[wlst101]

Hey guys, 1st off I've owned my GAP's since 2005..love them and no complaints. My question is with ammo and I just wants some opinions, no flames. Recently picked up a G19 with some 124+p GoldDots. So I checked out the specs and am pretty impressed.

9mm 124+p MV= 1220, 410 ft/pds Energy

I use the 200gn GoldDots for my G-38 and they rate at:

970 MV, 418 ft/pds Energy

With the energy ratings almost identical, what's the advantage to the 45...penetration, maybe a bigger hole?

[DannyR]

Your 9's have a power factor of 151, which is right high for nines, but your Gap round has a much more powerful power factor of 194. I'll take 194 over 151 for personal defense any day.

[wlst101]

Originally Posted by DannyR

Your 9's have a power factor of 151, which is right high for nines, but your Gap round has a much more powerful power factor of 194. I'll take 194 over 151 for personal defense any day.

Danny, wasn't PF designed more to equal the playing field for pistol matches?

[DannyR]

It is also a very good way to compare recoil. The higher the PF, the greater the recoil. No one would want to be hit with either bullet, but the 45 is more likely to crush a bone, and on poor hits, bigger holes cause bigger leaks.

I carry Federal HST 124-gr +P in my 9's and Federal HST 200-gr JHP's in my Gaps.

[wlst101]

Point taken, thanks Danny.

[PsychoKnight]

Leaving the barrel, there is no performance advantage of a 9 compared to the GAP. But the PF of a GAP round creates advantages in a host of unusual circumstances. If the assailant is wearing a vest, getting hit by GAP rounds will knocki the wind out and stun him much more than 9mm rounds would. Also, a GAP round will more likely be deflected less and carry more momentum after going through glass, car doors, or heavy leather jacketing. Up close, even the greater percussion and muzzle blast of a GAP round will have a greater psychological impact on an assailant - which allows more effective warning shots, if you'd rather try to chase away somebody than blow his brains apart. Additionally, in an exchange of gunfire, the increased pressur waves helps to disorient, distract, or create fear in the target, making his actions less effective. Most shooters feel the air pressure of fired rounds from behind the muzzle. I've been in front of the muzzle on more than one occassion, and its a lot louder than a 9mm and plays an important factor in a self defense encounter.

[dudel]

I find the g38 recoil and flip to be less than the 9mm. My g38 follow up shots are quicker as well.

[malleable]

Originally Posted by DannyR

I carry Federal HST 124-gr +P in my 9's and Federal HST 200-gr JHP's in my Gaps.

Is that a typo as I've only seen 230gr HST in Gap?

[parados]

I know it wasn't a scientific test but I shot a G19 and G38 side by side and had a buddy try to guess which one I was shooting. He had a hard time doing so because the recoil was similar.

[palladen1331]

I have always liked and enjoyed model 1911 acp. but old age has finally caught up with me and my memory is slipping so I boughtmyself three G A P s[37, 38 and a 39] now I dont have to worry about swiping off the safirtyies I am now 88years old and I will shoot my G A P s

[fasteddie565]

Danny jokingly makes a great point. Unless you hit the brain stem or above, people die from pistol wounds by bleeding to death. Jeff Cooper used to talk about bullet dynamics and how a flat point bullet punched a hole like a paper punch and a round nose bullet weaved its way like a knitting needle. The flat point 230 grn made a bigger would channel, letting more blood, stopping your threat faster.

The same physics apply to .356 and .452