45 GAP is a propritery cartridge (Glock Auto Pistol) has a shorter case than 45ACP which uses less powder, and less recoil. For specifics on velocity and CUP would have to go to the reloading bench and look it up. a few companies are chambering in 45 gap other than glock too. so it might be catching on, not sure if it will last or not.
New to the world of firearms...
- Thread starter Elquatro
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Don't bother with that at all. .45 GAP is not popular to say the least so the ammo is pretty hard to find and expensive when you do find it. It doesn't really offer much in a cartridge that the .45ACP can't do. Put it this way...pistols made in .45GAP are being clearanced out all over the place because no one wants them. It looks like it's on it's way to being obsolete. Sure you can get a good deal on a pistol like a Glock in .45GAP for $379 brand new....but there's a reason for that. I vote stay away.
is the 45gap well supported in reloading circles? have heard its possible to trim down 45acp brass and use it in a gap, I havent looked into this, read an article that the benefit of the GAP was 45 acp size projectile yet a reduced muzzle impulse for better second shot placement due to less recoil. sounds good in print but then again so have a lot of other bad ideas. Range near me stocks 45gap ammo pretty well would think its better than sliced bread
It's not well supported......anywhere.
A few PDs adopted it and some still use it but most companies don't make anything chambered in it and most ammo manufacturers don't make .45 GAP at all so brass isn't easy to come by. The .45 GAP uses small pistol primers instead of large and the brass is thicker than the .45 ACP brass....but yes, you could trim down .45ACP brass and it would work. Why bother though? I can think of better things to do than trim down piles and piles of pistol brass with no real benefit in performance in the end.Speaking of Glocks, I have seven even though I vowed for years that I never wanted one. Then my Dad died and left me a Glock and I was hooked.
I don't have a 21, but I have a 20, which is full size. I wll never carry it as it is too heavy. Most of my Glocks are the smaller ones yet I use the full size mags for reloads.
There is a mid-size Glock that might be perfect for you and it is my favorite - the Glock 23, which is a .40 and carries 13+1, with
the big brother mags, you have 15 per mag, I think. If you want smaller, then it's my second favorite - the 27. Also, .40 and it takes any Glock magazines. If you like more capacity, you can get the scherer 29 round .40! Just make certain it is the new metal lined mags. I bought three of their magazines: the 10mm only took 3 rounds. (they quit making the 10mm) the .40 and .45. I kept the latter two full and ready. But at the bottom where the spring is compressed, the plastic bulged out, trapping the spring. After removed 2 rounds, I could turn it upside down and round fell out. The metal lined one has holes on both sides, not referring to the round holes on the back.
Well, I got way off track. There is a 10 round .45 and the G36 is a single stack .45 and the grip is smaller. There are no higher capacity mags available. Have you looked at XD or XDm pistol?
I got off track
I don't have a 21, but I have a 20, which is full size. I wll never carry it as it is too heavy. Most of my Glocks are the smaller ones yet I use the full size mags for reloads.
There is a mid-size Glock that might be perfect for you and it is my favorite - the Glock 23, which is a .40 and carries 13+1, with
the big brother mags, you have 15 per mag, I think. If you want smaller, then it's my second favorite - the 27. Also, .40 and it takes any Glock magazines. If you like more capacity, you can get the scherer 29 round .40! Just make certain it is the new metal lined mags. I bought three of their magazines: the 10mm only took 3 rounds. (they quit making the 10mm) the .40 and .45. I kept the latter two full and ready. But at the bottom where the spring is compressed, the plastic bulged out, trapping the spring. After removed 2 rounds, I could turn it upside down and round fell out. The metal lined one has holes on both sides, not referring to the round holes on the back.
Well, I got way off track. There is a 10 round .45 and the G36 is a single stack .45 and the grip is smaller. There are no higher capacity mags available. Have you looked at XD or XDm pistol?
I got off track
jad0110
Member
To the OP, as others said, if you like the way the G21 feels in your hands, go for it. Glocks aren't for me, but they are an excellent choice if they work well for you.
As for caliber, pretty much everyone is reporting that .40 S&W is by far the easiest to find center fire caliber these days. Even if my local Wally World is completely wiped out of all other ammo, they usually have 30 boxes or so of .40 on hand. 9mm is relatively easy to find in my area. .45 ACP is almost non existant however, and price wise it is starting to approach the territory of becoming a reloader's round (for most of us working stiffs) like 45 Colt, .44 Special or 10 mm.
As for a 22, I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing one first, or a close second. With ammo prices and primer unavailability, I find myself shooting about 25 rounds of 22 LR for each centerfire round. Since you are going semiauto for your centerfire purchase, I would recommend a semiauto 22. You can find good deals in used Rugers and Browning Buckmarks.
For instance, my sister picked up this very nice used, but like-new Ruger Mark II with adjustable sights and 5.5" barrel for $199 about a year and a half ago, and that was during the peak of the gun buying panic, post Nov '08 elections.
Come to think of it, if you take a little extra time and buy a used Glock and a used 22, you probably wouldn't spend much more (if any) then you would buying a new Glock alone.
As for caliber, pretty much everyone is reporting that .40 S&W is by far the easiest to find center fire caliber these days. Even if my local Wally World is completely wiped out of all other ammo, they usually have 30 boxes or so of .40 on hand. 9mm is relatively easy to find in my area. .45 ACP is almost non existant however, and price wise it is starting to approach the territory of becoming a reloader's round (for most of us working stiffs) like 45 Colt, .44 Special or 10 mm.
