I have decided that when I have enough money to cover it, the next purchase for me will be a nice Springfield XD .45. My only question is that I've seen them advertised on Springfield's website as either GAP or ACP. ACP is a common term for me and I figured that was the standard for all .45s. What is the GAP? Is it just like the ACP with a different name?
ACP vs GAP?
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RustyShackelford
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GAP-Glock Automatic Pistol...
the .45GAP was a new round put out by Glock for a series of pistols that are like the .45acp round. I do not know a lot about the .45GAP loads but I do not see it taking a huge segment of the US handgun market the way the .40S&W or even the .357SIG has over the last few years.
I do know that Chief Bratton/LAPD allows his sworn LEOs to carry Glock .45GAP pistols.
Rusty S
the .45GAP was a new round put out by Glock for a series of pistols that are like the .45acp round. I do not know a lot about the .45GAP loads but I do not see it taking a huge segment of the US handgun market the way the .40S&W or even the .357SIG has over the last few years.
I do know that Chief Bratton/LAPD allows his sworn LEOs to carry Glock .45GAP pistols.
Rusty S
Geronimo45
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An autoloader in .45 is likely .45 ACP unless it's explicitly stated otherwise.
.45 GAP is a round Glock made to have a shorter case than .45 ACP with the same power - for putting in smaller handguns. The .45 is around 23mm long, while the GAP is about 19mm long (I think). Ballistics are similar/identical - the shorter GAP cartridge can be chambered in 9mm-sized compact pistols. May offer more capacity, too.
.45 GAP is a round Glock made to have a shorter case than .45 ACP with the same power - for putting in smaller handguns. The .45 is around 23mm long, while the GAP is about 19mm long (I think). Ballistics are similar/identical - the shorter GAP cartridge can be chambered in 9mm-sized compact pistols. May offer more capacity, too.
The-Fly
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in the XD's, go with the ACP. ACP XD mags are 13 rounds, the gap is only 9.
carterbeauford
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.45GAP is a fad and a solution to a problem that didn't exist.
Bazooka Joe71
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45 ACP =
45 GAP =
GAP was a solution to something that was never a problem...."If, it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well they tried fixing it anyway.
carterbeauford
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great minds apparently post at the same time
tmette, .45ACP stands for .45 Automatic Colt Pistol, a proven cartridge that has been around for literally 100 years. .45GAP stands for .45 Glock Automatic Pistol. .45GAP seems to work well for its intended purpose, but I feel there is still no excuse not to go with .45ACP if you are considering a bigbore semi-auto handgun.
tmette, .45ACP stands for .45 Automatic Colt Pistol, a proven cartridge that has been around for literally 100 years. .45GAP stands for .45 Glock Automatic Pistol. .45GAP seems to work well for its intended purpose, but I feel there is still no excuse not to go with .45ACP if you are considering a bigbore semi-auto handgun.
ugaarguy
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A little more background
As previously stated, the 45 GAP was developed by Glock. It's essentially a shortened 45 ACP case designed to fit their 9mm/40 S&W/357 SIG frames. Glock needed to do this because their 45 ACP frames are quite long and wide in the grip, making them too large for most folks to comfortably handle.
The 45 GAP likely would have done well until Springfield Armory Introduced their 45 ACP Chambered XD 45. On the XD 45 SA tweaked the magwell and magazine design to prodce a 13 + 1 capacity 45 ACP pistol only slightly larger (barely noticeable) in the grip than their 9mm/40 S&W/357 SIG frames. Because SA proved that standard frame guns can be adapted to 45 ACP with minimal increases in dimensions the 45 GAP round became superfluous.
As a side note the 40 S&W's origins are the 10mm auto, shortened to fit 9mm handgun frames that more people can comfortably handle.
As previously stated, the 45 GAP was developed by Glock. It's essentially a shortened 45 ACP case designed to fit their 9mm/40 S&W/357 SIG frames. Glock needed to do this because their 45 ACP frames are quite long and wide in the grip, making them too large for most folks to comfortably handle.
