what is glock "GAP" ?

[bucktooth7]

I believe offended is the proper spelling, but I'm not offended either!

[manuelcardenas77]

Ok thats it im going to buy one. I reload anyways so the ammo is no issue..

[advocatusdiaboli]

So a few scattered PDs are selecting a dead end cartridge for the 45 caliber. I hope they lay in a good supply given municipal governments are having restricted budgets more and more every year.

Here is the problem: the 45 already works in auto pistols and has for one year short of a century. In many wars and it's efficacy has NEVER been called into question. I am not a fan per se. I own no 45 pistols though I recognize their major contribution to history--I carried one as a soldier and never felt it lacked "the stuff" to get it done. It works as is. Period.

While I prefer more modern calibers now--357 SIG and 40 S&W, I understand those who embrace the 45 and still use it. Heck Humphrey Bogart talked about it. It is a piece of living history and will always be a key part of our history never to be forgotten. It has earned it's place. And it still kicks butt. A show of hands who would feel unprotected carrying one?...Thought so. None.

So that brings us to the key question: what does the 45 GAP add?

Since there is already a near-century-tested auto 45 round that has passed every single challenge, well then, nothing. It's a re-packaging of a caliber that was already tried and true. It is a technology looking for a problem. It's a manufacturer trying to create a captive market for it's own unique caliber but for no applicational reason other than market share. It's a bad bet to buy one except for a museum.

As a counter example, let's examine the 357 SIG. It provides something heretofore missing in a semi-auto round--a ballistic match for the .357 Magnum 124 grain round in a semi-auto pistol. That was at the time a first in the automatic pistol. Yes it's a small market but it does at least make a mark--the Secret Service and the Air Marshals thought so and adopted it as have several state police and municipal police.

In sum, big difference in a "because we can" caliber like the 45 GAP and the "we need to bring the hammer to the auto" caliber like the .357 SIG auto. That difference is key.

[Chk Chk Boom]

Sick of people getting all butt-hurt when someone points out what a certain socioeconomic segment of society (of ANY race/religion) has done to what at one time were beautiful towns and cities.

This.


And GAP is stupid and relatively pointless. It involves paying a ridiculous amount of money for an inferior product to what is already available. If you already reload, why would you even consider it when you can economically reload ACP...

[Cali-Shooter]

I was shooting at my local range as I usually do on Sat and picking up all the brass as I usually do and low and behold I came upon a pile of gap .45. It's the 1st I've seen of that stuff and also the range master who has been around a long time. (nice fellow). Well anyway the man shooting the gap.45 was very accurate at 25 yards, and had no complaints about the ammo availibilty or the shooting iron.

What range? I like places with nice range masters

Don't knock Glock , even if it's a crazy caliber!

Hardcore Glock enthusiast to the core. Even I am not that hardcore

One thing not mentioned yet is that some countries outlaw "military" calibers for civilian ownership. So those citizens can't own 9mm Luger or .45 ACP which means the .45 GAP cartridge can become legal for them. Pointless in the US, yes. Not necessarily pointless outside of our borders.

Hmm, so I guess to rationalize it somewhat on Glock's behalf, they are just trying to opt for more market share, even in the oppressed nations that have those kind of laws.

Ok thats it im going to buy one. I reload anyways so the ammo is no issue..

/envy at your power to buy niche-cartridge shooting guns (I don't reload ...yet)

[Gryff]

The GAP was Glock's effort to improve on a bloated, antique cartridge. Take a .45acp and give it a smaller form factor while retaining the same bullet weight and ballistics.

Unfortunately, between the 1911 fanboys bad-mouthing the round and the limited number of companies to chamber pistols for it, finding ammo is tough and expensive.

[Cali-Shooter]

Unfortunately, between the 1911 fanboys bad-mouthing the round and the limited number of companies to chamber pistols for it, finding ammo is tough and expensive.

Ammo Bros. in Cerritos sells commercial reloads. Idk if the price is right however, I would rather search online.

GAP is an awkward caliber/round. They should have changed the gun around a pre-existing popular round, not design a round no one would know anything about.

Example: When Glock first came out with the Glock 22, it was in a competition with other companies to shoot the (then) novel .40 S&W. People have said that Glock's entry beat S&W in designing a handgun to shoot their own round (S&W had an entry in the competition as well). And now, hundreds of police and military agencies use the Glock 22 and it is a great success, with no limited supply of ammo and many brands to choose from.

