Best Police Trade-In Pistols to Buy in 2026

Why there are so many trade-ins

Agencies replace pistols on a schedule, and every time they do, hundreds or thousands of used duty guns go back through distributors. The biggest recent wave came from the move away from .40 S&W. The FBI awarded Glock a 9mm contract in 2016, switching from the .40-caliber Glocks it had issued since 1997, and many agencies followed the same path. Their .40 pistols came back onto the market as trade-ins.

That history is why .40 trade-ins are so common, and why they tend to be the models agencies bought in bulk. This list covers the trade-ins you are most likely to find and what to check on each. It is an editorial guide built from manufacturer information and published sources; we have not inspected or fired specific trade-in guns. For the .357 SIG Glocks specifically, see our .357 SIG trade-in guide.

Quick picks

1. Glock 22 and Glock 23: the default trade-in

The Glock 22 is the full-size .40 S&W Glock and the Glock 23 its compact counterpart. They were bought in enormous numbers, so trade-ins are common, and parts, holsters and armorers are everywhere.

• Best for: Someone who wants the simplest pistol to maintain and the widest holster selection.
• Skip if: You strongly prefer 9mm and do not want to deal with a barrel swap; caliber conversions are an armorer-level decision, so get professional advice before considering one.
• What to check: Generation markings (Gen3 and Gen4 trade-ins are most common), recoil spring condition, finish wear inside the slide, and whether the night sights still glow.

Fresh magazines are cheap insurance. The Glock magazine category covers the .40 family, including factory G22/35 Gen5 .40 magazines. For a new-production comparison, the Glock 22 Gen5 is still listed. Our Glock 22 Gen5 review covers what changed.

2. Sig P226 and P229: the hammer-gun trade-in

The P226 and its compact sibling the P229 have served with agencies and special units for decades: Navy SEAL teams adopted the P226 in the 1980s, and agencies such as the Secret Service and Texas Rangers have issued them in .357 SIG. They were also widely issued in .40 S&W and 9mm. They are double-action/single-action pistols with a decocker: a long first trigger pull, then lighter single-action shots.

• Best for: Shooters who like a hammer gun, a decocker and a metal frame.
• Skip if: You want an optics-ready slide or a light, simple striker gun.
• What to check: Rail and frame wear, decocker function, hammer and trigger reset, grip panel condition, and springs. Note the country of manufacture; older Sigs came from Germany.

Sig Sauer magazines for the classic P-series are widely available; confirm the exact model and caliber before ordering, since full-size and compact Sig magazines differ in length and capacity.

3. Smith & Wesson M&P40: grip fit on a budget

Many agencies adopted the first-generation M&P in .40 S&W, and those guns now show up as trade-ins. The M&P ships with interchangeable grip inserts, and its grip fits many hands well.

• Best for: Shooters whose hands do not suit a Glock grip.
• Skip if: You want the M2.0 trigger and texture; the first-generation gun is a different pistol in feel.
• What to check: Trigger reset, sear and striker condition, whether the grip inserts are included, and whether a magazine disconnect or manual safety is installed, since agency configurations vary.

Spare M&P .40 15-round factory magazines and the broader M&P magazine category are easy to find.

4. Beretta 92-pattern pistols: the soft-shooting 9mm

The Beretta 92 is the long-serving DA/SA 9mm that the U.S. armed forces adopted as the M9 in 1985. Police versions turn up in trade-in batches, often as 92FS or 92G (decock-only) configurations.

• Best for: A full-size 9mm with mild recoil and a long service history.
• Skip if: You have small hands; the grip is large.
• What to check: The locking block, slide and frame for cracks, decocker function, and recoil spring condition. The locking block is a stressed part on any heavily used 92, so ask an armorer to check it.

Beretta 92/M9 magazines remain easy to source, including factory 92FS 15-round magazines.

Trade-in or new: an honest comparison

A trade-in is not automatically the smart buy. Weigh it against a new pistol the same way you would a used car.

• Trade-ins win on history (most were carried far more than fired), proven duty configurations with night sights, and the chance to own a model that is no longer made the same way, such as a German-made P226.
• New pistols win on known condition, a full factory warranty, current features like optic cuts and improved triggers, and usually 9mm instead of .40.
• Hidden costs on a trade-in: new magazines, springs, possibly night sights, and an armorer inspection. Add those before comparing.

If you want a red dot, most trade-ins are the wrong starting point, because older duty slides were rarely cut for optics. Milling a slide is a gunsmith job with its own cost and warranty questions. If optics are on your list, an optic-ready new pistol is usually the simpler path.

How to inspect a trade-in

Treat a trade-in like any used pistol, with extra attention to the parts duty life wears out.

1. Clear it first. Remove the magazine, lock the slide back, and visually and physically check the chamber and magazine well. Then check again.
2. Read the finish. Holster wear on the slide edges and muzzle is cosmetic and normal. Pitting, rust or heavy wear inside the slide, on the rails or around the breech face is not.
3. Check the barrel. Look for a clean bore, intact rifling and no bulges, and check the crown for damage.
4. Function-check unloaded. Slide lock, magazine release, trigger reset, decocker if fitted, and the firing pin or striker safety per the maker's procedure. Our function check guide walks through a duty routine.
5. Look at the sights. Tritium dims over time. Many trade-ins need new night sights.
6. Plan for springs. Recoil springs, magazine springs and sometimes other springs are reasonable to replace on a gun with unknown history.
7. Have an armorer look. For any gun you will carry, a trained armorer inspection is worth it.

Magazines, ammo and holsters

Trade-in packages often include old magazines with tired springs. Buy fresh factory magazines and mark the old ones for practice only.

If you buy a .40 trade-in, make sure you can get practice and carry ammunition where you live; .40 S&W availability is generally good, but check your usual sources. If you go with a 9mm Beretta, a practice round like Blazer Brass 9mm 124 gr FMJ is easy to match to a duty load.

Holsters for Glock 22 and 23 trade-ins usually match G17 and G19 holsters of the same generation; check the maker's fit list, especially for light-bearing designs.

Legal and paperwork notes

A trade-in is still a firearm transfer. Buy through a licensed dealer and follow federal, state and local laws on purchase, capacity and transport. Some states restrict magazine capacity or specific models, so trade-in packages may ship with reduced-capacity magazines in those states. Laws vary and change; check yours before buying.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.