to keep pressure on a target without manually cycling the weapon between shots. Its handling therefore rewards committing to short engagements: the spread can make it forgiving against nearby targets, while the shotgun’s limited reach makes careful positioning more important as distance increases.
Rapid semi-automatic fire
The weapon can fire successive shells quickly as long as ammunition remains available. This makes it useful when the first blast does not finish a target or when several enemies enter the same close-range space. The trade-off is that rapid firing encourages ammunition expenditure and can make missed shots costly; the Sweeper Shotgun is less forgiving when used as a general-purpose weapon at medium or long range.
Spread and engagement distance
Its damage is delivered through a spread of pellets rather than a single pinpoint projectile. At close range, that pattern helps cover a target with one blast and reduces the need for precise aiming. As range increases, fewer pellets may connect reliably, so the weapon performs best when the player can close distance or hold a confined approach. It should not be handled like a rifle or precision shotgun.
Shell-by-shell reload
The Sweeper Shotgun reloads individual shells rather than replacing a detachable magazine in one operation. This supports topping up after a brief lull, but reloading during an active exchange leaves the weapon temporarily unavailable and requires more attention than simply switching to a loaded firearm. Players should reload between engagements where possible and stop reloading when an immediate close-range threat appears.
No alternate weapon system
The standard Sweeper Shotgun has no charged attack, lock-on projectile, homing behaviour, or weapon-specific special attack. Its performance comes from the combination of semi-automatic firing, pellet spread, and shell management. It should also be kept distinct from GTA Online Mk II weapons: the Sweeper Shotgun is not treated here as a Mk II conversion platform, and no special-ammunition behaviour is assigned to it without a documented mode-specific upgrade.
Passive Effects
Upgrades & Customization
| Option | Effect | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Clip | Increases the shotgun's magazine capacity, reducing the frequency of reloads during sustained close-range fights. | Available through the weapon-modification menu when the relevant attachment is unlocked. |
| Grip | Improves firing stability and makes repeated shots easier to control. | Available through the weapon-modification menu when the relevant attachment is unlocked. |
| Flashlight | Adds a weapon-mounted light, improving visibility in dark interiors and other low-light areas. | Available through the weapon-modification menu when the relevant attachment is unlocked. |
| Suppressor | Reduces the weapon's firing report and muzzle signature. It does not convert the Sweeper Shotgun into a Mk II weapon. | Available through the weapon-modification menu when the relevant attachment is unlocked. |
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| Standard Sweeper Shotgun | The base weapon remains the applicable Sweeper Shotgun configuration; temporary mission or activity modifiers are not permanent weapon upgrades. |
How to Get Sweeper Shotgun
- Story Mode: completion of The Big Score before the weapon can be purchased.
- GTA Online: access to Ammu-Nation and sufficient in-game funds; any character-specific rank restriction should be checked against the current Online version before publication.
- 01Story Mode: visit any Ammu-Nation after completing The Big Score, then select the Sweeper Shotgun from the shotgun section and purchase it. It is bought from the vendor rather than collected as a guaranteed mission or boss reward.
- 02GTA Online: visit an Ammu-Nation and purchase the Sweeper Shotgun from the shotgun section when it is available to the character. The weapon is acquired through the normal vendor route, not as a one-time mission reward or enemy drop.
- 03After purchase, the weapon remains available through the character’s weapon inventory. No separate NG+ route, boss drop, or one-per-playthrough recovery route applies to this purchase-based acquisition method.
Story Mode
The Sweeper Shotgun is an Online weapon and is not available through the Story Mode weapon roster.
GTA Online
- Price
- GTA$13,550
Purchased from Ammu-Nation in GTA Online. This is a standard Online weapon, not a Gun Van-only item or a Mk II conversion.
Builds & Best Uses
Strengths
- Automatic fire allows rapid follow-up shots when the first blast does not finish a close target, reducing the need to reset aim between attacks.
- Its magazine-fed design supports several shots before reloading, which is useful when multiple nearby enemies enter the engagement together.
- Shotgun spread makes it forgiving at close range, particularly against targets moving across the reticle rather than standing still.
Weaknesses
- The spread makes individual pellets less dependable at longer distances, so its threat declines quickly outside close-range encounters.
- Its rapid-fire design is less efficient when each shot must count than a slower shotgun with stronger per-shot impact.
- Sustained fire can consume the magazine quickly, creating a vulnerable reload window if it is used carelessly against several enemies.
Best uses
- Close-quarters fights where rapid follow-up shots can maintain pressure on an enemy.
- Short-range encounters against small groups, provided the user can create enough space to reload safely.
- Aggressive room entry or retreating through tight spaces, where the weapon’s spread and automatic follow-up fire matter more than precision at distance.
Weapon Comparisons
| Attribute |  Sweeper Shotgun | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | 38 | 40 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| Fire Rate | 40 | 45 | 45 | 42 | 22 |
| Accuracy | 45 | 48 | 42 | 42 | 35 |
| Range | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Magazine | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Attribute |  Assault Shotgun |  Bullpup Shotgun |  Combat Shotgun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action / role | Magazine-fed | Magazine-fed | Tube-fed |
| Magazine system | A stronger alternative when repeated close-range fire matters, while retaining shotgun handling | Useful for players who prefer controlled follow-up shots over the Sweeper Shotgun's automatic fire | Better suited to paced shots and per-shot commitment than the Sweeper Shotgun's rapid-fire approach |
| Use-case distinction | — | — | — |
Trivia
- The Sweeper Shotgun was introduced to GTA Online with the Gunrunning update. It is not part of Grand Theft Auto V’s standard Story Mode weapon roster, making its availability a version-specific distinction rather than a universal GTA V weapon fact.
- Despite its name, the Sweeper Shotgun is not a named Mk II conversion of another shotgun. It is a separate automatic-shotgun entry in GTA Online’s weapon catalogue.
