Pocket powerhouse: the .45 GAP Glock Compact Model 38

Guns Magazine, Sept, 2008 by John Taffin

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The big edge of the .40 S&W concept is found in a smaller package allowing high-capacity magazines in a reasonably sized grip frame. Why not put a .45 in the same sized pistol? This new .45 cartridge with the power of the .45 ACP in a semi-auto the size of .40 S&W is the .45 GAP with GAP standing for Glock Automatic Pistol.

Some shooters have a difficult time reaching the trigger on a 1911, while a high capacity .45, is either very bulky or impossible for the same shooters to reach the trigger. Hence the .45 GAP which gives ballistics equal or better than the .45 ACP but in a shorter case which in turn allows a smaller grip frame.

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It has been more than a century since the arrival of the .45 ACP in 1905, and powder development is light years advanced from where it was in 1905/1911, so the prospect of actually shortening the .45 ACP was well within reach and that reach resulted in the .45 GAP. The .45 GAP was suggested by Gaston Glock and developed by Speer.

A look at other semi-automatic cartridges shows the .45 GAP with its case length of .755" is shorter than the .45 ACP by. 143", .095" shorter than the .40 S&W, and about the same length as the 9mm. The .45 GAP may appear to be simply a shortened .45 ACP, however it definitely is not and .45 ACP brass cannot be used to make .45 GAP cases.

Not only is the .45 GAP shorter than the .45 ACP, it also has a slightly rebated rim, the extraction cannelure has a different angle, the internal wall profile differs quite markedly to allow the seating of bullets in the shorter case, and the .45 GAP uses small pistol primers, not the large primers found in the .45 ACP.

The .45 GAP was originally designed to fit the medium-sized Glock 37. It is now also offered in the Compact Glock 38 and the Sub-Compact Glock 39. As with all Glocks, the .45 GAP models feature the safe action trigger which is described as "... a partly tensioned firing pin lock, which is moved further back by the trigger bar when the trigger is pulled. When the trigger is pulled, three safety features are automatically deactivated one after another. When doing so, the trigger bar is deflected downward by the connector and the firing pin is released under full load. When the trigger is released, all three safety features re-engage and the Glock pistol is automatically secured again."

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In plain simple language the Glock cannot fire unless the trigger is pulled. The .45 GAP Model 38, again as with all Glock pistols, has the corrosion resistant polymer frame while the steel barrel and slide are coated with Tenifer giving a degree of hardness of 64 HRC.

Amino Specs

SAAMI specs for the .45 GAP give a maximum of 23,000 psi, which is the level for P .45 ACP. Factory loads for the .45 GAP are a basically offered with the same weight bullets as the .45 ACP which means up to 230 grains in weight. I had three factory loads at my disposal, American Eagle 185-grain TMJs which clocked out at 942 fps, Winchester's 185 Silver Tip HPs, 893 fps and Winchester's 230 JHP, 862 fps. The Winchester Silver Tip loading proved to be the most accurate with 5-shot groups of 1-3/4" for five shots at 50'.

Flawless Performance

In the past two decades we've seen many non- 1911 style .45 ACPs offered and well received by the shooting public as well as law-enforcement. Glock took it one step further by also changing the cartridge. The Glock Model 38, as expected, performed flawlessly.

Sights on the Model 38 consist of a post front sight with a white dot and a square notch rear sight with a white outline all of which make sight acquisition easy and fast. The shortened integral polymer grip frame has a pebble-grained surface on both panels and impressed checkering on the front and backstraps, and the frontstrap has three finger grooves which fit my fingers like they were tailor-made. The bottom of the front of the frame is slotted to accept a tactical flashlight or laser sight.

I feel most comfortable whether my hand is wrapped around a 1911 or a Glock and, if the .45 happens to be a GAP instead of an ACP, neither I nor the target will know the difference. The very slightly smaller grip frame the shorter .45 GAP cartridge allows in the Model 38 can make it possible for those with smaller hands to also have a compact high-cap .45 they can handle effectively. Over the years I've shot Glocks in all calibers, except .357 Sig, and in all configurations. I do believe I prefer the Compact Model 38 over all of them.

       MAKER: GLOCK
   6000 HIGHLANDS PARKWAY
      SMYRNA GA 30082
(770) 432-1202, WWW.GLOCK.COM
  ACTION TYPE: SEMI-AUTOMATIC

       CALIBER:    .45 GAP
      CAPACITY:    8   1, (optional 10  1)
 BARREL LENGTH:    4"
OVERALL LENGTH:    6.85"
        WEIGHT:    24 ounces
        FINISH:    Tenifer coated
                   barrel and slide.
        SIGHTS:    Post front with white
                   dot, white outline
                   rear sight
         GRIPS:    Integral polymer
         PRICE:    $599