.45 GAP Opinions

[iamhunter]

Hey everyone. I've been looking around at trying some different calibers lately (been a long time 45 ACP fan...) and I was wondering what people think of the .45 GAP.

Alot of people seem to like it... but how does it compare to the 45 ACP and 40 SW.

Cost of ammo isn't really an issue here because this would be purely for self defense... I'd probably practice with it once or twice a month.

I really like the idea of the glock 39.... the size would make it so easy to conceal, and I'm a t-shirt and jeans kinda guy so I really need something that I can wear IWB without a bulge.

But performance wise, what do you guys think? Is the GAP a good value in comparison with the 45 ACP or 40 SW?

[Bailey Guns]

Performance-wise? I doubt there's much difference between .45GAP and any of the other popular defensive calibers.

The issue for me would be cost and availability of the ammo.

Everybody carries .45ACP, .40SW and 9MM. Not everyone stocks the GAP.

And, you're limited to relatively few guns in GAP. I don't know if that would matter or not.

[Circuits]

.45 GAP basically exists so that Glock can offer a .45 to purchasers in countries which outlaw civilian ownership of any military/police caliber. It's roughly equivalent to .45ACP, maybe a teensy bit hotter.

Only reason they offer it here is because they make it, and they can - but since we don't have restrictions on ownership of military/police calibers, there's not much reason for it.

[iamhunter]

.45 GAP basically exists so that Glock can offer a .45 to purchasers in countries which outlaw civilian ownership of any military/police caliber. It's roughly equivalent to .45ACP, maybe a teensy bit hotter.

Only reason they offer it here is because they make it, and they can - but since we don't have restrictions on ownership of military/police calibers, there's not much reason for it.


I was considering the glock 36 (45 ACP) but started reading up on the glock 39 (45 GAP)[/quote] and you save about 5" off of the length and the height and get the same ammo capacity.

I could go with a glock 30sf but I'm a little concerned it might be to big to conceal easily.

[iamhunter]

bump.

I just want to get some more opinions. Do you think the GAP offers a good compromise between size and firepower?

[Roger]

I don't own a GAP. But I'm an armorer and I have shot them and have talked to a lot of people that own them. I don't see that they are anything special when the ACP is available. I can conceal the 30 just fine so that's not an issue. And the 36 is even easier to hide.

There are agencies that have approved them for duty use. But again, the ballistics are just not that much different for it to be of any real advantage. The shorter frame is nice for smaller hands, but the new SF's have made that a non-issue too.

Modern ammunition components have made the differences in caliber a non-issue in most cases.

YMMV

[iamhunter]

I don't own a GAP. But I'm an armorer and I have shot them and have talked to a lot of people that own them. I don't see that they are anything special when the ACP is available. I can conceal the 30 just fine so that's not an issue. And the 36 is even easier to hide.

There are agencies that have approved them for duty use. But again, the ballistics are just not that much different for it to be of any real advantage. The shorter frame is nice for smaller hands, but the new SF's have made that a non-issue too.

Modern ammunition components have made the differences in caliber a non-issue in most cases.

YMMV

Hey Roger, thanks for the quick reply. You say you conceal the 30SF no problem? Is it fairly comfortable to wear for long periods of time?

The only reason I was looking at the 39 is because of the smaller frame, but if you feel that it's comparable to the 30SF in size, I'd much rather have 10+1 capacity and ammo availability of the ACP.

On a last note... while there is not a significant upside to 45 GAP, to me, there doesn't seem to be a significant downside either so long as I like the feel. Ammo isn't expensive online (winchester, speer gold dot, etc.). And it would be used almost purely for self-defense. and lastly, with the adoption of the caliber by the pennsylvania and NY police departments, I forsee a rise in its popularity.

But I could be wrong....

[bjl913]

.45 GAP basically exists so that Glock can offer a .45 to purchasers in countries which outlaw civilian ownership of any military/police caliber. It's roughly equivalent to .45ACP, maybe a teensy bit hotter.

Only reason they offer it here is because they make it, and they can - but since we don't have restrictions on ownership of military/police calibers, there's not much reason for it.

I was under the impression that the GAP was created so that Glock could use the standard size frame(9mm/.40) for a .45 that is, as they put it "near identical" ballistics as an ACP. Great round for glock fans that dont have bear paws! Too bad ammo for a year of steady practice will cost you a wilson combat 1911! haha

[Graves]

I was under the impression that the GAP was created so that Glock could use the standard size frame(9mm/.40) for a .45 that is, as they put it "near identical" ballistics as an ACP. Great round for glock fans that dont have bear paws! Too bad ammo for a year of steady practice will cost you a wilson combat 1911! haha

That's another thing they had in mind when deveolping it. It was initially brought up to offer markets that were limited to the G25/28 by local restrictions (as far as owning a glock goes) something with more of a punch.

