Grand Theft Auto 5‘s story mode tells a winding narrative that ties the lives of three unlikely partners together. It’s a satire on many aspects of American culture and is frequently lauded as one of the best games ever made. On top of all that, its open-world sandbox is one of the most adaptive and detailed ever put in a video game giving players endless hours of fun to mess around in.
Unfortunately, not all of the game’s content is unlocked as soon as the player is dropped into Los Santos. Select vehicles and weapons are restricted in the early hours so knowing when they’re unlocked to be purchased from in-game gun shops is important to help pace the sandbox-mayhem that GTA 5 is known for.
Below is the list of all weapons that are locked when the game begins and how to unlock them.
More GTA 5 guides:
Where To Find The Best Cars & Vehicles | All Cheat Codes | How to Play GTA Online Solo
Unlocking All Weapons in GTA 5
Melee Weapons
Antique Cavalry Dagger
Unlocked After: Mr. Philips
Baseball Bat
Unlocked After: Franklin and Lamar
Bottle
Unlocked After: Repossession
Hammer
Unlocked After: Repossession
Hatchet
Unlocked After: Trevor Philips Industries
Knife
Unlocked After: Franklin and Lamar
Knuckle Dusters
Unlocked After: Complications
Machete
Unlocked After: Nervous Ron
Nightstick
Unlocked After: I Fought the Law…
Handguns
AP Pistol
Unlocked After: Three’s Company
Combat Pistol
Unlocked After: Dead Man Walking
Heavy Pistol
Unlocked After: Dead Man Walking
Marksman Pistol
Unlocked After: Mr. Richards
Pistol
Unlocked After: Repossession
Pistol .50
Unlocked After: Monkey Business
SNS Pistol
Unlocked After: Repossession
Stun Gun
Unlocked After: Monkey Business or Civil Border Patrol
Vintage Pistol
Unlocked After: Mr. Philips
Shotguns
Assault Shotgun
Unlocked After: Blitz Play
Bullpup Shotgun
Unlocked After: Blitz Play
Heavy Shotgun
Unlocked After: Monkey Business
Musket
Unlocked After: Mr. Richards
Pump Shotgun
Unlocked After: The Long Stretch
Sawed-Off Shotgun
Unlocked After: Mr. Philips
Submachine Guns and Light Machine Guns
Assault SMG
Unlocked After: Sign up for Rockstar Social Club
Combat MG
Unlocked After: Blitz Play
Combat PDW
Unlocked After: Military Hardware
Gusenberg Sweeper
Unlocked After: The Third Way, The Time’s Come, or Something Sensible
Machine Pistol
Unlocked After: Hood Safari
MG
Unlocked After: The Paleto Score
Micro SMG
Unlocked After: Franklin and Lamar
SMG
Unlocked After: Franklin and Lamar
Assault Rifles
Advanced Rifle
Unlocked After: The Big Score
Assault Rife
Unlocked After: Franklin and Lamar
Bullpup Rifle
Unlocked After: The Big Score
Carbine Rifle
Unlocked After: The Jewel Store Job
Special Carbine
Unlocked After: The Jewel Store Job
Sniper Rifles
Heavy Sniper
Unlocked After: Three’s Company
Marksman Rifle
Unlocked After: The Paleto Score
Sniper Rifle
Unlocked After: Nervous Ron
Heavy Weapons
Firework Launcher
Unlocked After: Franklin and Lamar
Grenade Launcher
Unlocked After: Trevor Philips Industry
Homing Launcher
Unlocked After: Minor Turbulence
Minigun
Unlocked After: The Paleto Score
Railgun
Unlocked After: Minor Turbulence
Rocket Launcher
Unlocked After: Blitz Play
Throwables
Ball
Unlocked After: Chop
Grenade
Unlocked After: Franklin and Lamar
Jerry Can
Unlocked After: Crystal Maze
Proximity Mine
Unlocked After: Friends Reunited
Sticky Bomb
Unlocked After: Friends Reunited
Tear Gas
Unlocked After: The Jewel Store Job
