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How did YOU become a "Gapper"?

7K views 42 replies 34 participants last post by  es 350 
#1 ·
So I'm curious how people got initially turned on to the 45 GAP. It is certainly not a common round and aside from the folks who are police officers and were issued a 45 Gap pistol, it would be interesting to here some stories.

Here's mine:

I've always enjoyed Glocks and mostly shot 9mm. After a brief love affair with a G32 that ended badly due to my developing a flinch from the sharp recoil, I switched from Glock and decided to buy an XD 45. This was only because I never liked the grip of the larger .45 ACP Glocks (probably due to my early experience with 9mm Glocks) and wanted a .45.

A friend at work sent me the poster of the XD that we've all probably seen that says: "Sorry about that .45 GAP thing. It was just a prank that got out of hand." That sparked something in me and I found myself thinking more and more about the merits of the GAP cartridge.

After researching the thing to death I decided that if I could get a .45 in my favorite gun (Glock) in a grip sized I was comfortable with (9mm/40/357) then I had a winner.

I bought a G38 and the rest, as they say, is history. So what's your story?
 
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#27 ·
I've been a firm believer in the .45 caliber for a long time, but I have small hands that make a .45 ACP uncomfortable. I decided to give a G37 a try. I now have a G38 and two G39's. If I could own only one gun, it would be the G38. My friends and family members who have shot my G38 all covet it.
 
#28 ·
When first thinking about trading my 1st Glock, a gen2 G22, I tried a used G30 but found it a bit bulky, and eventually settled for a new Gen 4 G27.

A couple years Later after picking up a G17, I again got the itch for a larger caliber but remembered my objections to the ACP. So I ordered a 38.

That's when the adventure began. It was TRAUMATIC!

See the following thread:
http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1443840

After I got it back, I had some reloading bugs, but eventually worked them out.

Now the 38 is the only pistol I shoot on a regular basis.
 
#29 ·
I went into a local Gun Show intending to purchase a gently used G21. I found a new G37 for $410. Too tough to resist that price, and was curious about the 45GAP. I now own all three sizes, and am carrying the G39 as I type this at the library. Great 45 balistics in a small, efficient package. Cheers.
 
#30 ·
Three things: First and foremost, I blame DannyR -- first he earned my respect with his writings and willingness to share so he got me to listen to him. Then he just kept pounding the message home; next, I've got a G-19 and like it; and finally my LGS had a used LE in the case for three months. I asked to see it and the salesman said he'd give me a real good deal just to get rid of it -- said his boss told them to never buy another one. I got an LE G-38 and 7 mags for $400 out the door. Oh happy me !
 
#32 · (Edited)
Hey guys im new to glock talk and just got my first handgun which is a gen 3 glock 37... I got the gun which has only had 100 rounds through it with original case, 3 glock mags, and 3 boxes of ammo for $350... Too good to pass up so thats how i became a gapper lol
In this ridiculous ammo shortage what websites are you guys still finding available ammo on?
 
#34 ·
Like someone who posted earlier in this thread, I shot a friend's G39. I then shot my G30. The G39 handled better and really impressed me. I traded the G30 (which I never really liked anyway), and eventually came into a nice G37 LE trade (GNS, 3 mags, case, loader, tools, papers; $325). I shot it and liked it, too. I then bought a G39 of my own. In terms of utility, I like the G39 best. I don't think a more shootable "small" gun in such a large caliber exists elsewhere. It's in a class by itself IMHO.

I'm duty-limited to 9mm Glock pistols, but qual with my GAP guns too so I can carry them off-duty.
 
#36 · (Edited)
Small hand, and I can't let go of having a 45 caliber pistol. I think that the whole idea is fantastic! I cannot understand, except for the 1911 guys, why people have such a problem with this round. At first, I ignored the 45 GAP, because it was just background noise to me having owned 45ACP and 10MM for so long. But then I just got a real hankering for a smaller grip and "voila"; now I have a Glock 38.