[tuna quesadilla]

This.


And GAP is stupid and relatively pointless. It involves paying a ridiculous amount of money for an inferior product to what is already available.

Reloading components are reloading components; the only thing unique to .45 GAP is the brass. If I buy a case of 200gr boolitz, a pack of SP primers, a pound of powder, etc from MidwayUSA, they're not going to charge a special "45 GAP" royalty fee on top of it. Brass is the only thing that's different from other readily available calibers -- if you price it out on Midway, you'll find that it's a whopping three cents more expensive.

And if you're talking about serious defensive ammunition, yes you will have to pay a little $$ to get the good stuff, as can be expected with any caliber. But the numbers don't lie. .45 GAP is available in Ranger-T, HST, Gold Dot, etc. The 230gr loadings will go around 850fps, and the 200gr loadings will push 1000. I don't think the bad guy is going to care that it's a whole 20fps slower than .45 ACP.

If you already reload, why would you even consider it when you can economically reload ACP...

Because .45 ACP doesn't fit into the excellent G17 frame. Have you ever held a G21? It's a friggin 2x4. I'll gladly pay an extra 3 cents per round over ACP if it means I get to use the wonderful, ergonomic, excellently designed Glock 17.

[Gryff]

GAP is an awkward caliber/round. They should have changed the gun around a pre-existing popular round, not design a round no one would know anything about.

What round? I prefer the bigger diameter and weight of a .45 bullet over that of a 9mm or .40S&W. But modern powders and metallurgy allow that .45 bullet to fit in a smaller package. That's a Win, yet everyone calls it a fail. I wonder if these would have been the people 100 years ago deriding the military for moving from a revolver to a semi-auto ("Oh my god...don't do that! Those new guns are pointless, complicated, and will never be able to trust your life to! They're solutions to problems that don't exist!").

[CalNRA]

What round? I prefer the bigger diameter and weight of a .45 bullet over that of a 9mm or .45acp.

uh....what?

[Masterdebater]

I think that could actually be a good idea for officers using a gun and round unavailable to the public. And excuse me it is offended lol I'm on my iPhone that has a mind of it's own when typing . Also, is the gap smaller than the acp? I'm guessing?

[Quiet]

Also, is the gap smaller than the acp? I'm guessing?

The overall length of the .45GAP cartridge is shorter than the overall length of the .45ACP cartridge. They both utilize the same sized bullets.

[tuna quesadilla]

Yep, Quiet is quite right (see what I did there) The differences between .45 GAP and .45 ACP are...

1. GAP has shorter overall length
2. GAP uses Small Pistol primers
3. GAP brass is a little thicker/reinforced around the head/web to allow higher pressures

[Chk Chk Boom]

Reloading components are reloading components; the only thing unique to .45 GAP is the brass. If I buy a case of 200gr boolitz, a pack of SP primers, a pound of powder, etc from MidwayUSA, they're not going to charge a special "45 GAP" royalty fee on top of it. Brass is the only thing that's different from other readily available calibers -- if you price it out on Midway, you'll find that it's a whopping three cents more expensive.

And if you're talking about serious defensive ammunition, yes you will have to pay a little $$ to get the good stuff, as can be expected with any caliber. But the numbers don't lie. .45 GAP is available in Ranger-T, HST, Gold Dot, etc. The 230gr loadings will go around 850fps, and the 200gr loadings will push 1000. I don't think the bad guy is going to care that it's a whole 20fps slower than .45 ACP.

Because .45 ACP doesn't fit into the excellent G17 frame. Have you ever held a G21? It's a friggin 2x4. I'll gladly pay an extra 3 cents per round over ACP if it means I get to use the wonderful, ergonomic, excellently designed Glock 17.

He hasn't bought the gun yet. In the context of Glock, GAP works but that's because it's a problem that Glock created. However, there are many other options in other calibers that would not only be more cost effective, but also not require you to rely on a round that is more rare and thus more expensive, even if you reload.

[manuelcardenas77]

What range? I like places with nice range masters



Hardcore Glock enthusiast to the core. Even I am not that hardcore



Hmm, so I guess to rationalize it somewhat on Glock's behalf, they are just trying to opt for more market share, even in the oppressed nations that have those kind of laws.



/envy at your power to buy niche-cartridge shooting guns (I don't reload ...yet)

You should in the long run its pays for it self. Well thats what i tell me wife... No but serious you do especially if you go often.