Perhaps I am just dense in my thinking (and obviously in my choice of spelling), but can there be an explanation how shortening the OAL of a round increases the number of rounds in a magazine? After all, a 10MM and 40S&W can fit the same number of rounds in a magazine of the same width and height. Magazine capacities have very little to do with their cartridge length and everthing to do with their cartridge width. If you stack 10 acp and 10 gap rounds, they are the same height. If you stagger them in the same percentage, they are the same height. Now, in a tube-magazine, I could see how you get more, but this whole "you get more rounds in the same size magzine" arguement is insane.
Now, you can fit the same number of rounds in a smaller grip circumference to be sure. But the grip width will be unchanged, only front-to-back. The grip becomes more squared rather then rectangular. Yet, the foot-print against the palm remains exactly the same. The only difference would be how far the finger wrap around the other side.
But, the laws of dimensions do not allow more rounds in the same size. You could not fit more rounds of GAP into an ACP magazine (you could not fit 13 rounds into an 11 round ACP magazine). You cannot fit 8 rounds into a 7 round 1911 magazine. Indeed, in the 1911 platform, you could get no more rounds. And, to get more rounds for the grip circumference, you alter the grip position (because you have to go fatter). So, to get more rounds for circumference, which is the ONLY possible way to call more rounds per package, you have to make a fat grip, which is more noticeable and more difficult to grasp than a longer grip. And in doing so, you make the grip chunkier than the slimmer grip of similar circumference but much slimmer profile.
In other words, to achieve more rounds, you lose out in chunkier grips. To achieve smaller grip (which was what it was all about in the first place) you lose rounds. So, to gain the greatest advantage with the GAP, smaller grip, you lose rounds and the other "great" advantage in the round.
And, since you could get an Astra A-75, which is quite a compact pistol, in .45ACP, the "advantage" of the GAP becomes even less obvious.
But, to each his own. Who ever would like to own a GAP, do so and have fun. It ain't sliced bread, though, and king of the hill will never apply to it. Worse, now that the AWB has expired, the 9mm will become king in large and small handguns again (as much as I like my ACP). And, since folks will be reminded of the qualities of the 9mm, and since they can get more rounds of 9mm in any platform over the GAP, there will be even less reason for it.
Remember, the ACP became popular again because if the pistol has to be that big and only offer 10 rounds, then make those rounds bigger. Or, if one can only get 10 rounds, make the pistol smaller. The 9mm dominates the smaller specturm and the ACP the larger. Now the AWB is gone, the 9mm will once again dominate the larger as well (why settle for 10 rounds when you can have 17). And, since the GAP will always offer fewer rounds per magazine than the 40S&W, it will settle in that little niche between the 40 and the acp. That's not a big realm to live in.
Worse, since police agencies are deciding the 40S&W wasn't all that hot afterall, then why would they go with GAP, which is also higher pressure?
Ash
