[MontanaMan]

I'm curious about the difference between these two cartridges. The Glock 19 is a near perfect size and the only model Glock makes in a 45 of the same dimensions is the 45 GAP. Is the a hotter cartridge? Is it the same case size or a cut down version like the 40 Smith compared to it's parent cartridge the 10MM? Inquiring minds want to know...smile.

MM

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I'm curious about the difference between these two cartridges. The Glock 19 is a near perfect size and the only model Glock makes in a 45 of the same dimensions is the 45 GAP. Is the a hotter cartridge? Is it the same case size or a cut down version like the 40 Smith compared to it's parent cartridge the 10MM? Inquiring minds want to know...smile.

MM

In a nutshell...its a shortened 45acp thats loaded to a little higher pressure (I forget what exactly) It is a ballistic twin to the 45acp for the most part...no difference worth noting.

Its legs are weak though, meaning the 45 GAP is struggling to survive...fans of it will disagree because a few LE agencies have signed on for the GAP, but that could change just as suddenly as it happened.

The size of the G38 (I think thats the midsize model) is perfect, I agree...not too big, not too small.

Its much easier to find 45acp ammo and brass...

I'm not sure what you want the pistol for, but don't overlook the G36 if its a carry gun you want...I've had mine for about 2 weeks, 400 rounds...its accurate, hasn't missed a beat, light as a feather, and fun to shoot!

 

[MontanaMan]

Ridge thanks for the quick reply, I agree. I just took the time to do the research on the GAP, it's already a has been from what I see so far. I've been considering an alternate carry gun and the Glock 36 and the Glock 30 are both on the short list. The 38 is no longer an option, I have a 19C that will certainly do, but I prefer a 45 if I don't have my .357. I consider the 45 and the 357 to be the top two for carry, personal preference of course.

MM

 

[Ridgerunner665]

You can find a lot of negative reviews on the G36...without even looking for them. But it makes sense in a way...

The G36 was designed from the ground up to be a 45acp (the G30 and 21 are simply converted 10mm's)...this means that there are gonna be bugs to work out, there always are in a re-design.

This is interesting too...because other than the 1911, I can't think of another pistol that was designed around the 45acp. All of them are designed around the 9mm except for some of the newer models that were designed around the 40 S&W.

The 36 was a step in the right direction for Glock, but they had a lot of trouble with them at first...I've been researching this a lot since getting my G36 (you know me, gotta know everything) and I think it boils down to 1 thing...

They sprung the gun heavy, for full power ammo...which is good if you're like me and like warm loads. Not so good for others who like range plinking ammo.

Most everybody who has had trouble...had the trouble with cheap ammo, premium ammo seems to have worked much better. That is true even for the guy that sued Glock over his G36...the guy he sold the gun to didn't have any trouble with good ammo (such as what most carry for self defense)

Others have said it won't feed wide mouthed hollow points...I don't know about this, the XTP is my bullet of choice because it feeds slick in just about anything (I like truncated cone shaped bullets)...that said, it may be true because the bullet barely misses the front of the mag as it feeds...but again, with XTP's it seems to eat them like candy. The XTP is not a wide mouthed bullet though...

The G30 would be good too I imagine, as long as its carried OWB...you could land an airplane on top of that slide, that sucker is wide.

My G36 has grown on me pretty fast...it has had me asking a few questions though. The barrel hood has peened the slide just a tad (nothing bad) just above the extractor...but this seems to be a common thing since Glock started using harder barrels. The barrel hood used to wear down, but now its too hard to wear down...so the slide gets pinged a tad. This is most common on the 40 S&W models, but can happen to any of them (newer ones...since about Jan. 2010) This is not the same slide peening that Glocks are know for...on the rails. Its a new development.

It bothered me at first...being a 1911 guy I don't like to see peening, but after asking a few people I see that its not a problem...and its just a Glock...as Hickok45 (the Glock guy on YouTube) told me...if its working, don't worry about it...it'll keep working.

I called Glock anyway...they said its common and not a problem...but if it did become a problem they would fix it. So far it hasn't caused anybody any problems...it just looks bad until you get used to it. Its hard to see without looking for it. You can see a picture of it here.. http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1238410 not my gun or post...but mine is just like it, maybe not quite as deep though.

Good luck MM whatever you decide...I just thought you may find that info useful.

I just realized...that would almost do for a review wouldn't it? Almost...

