Would you buy a gun chambered in .45 GAP?

[Walt Sherrill]

Still begs the Q: When the feces hit the rotating air device, would you rely upon it in lieu of a .45 ACP considering ammo availability? Even if one reloads, one better have a good stash of components. Any .45 GAP max load can be easily exceeded in a .45 ACP case.

I can understand (somewhat) why someone would want it just for S&G or as a collector piece, but I don't have the money for that type of firearm, let alone the dies and casings to reload it.

If the S does hit the fan, any caliber of ammunition is going to be in short supply, and whether it's .45 ACP or .45 GAP or .22 or 9mm. We're all going to be facing the same shortage. We saw this over the past couple of years, when the only real crisis was concern about gun law changes and a crappy economy. People hoarded and companies redirected their production. That wasn't even close to the SHTF, but it was pretty bad. During the past period of shortage, .45 GAP was often easier to find than ANYTHING else...

If the crap does hit the fan and you can reload, have a stockpile of what you need, and are able protect your supplies and equipment, you'll be fine -- regardless of the caliber you choose. If not, shoot carefully and sparingly.

If the crap does hit the fan, and you have a .45 GAP, or .44 Magnum, or .38 Super, or .380, that doesn't mean it will be the only gun you're going to have or use. But, if you're relying on a single handgun caliber alone, I'd argue you've highlighted a weakness in your survival plan -- as a good AR-type weapon (or a .308 or .30-06) and supply of THAT ammo is probably something you need, too. And it's even more expensive!!

 

[AKexpat]

@ Walt Sherrill

Duly noted and appreciate your comments.

Still gonna have to go with the widely acceptable and available .45 ACP, 9mm, .38 Spl, .357 Mag. .22 LR, and some others. If the S really hits the F, these will be the most bartered/sold pistol calibers, only because these are the most popular caliber handguns sold/owned by most of the populace.

Not a lot of folks reload these days, and considering the entire US gun-owning population, if one would care to do an opinion poll I think that would be evident. I used to reload, profusely, but I am old and do not have any means to do so any more. I am sure that would be the same for many gun owners that are not caught up with the "culture" and just own a firearm or two to CCW, stave off a home invasion, or other such attacks.

I am not discounting long guns (rifles and shotguns) but that is a different discussion.

Thank you for your reply, sir.

Jim

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Still gonna have to go with the widely acceptable and available .45 ACP, 9mm, .38 Spl, .357 Mag. .22 LR, and some others. If the S really hits the F, these will be the most bartered/sold pistol calibers, only because these are the most popular caliber handguns sold/owned by most of the populace.

While they might be the most bartered, they might not bring the best prices/value. Things like antibiotics (those that don't have to be refrigerated, such as penecillin pills, sulfa drugs) will likely be far more valuable. As will solar-power sources, and tools or techniques to keep a refrigerator or freezer running overnight might become very valuable. If the SHTF, refineries won't be working, gas won't be delivered, etc., etc.

If ammo is bartered, it might pay to have a small inventory of .45 GAP, 10mm, .40, and some .357 SIG on hand, too, as there'll be lot of guns out there without anything to run... I suspect folks will be willing to pay a premium to get it!

 

[Lsc8]

It would have to be chea and I'd want to be set up to reload.

 

[Kosh75287]

I bought a Star Firestar in .40 S&W when they came out, because it was as small or smaller than many compact 9x19s, but was chambered for a cartridge far more likely to be an effective fight stopper than the 9x19mm. I had to sell it for rent, or I'd still have it.

If I could find a .45 GAP that worked like a Firestar, and was no bigger, I might get one. But it'd be a very special-application firearm.

 

[tuckerdog1]

That would be a "NO"

 

[Yankee Doodle]

.45 GAP....The ultimate answer to a question nobody ever asked.
NO

 

[Deja vu]

Nope.

Wouldn't buy a gun chambered for .357 Sig.

Wouldn't buy a gun chambered for .41 Action Express.

Wouldn't buy a gun chambered for .45 Win Mag.

Would buy a semi-auto chambered for .357 Mag: Coonan. If I had the money...

Why? Ammo availability

I agree the 357 magnum has a huge variety of bullet weights available for it. Commercially any thing from 110 to 200 grains is easily found. I have loaded as light as 70 grain round 000 buck round ball all the way to 250 grain subsonic from a rife 358 lead rifle bullet loaded in to 38 special brass. Its doing about 900 FPS from my Coonan and about 1050 from my Ruger 77/357

 

[Wishoot]

If the price were right (read CHEAP), why not.

 

[Glenn E. Meyer]

Yeah, I go with really cheap - why not? And cheap ammo!

I do remember during the last crisis, there was 327 and GAP on the Cabela shelves and nothing else.

 

[Fishbed77]

Nope.

At this point, I'm limiting my semi-auto pistols chamberings to .22LR, 9mm, and .45ACP.

I can't think of anything I need to do that I can't with those three rounds (in fact, the .45ACP is a bit superfluous, but I just like 1911s).