Police Trade In Guns | Sig Sauer P229 .40 S&W

Police Trade In Guns At-A-Glance

• Police trade-in guns are former law enforcement firearms sold when departments upgrade
• Most show cosmetic wear, but limited internal use
• Popular brands include Glock, Smith & Wesson, and SIG Sauer
• Prices are typically 20–40% lower than new equivalents
• Ideal for buyers who value reliability over cosmetics

Related: Gun Laws by State

Are Police Trade In Guns a Smart Buy?

Police trade-in guns have become one of the most reliable ways for buyers to get duty-grade firearms at a lower price. These are service pistols and rifles previously issued to law enforcement agencies and later sold off when departments upgrade or rotate inventory.

For many buyers, the appeal is obvious: reputable brands, known maintenance schedules, and prices that are often hundreds less than new models. But trade-ins also come with questions, about wear, longevity, reliability, and whether the savings are truly worth it.

This guide breaks down what police trade-in guns really are, how they’re used, what condition to expect, and whether they make sense for everyday carry, home defense, or range use.

In This Article:

• Sig Sauer P229
• Price
• Condition
• Magazine
• Trigger
• Feel/Concealability
• Sights

Sig Sauer P229

This is usually prompted by a department changing from .40 to a different caliber or just updating their armory. From there, these used guns are made available to the public through a variety of online retailers, gun shops, and law enforcement-specific shops. For a number of reasons, likely the high volume of trade-ins, these handguns are a very cost-effective option for adding a full-size .40 to your collection.

We will share some of the most relevant features and shortcomings that were discovered by research and owner interviews. Specifically, the police trade-in that we have hands-on time with was a Sig Sauer P229. It's a trade-in from the St. Paul Police Department, purchased at Streichers, an LEO specialty shop.

Price

A low-priced handgun is usually suspicious, especially with budget handguns like HiPoint, Taurus, and others. Most discerning gun owners have already realized that quality does not come cheap. Also, why have successful manufacturers generated such a strong following? The biggest draw that these police trade-ins for sale have is their low price. Starting at $150+ off MSRP, these Sig Sauers, Smith & Wessons, and Glocks are selling well below their value. The low price is likely due to a variety of factors, especially the high volume of these handguns flooding the market and the low overall demand because most gun buyers aren’t aware of these trade-ins.

Condition

The gun was purchased with this notch in the magazine well.

If there is one thing that I’ve noticed in the transition from the military, contracting world to the civilian world is how firearms maintenance is conducted. Simply due to the wide variety of gun owners, there is no way to guarantee that a used gun was properly maintained. Most professionals, including law enforcement, religiously clean their issued firearms. Doing so regularly ensures the operability and longevity of these guns.

Besides the maintenance, these firearms were likely to have only been shot for practice and range qualification. With a significantly lower round count than an average-used civilian handgun, the police trade-in is likely to have less overall use as well. Some cosmetic imperfections like holster wear and a unique notch on the bottom of the magazine well on this particular P229, are expected but really do not affect the gun’s overall operability and usability.

Magazine

Checking the spring tension by pushing on the follower can be a good test for wear.

As most gun owners know, it is a good practice to rotate magazines to reduce wear on the magazine spring. For any number of reasons, this particular Sig Sauer magazine has a soft feel to the follower. This being pure conjecture, it is likely that the previous owner kept the same magazine loaded for an extended period of time, resulting in the lower follower pressure. As mentioned in a previous article, it is generally a best practice to purchase at least one new magazine when buying any firearm, new or used. Especially, in this case, this is a low-cost way to ensure one of the more vulnerable parts of a firearms platform is in top working condition.

Trigger

In both double-action and single-action, the P229 trigger is remarkably smooth. The heavy 10 lb pull in double action ensures that purposeful direct pressure is required to activate the trigger. Without a safety, this initial long and heavy pull in double action is one of the passive safety features on the Sig.

Once in single action, it only takes 4.4 lbs of pressure to activate the trigger. The single action also reels the mechanical void (slack) in the trigger, allowing for quicker trigger reset. After several years of shooting the P229, it appears that the trigger feel is largely responsible for the incredibly tight groups that an average shooter can deliver with this handgun.

Feel/Concealability

Deciding on whether a double-stack .40 is a good concealed carry gun for you should be a well-thought-out decision. Shooting it quickly reveals how comfortable a 1.5” wide handgun can actually be. The combination of the ergonomic grip angle and smooth trigger pull works in tandem to give lower muzzle rise for more accurate follow-on shots. Despite its wide frame, there is a wide variety of well-made holsters, like the Crossbreed Super Tuck, that are increasingly more efficient at concealing and securing the P229.

For most medium to large-framed people, this is a relatively easy-to-conceal firearm. With the right inside-the-waistband holster like the aforementioned Crossbreed, even smaller-framed individuals can comfortably carry the P229. Even if you don’t intend to carry the P229, it is still a great addition to your home defense collection.

Last update on 2026-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Sights

Most stock handguns come with the standard 3-dot sights, not very often with the night sights. Even if you did decide to pick up a set of aftermarket sights, that can be an investment ranging from $70 to $110+. Despite that investment, installing your own aftermarket sights doesn’t always justify a higher resale price. However, the P229 and most other police trade-ins come with upgraded tritium night sights. In the contexts of both concealed carry and home defense, night sights are one thing that can give you the tactical edge when you need it most.

Watch this video by TAC TACTICAL for a review of a Police trade-in P229:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL77K0BERas

Why Police Trade-In Guns Hold Their Value

Police trade-in guns aren’t budget firearms. They’re professional tools that were selected for reliability, durability, and performance under real conditions. While they often show holster wear or minor cosmetic marks, most have been fired far less than civilian-owned guns.

Departments maintain their firearms regularly, and many trade-ins come from officers who carried them daily but rarely fired them outside of qualification training. That combination of professional maintenance and limited round counts is what keeps demand high.

For buyers who prioritize function, brand reputation, and value, police trade-in guns remain one of the smartest options on the market.

Last update on 2026-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Know What You’re Getting Before You Buy

If you’re considering a police trade-in firearm, research matters. Condition varies, return policies differ, and understanding what normal wear looks like can prevent disappointment.

👉 Bookmark GunCarrier for honest firearm buying guides, police trade-in updates, and real-world ownership advice, so you can buy with confidence, not guesswork.

What can you say about police trade-in guns? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 18, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

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