 

[MontanaMan]

Ridge thank you for this excellent and in depth reply and yes brother it would certainly do as a review....grin. I too prefer full power loads, even back when I was shooting IPSC every week I refused to "game the course" and use the lowest possible power loads to still be able to make major. I shot the courses with full power loads and didn't take any short cuts. I was there to learn how to shoot fast and accurate with a handgun using full power loads not to win. I got a great deal out of those years of practice and made some pretty good friends in the process. The peening issue is one that I fully understand your concern for, I had that problem with a J frame Smith one time myself. After running about 30 rounds of full power 158 grain loads I noticed that the forcing cone was peening very noticeably and was not at all pleased. Now I carry an SP101 and that is simply no longer an issue, this gun is bull strong and loves full power loads. My thought in considering the Glock is for an alternate carry gun but with the SP101 as a back up. If I'm wearing pants chances are I've got "old Bill" on me....smile. I think it's very interesting that the 36 was designed around the 45ACP cartridge and the others are designed around the 10MM, that says a lot about which of them might be the better choice. Thank you, that's valuable knowledge to have my friend. Weight is a consideration in this and the 36 is the lighter of the offerings yet still packs 7 rounds, I like that. I need to study this some more and look at options for leather. I use a pocket holster for the SP101 which has some drawbacks, but I find the benefits to outweigh them. Thanks again, great reply.

MM

 

[planeflyer21]

Had a student during the most recent Great Ammunition Shortage, who had a Glock in .45GAP.

He was the only student that had a large quantity of factory ammunition.

"The G30 would be good too I imagine, as long as its carried OWB...you could land an airplane on top of that slide, that sucker is wide."

Heck...you could land a plane on it sideways!



Jon

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Ridge thank you for this excellent and in depth reply...

You are welcome...if you have any questions just ask...

I'm also fairly well versed on holsters for the G36...I looked at them for a week solid, got tired of looking and ordered a Mitch Rosin 5JR, expensive, but nice.

 

[MontanaMan]

I remember the thread on the holster....grin. Something about a woman shopping for shoes....lol. Thank you again Ridge.

MM

 

[Thren68]

Had a student during the most recent Great Ammunition Shortage, who had a Glock in .45GAP.

He was the only student that had a large quantity of factory ammunition.

Noticed that too. The predominate theory on some forums is use common calibers so when the zombies come and/or the gov't collapses, you can get the plentiful ammo. If you're not at your local Walmart or gunshop in that first hour, chances of finding the 'common' stuff goes way down.

The GAP performs as it should which is to say like a 45acp. The basis of the thought was to fit 45acp power into frames designed for 9 and 40 caliber cartridges. It reloads like ACP excepts uses small pistol primers. It works well, but there are only a handful of departments that use it. It's great especially if you want to carry 45 caliber in a Glock 19 sized frame.

 

[MontanaMan]

Thren thank you for your reply, I agree on the 19 size frame for sure. That's one of the reasons I was looking at it but I can trim 45ACP brass down because the GAP has the reinforced case head. I'm going to stick with my 19 and my 1911's....smile. Now I'm going to be searching for a proper holster for my Kimber Compact Stainless II, but I can decide on left or right hand for it. I'm normally left handed but I can shoot pretty well right handed too and it's easier to draw inside a vehicle from the right side for me. I'll have to think about this one.....smile. Thanks again.

MM

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Thren thank you for your reply, I agree on the 19 size frame for sure. That's one of the reasons I was looking at it but I can trim 45ACP brass down because the GAP has the reinforced case head. I'm going to stick with my 19 and my 1911's....smile. Now I'm going to be searching for a proper holster for my Kimber Compact Stainless II, but I can decide on left or right hand for it. I'm normally left handed but I can shoot pretty well right handed too and it's easier to draw inside a vehicle from the right side for me. I'll have to think about this one.....smile. Thanks again.

MM

There are some nice crossdraw holsters available...today when I was at the gun store there was an older gentleman in there (familiar face, but don't know his name) when he took his jacket off he had not one, but two 1911's on him...crossdraw no less.

 

[MontanaMan]

There's nothing like a well armed gentleman about town....grin. Thanks for reminding me about the crossdraws, I used to carry a 45 Colt that way when traveling. It was a 5 shot conversion with a 4 5/8 barrel and a Reeder gun fighter grip frame mod, it was heavy but very sweet to carry. It was also great to carry in a shoulder holster, that grip frame mod made it tuck right in where it belongs. Plenty of portable packable power close to hand.

MM