Am I crazy for thinking about buying a .45 GAP?

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I really like .45 GAP. I have a number of Glock 37 pistols and they are probably my most accurate Glocks (I also have a G19 gen5, G19x, G21 gen3, G21 gen4, and G30SF). I have a bunch of .45 GAP ammo and brass (I reload) so from a logistics aspect, I am not hamstrung.

Getting about the same performance as a .45 ACP, but in a smaller package is appealing. That said, if you are starting new and don’t have a supply of .45 GAP ammo or brass to reload, any savings that you obtain by buying a well-priced pistol in .45 GAP will diminish as you pay more for .45 GAP than mainstream .45 ACP.

It’s a great round, but the lack of popularity makes ammo difficult to find and often more expensive than .45 ACP when you do source it.
 
I have a 45 GAP - Glock 38 and it is soft shooting, IMO.
I like the feel of the 38 grip better than the chopped grip of the Glock 30 (45 acp)
45 GAP is easy to reload, uses small pistol primers and brass is available from Starline (comparable price to 45 acp)
https://www.starlinebrass.com/45-gap-brass
If I was under a 10 round limit, I'd rather have a Glock 38 than a 19 or 23 with stupid 10 round mags. (principle)
 
I built three 45 GAPs using P80 frames--37, 38, and 39. I reload and like to experiment with different rounds. Very inexpensive OEM barrels and slides, soft shooting, and accurate. In the sc 39 frame and its 3.46" barrel (comparable to g26-27), I safely get 940 FPS using 200 grain V crowns. I shoot this g39 much better than my glock 26 and glock 27. I also ended up milling the g39 slide for a small red dot. It's a great 7-round CCW when I have to go small.

The mid size 38 and large 37 are house defense guns, easy for both me and my wife to use, and all three are very reliable, more so than my compact 45 acps.

I use 45 acp dies to reload the GAP with no problem (Hornady). I know re-sale value is low, but I have 1000k brass and reload.
 
If you want it for range fun, reloading interests, or just the novelty of having Glock's wacky cartridge, I think you should go for it!

If you want it for real world bad times, hard pass.
 
Glock literally gave the GA State Patrol Glocks in 45 ACP in order to create interest when the gun was 1st introduced. The troopers hated them and gave them back after a couple of years in exchange for G17's in 9mm.

If you're limited to 10 rounds and want a full size 45 caliber pistol buy a Smith M&P in 45 ACP. I see 1st gen pistols cheap and if you install one of the aftermarkets triggers you'll have a very accurate pistol.

OR:

Buy a compact 9mm pistol designed around 10 round magazines like the Sig 365
 
Yes, you're crazy:
  • once-fired 45 ACP brass is free pretty often. If your state passed the 10 round law, you will start seeing more of it as people gravitate more toward 45 ACP again.
  • 45 GAP brass would need to be chased down and is not immediately distinguishable from 40. You will end up stressing about it.
  • It's a higher pressure round, which will give it a bit more snappy recoil. One thing people like about 45ACP is that low pressure recoil; it's more gentle.
 
Ok I don’t have a .45 GAP or ACP. So I really don’t have the experience here. However if both calibers were coming out at the same time. Think VHS-BETA max. Which would you pick? Try and think like you didn’t know the outcome.
 
dodo bird said:
Ok I don’t have a .45 GAP or ACP. So I really don’t have the experience here. However if both calibers were coming out at the same time. Think VHS-BETA max. Which would you pick? Try and think like you didn’t know the outcome.
Click to expand...

So the two cartridges are coming out at the same time. One fits in guns that shoot 10mm but is far lower pressure and much less powerful; the other runs about the same velocities as .40S&W and fits in the same sized guns, but is a larger diameter and about 20gr heavier for matching velocity?

The GAP would seem like the smart bet.
 
Glock Ammo Perfection! :rofl:

Ok, so it doesn't mean that but I like oddball underdogs and I like the GAP. Probably why I have too many Black Powder rifles and revolvers. But I tell you what, IF I HAD TO, I would you those black powder guns for home defense also. Certainly not ideal but I'll use whatever is available, not just whatever is best.

