.45 GAP
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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[edit] Development
The concept of a shorter .45 ACP round is not new; previously there was the .45 H.P., no longer in production. But the .45 G.A.P. had the backing of a major firearms manufacturer, which greatly increased its chances for success given Glock pistol's extraordinary popularity.
The .45 G.A.P. is based on the .45 ACP pistol cartridge, but is shorter--slightly shorter than the overall length of the 9 mm Luger or .40 S&W and uses a small-pistol primer like the 9mm Luger instead of a large-pistol primer like the .45 ACP. The .45 G.A.P. operates at a higher pressure than the .45 ACP (the same as .45 ACP +P) to make up for the smaller chamber volume. The .45 G.A.P. produces ballistics equal to the standard .45 ACP loadings but in a shorter cartridge. It was first believed that the traditional .45 ACP loading of a 230-grain bullet at 830 ft/s would not be possible in the .45 G.A.P., but careful gunpowder selection on the part of ammunition manufacturers has achieved that standard.
The .45 G.A.P. cartridge was conceived by Glock to be used in the medium frame sized Glock 37 pistol. From a performance point of view it is ideal for police use. The lighter .45 caliber bullets produce less recoil than the often criticized .45 ACP 230 grain (14.9 g) loadings, but they still retain many of the terminal ballistics advantages of the larger, heavier (compared to smaller caliber bullets) .45 caliber bullets. Since nearly all semi-automatic pistols store cartridges in the grip frame, the smaller overall length allows a smaller grip diameter which means that even a double-column pistol can have a grip that is easily handled by most adults.
The .45 G.A.P. would also have a market advantage in countries like Mexico, where civilian possession of ammunition and firearms in military chamberings is illegal. As no government has adopted the .45 G.A.P., it would be legal to own in a country with these restrictions.
The .45 G.A.P. is likely to be a highly successful cartridge. While the shorter overall length limits the versatility compared to the .45 ACP, the .45 G.A.P. retains enough attractive features to give it a promising future in the police and self defense markets.
[edit] Initial market response to the .45 G.A.P. cartridge
Gun Tests Magazine ran an article in the February 2005 issue comparing five commercial loadings of .45 G.A.P. ammunition when fired through the Glock 37 polymer-framed pistol. All of the brands failed to meet the desired 2-inch (51 mm) accuracy at 50 feet (15 m); the groups ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 inches (64 to 89 mm). 4 of the 5 loads generated velocities on par with the .45 ACP +P, and these loads were considered uncontrollable by the testers, as the recoil generated was extreme for the weight of the pistols chambering the round. The one remaining load, firing a 185-grain (12 g) bullet at an average velocity of about 950 ft/s (290 m/s), was considered to be at the upper limit of controllability. They theorize that the potency of the .45 G.A.P. is an attempt to avoid derogatory comparisons between the .45 ACP and the .45 G.A.P., as was experienced when the .40 S&W was introduced as a lower recoil substitute for the 10 mm Auto. If the Gun Tests evaluation team are representative of the market, then the reduced power .45 G.A.P. should begin appearing to address the issues of heavy recoil in the light pistols.
[edit] Reloading
It is not recommended that a handloader try to make .45 G.A.P. brass casings by trimming .45 ACP cases due to the fact that the .45 G.A.P. has thicker brass in the critical area of the case web than the .45 ACP. Also, the headstamp of the trimmed brass would be incorrect and could cause a hazardous situation due to misidentification.
See the article from Guns & Ammo below for more information on reloading the .45 G.A.P. cartridge.
