Pros and Cons of the .45 GAP

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EdLaver

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Thinking about a new Glock 38 for carry, what are your thoughts on this cartridge for CC? Currently I go between several choices for CCW:

Glock 29
Citadel 1911 compact
Bersa .380 Thunder
Taurus Slim 9mm

Actually thinking about dropping the two smaller calibers on the list. I'm a big guy (6'3, 255lbs) and I like carry big calibers. The .45 GAP always intrigued me, but I don't know anyone who owns one. So, other than internet info I have no other knowledge other than fondling one at a gun show and liking the feel and compactness.
 
For what it's worth (probably not much) here are my two cents

G38 - Great size (love the G19 style frame), but I'm not a fan of .45 GAP. Round for round, yes the caliber is fine, no problems there. I don't like the capacity/size ratio of the GAP Glocks. If I'm taking a gun that big, I want more than 8+1 rounds. A G19 will give you 15+1 of 9mm, and a G23/32 will give you 13+1 of .40 or .357 SIG. For me, having a .45 isn't that important (I'm not one of the sheep who think .45 is the only viable choice) so I'd rather have a good mix of caliber/capacity

G29 - Too fat for MY likings, and I don't want to carry 10mm. It's overkill for self defense, and cases have been lost because a lawyer convinced the jury that 10mm is too powerful for an honest person, and they were just out looking to blow somebody away

1911 Compact - I've tried 3 different ones (Para, Citadel, Kimber) and all 3 gave me tons of problems, even after the "break in" period. Two of them couldn't even feed FMJ reliably. I will never own anther one, however YMMV. They are also too heavy for my likings, for a CCH option. They don't feel any lighter than a full size 1911, so I would rather carry a full size if I wanted to carry a 1911. I will say that when they did function right, they were pretty accurate and easy to shoot

Bersa .380 Thunder - no experience on that for me

Taurus Slim 9mm - no personal experience, but a friend of mine has one that he loves. Wish I could say more about it. I do know that Taurus seems to have spotty/random quality control, so make sure if you get one to give it a honest test before you carry it. FWIW I have a Taurus TCP (micro .380) and it has been flawless through about 350 or so rounds. Different animal, but same maker
 
I dont know much about this round, But I do know a hockey buddy of mine, Also FL State Trooper, said their dept. just switched to this format.
 
Always seemed gimmicky/silly to me. I wager in a few years it'll be about as popular as .357 SIG (that is to say, flash-in-the-pan). I could be wrong though.
 
The .45GAP is solely for people who need a compact round but are too irrational to realize that 9mm will do the job just fine. If you're one of those people then this is the round for you.
 
I still think that the .45 GAP is a solution looking for a problem. It allows for loading a full-power .45 load into more compact frames than the ones that take .45 ACP. But if you are a larger than average guy, it probably means you have.....larger than average hands as well, it's not like you have trouble getting your hand around any gun. I wouldn't see the point at all.
 
The .45GAP is solely for people who need a compact round but are too irrational to realize that 9mm will do the job just fine. If you're one of those people then this is the round for you
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I agree to a finite point, but I would change the underlined part to "just as poorly"

I still think that the .45 GAP is a solution looking for a problem. It allows for loading a full-power .45 load into more compact frames than the ones that take .45 ACP. But if you are a larger than average guy, it probably means you have.....larger than average hands as well, it's not like you have trouble getting your hand around any gun. I wouldn't see the point at all.
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I agree here too, maybe the OP should look at the .45ACP in one of Glocks SF frames.
 
And I agree, if you're a bigger dude with bigger hands, you don't need something chambered in GAP. It was made so that people with smaller hands could still use a standard size gun with a .45 loading. It was not created with the thought of "oh lets make something for a big dude with big hands!"
 
Just for clarity, I own all 4 of the guns listed in the 1st post. I switch between them for carry options. I carry the G29 most of time with the Citadel coming in 2nd. The Citadel is slimmer than the G29 but much heavier. The G29 is very wide and prints sometimes. The two others mentioned, the Taurus and Bersa are mainly for summertime carry when I am in cargo shorts. I guess my main logic is wanting a more compact, lighter .45

All 4 guns have been totally reliable, the Citadel stays loaded with PowRball ammo which feeds flawlessly. But for some reason, when I do carry the Taurus and Bersa, I feel undergunned and thats when I started researching the G38 and thinking about trading both the Taurus and Bersa towards it.
 
I have a Springfield XD in .45 GAP. I bought it because I like goofy calibers and wanted to give the GAP a try.

I can't see any Pros to the GAP. It doesn't do anything other calibers don't.

As far as Cons go? It can be hard to find depending on area. It's usually overpriced when you do find it. A box of .45 GAP costs us the same as a box of .45 ACP from our supplier.