As for a 22, I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing one first, or a close second. With ammo prices and primer unavailability, I find myself shooting about 25 rounds of 22 LR for each centerfire round. Since you are going semiauto for your centerfire purchase, I would recommend a semiauto 22. You can find good deals in used Rugers and Browning Buckmarks.
For instance, my sister picked up this very nice used, but like-new Ruger Mark II with adjustable sights and 5.5" barrel for $199 about a year and a half ago, and that was during the peak of the gun buying panic, post Nov '08 elections.
Come to think of it, if you take a little extra time and buy a used Glock and a used 22, you probably wouldn't spend much more (if any) then you would buying a new Glock alone.
dgarvin1
Member
I would by a 1911 style .45 ACP and invest in reloading equipment.
I would probably avoid a .22, because it seems like you have your heart set on a boomer.
Always buy what you want. I've only been disappointed in purchases when I was buying what I "thought" I should have instead of what I wanted.
I would probably avoid a .22, because it seems like you have your heart set on a boomer.
Always buy what you want. I've only been disappointed in purchases when I was buying what I "thought" I should have instead of what I wanted.
Skylerbone
Member
Yeah, who wants to drive a Ford 4 miles a day to work and back when you could buy a Ferrari! Its just another car, right? You've got a license, you know how to drive, just do it!
Buy a Smith & Wesson .500 and peg out the fun meter! Do what feels exciting, errr right.
My first handgun experience was with a BuckMark (one magazine at an oil can) followed by twenty eight more years with a Ruger Single Six (single action .22LR/Mag). My father spent nearly 40 years in military and law enforcement and I didn't graduate to .38spl for 5 years. Last year I bought a Beretta .22 for additional practice and to save wear on that Ruger and I finally, at age 37 bought a .40cal for a self-defense pistol.
I cannot define with words what a rimfire can do for your accuracy or how strongly I agree with Kodiak on this point. I was taught that each and every projectile coming out of the barrel was in fact lethal and should be treated as such. I was taught to think about every shot and where I wanted it to go before my finger ever touched the trigger. I can tell you I looked a fool my first day with that .40 out on the range as I blasted out 100 rounds ($40 worth) and shot like that eight year old boy I used to be. It is the reason I've carried two pistols to the range on every trip since and alternated shooting the two. Its very easy to undo even decades of good habbits with a shiny new whoopie but eventually only accurate guns will interest you and when you can't blame the gun then....
PS: after a little home mod of my Smith M&P I took it to a long time friend and gunsmith. He pulled out a Glock he had just purchased and we exchanged weapons. After checking over triggers, grip, etc. he seemed disappointed...in having to give mine back while I had long since laid that Glock on the counter. What's tacticool or hip, even if it is a solid design does not make it the only game in town.
PPS: He also scaled the triggers from center (where your finger actually contacts) and ended up at 7 lbs for the Glock (stock) vs. 4 lbs even for the M&P with my home installed parts.
Buy a Smith & Wesson .500 and peg out the fun meter! Do what feels exciting, errr right.
My first handgun experience was with a BuckMark (one magazine at an oil can) followed by twenty eight more years with a Ruger Single Six (single action .22LR/Mag). My father spent nearly 40 years in military and law enforcement and I didn't graduate to .38spl for 5 years. Last year I bought a Beretta .22 for additional practice and to save wear on that Ruger and I finally, at age 37 bought a .40cal for a self-defense pistol.
I cannot define with words what a rimfire can do for your accuracy or how strongly I agree with Kodiak on this point. I was taught that each and every projectile coming out of the barrel was in fact lethal and should be treated as such. I was taught to think about every shot and where I wanted it to go before my finger ever touched the trigger. I can tell you I looked a fool my first day with that .40 out on the range as I blasted out 100 rounds ($40 worth) and shot like that eight year old boy I used to be. It is the reason I've carried two pistols to the range on every trip since and alternated shooting the two. Its very easy to undo even decades of good habbits with a shiny new whoopie but eventually only accurate guns will interest you and when you can't blame the gun then....
PS: after a little home mod of my Smith M&P I took it to a long time friend and gunsmith. He pulled out a Glock he had just purchased and we exchanged weapons. After checking over triggers, grip, etc. he seemed disappointed...in having to give mine back while I had long since laid that Glock on the counter. What's tacticool or hip, even if it is a solid design does not make it the only game in town.
PPS: He also scaled the triggers from center (where your finger actually contacts) and ended up at 7 lbs for the Glock (stock) vs. 4 lbs even for the M&P with my home installed parts.
Skylerbone
Member
Skylerbone
Member
22-rimfire
Member
I think you're better off getting a 22LR handgun first. If you like the 45 profile, look at a Ruger 45/22 and learn to shoot it well. Get the heavy barrel version. You'll thank me later.
I like Glocks. In particular, I like the Glock M23 (40 S&W) especially. If you are thinking of concealed carry, think carefully about the size of the gun relative to your sense to conceal it. I personally don't like to buy pants with a waist an inch or two larger to accomadate a handgun inside my waist band. Easiest approach to concealed carry is with a small J-frame Smith revolver which can easily be carried in a pocket.
I like Glocks. In particular, I like the Glock M23 (40 S&W) especially. If you are thinking of concealed carry, think carefully about the size of the gun relative to your sense to conceal it. I personally don't like to buy pants with a waist an inch or two larger to accomadate a handgun inside my waist band. Easiest approach to concealed carry is with a small J-frame Smith revolver which can easily be carried in a pocket.
Skylerbone
Member
Just figured out how to post this, sorry for all the junk above.
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