Every Submachine Gun in GTA Online, Ranked (2024)

Image: Rockstar Games via HGG / Koby Gibson Ross

Human Made

My name is Gibson Vasela. I am a freelance writer who has been playing video games for almost 20 years now. I play all kinds of games, but I especially love immersive sims and RPGs.

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

Submachine guns in GTA Online are an interesting weapon category. They’re not as strong as assault rifles and not as good in PVP as sniper rifles, but they’re still a fairly popular weapon choice. That’s good to hear, because SMGs are a blast to use. Whether you love using them for drive-by shootings, CQBs, or just running and gunning, there is something for everyone with an SMG. In today’s article, we’re ranking every submachine gun in GTA Online from good to best!

Every Submachine Gun in GTA Online, Ranked From Good to Best

With that introduction out of the way, let’s get right into our ranking of every SMG in GTA Online!

7/7

SMG

Taking spot number six on this list for every submachine gun in GTA Online ranked, we have the SMG. This is a fairly standard gun that you will see quite commonly used by low-level players. The gun has been in the series since the days of GTA: Vice City, so it’s pretty much a mainstay in the series. The gun can be picked up for $7,500 from Ammu-Nation or your personal armory found inside your Agency.

This gun has pretty low accuracy, and its range is disappointing. The DPS is what you’d expect from a low-level weapon. It’s not terrible, just nowhere near as good as the other weapons on this list. Given its inability to be used in a car and its inability to use other ammo types, this gun lacks any real utility. You can pick it up if you’re a low-level player in need of an SMG, but veterans are better off skipping this gun.

6/7

Mini SMG

For our next pick, we have the Mini SMG (not to be confused with the Micro SMG). This is an incredibly small gun that was added to the world of GTA Online as a part of the Bikers DLC in October 2016. The gun is very rarely used (if at all) due to its stats. This is a shame, as it’s actually a pretty fun gun to use.

Surprisingly, this gun actually does a little bit more damage than the SMG. It also has a very fast fire rate, which bumps up its DPS quite a bit. The thing that many players will dislike about this gun, however, is its low magazine compacity. It can only hold a maximum of thirty rounds when fully upgraded. That isn’t too terrible, but it definitely keeps the gun in check compared to other weapons.

5/7

Micro SMG

Now for the next pick on our ranking, we have the classic Micro SMG! This is without a doubt one of the most commonly used SMGs in GTA Online. This weapon has been in the franchise since GTA III, so it’s no wonder it’s so popular among players. The gun is available for $3,750 in GTA Online, making it the cheapest SMG in the game. Given its utility, it’s very much worth the investment.

This firearm’s best and most notable use is for drive-bys. Players are able to aim and shoot this gun while driving most vehicles in the game, which makes it a good pick if you need something for vehicle combat. As for the rest of the stats, it’s a bit disappointing. It has very low damage, but makes up for it with a good fire rate.

Its maximum magazine size is only thirty, which is also very low. Despite its low stats, the previously mentioned ability to be used in most vehicles makes it a must-have if you don’t already own the AP Pistol.

4/7

Assault SMG

For the next spot on our list, let’s take a moment to talk about the Assault SMG. I regret not using this reliable weapon sooner. It’s available for only $12,550 from any Ammu-Nation store, as well as your Agency’s armory. The gun is great for beginners to buy and use due to this (relatively) low price.

The performance is pretty damn good. It can hold a maximum of sixty rounds in each magazine, which isn’t the best in its class, but still better than most SMGs. The gun also has pretty good damage and a fire rate that isn’t too extreme in either direction. The gun just feels very balanced to use. Its range and accuracy are what bring it up higher on this list, as you’re able to kill targets from a greater distance much more effectively.

Honorable Mention: Gusenberg Sweeper

Before starting our top three, let’s bring up an honorable mention. The Gusenberg Sweeper is technically classified as a light machine gun, but its design and function make it a submachine gun. Either way, this unique weapon was first brought to the game alongside the Valentine’s Day Massacre Special DLC, released on February 13, 2014.

Its stats make it one of the best weapons in the game. Its most noticeable features are its incredible fire rate and decent damage, which make it pretty good for PVP. The gun is pretty inaccurate, however, when compared to some other guns in the game. For this reason, I only recommend using this in close quarters.

3/7

Machine Pistol

Kicking off our top three, we have the Machine Pistol! This gun is called a pistol, but is classified as a submachine gun. I don’t know much about firearms in real life, so I’m not going to bother arguing if it’s one or the other. We’ll just assume it’s an SMG for the sake of discussion. This firearm was added to GTA Online in the Lowriders DLC.

I was very surprised by the stats of this gun. It has a pretty good DPS given its good fire rate and decent damage to boot. I would definitely be okay with using this gun in a close-range PVP scenario. It can be upgraded to hold a maximum capacity of thirty rounds for each clip. This makes it a very viable alternative to most SMGs on this list. And, since it can be used in a car, it has a lot of versatility to back it up.

2/7

SMG Mk II

And for the number two pick on our ranking, we have the SMG Mk II! This is one of several Mk II weapons that were added to the game as a part of the Gunrunning update of 2017. While the SMG Mk II is one of the lesser-used Mk II weapons, don’t let that convince you it doesn’t pack a punch. This gun can be acquired by going to a weapons workbench and upgrading the regular SMG to this for $85,500.

The damage on this weapon is pretty decent for an SMG. Combined with its good fire rate, this is a solid DPS weapon that is good for all types of combat. Being an SMG, it isn’t the best for longer ranges and is best used in CQB. The main appeal of this gun is the fact it can have multiple ammo types! I personally like the hollow point rounds that deal extra damage to unarmored targets. This makes PVE a breeze!

1/7

Combat PDW

Finishing off our list for every submachine gun in GTA Online ranked, we have the Combat PDW! This is a really slept-on SMG that packs quite a punch. It is available in single-player mode as well as online. Online players were able to get their hands on this gun when it was released alongside the Ill-Gotten Gains Part 1 DLC. This is a fairly cheap gun, only costing $11,750, so it’s good for beginners.

This firearm is a close to medium-range weapon, giving it a bit of versatility in different environments. The gun can also be equipped with a size 100 ammo drum, giving it one of the highest ammo capacities in the game! This SMG also has a very high damage per shot when you compare it to the other available SMGs. If you can land your shots, this can be a very effective killing machine. This high point is kept in check by its lower-than-average fire rate.

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Happy gaming!