Average Joe's Handgun Reviews

Glock Model 38 .45 GAP

OK, I know what you are saying:

1. “A .45 GAP, has he lost his mind?”

2. “It’s an obsolete cartridge. “

3. “It serves no purpose.”

4. “Ammunition is too expensive.”

5. “Ammunition is too hard to find.”

6. “The round is not as good as the .45 ACP”

My responses:

1. “"A .45 GAP, has he lost his mind?” Under advice from counsel I am respectfully invoking my rights under the 5^th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America and refusing to answer that question on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me.

2. “"It’s an obsolete cartridge." Hardly. There are enough police agencies using it (and happily so) to keep it around. The major players are:

a. Fulton County Georgia SWAT

b. Georgia State Patrol

c. Louisiana Office of State Parks

d. Huntington Park, CA. P.D.

e. Denver, CO. P.D.

f. Vanderburg County Indiana Sheriff’s Office

g. New York State Police

h. Pennsylvania State Police

i. South Carolina Highway Patrol

3. “"It serves no purpose.” Yes it does. The purpose of the .45 GAP was to provide a shorter .45 semi-automatic cartridge that would allow the pistols that chamber it to have a reduced grip making the pistol more ergonomic to people with smaller hands. Now you may claim that the venerable 1911’s grip isn’t that large and, being a 1911 lover, I am not going to argue that point. What I will remind you is that much of the world is shooting polymer pistols and those folks have moved on from the 1911. (I do not disparage the 1911—I’ve got a real honey coming up for review soon.)

4. “"Ammunition is too expensive.” What ammunition isn’t too expensive these days? In fact, I have found many a gun or sporting goods shop that hasn’t bothered to take any price increases on their .45 GAP ammo over the last two years.

5. “"Ammunition is too hard to find.” Is it as popular as the .22 Long Rifle? No, of course not, you might have to look, but it is available.

6. “"The round is not as good as the .45 ACP” Yawn…look at the ballistics tables imported from Guns & Ammo and tell me where the disparity lies:

AMMUNITION BALLISTICS FOR: .45 GAP

	BULLET			BARREL LENGTH	VELOCITY (fps)		ENERGY		30 yd. MIDRANGE
CARTRIDGE	WT.	TYPE	MFG	(INCHES)	MUZZ.	50 YDS.	MUZZ.	50 YDS.	TRAIL
.45 GAP	185	JSP	(W)	5	1000	938	411	361	1.1
	185	JHP	(F)	5	1090	970	490	385	1.0
	185	JHP	(C)	4	1030	942	436	364	0.9
	185	FMJ	(F)	5	1090	970	490	385	1.0
	185	FMJ	(C)	4	1030	930	436	355	1.1
	200	JHP	(C)	4	950	895	401	355	1.0
	200	FMJ	(C)	4	920	853	376	323	1.1
	230	JHP	(W)	5	880	842	396	363	1.1
	230	FMJ	(W)	5	850	834	369	338	1.2
	230	LF	(W)	5	875	840	391	360	1.1

AMMUNITION BALLISTICS FOR: .45 Auto

	BULLET			BARREL LENGTH	VELOCITY (fps)		ENERGY		30 yd. MIDRANGE
CARTRIDGE	WT.	TYPE	MFG	(INCHES)	MUZZ.	50 YDS.	MUZZ.	50 YDS.	TRAIL
	185	JHP	(C)	5	1050	956	453	375	1.1
	185	FMJ	(C)	5	1000	909	411	339	1.0
	185	FMJ	(W)	5	910	861	340	304	1.4
	185	FMJ	(F)	5	780	700	245	200	2.0
	200	JHP	(C)	5	1080	994	518	439	0.9
	200	JHP	(C)	5	975	917	421	372	1.4
	200	FMJ	(C)	5	975	897	422	357	1.0
	230	JHP	(S)	5	850	814	369	338	1.6
	230	JHP	(S)	5	835	800	356	326	1.6
	230	FMJ	(S)	5	845	804	363	329	1.6
	230	FMJ	(S)	5	830	795	352	323	1.7

So, for those of you with an open mind, let’s continue:

Glock Model 38 At-A-Glance

Handling	Terrible	Poor	Acceptable	Good	Excellent
Fit & Finish	Terrible	Rough	Acceptable	Good	Excellent
Sights	None	Too Small	Useable	Good	Excellent
Trigger	Terrible	Poor	Acceptable	Good	Excellent
Power Scale	.22LR	.380 ACP	9mm	.40 S&W	.45 ACCP
Carry/Concealment	Too Large	Compact	Ultra Compact	Micro Compact	Pocket Pistol
Reliability	Unreliable	Somewhat Reliable	Fair	OK	Completely Reliable
Accuracy	Poor	Fair	Acceptable	Combat	Bullseye

The Glock model 38 is the Compact model so the specifications should come as no surprise to anyone who is familiar with the Glock compact frame. Yet, something was amiss and I didn’t realize it until I tried to slip the G38 into a holster. The Glock website and printed catalogues at the gun shop gave the G38 the same dimensions as the 9mm G19 and the .40 S&W G23. However it is a little wider. I didn’t notice it at the store but when I got home and tried to put the G38 into my Blackhawk Serpa holster designed for the G19 & 23 she just wouldn’t go! Same for every other Kydex or leather G19/23 holster I had on hand save this attractive paddle holster from Galco. While designated for a G19 the leather was just pliable enough for the wider G38:

The G38 also fit perfectly in my favorite ballistic nylon holster, the DeSantis “Tuck This”.

