Why did the 45 GAP/M37 Glock not catch on ?

[Todd.K]

I expect to see more broken parts and a narrower operating window with the fit 40 into a 9mm sized gun. Not a gun blowing up because the chamber is too thin but a shorter service life.

G22 Gen3 problems are why we have a Gen4. Gen4 doesn't share the same RSA in 9mm and 40 do they?

Several other designs that have come out AFTER the 40, do seem to be a bit chunkier to me as well.

[RAM Engineer]

I think a G37-sized pistol chambered in .40 would be a hoot of a gun.

[Mrgunsngear]

I love the G37 personally.

smooth recoil
cheap if it's a trade in
most people don't shoot enough for ammo cost to matter
during the Clinton ban it *sort of* made sense for folks that prefer bigger bore loads

[steelcore]

It's an oddball caliber and ultimately how popular a gun or caliber will become is how well it's embraced by Agencies/ consumers. The way I looked at it is ammunition wasn't commonly available like 45acp and more expensive with limited loads. It wasn't picked up by a variety of popular gun manufacturers. Ballistically what big advantage did it have over say 45acp+P? A handful of agencies adopted it and how many are left that still issue it? I don't have what I consider large hands and never had trouble with 45 sized frames and the big selling point was.supposed be the smaller size. The Military, big Federal agencies, State, local agencies, and civilians didn't buy into the idea of the 45 Gap.
It basically never got off the ground, almost nobody wanted it or had any interest. It happens, sometimes you get a home run and sometimes you strike out. It just was never meant to be.

[Firefly]

Well ya see it was the early 2000s and ecstasy was making a comeback...

[ARx3]

I've owned 45 GAP pistols since October 2003. My wife and I have all three models as well as the Gen 4 G 37. The are accurate and the 9mm size frame fits our hand size better.My G38 is great for CC and with 8+1 rounds of 230 HST I don't feel any more unprepared than I do with my 1911.We have used them in GSSF / IDPA matches since 2003. Most people have never actually had any hands on or shot a GAP pistol, but most of the people that have shot our pistols have commented the low perceived recoil and its' accuracy. Is it better than 45 ACP,no but it is every bit its' equal in performance. The bottom picture was shot offhand at 20 yds with my G38 and 230 HST. If you buy ammo in bulk online it's not any more than 45ACP. YMMV

[MadAngler1]

Just perusing the 2018 Glock catalog and I wonder why the 45 GAP ( Glock Auto Pistol ) cartridge / Model 37,38,39
never really caught on ?
It really was a great idea, 1/2" goodness in a Model 17 size frame.
I just don't see them, don't know anyone who owns one.

What does 45 GAP do that .45 ACP, 9 mm or .40 S&W don’t do with defensive rounds? Same goes for .357 Sig. Heck, .38 Super is a better load in the 1911, but 9 mm is here to stay unfortunately.

[sundance435]

If I had been running the show, Glock would have made a single stack 9mm right after they introduced the G17 to the U.S. market, and a single-stack .45 right after they introduced the G21.

I have large hands and just don't like the way the G21 feels. It is simply too big for a lot of folks.

As a brand that's original focus was on LEO in the U.S. it was short-sighted not to address the issue of smaller hands in their initial offerings.

I'd be all over a 10 round Glock 41 or 21 with the frame sized accordingly. It could compete directly with the cheaper 1911s and 2011s, too. I really don't know why they haven't done something like that. Not like there's a lot of R&D investment going into something like that and it would be a legitimate 1911 competitor.

[ViniVidivici]

They haven't because once again, they are a business, and everything they do or don't do is based on market projections, sales, etc.

They have so much coming in from LE and .mil sales, worldwide, they still don't need to innovate as much as some other companies do, to stay profitable.

Again, look how long they took with things like interchangeable backstraps, the G42/G43/G48, etc.

[26 Inf]

Vvv, your observations are spot on.