XD45 vs. 45 GAP

[Control]

I own a full sized XD9 and I enjoy the platform. It is accurate and reliable and has a reasonable good trigger and it’s offered at a very competitive price. When the XD45 was announced I couldn't have been happier! The advertising for the XD45 lead me to believe the gun would look and feel like my XD9 and that it would be a wonder of engineering.

I finally got a chance to feel and dry fire a XD45 my local dealer. I was very disappointed! The size increase of the grip is very noticeable and the gun simply feels clunky to me. Any one else experience this? I am beginning to think that the 45ACP just doesn’t belong in a non-single stack platform. Even Para Ordinance seems to be falling back to single stack sales.

My thoughts now turn toward a 45 GAP Glock. Perhaps this round deserves more credit? However, the consensus from several of my local gun stores and my readings on this forum seem to be the 45 GAP is a no-go due to lack of interest from the consumer. I certainly didn't have any inertest in the GAP until the XD45 brick turned me elsewhere. If one can get .45 ballistics in a smaller package than the XD45 that might be interesting.

Does anyone own a .45 GAP? Do we expect the round to completely fail in the marketplace? Anyone else disappointed in the feel of the XD45?

Thanks.

 

[PCRit]

Welcome to THR!

I have an XD9-Tac and the XD45ACP. I can't tell a bit of difference on the grips between the two. I think the finger reach to the trigger is just a tad longer on the XD45, maybe 1/8" longer? As for bricks, that's what I call the G21, compared to the feel of the XD45 Guess it all depends on the size of your hand on which feels like a brick!

Don't have a 45GAP, sorry can't help with that. Don't really see the need for the GAP, now that SA has shown you can re-design a double-stack grip for .45 to almost the same exact dimensions of a 9mm.

 

[Rockstar]

I'm no fan of the .40, but, if your alternative to the XD is a Glock, then the Glock .40's offer a slimmer grip with MANLY mag capacity, over the GAP.

 

[hksw]

If you are not adverse to Taurus products, try out the 24/7 in .45ACP. I had the opportunity to hold both yesterday at a gun show (both are on my shortlist) and was surprised by the 24/7's lack of girth. I also felt the XD45ACP was a bit thick but still workable for me.

 

[Coronach]

I've noted that the .45 GAP XD is dead now that the XD45 is here. However, I've heard several people state that, while it is much better than most double stack .45s, the XD45 grip is still pretty big. Meanwhile, the short GAP round is stuck in a single stack configuration.

I think they might benefit from putting the GAP in a double-stack...the grip will be thick, but could at least be shorter.

Mike

 

[rellascout]

I would not buy any GAP pistol. It is not the way to go. It will not be around for much longer IMHO.

 

[Control]

Thanks to everyone for the response.

I have tried several Taurus 24/7 pistols and I love their feel. However, I can't use them because the manual safety is located on the left only and I am left handed. If their safety was ambidextrous I would probably own one by now.

The .40SW is a good substitute for the .45GAP and I have an HKP2000 in .40SW. I think highly of the caliber but of course am always searching for alternatives and the .45GAP is certainly worth noting.

I agree that the .45 GAP may not survive. However, I think the shooting public may be shooting themselves in the foot with this decision.

The .45ACP was designed almost a hundred years ago. With modern powders we can achieve the same ballistics in a shorter cartridge. What we have done is kill the concept because the .45ACP is currently cheaper to produce and more widely available. Also, many folks just think the .45ACP cannot be improved on which is simply not true with modern technology.

I'll agree that Glock could also have redesigned their frame to hold a .45ACP with better ergonomics, but my personal experience with the XD45 leads me to believe they may have tried this with less than stellar success. I think the rumor that Glock made up an entire new round just because they can’t figure out how to build a more ergonomic frame is absolutely false. It’s great to sit back and laugh at the expense of others but if you think the entire Glock corporation is this stupid you are severely mistaken.

I'll probably order a .45 GAP Glock subcompact (most stores don't have them in stock anymore due to lack of demand) and pick up some expensive ammo. I don't want to see this very interesting cartridge fail for a larger, older, and less efficient one simple because we refuse to accept change. I’ll probably have a safe queen once the cartridge fails but I won’t be part of its demise.

 

[wally]

I finally got a chance to feel and dry fire a XD45 my local dealer. I was very disappointed! The size increase of the grip is very noticeable and the gun simply feels clunky to me. Any one else experience this? I am beginning to think that the 45ACP just doesn’t belong in a non-single stack platform. Even Para Ordinance seems to be falling back to single stack sales.

You sure were feeling something I wasn't when I compared the XD45 (ACP) to the XD9. I bought the XD9 because I wanted cheap shooting, barely having enough free time to keep my 1911s fed with reloads, but the XD45 was so close to the XD9 in grip that I'd not bet on being able to tell which was which from just holding the grip while blindfolded. I'd bet a lot on telling the Glock 17 from 21 in this "test".

Have you looked at the Kimber BP guns? They are remarlably close to a standard 1911 in grip dimensions and actually smaller than some 3rd party 1911 grips.

Unless someone comes up with a gun in .45 GAP significantly smaller than the new .45 ACP Kahr P45, I predict it will remain viable only as along as Gaston's ego keeps it alive. Maybe .45 GAP == the Nagant of the 20th Century? You can still get the 1895 designed round if $1 a shot don't bother you, but then it was the standard sidearm of a nation's army.

--wally.

 

[Ala Dan]

I shot my Springfield XD-45 ACP yesterday, for the very first time. And I
quickly discovered that as plastic guns go, the XD-45 ACP is the best of
the litter. The 1911 grip angle suited my big mitts, and I found the XD
.45 ACP very pleasant too shoot. I think its here too stay; but I can't
say that 'bout the .45 GAP.