The 45 GAP likely would have done well until Springfield Armory Introduced their 45 ACP Chambered XD 45. On the XD 45 SA tweaked the magwell and magazine design to prodce a 13 + 1 capacity 45 ACP pistol only slightly larger (barely noticeable) in the grip than their 9mm/40 S&W/357 SIG frames. Because SA proved that standard frame guns can be adapted to 45 ACP with minimal increases in dimensions the 45 GAP round became superfluous.
As a side note the 40 S&W's origins are the 10mm auto, shortened to fit 9mm handgun frames that more people can comfortably handle.
XDKingslayer
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I have an XD in .45GAP. The only thing stopping me from getting rid of it to get an XD in .45ACP is the fact that it shoots so darn good.
A lot of people say the GAP is headed for extinction. They've been saying that for over a year now. While Springfield may have shot the GAP in the foot by creating the XD-45, their new EMP will more than likely restore the GAPs usefulness.
I like the GAP round. I don't see the ACP having anything over the GAP. However, I do see the GAP having at least one thing over the ACP and that is it's thicker case webbing. Once more data is available, I think the GAP could become a reloaders dream. Some people will tell you how hard it is to get it or how much more expensive it is, but chances are, they don't have one. I pay the same amount for ACP and can find it just as readily as ACP.
But god forbid we mess with all-mighty .45ACP, expand our horizons, or move to new technology.
A lot of people say the GAP is headed for extinction. They've been saying that for over a year now. While Springfield may have shot the GAP in the foot by creating the XD-45, their new EMP will more than likely restore the GAPs usefulness.
I like the GAP round. I don't see the ACP having anything over the GAP. However, I do see the GAP having at least one thing over the ACP and that is it's thicker case webbing. Once more data is available, I think the GAP could become a reloaders dream. Some people will tell you how hard it is to get it or how much more expensive it is, but chances are, they don't have one. I pay the same amount for ACP and can find it just as readily as ACP.
But god forbid we mess with all-mighty .45ACP, expand our horizons, or move to new technology.
ugaarguy
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If you need thicker case webbing to handle hotter loads you can buy 45 Super brass. The 45 Super, based off the ACP, has more case volume to take advantage of the potential the thicker webbing gives you. Either way you'll need a heavier recoil spring for the hotter loads. If the GAP round uses faster burning powders it could be better in short bbl. applications. Much like a 9mm +P+ can reportedly edge the slower burning .357 SIG in sub 3" bbls. That could be really interesting, especially with SA's EMP you mention, and if others start buiding dedicated short action 1911s in 45 GAP as well. The round has potential, but the XD 45 in 45 ACP really did hurt the GAP in the service pistol market.
Sorry, but I cant walk into any gun shop in SW Idaho and get 45 GAP. Nor can I get the inexpensive Blazer Brass in 45 GAP at Wal-Mart like I can the 45 ACP when I'm not up to reloading. Sure, the 45 GAP may be getting easier to find and cheaper, but to say that it can found just as easily as .45 ACP is simply untrue.
Manedwolf
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I thought it was more:
45 ACP =
45 GAP =
To me, it just seems like Gaston's ego couldn't accept using something that JMB had invented, so he had to IMPROVE on it...with something nobody asked for nor needed at all.
45 ACP =
45 GAP =
To me, it just seems like Gaston's ego couldn't accept using something that JMB had invented, so he had to IMPROVE on it...with something nobody asked for nor needed at all.
HorseSoldier
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He doesn't seem to mind using Georg Luger's 9mm or .40 and .357, which are both actually named for Glock's competitors. Unless John Moses Browning called Gaston's mom fat or something before he died, I don't see how 45 ACP is a special problem. Even then that wouldn't explain why you can buy .380 ACP caliber Glocks in a lot of places, just not here in the US.
