.45 GAP or .45 ACP

Saryet

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Powell River, BC
I am very close to purchasing one of a new XD45 but have come down to the one last hurdle - to go with the GAP or ACP round. What I am interested in knowing is are there any benefits to going with either type over the other? I have read a few articles about ballistic performance on the GAP ammo and from what I understand, it performs very well. I am more concerned with feeding issues, availabilty, cost, long term support of the GAP cartridge etc.

If any of you have any insight or hands on experience, I'd love to know your opinions. Thanks a ton!

-Saryet, out!-
 
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Saryet said:
I am concerned with feeding issues, availabilty, cost, long term support of the GAP cartridge etc.
no problem with feeding issues or availability ... if you reload cost will not be an issue, if you don't shoot enough to realize you must reload, then cost should still not be an issue. The GAP was designed to allow .45 ACP ballistics from a "smaller" framed gun, if you want a smaller framed gun (or need one) get the GAP.
 
How much do you intend to shoot?

If availability and cost of ammunition is an issue, especially if you don't reload, then check out the cost of 45 GAP vs 45 ACP. 45GAP is not as widely available as 45ACP.

You are not as likely to get 45 GAP at the same price as "white box" 45 ACP because of the limited demand for 45 GAP. I have also never seen special prices for case lots of 45 GAP.
 
I am probably one of the few members here that actually has a pistol in .45GAP (G37). Ammo is not as plentiful as the .45ACP, but I am reloader, so it really isn't an issue for me. Once I aquired enough brass to keep me going its been smooth sailing! I go through about 4K of .45GAP rounds per year and from my experience its been a great round to work with from a reloaders perspective. Its very straight forward and there is a wealth of info out there, but the Lyman's 3rd Edition is one of the best for loads, including the 230gr. loads that I prefer. Because you are using regular .45 bullets you have a huge selection to choose from, its really a reloaders dream, plus there are many powders to choose from. There are several stores across the country that regularly stock GAP ammo, places like P&D and Ellwood Epps are places that pop into my mind. Ammo can be pricey, but I've picked up boxes of WWB at gunshows at reasonable rates, sometimes even less than ACP, although with the GAP the availability is the issue, it just isn't as plentiful.

Feeding issues have been non-existant for me, I don't recall ever having a problem with extraction, feeding, firing etc. I use a light taper crimp on all my reloads and don't tolerate garbage reloads. Alot of the published Titegroup reloaded data at the lower end barely cycles the gun and spits empties a foot away...the G37 keep chuggin' along. I've tried 185gr. Hydra-Shoks at 1090fps and WWB 230gr. JHP's at 850fps and everything in between. Reliability has been 100%.

Don't let all the neysayers talk you out of this cartridge if you are serious about it, there are alot of critics of it, chances are they have never shot one or will admit that. For me and everyone that has shot my G37, the resounding response has been positive. I chose the GAP round because the G37 frame is the same size as all my other GLocks, not because I couldn't handle the size of a G21, I am well over six feet tall and have big mitts. The GAP round is just well though out in my opinion, I have had no second thoughts with mine for the three years I have had it. In the last couple of years I have probably put more rounds downrange it it than in all my other glocks combined....that's how much I like it! Take the leap, you won't be dissapointed.

Both the .45GAP and .45ACP have their positives and negatives, from my experiences I would do it again, I have enjoyed being one of the Canadian .45GAP pioneers!
 
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Thanks for all the help here guys, much appreciated!

Gushulak, great info. It'll probably be a bit before I am set up to reload my own stuff. Have to learn how to do it first... ;) I think tomorrow I'll pull the trigger so to speak and get 'er done. I was looking for something a bit different from the mainstream and I this is going to do just nicely.

-Saryet, out!-
 
Get the .45ACP, it's never going to go away, cheaper factory ammo and cheaper/greater availability of brass if/when you go to reload. .45 GAP was intended to try and match .45ACP performance in a shorter cartridge that would better fit smaller semi-auto pistols aimed at the CCW market. Since CCW is a non-starter in Canada, why bother?
 
X-man said:
Get the .45ACP, it's never going to go away, cheaper factory ammo and cheaper/greater availability of brass if/when you go to reload. .45 GAP was intended to try and match .45ACP performance in a shorter cartridge that would better fit smaller semi-auto pistols aimed at the CCW market. Since CCW is a non-starter in Canada, why bother?
NO the size of the gun is the "starter" in Canada. Most 45ACP handguns are big in the grip (everywhere really). If you don't have big mitts or don't like shooting big framed guns and are hell bent on getting a .45 cal gun then the GAP is the answer. Simple as that.:)
 
Another plus for the GAP round I didn't mention is accuracy, its far and away the most accurate of all my Glocks. Don't know if its the design of the platform (G37) or the cartridge, but I do my best shooting with the .45GAP hands down. I've read this in the gun rags and too and so I tend to believe that its the round that may be accurate.

Recoil is soft, the thicker slide tames it nice, recoil seems less snappy than a 9mm, less jumpy than a .40S&W. Its a nice gently push, the sites are back on target quickly and easier than a G22 or a G17 (honest)! Follow up shots are easy and double taps are a breeze!
 
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