Through roughly one and a half years of reading and gathering opinions, I'm very close to nailing my perfect carry gun. But alas, the 36 is not as popular, because many say that it's somehow flawed. I've also read a bit about the 30 slimframe. Many say they like it better. However, I've also read a great deal about kabooms. I'm not worried about reloads because I'd be crazy to try to use them. Those that do...God help you; that's why I'll stick to standard pressure SAAMI spec factory loads. I'm also not concerned about gaining small edges in ballistic performance; it's Glock, it's good enough. But I am worried about having a fully supported barrel, which is a problem that increases kabooms in .40 or bigger diameter ammo...especially in the .40 itself. So these are my observations and information I've gathered on the pros and cons on all three; y'all will have to correct me if I get anything factually wrong. But also please give me your opinion on which would be the most practical to obtain and carry.
Glock 36 Pros:
1. Optimum dimensions for carry without (hopefully) compromising mechanical reliability.
2. Better carry-ability than a regular 30 due to the small grip width.
3. Adequate firepower (c'mon y'all...6+1 is enough for us civvies. If you need more, you were better off running in the first place. Besides, Pearce grips give pinky comfort plus another round.)
4. A Bar-Sto Precision Machine match grade fully supported barrel will minimize the risk of kabooms while increasing barrel accuracy.
5. Proven .45 power, while still being relatively cheap. .45 ACP Remington Golden Saber JHP 230g 25 Round Box is $19.79.
Cons:
1. Apparently questionable mechanical reliability and/or accuracy as reported by the shooting community.
2. Not fully supported barrel for a .45, thus increasing the kaboom risk.
3. A Bar-Sto replacement barrel goes upwards of $100.
4. The .45 ACP +P loads out there still out-edge the .45 GAP, but .45 ACP Hornady +P JHP 230g 20/box is $17.36. Multiply that by 2.5, you get approximately $43.40, slightly more expensive than the .45 GA.P More expensive ammo makes it harder to regularly practice.
Glock 30SF Pros:
1. Optimum dimensions for carry; apparently better popularity and reliability.
2. Better carry-ability than a regular 30 due to the small grip width.
3. More than adequate civvie firepower, great cop firepower too (11+1, I believe.)
4. A Bar-Sto Precision Machine match grade fully supported barrel will minimize the risk of kabooms while increasing barrel accuracy.
5. Proven .45 power, while still being relatively cheap. .45 ACP Remington Golden Saber JHP 230 Grain 25/box is $19.79.
Cons:
1. Admittedly more of a technical gripe, the 30SF is a few millimeters thicker than the 36. May make a small difference in the carry experience.
2. Not fully supported barrel for a .45, thus increasing the kaboom risk.
3. A Bar-Sto replacement barrel goes upwards of $100.
4. The .45 ACP +P loads out there still out-edge the .45 GAP, but .45 ACP Hornady +P JHP 230g 20/box is $17.36. Multiply that by 2.5, you get approximately $43.40, slightly more expensive than the .45 GAP. More expensive ammo makes it harder to regularly practice.
Glock 38 Pros:
1. Adequate dimensions for carry, plus pinky comfort without the need for a Pearce extension, thus cheaper so far.
2. Plus, the 38 has a standard capacity of 8+1, beating the 36 with a Pearce grip.
3. Better carry-ability than a regular 30 due to the small grip width.
4. Slightly longer barrel increasing barrel accuracy, muzzle velocity, and the shooter's intrinsic accuracy.
5. Factory stadard fully supported barrel minimizes risk of .45 kabooms. No need for a replacement barrel, further minimizing aftermarket costs.
6. The .45 GAP cartridge generates slightly higher velocities than standard pressure .45 ACP at the same bullet weights.
7. .45 GAP Winchester JHP 230g 50/box is roughly $30-40. If we multiply the .45 ACP price by two, it's about the same. I was surprised, because I thought the GAP was a super-expensive gimmick round that I ought to avoid. Perhaps not, especially since it's slightly cheaper than the better performing .45 CP +P loads.
Cons:
1. Slightly longer, taller and wider than a 36; more so than the 30SF, although all dimension increases are still under half an inch. probably will impact carry experience.