I think the problem is that Gaston just isn't innovative and has some real problems with accepting that his particular way to skin a cat just doesn't work for all cats. Gaston tried to just scale the G17 up to make the G21, and it just was not a home run -- some people like it, but a lot of people find the grip entirely too much to handle. Glock could have tried cutting the grip size down the same way H&K and even Taurus did (hint, hint -- metal mags), but in some entirely backwards way it was easier to build a whole new cartridge rather than admit that HK or anyone else was on the right track and Gaston on the wrong one when it came to dealing with 45 ACP.
carterbeauford
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Using those two names in the same sentence never turns out for the better.
And so it begins...
Redneck with a 40
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45 GAP, why bother?
Seems to me everyone is trying to make a name for themselves with caliber introductions. S&W did it with the 40, Sig and Federal did it with the 357 Sig, and now Gaston is trying to do it with the 45 GAP. In my opinion, the 45 GAP offers NOTHING over the 40 S&W, the bullet weights and performance are almost identical. The 45 GAP performance suffers with bullets over 200 grains, shorter case.
Seems to me everyone is trying to make a name for themselves with caliber introductions. S&W did it with the 40, Sig and Federal did it with the 357 Sig, and now Gaston is trying to do it with the 45 GAP. In my opinion, the 45 GAP offers NOTHING over the 40 S&W, the bullet weights and performance are almost identical. The 45 GAP performance suffers with bullets over 200 grains, shorter case.
I think of .45 GAP as an update of the .45 ACP. With modern poweder you don't need the long case of the .45 acp to obtain the same power. With a shorter case of the GAP, a pistol can be design with much narrower grip. I seen review of a Springfield smaller 1911 (EMP?) that chamber GAP, but last I heard the .45 GAP EMP will not be in production any time soon. To me as a reloader and paper puncher I will continue to use ACP pistol unless GAP gains popularity.
Black Majik
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Also, .45 GAP doesn't come in WWB Value packs
Don't suppose many here who neasay the GAP have ever fired one, much less own one. I carried a G23 for 6 years. Once I tried the GAP the 40 got moved to the safe. I now carry a G38 every day loaded with 230gr Winchester Rangers. Don't know where the comment above about the GAP performance suffering with bullets over 200gr came from. I've loaded and shot several thousand 230gr bullets through my 37 and 38.
Tried the 21 but just couldn't come to like it. Tried Sigs, HK's, XD's. I'm down to Glocks and 1911's now.
The G21SF may be what kills the GAP if its configured like the last rumor I heard. Basically a G37 with the grip extended front to back to fit the ACP round. 10 round mags plus an ambi mag release.
BTW the G37 holds 10 in the mag not 9.
Tried the 21 but just couldn't come to like it. Tried Sigs, HK's, XD's. I'm down to Glocks and 1911's now.
The G21SF may be what kills the GAP if its configured like the last rumor I heard. Basically a G37 with the grip extended front to back to fit the ACP round. 10 round mags plus an ambi mag release.
BTW the G37 holds 10 in the mag not 9.
possum
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.45 GAP translates to mean to me, ammo price isn't worth it, and if i can't afford to shoot it and shoot it alot i don't want it. plus i don't beleive it will be around very long anyway, i have no need or desire at all for it.
10-Ring
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Welcome to THR! What a great 1st thread
Go w/ the ACP...
Go w/ the ACP...
ugaarguy
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No need to yell. My opinion from handling an XD 45 side by side with an XD 9 is that the XD 45 feels slightly larger, noticeably, but just barely. The Difference between the XD's chief competitor, Glock's models 17 and 21 (or is it a 20 thats in 45 ACP? I always get those two backwards) is more significant, and very noticeable. Of course hand size varies, and I have fat, kinda short fingers, so perhaps the size difference in the Glocks feels more pronounced to me. I will look at the new slimmer G21 SF (hope I got the nomenclature right) and see how it compares when they get in stores. Gotta keep your options open.
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