Pistol

The Pistol is a weapon that appears in all Grand Theft Auto games(and book), being the most basic firearm in the series. It is manufactured by Hawk & Little in Grand Theft Auto V.

Description
The Pistol is mainly used at the start of the game as the first weapon the player obtains, or later when the player has run out of ammunition for other firearms. It is a reliable backup weapon, but not one that should be used as a primary, as it is outclassed by many other weapons in damage, fire rate, and overall effectiveness.

Performance
In Grand Theft Auto V, the Pistol performs similarly to the one in GTA IV, but the power, range, and low recoil of the weapon make it significantly more useful despite the pistol holds five less bullets per magazine. This time, it comes with a magazine carrying 12 bullets, though it can be upgraded to 16 bullets with the "Extended Clip". As an addition, the rate of fire can be increased by repeatedly tapping the fire button instead of holding it down.

In other words, the Pistol can be an excellent all-around weapon for earlier stages of the game, although its efficiency might be lower compared to an Assault Rifle or Carbine Rifle.