45 acp vs. 45 gap - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

sonyman74 · 05-14-2007, 08:21 PM

What is the difference in the two. B/c I was looking at getting another XD and I see they have both to chose from.

para_org · 05-14-2007, 08:44 PM

A lot of people. And a lot of opinions on this one.

Short answer:

The ballistic Kinetic Energy and slow nature of the .45 acp round makes for a optimum penetrating round at a high ft/lbs measured (kinetic) energy. And all of this energy tends to be imparted within the first 12 inches of body mass. This even with the simpliest of bullet shapes.

All of the other calibers that the XD is available in tend to try to accomplish what the .45 acp round already delivers ballistically (sp ?). They do this generally by increasing the chamber pressures and sometimes other ballistic manipulation. This of course raises the question of why run higher velocities or chamber pressures, which represent potential and sometimes very real problems, just to try and equal the performance of the .45 acp ?

Besides the .45 acp is readily available and generally less expensive compared to the .45 gap round.

jtkratzer · 05-14-2007, 08:47 PM

i'm not sure if there is much of a difference other than the GAP is shorter and probably more expensive and harder to find.

The .45 G.A.P. pistol cartridge was designed by Ernest Durham, an engineer with CCI/Speer, at the request of firearms manufacturer Glock to provide a cartridge that would equal the power of the .45 ACP but was shorter to fit in a more compact handgun. G.A.P. is an acronym for "Glock Automatic Pistol", and the .45 G.A.P. is the first commercially-introduced cartridge identified with Glock.

- from wikipedia

**NC Dave** · 05-14-2007, 08:50 PM

The main difference I see is that you will ALWAYS be able to get ammo for your 45 ACP. The GAP - not so much.

deepdiver · 05-14-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NC Dave

The main difference I see is that you will ALWAYS be able to get ammo for your 45 ACP. The GAP - not so much.

+1 And .45 ACP is already expensive enough. I have read some gun writers argue that .45 GAP is a fad and won't last. I don't know enough to have an opinion on that matter, however, I have a 9mm and a .45 ACP because I found it advisable to have concealed carry firearms in the 2 most popular pistol calibers.

AlphaFox · 05-14-2007, 09:10 PM

45 GAP is destined to die. Availability and expense will show this round out the door. Too, It stands for 45 Glock Auto Pistol. One should not shoot things designed for Glocks out of their XD's

jeepinbanditrider · 05-14-2007, 09:14 PM

The Georgia State Highway Patrol just recently switched to Glocks chambered in .45GAP. If it's going out it's going out kicking.

I don't think it has much of a future and will go the way of the 10mm. An obscure overpriced round that very few people shoot.

jtkratzer · 05-14-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepinbanditrider

The Georgia State Highway Patrol just recently switched to Glocks chambered in .45GAP. If it's going out it's going out kicking.

I don't think it has much of a future and will go the way of the 10mm. An obscure overpriced round that very few people shoot.

they've been saying this kind of stuff about the .45 Colt for a long time, i don't think any round has been pronounced dead as many as the .45 colt, yet it's still around.

10mm Sonny · 05-15-2007, 01:05 AM

45gap is the next beta-VCR.

lobster_roboto · 05-15-2007, 01:26 AM

Whoops I read that as .45CRAP.

05-14-2007, 08:21 PM	#1
sonyman74 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 412	45 acp vs. 45 gap What is the difference in the two. B/c I was looking at getting another XD and I see they have both to chose from. __________________ Springfield Armory XD-9 Service & Sub-Compact Springfield Armory XD-45ACP Tactical X2 Benelli Super Nova Tactical Benelli Super Nova Benelli Super Nova Slug Gun Benelli M4 Super 90 Benelli R1 270WSM Bushmaster AR-15

05-14-2007, 08:50 PM	#4
NC Dave XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 1,544	The main difference I see is that you will ALWAYS be able to get ammo for your 45 ACP. The GAP - not so much. __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Instructor

05-14-2007, 09:10 PM	#6
AlphaFox XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Global Operations Posts: 200	45gap 45 GAP is destined to die. Availability and expense will show this round out the door. Too, It stands for 45 Glock Auto Pistol. One should not shoot things designed for Glocks out of their XD's

05-14-2007, 09:14 PM	#7
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,854	The Georgia State Highway Patrol just recently switched to Glocks chambered in .45GAP. If it's going out it's going out kicking. I don't think it has much of a future and will go the way of the 10mm. An obscure overpriced round that very few people shoot. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

05-15-2007, 01:26 AM	#10
lobster_roboto XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,687	Whoops I read that as .45CRAP. __________________ "Let's go straight to the source and ban crime"

05-14-2007, 08:44 PM	#2
para_org XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 375	A lot of people. And a lot of opinions on this one. Short answer: The ballistic Kinetic Energy and slow nature of the .45 acp round makes for a optimum penetrating round at a high ft/lbs measured (kinetic) energy. And all of this energy tends to be imparted within the first 12 inches of body mass. This even with the simpliest of bullet shapes. All of the other calibers that the XD is available in tend to try to accomplish what the .45 acp round already delivers ballistically (sp ?). They do this generally by increasing the chamber pressures and sometimes other ballistic manipulation. This of course raises the question of why run higher velocities or chamber pressures, which represent potential and sometimes very real problems, just to try and equal the performance of the .45 acp ? Besides the .45 acp is readily available and generally less expensive compared to the .45 gap round.

05-14-2007, 08:47 PM	#3
jtkratzer XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lancaster Co., PA Posts: 17,560	i'm not sure if there is much of a difference other than the GAP is shorter and probably more expensive and harder to find. The .45 G.A.P. pistol cartridge was designed by Ernest Durham, an engineer with CCI/Speer, at the request of firearms manufacturer Glock to provide a cartridge that would equal the power of the .45 ACP but was shorter to fit in a more compact handgun. G.A.P. is an acronym for "Glock Automatic Pistol", and the .45 G.A.P. is the first commercially-introduced cartridge identified with Glock. - from wikipedia

05-15-2007, 01:05 AM	#9
10mm Sonny XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 13	45gap is the next beta-VCR.

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