 

[Gary G23]

I can't tell much difference between my XD-9 grip and my XD-45 grip other than the 45 is 1/4" longer. If you think the XD-45 grip is big try a Glock 21 for size.

 

[Grunt]

OK, that doesn't really make a lot of sense to me. You want to buy a handgun in a caliber that is probably not going to be around for much longer and make things hard to find and admit that it will probably be a safe queen in a few years only because you don't want to see the cartridge fail. Personally, I wouldn't want to have bought a Yugo when those things were brought into the country simply because I want to see a clown car actually thrive on America's roads any more than I was enthused about the old .41AE caliber as well. I tend to go the other way. I want something I know I can get ammo for and shoot at any time. If a caliber doesn't look like it's going to have a promising future and isn't readily capabile of being converted to another caliber (for example I can get cheap and common .40 S&W ammo and fire it through a .357 SIg handgun with a simple barrel swap), I'm not going to be interested in investing in this #2 hairball.
Also, in reference to performance, I'll again point out that the .45 GAP is roughly equal to standard pressure .45 ACP ammo but once you move to +P ammo, the .45 ACP easily outperforms the .45 GAP.

 

[distra]

I've had my XD45 for 3 weeks now and really like the gun. So much so I'm getting a XD9 or XD40Sc very shortly. I have not noticed the grip being that much bigger than my full size 1911. OTB the XD45 was dead nuts accurate in my hands (and my wife's). My wife even commented the XD45's grip fit her hand well and was more comfy to shoot than my fullsize. She has relatively small hands and had no problem with shooting comfort or accuracy. I think this one is here to stay. If you are looking to part with it, I might be interested in taking it off your hands.

 

[Haycreek]

XD45 vs 45 GAP

To each his own, everyone doesn't necessaryly like the same thing. I have tried the XD, and don't care for the pistol for several reasons. However, I do have a Glock 37, which replaced the G23 and G22. The S&W 40 is a borderline safe round as others have mentioned. The G37 is comparible to the 45 ACP in accuracy and performance, thanks to modern design by SPEER. The 45 GAP is beefed up around the shoulder where the 40 S&W kabooms. The case will handle a lot more pressure than regular 45 ACP, and can be handloaded to more performance that the 45 +P. It is a very safe round. I reload for accuracy, and the mv is usually comparible to basic 45 ACP loads. I believe that the 45 GAP is here to stay, many folks have tunnel vision regarding anything except the 45 ACP. It will do anything that the 45 ACP will and do it in a smaller more effient package, it is easy to load for because it is unusual to find a load that is not accurate. By the way, I like Colt and Kimber 1911's, which is my favorites, and I'm waiting for Kimber to offer the subcompact in the 45 GAP [ which will most likely feed in a shorter frame, more reliable than the 45 ACP} If I were to Purchase an XD, it would have to be the 45 GAP.

 

[XDKingslayer]

I'm suprised you noticed the size difference between the regular XD's and the XD45. I didn't feel a difference enough to notice.

As far as the XD-45LE (GAP) I have one and I love it. I have the same problem with it as everyone does with their XDs and that it's a very boring pistol. It fires when you squeeze the trigger. It puts the bullets in the bullseye. And it cleans up well.

I've stated my feelings on the future of the GAP round many, many times. Once again, gun people never handle change well. They are worse than golfers. People laughed when Glock made "plastic pistols" and said they wouldn't last, yet look where we are now.

People laughed at the 10mm, the .17, the .40S&W, the .500, heck, people even laughed at the .45 ACP when it was first introduced and look what happened there.

The GAP is never going to be the next .45 ACP or the next Glock and take the market by storm. But if the 10mm has managed to stay alive, then the GAP round will too.

People complain about it being hard to find and expensive, from what I have seen it's easier to find than ACP (twice now with custom orders I have gotten my GAP ammo, but not the ACP I ordered with it) and even on price.

Once it takes off more, I think the GAP with it's thicker webbing will be a reloaders dream.

 

[progunner1957]

IMO, I would go with the .45ACP over the .45GAP - tons more ammo choices, more HP choices, reloading data, etc. The only reason IMO to go with the GAP round is if you are getting a micro-mini .45, such as Springfield's mini 1911 in .45GAP. Otherwise, .45ACP offers you many more choices.

 

[Canuck-IL]

People complain about it being hard to find and expensive, from what I have seen it's easier to find than ACP....

Would that be when ordering direct from Austria?
/Bryan

 

[Ash]

How about .41AE, .38ACP (not super), 9mm Steyr, 9mm Mauser, 9mm Glisenti, 8mm Nambu, 7.62 Longe, .45 Webley Automatic, .38 Colt?

.45GAP, latest to join the obsolete crowd. 50 years from now, it will only be made by Fiocci.

Just to quote another notation about .45GAP

Ash

 

[Grunt]

Don't forget the .357 Maximum. That one just took the shooting world by storm...or so the gun rags of the day would have you believe.

 

[Haycreek]

XD45 vs 45 GAP

So far as "choices" the GAP uses the same bullet as the ACP,---can be reloaded with the same dies! Same choices, same ballistics ,depending upon you reload. Just in a smaller package. No problem with either, I carry/shoot them both.

 

[XDKingslayer]

Would that be when ordering direct from Austria?

No, this is ordering directly from Hunter's (large wholesaler, buddy with a tackle shop orders from them). For two weeks in a row I have ordered 2 boxes of GAP and two boxes of ACP and both times I got 0'd on the ACP.

Now this can be construed two ways. The GAP is so unpopular there is a stockpile of it or the ACP is so popular they can't meet demand.

But either way, I can get GAP but can't get ACP and what's the sense of a pistol if you can't put bullets in the thing?

Why Austria?