.45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

What experience do any of you have with .45 ACP and .45 GAP semi-auto handguns (e.g. features, reliability, accuracy, design, etc.) different manufacturers / models?

I think features I'm most looking for are very good accuracy, very good design/quality, durability, double-action, decocking/firing pin blocker (safety features)and good fitting/balance.
I've got a lot of research to do before deciding on anything. Thanks

RE: .45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

Glocks are available in both calibers. I didn't notice much difference in the .45 GAP when it came out as opposed to the ACP round. About the same feel and recoil. I wound up sticking with the .40, mainly because it is what I am used to. For the smaller Glock, I went with the 26 in 9mm. I have big hands and holding on to that little handle was easier to manage in 9mm and it gives me better control in rapid fire. Also, my wife sometimes carries it and she doesn't like the .40. I'm a big fan of Glock, so I don't know much about other makes. The only other autos I have shot were the 1911 and the M9. If you are looking at larger calibers, I can reccommend you stay away from the 10mm. I have heard some complain about the angle of the grip on the Glock, saying it didn't feel natural. Find a shop with a range and try some on for size, the one you feel comfortable and confident with will probably be your best bet. My favorite feature of the Glock is the trigger reset, which allows you to hold the trigger down after the shot, then slightly let off until you feel a small click. The trigger can then be squeezed again to cycle another round. Once your finger learns where the reset point is, you can crank up your rate of fire as fast as you are willing to train it to be. Back when I practiced a lot, I could draw from a level 2 safariland holster and fire 15 rounds into a target at 7 yards, and reload in 3 seconds. Never could get fast enough on the reload to fire a round out of the second mag before the target refaced. I don't know if other makes have this feature now, but it would be one of the first questions I asked. Good luck and let us know what you picked!

RE: .45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

I have extensive experience with .45acp and a bit with .45gap and see no reason to switch from .45acp.

RE: .45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

About identical in performance. To me it would come down to which gun you choose. If I were going with the Glock, I would pick the 45 GAP because of its size. In another make where frame size is the same, I would stick with the ACP just because of the availability of ammo and loading components.

RE: .45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

They go over this on the glock forum over & over. I am partial to all 45's... 455 Webley, 45 Colt,45ACP, so naturally the 45 GAP caught my interest. I don't own one yet. The GAP is indeed a smaller piece, the size of their 9mm, and I am quite confident that it would serve well. A few states have adopted it as the police round. The old 1911 is a very well designed and reliable piece for antipersonnel work. Never heard anyone say that it took them too long to get it cocked (it is not double action) or that it was a lame pistol. As far as that goes, I never heard an Old Timer single action shooter complain that it took too long to cock their 45 Colt. But I have heard from some when they just had too many bad guys on the wire that they appreciated quick reloads! I say you are comparing good & good.

RE: .45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

I have shot both in the glock. I would only go with the gap in a compact not a full size. I like the ability to shoot +p ammo, especially in a larger pistol. All of the magazines that I have read only did a comparison between the ACP and the GAP, no mention of the ACP +P. I wonder why?

mello

RE: .45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

The 45 GAP seems like a solution to a problem I don't have (I love the 45 ACP), but to each their own.

RE: .45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

Thanks for the good input. I think as BigTinysuggested go down to a local firearms shop that has an indoor range and try out a couple different makes/models to see what seems to work best for me. I know a lot is just preference of different features between a number of very well designed / made handguns. Thanks

RE: .45 ACP / .45 GAP - Semi-autos
 

i have both no diffrence really i use my acp more

I own many 1911 type pistols and a couple of SIG P220, but for a lighter concealed carry pistol, I have a G38 in 45 GAP. I have the Kimber Ultra CDP II for a concealed carry pistol, but it feels heavy compared to the Glock.

4 or 5 state police departments have adopted the G37 in 45 GAP as their service pistol. I have no problem finding the ammo. I think the GAP is close to the 45 ACP +P in performance, for me it performs very well.

If your going to buy a 1911 type pistol, get a Kimber or a Wilson. Currently no one that I can find still has a production 45 GAP pistol except Glock.

Jerry

For me personally, the .45GAP was a solution to a question I never asked (also true for the vast majority of recreational shooters nationwide).

The .45GAP was ultimately meant to match the .45acp's performance, but in a "standard" sized pistol. Having average "man sized hands", I have no trouble wrapping my hands around a 1911 grip, nor a Glock 21. Miestrojerry has it PART right. The .45gap matches .45acp+P in PRESSURE, but not in performance. It had to be higher pressure to MATCH the .45acp in performance. Both are pushing a 230grn pill to 900-950fps, and a 200grn pill to 1050-1100fps, except the .45GAP is doing it from a shorter case. Much like the .45acp almost identically matches the performance of a .45colt, but does so at a higher pressure, from a shorter case.