Specifications

Caliber	.45 GAP
Capacity	8 + 1
Action	Double Action Only
Trigger Pull	5.5 Pounds
Length	6.85 inches
Height	5 inches
Width	1.18 inch
Barrel Length	4.02 inches
Weight	24.16 Ounces

Let’s examine the individual characteristics of the Glock Model 38:

Handling	Terrible	Poor	Acceptable	Good	Excellent

Reviewing a Glock is not something you are going to undertake if you are trying to be popular as there are two types of gun people out there: those who love Glocks and those who don't. However, to be true to myself I have to say that I find Glocks to handle excellently. Not all people take to them right away (I was one of them) but, given shooting time (and an IDPA match or a Tactical Pistol Class) and you will begin to realize the beauty and simplicity of the Glock. It took a little while to get used to the angle of the grip as Glocks have more of an angle that a 1911 pistol. However, one notices pretty quickly that they point on target pretty well, you don't have to fumble (and possibly forget) to engage or disengage a safety or decocker lever, the sights are good right out of the box, and the trigger is the same on each pull. I know a shooter in Arizona who swears by his 10mm Glock Model 2o. He keeps it stoked with some hot, high performance ammo from Double Tap and is well protected whether an attacker has 2 legs, four legs, or 4 wheels.

One of the modifications I make to all of my Glocks is to have an extended slide release put on. I was delighted to see that, on this model Glock had already realized the improvement this would make in handling the pistol and were good enough to make this standard on the G38.

Fit & Finish	Terrible	Rough	Acceptable	Good	Excellent

Fit & Finish...OK the fit and finish is...well...very Glock-like. Glocks are kind of like the Ford Model T of handguns. Their fit is always the same and you can have one finished in any color you want as long as it is black. Glocks are not beautiful collectible pieces, barbecue guns, a canvas for engravers, or a safe queen. Their purpose is to even the odds when the chips are down, in fact the Glock may tip the odds in your favor. It is designed, built, and finished for combat, plain and simple.

Sights	None	Too Small	Useable	Good	Excellent

Glock sights are very visible right out of the box, however they are not night sights so that is on the only other alteration I will make to a standard Glock. The regular out-of-the box sights are good, night sights are excellent.

Trigger	Terrible	Poor	Acceptable	Good	Excellent

The trigger is one of the most maligned features of the Glock but again, once you spend some time practicing with it you will appreciate the simplicity and the fantastic trigger reset the Glock offers. I can work the trigger of a Glock faster than any other pistol I have every shot.

Power Scale	.22LR	.380 ACP	9mm	.40 S&W	.45 ACP/GAP

It's a .45. You've heard me say that enough in past reviews. Since 1910 (when the military tested it) the .45 semi-automatic pistol has been the standard for accuracy and stopping ability that the rest of the cartridge world tries to live up to.

Carry/Concealment	Too Large	Compact	Ultra Compact	Micro Compact	Pocket Pistol

The G38 is built on Glock's compact frame. With a good inside-the-waistband holster it is concealable under most shirts. I like the DeSantis "Tuck This" holster which holds both the pistol and your reload. http://www.desantisholster.com:80/storefrontB2CWEB/itemdetail.do?action=prepare_detail&itm_id=10961&itm_index=0

Reliability	Unreliable	Somewhat Reliable	Fair	OK	Completely Reliable

Are you kidding me? It's a Glock. Some might argue that "Glock" is Austrian slang for "reliable". Reliability is a hallmark of the Glock platform.

Accuracy	Poor	Fair	Acceptable	Combat	Bullseye

I have found the G38 to be one of the easiest and most forgiving pistols in my battery. The accuracy is excellent. Better than standard combat accuracy and almost to the level of a bullseye championship level, but the proof is in the the targets so here they are. Ammo used was 230 grain ball from either Mag Tec or Winchester and some were shot using Speer 185 grain Gold Dot Hollowpoint ammo.

21 feet

1st and 2nd 25 rounds out of the box

8 rounds of Winchester 230 grain FMJ

16 rounds of Mag Tech 230 grain FMJ

Nine rounds of Speer 185 grain Gold Dot Hollowpoint

31 Feet

(The Best One Shot Group I Every Fired)

50 feet

17 rounds at 75 feet:

The Glock Model 38 has earned it "go bag" status for middle of the night issues. She sits next to my bed in a small shoulder bag with 3 spare loaded magazines, a fully charged cell phone, and a 210 lumen Browning LED tactical flashlight. I sleep very well at night.