[iamhunter]

I was under the impression that the GAP was created so that Glock could use the standard size frame(9mm/.40) for a .45 that is, as they put it "near identical" ballistics as an ACP. Great round for glock fans that dont have bear paws! Too bad ammo for a year of steady practice will cost you a wilson combat 1911! haha

That's my main attraction to it. .45 punch in a 9mm frame.

I wouldn't need to practice that much with it. Maybe once or twice monthly. I'd use a 21 for practice.

I'm still pretty tempted by the 30SF though. It'd be nice to have interchangeable clips and ammunition with a 21... but then again if I got the 39 it'd be almost purely for CCW so does it really matter?

Decisions, decisions.

[TFOGGER]

If you're looking for .45 ACP punch in a smaller package, why not go for .40? Muzzle energy is within a couple of percent, the ammo is lighter to carry and easier to find than the GAP, and the variety of guns available is greater. The only downsides I see to .40 are that recoil/report/flash are somewhat sharper due to the higher pressures, and the wound track of an unexpanded bullet is slightly smaller(not an issue with expanding bullets, as most manufacturers show similar expanded diameters for .40 and .45). Don't get me wrong, I love my 1911s, but the .40 makes more sense to me as a CCW round in a compact or subcompact pistol.

[two shoes]

That's my main attraction to it. .45 punch in a 9mm frame.

I wouldn't need to practice that much with it. Maybe once or twice monthly. I'd use a 21 for practice.

I'm still pretty tempted by the 30SF though. It'd be nice to have interchangeable clips and ammunition with a 21... but then again if I got the 39 it'd be almost purely for CCW so does it really matter?

Decisions, decisions.
Really the only decision is which to get first...

[iamhunter]

If you're looking for .45 ACP punch in a smaller package, why not go for .40? Muzzle energy is within a couple of percent, the ammo is lighter to carry and easier to find than the GAP, and the variety of guns available is greater. The only downsides I see to .40 are that recoil/report/flash are somewhat sharper due to the higher pressures, and the wound track of an unexpanded bullet is slightly smaller(not an issue with expanding bullets, as most manufacturers show similar expanded diameters for .40 and .45). Don't get me wrong, I love my 1911s, but the .40 makes more sense to me as a CCW round in a compact or subcompact pistol.

I've had and shot a number of glock .40SWs and the recoil/report/flash was always a downside. It always just felt a bit more unwieldy to me than 45 ACP.

[iamhunter]

Really the only decision is which to get first...

i like your style.

[Blubyue]

As an owner of a glock 37 gap (currently listed for sale/trade) I love the capacity and frame work built. Only reason i want rid of mine is my other pistols are all acp. tryin to keep all calibers the same.

Ammo availability is steadily increasing, Pricey but available.

If interested we could meet up at a local range or mountain so you can try one out and see if you like or see a difference. Im over due for an ammo expendature anywho.

[whitewalrus]

I carry glocks in 45 ACP and 40. Never thought about going to a 45 GAP. I would say if you can fit a Glock 30 SF in your hand comfortable, go with that. If its too big for your hand, go with a Glock 23 (40) or go to the 36 (single stack 45acp).

The performance of the 45GAP is close to 45ACP. However, the ammo is much harder to come by.

[iamhunter]

I have bigger hands so i'm thinking I may just get the glock30sf for now and maybe look at the 39 later down the road as (or if) the caliber increases in popularity.

I like the idea of a 45 in a 9mm frame but the availability of the ACP and extra capacity seems to be a better value.

[Irving]

10mm?

[iamhunter]

10mm?

Seems to me like all the issues brought up against .45 GAP(availability, pricing)

apply equally to 10mm

[Irving]

I thought that might be the case, except I think I might have seen 10mm in a store before, where as I haven't ever seen 45 GAP. Also, I was thinking that 10mm might have more energy than .45ACP.

[Marlin]

I thought that might be the case, except I think I might have seen 10mm in a store before, where as I haven't ever seen 45 GAP. Also, I was thinking that 10mm might have more energy than .45ACP.

Considering the "original" load for the 10 had more energy at 100 yrds than the ACP had at the muzzle..That wasn't even loaded to it's "full potential"

One time I did see both at SW.. If I remember right the 10mm was just slightly cheaper.. Both were the premium SD loads,, Boxes of 20 I think..

[Blubyue]

50 rnds fmj gap $32.99, same count, hp $39.99. More than a thousand available at gander.
dont recall brand and grains.

[car-15]

I thought that might be the case, except I think I might have seen 10mm in a store before, where as I haven't ever seen 45 GAP. Also, I was thinking that 10mm might have more energy than .45ACP.
below is a copy/paste from doubletap's website

230 grn. 10mm-1120fps/ 641 ft./lbs. 4.6" Glock 20
230 grn. .45acp-1010fps - 521 ft./lbs. 5" 1911
230 grn. .45 gap-935fps - 447 ft./lbs. 4.5" Glock 37

180 grn.1350fps/ 728 ft/lbs- Glock 20 10mm
185 grn.1225fps - 616 ft./lbs. - 5" 1911 .45acp
185 grn.1150fps - 543 ft./lbs. - Glock 37 .45gap