2. Heavier than the 36 due to an increase in capacity, thus ammo weight.
3. The .45 ACP +P loads out there still out-edge the .45 GAP.
My final thoughts are that while technically, the 38 might be better for me in a few ways, I worry about whether or not my local shop will have similar ammo prices as what I found Googling. Maybe not. My other worry is about the .45 GAP itself. The .45 ACP is legendary, known and trusted the world over. I want to look up specific cartridge design differences between the ACP and the GAP. If it's more prone to feed or extraction failures, that'll royally piss me off. The possible ammo cost increase plus any hinky design specs will be enough to turn me off to the GAP forever. I've already considered it once and I'm giving it another try as I re-evaluat my slowly expanding knowledge of ballistics.
Given all this, what do y'all think?
Glock 36 Pros:
1. Optimum dimensions for carry without (hopefully) compromising mechanical reliability.
2. Better carry-ability than a regular 30 due to the small grip width.
3. Adequate firepower (c'mon y'all...6+1 is enough for us civvies. If you need more, you were better off running in the first place. Besides, Pearce grips give pinky comfort plus another round.)
4. A Bar-Sto Precision Machine match grade fully supported barrel will minimize the risk of kabooms while increasing barrel accuracy.
5. Proven .45 power, while still being relatively cheap. .45 ACP Remington Golden Saber JHP 230g 25 Round Box is $19.79.
Cons:
1. Apparently questionable mechanical reliability and/or accuracy as reported by the shooting community.
2. Not fully supported barrel for a .45, thus increasing the kaboom risk.
3. A Bar-Sto replacement barrel goes upwards of $100.
4. The .45 ACP +P loads out there still out-edge the .45 GAP, but .45 ACP Hornady +P JHP 230g 20/box is $17.36. Multiply that by 2.5, you get approximately $43.40, slightly more expensive than the .45 GA.P More expensive ammo makes it harder to regularly practice.
Glock 30SF Pros:
1. Optimum dimensions for carry; apparently better popularity and reliability.
2. Better carry-ability than a regular 30 due to the small grip width.
3. More than adequate civvie firepower, great cop firepower too (11+1, I believe.)
4. A Bar-Sto Precision Machine match grade fully supported barrel will minimize the risk of kabooms while increasing barrel accuracy.
5. Proven .45 power, while still being relatively cheap. .45 ACP Remington Golden Saber JHP 230 Grain 25/box is $19.79.
Cons:
1. Admittedly more of a technical gripe, the 30SF is a few millimeters thicker than the 36. May make a small difference in the carry experience.
2. Not fully supported barrel for a .45, thus increasing the kaboom risk.
3. A Bar-Sto replacement barrel goes upwards of $100.
4. The .45 ACP +P loads out there still out-edge the .45 GAP, but .45 ACP Hornady +P JHP 230g 20/box is $17.36. Multiply that by 2.5, you get approximately $43.40, slightly more expensive than the .45 GAP. More expensive ammo makes it harder to regularly practice.
Glock 38 Pros:
1. Adequate dimensions for carry, plus pinky comfort without the need for a Pearce extension, thus cheaper so far.
2. Plus, the 38 has a standard capacity of 8+1, beating the 36 with a Pearce grip.
3. Better carry-ability than a regular 30 due to the small grip width.
4. Slightly longer barrel increasing barrel accuracy, muzzle velocity, and the shooter's intrinsic accuracy.
5. Factory stadard fully supported barrel minimizes risk of .45 kabooms. No need for a replacement barrel, further minimizing aftermarket costs.
6. The .45 GAP cartridge generates slightly higher velocities than standard pressure .45 ACP at the same bullet weights.
7. .45 GAP Winchester JHP 230g 50/box is roughly $30-40. If we multiply the .45 ACP price by two, it's about the same. I was surprised, because I thought the GAP was a super-expensive gimmick round that I ought to avoid. Perhaps not, especially since it's slightly cheaper than the better performing .45 CP +P loads.
Cons:
1. Slightly longer, taller and wider than a 36; more so than the 30SF, although all dimension increases are still under half an inch. probably will impact carry experience.
2. Heavier than the 36 due to an increase in capacity, thus ammo weight.
3. The .45 ACP +P loads out there still out-edge the .45 GAP.
My final thoughts are that while technically, the 38 might be better for me in a few ways, I worry about whether or not my local shop will have similar ammo prices as what I found Googling. Maybe not. My other worry is about the .45 GAP itself. The .45 ACP is legendary, known and trusted the world over. I want to look up specific cartridge design differences between the ACP and the GAP. If it's more prone to feed or extraction failures, that'll royally piss me off. The possible ammo cost increase plus any hinky design specs will be enough to turn me off to the GAP forever. I've already considered it once and I'm giving it another try as I re-evaluat my slowly expanding knowledge of ballistics.
Given all this, what do y'all think?