Glock .45 GAP vs ACP?

Question

Could someone please briefly explain the differences between the two, and which might be better for a begginer (for protection)?

Can either load any .45 ammunition?

Thanks!

Answer 1

The 45Gap allows for a smaller grip than the 45acp, But 45acp is cheaper and more available. If a smaller grip than a 45acp will allow is needed, I recommend getting a .40 because unless the 45Gap gains more popularity with the Law Enforcement world the ammo will be more expensive than the others, Which cheaper ammo allows for more shooting and training. Check out this link for ballistics information
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ballistics/?url=%2Fballistics%2F45_gap.html&x=11&y=0

Answer 2

Essentially the differences between the two come down to case length.

The 1911, and the original .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol IIRC) were designed in the early 1900s and since then we've made a lot of progress in cartridge propellants. Back then you needed a case as long as the ACP because of chamber pressures and powder burn rates etc. These days we can get the same thing done in a shorter case.

The size of the .45 ACP (both length and width) leads to a rather large grip, and people with hands on the small size have problems with the 1911--even with the "normal" single stack magazine. If you go to a so-called "double stack" magazine the grip gets to be pretty big even for those with medium sized hands.

A lot of people feel that the .45 is the end-all-be-all of defensive handgun rounds, and that the 1911 was and is the finest gun ever built. I'm not one of those people, but they are out there and they have money.

So along comes Gaston Glock and he designs this incredibly robust simple to use handgun. It takes a whopping 17 rounds (Load on Sunday and shoot all week!) and is *plastic*. It's ugly, but it gets *really* popular in the 1990s. The only problem is that the .45 version has a hella thick hand grip so smaller people can't use the Best Self Defense Cartridge.

Also pistols with thicker grips are harder to conceal.

Glock as two options:

1) Single stack magazine.
2) Make a shorter round.

So they did both. They came out with the G36 which is a single stack .45, and they came out with the GAP.

Oh, also with a shorter round the action doesn't have to travel as far to cycle, which can speed things up a bit.

Now, as to your second question, which is better for a beginner, if those are your only two choices, go with the .45 ACP as there are a LOT more companies manufacturing that round than the GAP.

However, if you're going to get a Glock (or anything other than a 1911) I would strongly suggest getting a .40 or a 9mm. Those rounds are (usually) even cheaper than a .45 and as a beginner you need to shoot a LOT to get good. 9mm and .40 (with the right bullet design) are close enough to the 1911 in terms of lethality that any difference is essentially within the margin of error.

To your final question, no, no .45 ACP pistol can shoot GAP nor a GAP the ACP. Most pistol rounds "head space" off the front of the cartridge meaning the GAP will fall into the chamber of a ACP and the firing pin won't reach. With the GAP the ACP will stick out of the chamber and things will be bad.

Answer 3

The .45 GAP & the .45 acp are two different calibers which share the same diameter bullet but do not interchange. The acp has been around since the turn of the last century and is a respectible manstopper. The GAP is a recent development from Glock which is designed to duplicate the performance of the acp in a smaller frame pistol. The GAP cartridge case is shorter than the acp's (so it'll work in a .9mm size pistol) but it is a higher pressure round (to catch up to the acp). At least on paper it seems to do what it is supposed to do so either one should work fine for defensive purposes. Ammo for the GAP is still harder to find and costs more, so unless the .45 acp is too big for your hand I'd stay with the acp.

Best.

H

Answer 4

All of the above is true. However, I would add, as a longtime Glock owner and shooter, that Glock for self defence is for me the top dog. Since GAP is new and still relatively scarce on the market, I would stick with a more common caliber. I have owned just about every model, but my favorite still is the 17. (9mm) Barrel length allows for solid performance out to 50 yrds and for shorter range stopping power I still use 9mm Corbon hollow points. 357 Magnum power in a 9mil cartridge. Remember that you must shoot a lot to get good and when you're good, you won't need a lot of rounds or a big round to put down the perp. No matter how big the cartridge, spray and pray will never do you any good. I personnaly don't like the 1911, too slinky for my hand.

Answer 5

The .45 GAP is a shorten version of the .45 ACP and uses small primers instead of lare primers. The reason Glock came up with this round is to try and fit a .45 round into their medium 9mm framed guns. Ballistically, they are about the same, although some "gun expers" will claim the .45 GAP has an edge over the .45ACP.

Answer 6

Okay - had to look up the info on the .45 GAP ... and based on this there's definately a difference between the two rounds - so they're not interchangable.

For a beginner - I'd stick to the .45 ACP... it's tried & true and is usually available in a larger-framed gun (thus reducing the kick & recoil that appears to plague the early .45 GAP compact guns)

Answer 7

Balistically, they're similar, with the edge going to the ACP The GAP round in shorter overall, allowing to to work in a slimmer handgun. ACP ammo costs about half what the GAP ammo does, and is 10x easier to find. It's widely believed that the GAP came about so Mr. Glock could have his name on a round(Glock Automatic Pistol)

Answer 8

The .45GAP cartridge is only a few years old.

It was developed by Glock to match the performance of the .45ACP cartridge in a case that is slightly shorter. This allows for pistols to have a grip with a smaller circumference - one of the major complaints about say the Glock 21 is that if you don't have big hands it can be quite uncomfortable to hold and shoot.

They are not interchangable. If I had to reccomend, I would say go with a .45ACP pistol for now. There are still very few pistols available chambered in .45GAP. Plus, as it is still not all that popular, ammo is going to be pretty limited in selection and more expensive. I've also read reports that in fact the .45GAP loads that match .45ACP performance tend to have pretty severe recoil due to the higher pressures that it operates with.

But as for protection and performance, it's no different. It was designed to match the .45ACP. If you have small hands and want a .45 calibre pistol that you can handle more easily, give the GAP a shot. It has a very good chance of being successful with the backing of one of the world's biggest pistol manufacturers.

Answer 9

.45 GAP is basically the equivalent of .45 ACP in a smaller cartridge, there is no real performance difference between the two. If you are concerned about the size of your weapon, go for the .45 GAP because it can be used in smaller framed pistols.

Answer 10

.45ACP is more readily available especially at Wal-Mart. They still seem to have the cheapest prices. $26 or so for 100. You would have to go to a sporting goods store or gun shop to find GAP.
Also, I wanted to ask if you have taken a look at the Springfield Armory XD series. I think that would be a better choice for a beginner than the Glock. Added safety features and better ergonomics than Glocks. And just as reliable too.