Wow! Just shot a full size Glock 37 today. Chambered in the 45 GAP. When this round and the 9mm frame chambered pistols hit the market I said this is really cool because I have small hands.
The nay sayers.... No it'll never last it's a flash in the pan. You'll never find ammo at Wally World. OK, OK' got a point about the ammo.
The round sounds different than a 45 ACP but in the Glock Model 37 it seemed to be a nice shooting pistol. Just "different".
I'm going to get one! My brother doesn't care for them but I can't find anything not to like. It's a reloaders round but what the heck.
I read that the 45 GAP was an answer to non existant problem. I kinda disagree with that. I like the feel of the pistol and with my smaller hands, it fits very well. AND no bones about it I just like a Glock.
Handled a Springfied XD in the GAP but it was the same size pistol as the 45 ACP no benefit there....and I heard Springfield was discontinuing the GAP offering. I can see that. Nothing gained.
Glock got it right but you just don't hear much about it. Wonder why????
Well it seems the .357 Sig has fallen by the wayside. But I have thought from day one the GAP would succeed.
My brothers on the boards are my best sounding board. Thank you guys, all that post thier thoughts. And of course all comments are taken to heart.
Number one regarding the GAP.... It is a reloaders proposition and may I add a reloaders "deliight". No longer are the old pressure limits of .45 ACP data relevant. Stonger brass an NO MORE Glock bulge! Yehaw!! Did you hear that. No bulge so that means the cartridge is meant to be reloaded for this chambering without "issues".
Jacketed bulles only. NO problem. I hate removing lead and the velocities this pistol functions under lead isn't an option anyway. Saves clean up time!
Can't find brass? That is an obstical. Maybe when Starline makes a run maybe a 1-2K order would be a good investment.
What I found shooting the pistol is a that it's recoil is comparable to a .40 S$W but I found a pychological preconsemption of a much harder recoil impulse. Definately NOT the case.
Dang! I just like the round and the gun. Fixin' to put one on order and the crimp die too.
I think you have kind of answered your own question. It is because most people tend to consider it an answer to a non existant problem. With the ammunition not being readily available it is hard for many to get behind it. Add to that the fact that the .40 S&W (like it or not) filled the niche between 9MM and .45 acp first and has been accepted much more in many more models, and you have a very hard row to hoe. The .40 also has the benefit of being chambered in nearly identical, in some cases indentical, pistols as the 9MM which is very attractive to perspective buyers across the board. The .40 had a built in advantage when it came out, FBI backing, and the hi cap magazine ban. Since they could only have limited rounds in thier 9 mm pistols people accepted the same pistol , same number of rounds in a larger caliber. All the GAP has really going for it are those individuals with smaller hands, who do not want to shoot the thinner 1911 single stacks or those pistols are still too thick of grip but do not want a .40 or 9MM. Not the largest base to begin with unfortunately.
Then there is the fact that normally, new rounds contend with one another until most fall away and one comes out ahead, and I think (personal opinion/guess), the .357 Sig will outlast the GAP for those buyers who want something other than the .40, 9MM, or .45acp. It just seems to get more press from what I have seen.
In revolvers the .327 magnum might be the one new round that has a shot at becoming accepted.
Krag, that's interesting, A "Gamesman" round. Thank You for sharing that. Having shot pistol competition for a number of years in the past your observations make perfect sense.
This has been a really fun post and I appreciate all the feed back!! Nice to see a good sense of humor abound.
Maybe it's kinda like the Carcano I inherited. Have way more tied up in reloading for it than it's worth. I'm both a handgunner and a reloader (that's fortunate huh!? *chuckle*) and enjoy the pistol and like the cartridge. I was stoked on it when it first came out. Got a Model 37 on the way. I did take ya'lls advice and have been ordering brass and enough loaded rounds for more empties as time goes on. I will admit I won't shoot it in a match that doesn't allow brass retrieval that's for darn sure!
I am also surprised KAHR or Ruger hasn't built anything around it. It is pretty tough to sell John Q a pistol he HAS to reload for.
Seems you have done what I have thought about the pistol. A secondary side arm. Truck gun, car gun, bedside gun, walk around the property gun, all the above. The GAP is a good round and if you like the Glock platform as I do it makes for a good combination.
If things get bad and you are overrun by zombies.....Just shoot your stash of ammo and grab your 1911, Sprinfield XD, Tuarus or whatever. *bigchuckle*
Just got my 500 brandy new Winchester brass in the mail today. A bunch of 200 gr. 45 FMJ ball bullet heads. Found some Seller and Bellot 230 gr. FMJ ball and some 200 gr. Speer Gold Dots. All in two weeks time. Bought a crimp die too just in case the ACP doesn't adjust down far enough.
We are up and running!!
I did notice the S&B is manufactured using large pistol primers. That struck me as rather odd! Lots to learn and get to have a little fun in the meantime.
Draybo : )
I'd say "range report to follow", but that isn't really necessary. As the wifey likes to say (she shoots a Glock 23)... "Glock perfection"!
+1 Thanks for sharing AZshooter. As usual you are spot on. My eldest son and I did the Glock/1911 comparison just yesterday after I told him about your post. We both agree the quicker hit potential with multiple shots "nod" goes to the Glock.
Over the decades, I've built more 1911's than Ic are to count. Every one was my favorite, until I sold it to go buy more frames & parts for the next batch. My best ever were made with the old forged and machined Caspian frames, and I had a steady supply of model 70 slides, mostly from CDNN. I pretty much gave it up, when Caspian dropped their forged frames in favor of the cast. Cast were more gee-whiz-looking, but the one I built just wouldn't shoot to my satisfaction. Maybe it was the frame, or maybe it's because I'm not a master 1911 mechanic, but I regret selling that last Old-style Caspian I built. It seemed so much like a sure thing to assemble, but just a little tweak or change in materials put me into 1911 retirement ... That, and also the fact that I discovered how much better I could score with an outta the box Glock 21, so further 1911 work on my part was pointless.
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