Listen, if it's for fun and the range (primarily) and you reload, Go for it!
 
If it's something you want go for it, but I'd assume any savings you get on the gun will be eaten up by buying the oddball brass, dies, extra magazines, etc.
 
There was a similar thread earlier this year that actually piqued my interest enough that I ordered one up. I like unusual guns (my other Glock is in .357 SIG) and was able to get my hands on a bunch of Remington ammo priced significantly less than .45ACP. It’s comfortable to hold—I find even the SF versions of .45ACP Glocks a wee bit too big—and fun to shoot. I wrote more about it in this post from that earlier thread.
 
IF you can find components and handload, maybe. Have a specific firearm in mind, with a defined use. Good luck on finding GAP ammo at a LGS. Remember .45 acp is the second most popular pistol round in America, the GAP about 20 th or so.
 
You will never be able to buy factory ammo for it. Forget the expense, availability is a huge issue.
 
To the OP, in answer to your question: Yes.:rofl:
Or at least misguided, as Chaim says in Post #5 and Ed basically says in the post above mine.
Stay away from orphan calibers (.45 GAP, .327 Federal Magnum, and more recently, .30 Super Carry). They will just cost you money. And remember, there's a reason they are orphans -- Because no one wanted to adopt them.
 
Terrific caliber, but any advice you give about .45 GAP begins with “Assuming you reload”. I had a chance to shoot a friends Glock 38 a while back, which is .45 caliber in a Glock 19 form factor pistol, and it’s a wonderful gun to shoot, might be one of the most underrated pistols I’ve ever had direct experience with.

A Gen4 Glock 30 in .45 ACP is a good alternative if you don’t reload .45 GAP. This gun really does do everything you need it to do, assuming you practice with it.
 
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gunsrfun1 said:
To the OP, in answer to your question: Yes.:rofl:
Or at least misguided, as Chaim says in Post #5 and Ed basically says in the post above mine.
Stay away from orphan calibers (.45 GAP, .327 Federal Magnum, and more recently, .30 Super Carry). They will just cost you money. And remember, there's a reason they are orphans -- Because no one wanted to adopt them.
Click to expand...
I reload, so orphan calibers don't cost me anything more than the primers and bullets, but the jury on .30 Super is going to be out until someone makes a pistol specifically for it that maximizes its capacity. I haven't looked too much into the .30 Super in terms of how many can fit in various magazines, but it's going to always be more than 9mm and to some that's the only thing that matters to them. It's far too early to say anything about it.

.327 is a revolver caliber that can shoot cheap .32 S&W Long ammo and the .32 Long and H&R Mag stuff has less recoil than .38, so there's going to be an appeal there. I really don't consider any revolver that shoots an easily acquired or easy to reload cartridge to be an orphan. I mean, for as little interest as I have in .41 Magnum, it would not be a Herculean task to load ammo for it, 7.62 Nagant is a different story.

The .45 GAP tho is one that's been around for 20 years now, the selling points of it when it was created no longer apply (for the most part) and the ammo situation is indeed a known issue given there's the interest in it is basically zero. One thing I didn't consider is how the Glock barrel supports the case, if the cases get the bulges from the typical Glock chamber then I'm out as I don't know who makes an aftermarket .45 Gap barrel and the only way I'd be able to shoot this is to reload ammo.
 
"327 is a revolver caliber that can shoot cheap .32 S&W Long ammo and the .32 Long and H&R Mag stuff has less recoil than .38, so there's going to be an appeal there. I really don't consider any revolver that shoots an easily acquired or easy to reload cartridge to be an orphan."


I agree. You just have to find some kind of 32 revolver ammo and you're good. A semiauto caliber is a different kettle of fish.
 
The .45 GAP was virtually dead on arrival.
This despite what's been posted here. Just
as the .40 s&W is waning fast in popularity,
a bunch of shooters always exist who never
learn. Yup, this is a negative comment. :neener:
 
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