It's not a bad round. It's accurate, it feeds reliably. But it doesn't stand up and scream "HERE I AM!" either. Now, if Springfield would have chambered the EMP in GAP like it was originally supposed to be then we might have something.
 
The Citadel is slimmer than the G29 but much heavier.
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Really? On a scale, my commander 1911 is much heavier than my g19. But when carried iwb on a good belt, I really don't notice a difference. The thickness makes me "feel" the glock a little more.

I'd vote for a g30sf just so you'd have some ammo commonality.
 
The main reason for the .45 GAP was to put a .45 caliber into a 9mm size frame. Thereby allowing folks with small to medium hands to get a good grip on the gun.

This would not apply to a larger than average guy, so what are you gaining? Nothing.

The G-38 slide is as wide as the G-29 slide, so you're not cutting out much bulk width-wise, but you're giving up ammo capacity for no good reason.

I would suggest you consider the Glock 21, 21-SF and Glock 30. Also, the M&P .45 and Springfield's XD and XD-m, all in .45.

You're a big guy and in proper holsters, it's easy to hide and carry them.
 
Why limit yourself to a caliber that's only found in Glock dealers? You can find .45 acp anywhere...

I'm 6'2" 215lbs, so I'm a little smaller than you.

This is what I carry:

2hrzts9.jpg

15+1 .45 acp. Screw GAP.

Az
 
What load of calber wars crap in this thread.

The only draw back to the 45 GAP vs any other round save for the 10mm is ammo availability.
 
If a guy wants to shoot 45 cal slugs, the Glock 38 seems like a decent choice to me. I don't own a Glock 38 but have shot one. I liked it myself, The grip feels better than the G30, G21 because it is shorter. There is something to be said for better ergonomics with the G19, G23, G32 style frame. I seemed to be able to shoot the GAP fairly decent. Better than a Glock 21 I used to have.

Georgia State Highway Patrol, Florida Highway Patrol, New York Highway Patrol, Pennsylvania Highway Patrol, South Carolina Highway Patrol are now issuing the 45 GAP.
 
Well I have both the 45 GAP and 45 ACP Glocks. In fact I have very model with the exception of the G36.

The biggest con of the 45 GAP is ammo avaialbility, even on line.

The ammo is hard to find and expensive but I like the platforms (Particualy the G39).

I like my G21SF and 30SF too but they are big fat guns.

I am willing to tinker with the GAP because I have plenty of 9mm's and 45ACP's so I can afford to play around with an oddball round that has great glock platforms.
 
Glock 26 10+1 of 9mm (12+1 with a +2)

Glock 27 9+1 of 40 (10+1 with a +2)

Glock 39 6+1 of 45 GAP (7+1 with a +2)


I tend to agree that the capcity of the G38 and 37 seem lacking, but in the sub compact arena the difference in practical self defense numbers is not that crappy.
 
The 26 or 27 (I have 'em both) are the way to go since it does not matter the size, they serve the same purpose as full time carry guns. Both have plenty of power and firepower.

Actually they have as much as a full duty service pistol had not 30 years ago (1911, S&W 3906, Browning HP, Smith 6906, etc...

And the little Glocks are quite accurate once you take into consertation the short sight radius.

Deaf
 
How is ammo availability for the .45 gap?

I only know of one gun shop or store that stocks it within 45 miles of where I live.
 
Pros - Same grip size as the 9mmP/.40 S&W /.357 SIG Glocks in a round that mimics .45 ACP. Makes for a seamless transition, training wise, from one of the above caliber Glocks (add .380 ACP outside the US) to a .45 caliber round.

Cons - Wider slide, so it wont work with your existing holsters for Glocks in above calibers. Nearly identical size offerings with same or more capacity in much more available .45 ACP from S&W and Springfield Armory. Same capacity as much thinner 1911s chambered in .45 ACP in various sizes with very similar heights & lengths to corresponding Glock models. Kahr offers compacts & subcompacts with only one less round of .45 ACP for a pistol nearly identical in height & length, but much thinner than, corresponding Glock models. Thinner slide, and more capacity (significantly more in standard & compact frame) in above caliber Glocks of corresponding grip size.

Put another way, it doesn't offer a significant advantage, to me, over .45 ACP offerings from other manufacturers; nor Glock's own offerings in other calibers. On the other hand, (aside from ammo pricing & availability issues) the caliber itself & guns it's offered in aren't a significant disadvantage versus the alternatives listed above either.

In short: There's nothing particularly great about it, and - again, if ammo were more available - there wouldn't be anything particularly bad about it either.

YMMV, and all that good stuff.
 
G29 - Too fat for MY likings, and I don't want to carry 10mm. It's overkill for self defense, and cases have been lost because a lawyer convinced the jury that 10mm is too powerful for an honest person, and they were just out looking to blow somebody away
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can you reference 1 case in point?
 
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