Opinion: Don't Fall into the .45GAP

[neviander]

XDkingslayer, and I really don't know, but, how many police departments let their officers choose what they carry, or even vote on what should be carried?
I'm assuming it's up to the big dogs to make that decision and Uncle Sam is behind them all. So if said company did a favor for a few higher ups....just thinking.

 

[Ash]

Know nothing about? I have shot one. I have held the Glock 37. I also have held the XD in 45ACP and it is plain that the solution never was the 45GAP but a frame-redesign and getting rid of the polymer magazine shell - if there ever were a solution needed. And, if you note, there is at least one agency that has re-thought their choice of chambering.

In any case, Glock is almost giving away the 37's. The predicted wave of adoption never happened, even if some agencies adopted it.

As I have mentioned, the 45GAP had to deal with the end-user. The 45GAP user is a rare fellow, somebody with small hands who is convinced that 9mm is unsuitable. Since we know that modern 9mm ammo is certainly capable of doing what needs to be done, 9mm guys have no reason to drop number of rounds. Ditto for 40S&W. So, 45GAP, by design, must target that user who has no confidence in 9mm or 40S&W, but has hands too small for 45ACP. Talk about a niche. And even then, careful design of the pistol would have prevented Glock 45 pistols from being utter bricks in the hand - as the XD proved.

Ash

 

[ugaarguy]

If the ammo is more expensive than ACP then your dealer is bending you over a barrel. I have yet to pay more for GAP than ACP.

No, your dealer is bending you over the barrel for 45 ACP or he's marking up the 45 GAP less. Dealer cost on .45 GAP is still more than .45 ACP.

If it was such a bad round, why are so many law enforcement agencies going to it instead of ACP? Why did the Pa State Police move to GAP and not ACP. Why did the agency here go to GAP instead of ACP?

Maybe it has something to do with Gaston Glock personally negotiating the contracts, as he did when the Georgia State Patrol switched to .45 GAP. I've not heard exact price figures but publicly available meeting minutes indicate that new .45 GAP Glocks were offered at a significantly lower price than competing pistols, and less even than new .40 S&W Glocks. It's difficult to argue against saving tax payer money on new sidearms (or using the saved money elsewhere in the budget). Now, the troopers I've talked to do like the round and the gun though. General comment is that they like a 45 caliber round in a frame the exact same size as their previous .40 S&W Glocks. None are bothered by a 1/3 reduction in magazine capacity.

 

[DougDubya]

I'd also like to point out - before the XD45, the USP45 also had a nice, easy to handle grip not much larger (though much squarer) than a 1911 grip.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Just having the word GLOCK on it was enough for me not to like it. But then I must be one of those people that don't understand things so I'm afraid of them, like lightning or the dark. or plastic guns (isn't that an oxymoron?)

 

[XDKingslayer]

Dealer cost on .45 GAP is still more than .45 ACP.

If you'd like I'll be more than happy to scan the page from the Hunters catalog that shows the dealer cost is EXACTLY the same between ACP and GAP. I buy my ACP and GAP wholesale through a friend that owns a sports shop and his cost on them are the same. He doesn't mark up anything for me.

And I'd like to see those meeting minutes showing the GAP models were discounted more than the other models.

 

[Bullet]

I have a G37 (45 GAP). I like it because it’s a 45 in a Glock that is the same size as my G17 & G22 which fit me perfect. Glock wouldn’t make anything that wasn’t perfect!!

 

[WoofersInc]

If you want to make fun of me because I think it's a stupid round that's fine too. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go load some .357 Sig rounds.

Actually, I was not trying to make fun of you. Just stating that I don't understand about the need for negativity. And yes I wholeheartly agree with you, It is an opinion.
Enjoy the 357 Sig. Wish I could find a dealer here that had a XD in the 5 inch barrel for that round.

 

[Moonclip]

I bet not even 2% of USA LE agencies issue or have personnel using firearms chambered in .45GAP, how many years did it take for .40S&W to become dominate, not too many.

A large local gun chain was selling NIB Glock 37's for low $400's late last year.

 

[Feanaro]

If the ammo is more expensive than ACP then your dealer is bending you over a barrel. I have yet to pay more for GAP than ACP.

It costs more at every store I've ever been to. The cheapest prices on NatchezSS for a 50 round box of GAP is $20 for Remington UMC. For ACP, it's $13 for Blazer.

Your buddy gives you a discount, which is great. I don't think anyone else is getting that deal.

 

[DougDubya]

Enjoy the 357 Sig. Wish I could find a dealer here that had a XD in the 5 inch barrel for that round.

That would most severely rock. It'd be worth investing in an XD-40 Tactical and put in a .357 SIG barrel.

As for the GAP, it would have been a good caliber for the Quarente Cinco Browning HiPower. what cudda been...