Honestly, for most handgunners that I have worked with in the last 15yrs, if they had too small of hands for a .45acp, they would ALSO have recoil issues with a .45acp OR gap as a service/duty weapon. Ultimately, if your hands are too small for a 45, then YOU'RE probably too small. That's not to say you couldn't handle one, but in my experience, people that small WOULD have problems handling the recoil as far as split times, i.e. time between shots because they're struggling to get back on target. That's why the 10mm, .45acp, .357mag, etc were removed from favor with the FBI. No, they don't recoil THAT MUCH, but yes, they do recoil enough to slow down the average operator enough that it became a liability.

The difference in ammo cost and selection is enough to deter me from buying another GAP, and again, based on the "benefits" of the GAP, I'm not highly motivated to do so for any reason. The .45acp works, it fits my hand, the ammo is cheaper, and the availability and selection is about 10x that of the gap in my area.

As far as the weapon choice goes, that's kind of like choosing your underwear. It's a highly personal thing. Kimber is fantastic for 1911's. I have 2 Springfield 1911's as well that I am very happy with, although they are far less refined than the Kimbers (function as well or better, though). Wilson Combat also makes a MEAN 1911, but they're pretty proud of them. The Glock 21 is a great pistol, but personally, if I want a polymer pistol, .45acp doesn't spring to mind. It IS nice having 14rnds, rather than 8.

What is your intended purpose for this weapon? If you're looking for a casual plinker, that's a very different weapon than an IDPA race gun, or a ccw weapon. Knowing a little more about your intended purpose would help narrow down the selection list.

A 1911 is the best semi out there, after 100 years nobody has been able to make a significant change to it. Totally customizable and you don't need to be a gunsmith to do most changes. My only other semi i like is a Smith & Wesson M&P, it's fit and feel plus it's silkly smooth, low profile slide makes it feel like i'm just pointing my finger.

45acp isnt a hard recoiling gun, no worse then a 357mag. I have large hands, so handling the 1911 isnt an issue. My wife loves shooting my 1911s, and hates the recoil of the 40s&w in her M&P. Like others, the GAP is the solution to a problem that really doesnt exist, and could argue, a bandaid to glocks small frame.

the 45 gap came around because the owner of GLOCK will not stamp or engrave another manufacturers name on any of his pistols. such as .40 S&W is always stamped .40 that is it. .45 acp is stamped .45 . Most that were sent out to police departments where turned back in after several departments had barrels split.

You want to try an .45 round out. I just shot a customers .45 WIN MAG, the other day... HOLY $#@%. lol.

The 45 GAP was an attempt to make a new round popular by Glock. The reason that some states use the 45 GAP has more to do with guns sold just above cost to get them in use then anything else.

I'm not arguing that the round is good or bad. It's just Glock trying to get their round in the market.

It's a round that really has not taken off. I doubt that it will at this rate. It's not a round that people have written much about, nor has it taken off like other rounds that have been developed.

As others have said, it was an answer to a problem that was never asked.

At this time, it appears the 45 GAP may go away. Much like the 10 mm is slowly going away. Both rounds need more support to survive long term, and the 10 mm has far more support than the 45 GAP.

Why don't you try Kimber 1911 .45 ACP. Its worth getting one. Look at the firing video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu0jTu6zBsQ

I got one few days back from an online shop Eurooptic. Excited for the test.

Cheers

It's a wonder that the GAP is not completely dead by now! As others have said," it's the answer to a question that no one asked!"

I haven't seen a new pistol chambered for the Gap in years. I've seen very dusty used ones at gun shows.

I suppose there's just enough of them out there that ammo has to keep pumping, and I'm sure Glock has the resources to sustain a less-than-self-sustaining pistol model, although I'm sure not many new ones are being produced.

The only reason I really commented on this one was because I've been equally surprised that Ruger did a run of .480Ruger Super Redhawks and Alaskans this year, after almost 2 yrs of not producing them. For all intents and purposes, the .480R is graveyard dead, but I suppose this is the perfect timing for them - the .460S&W and 500 offered a resurgence of big bore revolver interest, but we're a few years into that and many folks have TRIED the X-frames and either didn't like the extreme cost or the extreme size, and went looking for a more practical revolver. What revolver matches extreme fire power with reasonable cost and manageable size? The Ruger Super Redhawk is the answer, and 480 IS bigger than 460...

I was just talking with a buddy last night about Ruger's proprietary cartridges. The .204Ruger has done very well, as have the Ruger African Magnums (.375 and .416), but the rest haven't garnered much market share (.327fed, reviving the .32H&R, 480R, 300 and 338 RCM's).

I think our current firearms industry is an "everyman's market". Proprietary and specialty cartridges only have a niche as "I have something different than you have" but the average joe blow that bought his first gun at 35yrs of age and doesn't know the first thing about it doesn't take a risk on something unique unless it's "really cool."