Got Underwood on the way!
 
#37 ·
I too have always liked the 45 but couldn't justify getting two sizes of primers since I like the 9x19mm too. I was just kind of surfing the local Guns For Sale site and saw a guy with a G37 for sale. I ask him what his bottom dollar would be and he said he'd let me have the G37 w/4 mags and a 20 rnd box of ammo for $375. Now just how could I pass up that deal, tell me?
Anyway, long story less long I got dies, brass and bullets and loaded some up. Put a set of XS Standard Dot sights on it and dialed it in and it was love at first trigger pull.
Not snappy like the 40cal, nice big bullet, uses the same primer as my 9x19mm, same size gun basically. Now I just need to figure out if my second GAP will be a Compact G38 or Sub-Compact G39.
 
#38 ·
I too have always liked the 45 but couldn't justify getting two sizes of primers since I like the 9x19mm too. I was just kind of surfing the local Guns For Sale site and saw a guy with a G37 for sale. I ask him what his bottom dollar would be and he said he'd let me have the G37 w/4 mags and a 20 rnd box of ammo for $375. Now just how could I pass up that deal, tell me?
Anyway, long story less long I got dies, brass and bullets and loaded some up. Put a set of XS Standard Dot sights on it and dialed it in and it was love at first trigger pull.
Not snappy like the 40cal, nice big bullet, uses the same primer as my 9x19mm, same size gun basically. Now I just need to figure out if my second GAP will be a Compact G38 or Sub-Compact G39.
I bought my G 38 and G 39 from different folks here on GT. I paid a little over $1k for all three. I just bought a Gen 4 G 37, still waiting for that to arrive.
 
#39 ·
Always carried a G19 when issued a G17 at work. We transitioned to G37's in 2007 after Trooper Andy Speer was killed by bank robbers he had stopped (the bank robbery had not been reported as of yet). Andy put four 124 gr Gold Dots into the bad guy but had already absorbed two 158 gr .357 rds from less than a foot between his panels. The bad guy did not realized he had been hit as all four rounds failed to expand and passed through. After a long field trial the G37 was selected over the G22. I was happy to be on the test committee.
I carried a G39 in Narco in an Alessi ankle rig and still carry one as an investigator but now in a Serpa.
I carry a G38 off duty and as an HD gun, it's my favorite by far. Just started loading and with unlimited brass I figure to have about 5000 rds before I retire.
 
#40 ·
New guy checking in, I worked in an ER and saw many people with bullet wounds, I know the ammo makes a huge difference, but saw a ton of people walk in with 9mm slugs in them. Never saw anyone with a larger caliber literally walk into the ER.

I like the 45 ACP, but thought if Glock designed its own round, I'd trust them.

Anyway, picked up a used 39 for $340 or so, it's my CCW.

Keeping my eye out for some brass to reload.
 
#41 ·
I never had anything against GAP just NEVER figured I would own ONE and I didn't for long as now I have TWO!!

I have been playing with modifying ACP's to shoot 45 SUPER for the last several years and that got me to thinking about the GAP!
Couple months ago a friend asked if I knew any one interested in a 37. We made a trade and I had a GAP to play with and was very surprised with the accuracy of the 37 right from the box.
After finding a LWD threaded barrel and adding a compensator I had from G21 SUPER project I was able to get almost 850 lbs. of mz. energy from the G37 GAP using shortened ACP brass !!
Was so impressed with accuracy and power ( when set up correctly) that I ordered a 39 to keep 37 company!!
 
#43 ·
I had a HARD time finding one as well, I bought the last one Glockstore had in stock.
I have seen them from time to time on Gunbroker and other online sites but prices are pretty high!
I have been wanting to machine a fully supported ( LWD does not have any better support than factory ) barrel from a 45 cal blank I have, just haven't taken the time yet. When/if I ever do I will probably sell the LWD I have.

Good luck on your search, like I said they do show up from time to time!
 
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