Great Time to Buy LEO Trade-In's

Gov't waste!

Having worked for the Federal Gov't for over 40 years, first in the military then as a FED LE, it is unbelivable how many decisions of a technical nature are determined by bussiness school graduates. When weapons are purchased, usually there is an overage also for example you have 300 officers so you buy 330-350 weapons. Most of the time around 50 are sent to the range for qualification. Then it's determined by the above pencil pushers that 9mm is cheaper than 40s&w and Glock will sell you replacement weapons with lifetime guarentees for half of what you spent on you SIGs so they get dumped on the market to "save the cost of ammo". Of course the original cost of buying the SIGs is sought of forgotten. Also you need to replace all of your holsters and mag carriers and write new training programs all of which cost as well. So in the transition to the new "cheaper wonder round" a hidden cost is incurred that will take years to offset. But what the heck it's not their money, right?
 
I wouldn't mind a trade-in .40 as a car gun, but for used, my limit would be 50% of new retail for the less desirable caliber. Probably just stick with 9mm and .45.

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The more I've experienced forty caliber, the more it has become the most desirable caliber, among 9mm and .45auto.

I really do enjoy all three of these calibers, .45auto, .40S&W, and 9mm. But when it comes down to picking just one for defensive use, .40S&W is my top choice.

Those who cavalierly write-off forty caliber are missing out on a great caliber that blends hard hitting potency with high capacity and easy-shootability. All that's needed is a platform that is well designed for forty (that doesn't include the G23 or the G22, in my view) and choosing 180 gr. defense and practice loads.

M&P40, SIG P320, HK VP40, Walther PPQ 40, SIG 229, Browning HiPower 40... these are the platforms that make forty a soft-shooting pleasure combining the awesome performance of 180 gr. HST loads with high capacity.

The Glock forties, in my opinion, especially shooting 155 gr and 165 gr defense loads, are the pistols which really earned the description "snappy".

Shoot a G23 back-to-back with a P320 40 Compact or an M&P40 or M&P40 Compact, with the same ammo, and this all becomes quite clear. Forty is a very desirable and easy-to-shoot caliber, when you choose the right platform and load.
 
Law enforcement agencies are dumping the .40 in droves. Here in Texas I've seen .40 M&P's from the Atlanta PD on shelves for sale. If you like .40 it's probably a real opportune time to grab one.
 
The same reasons many LE switched to .40 years ago are just as valid today as they were when first adopted. One of the main reasons for the shift to 9 is it's easier to shoot well as a general rule across the wide spectrum of users.
 
If a police officer can't easily shoot 180 gr HST with an M&P40, they're grossly physically unfit for the job. This is a very soft-shooting and easily controlled combination of pistol and caliber. It is more expensive to buy ammo for, however, than 9mm which is a motivator to agency bean counters.

I can see why agencies would move away from 165 gr defense loads in Glock forties; this is a particularly snappy combination of ammo and pistol choice.

Budgetary considerations is the biggest motivator for agencies going to 9mm. And greater ease of shooting by weak individuals is a motivator for 9mm, if the choice of platforms is Glock.

The reason to choose .40S&W is as sound today as ever - it combines a hard hitting caliber with high capacity and soft-shooting (when fired with M&P, SIG, or HK). And Federal's 180 gr HST is an absolutely superb, hard-hitting performer.
 
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The .40 is very effective out on the ranch. Reloaders can really find some dream loads with it too. Then of course, there is the 10mm, but nowhere the off the shelf availability.
 
Sgt. Pepper - you are so right; .40S&W is an awesome caliber, especially for reloaders, where you can tailor a great range of loads for different purposes. And .40S&W is exceptionally wide-spread in terms of various pistol offerings, something which is, unfortunately, not true of 10mm.

Not long ago people were crowing that 10mm was dying (not that it was ever very widely used). But today, it is increasing in presence.

In spite of the large spike in sales of pocket pistols and 9mm (driven by the huge increase in citizen concealed carry), .40S&W will remain a widely-used, common, and mainstream defense caliber for many, many years to come.

Sales of .45auto and .40S&W pistols and ammunition will not be as high as 9mm, but these three will remain the most common and mainstream of pistol calibers, by far.

Agencies trade in their pistols regularly and have done so, regardless of caliber, for many years. They will continue to do so. Many agencies will go to 9mm to lower their ammunition costs and dumb-down to the lowest common denominator of shooter capability, but .40S&W isn't going away by any means.

I doubt that very many here on the forum have bought or fired .38 special, .357 magnum, or .44 magnum in a long time, if ever! Yet, those calibers are still extremely readily available and will continue to be. .40S&W is dramatically more popular and common than .38 special or .357 magnum.
 
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Bud's has LEO trade-ins under the used guns section. A few months back they had unissued M&P40 and 40C from Detroit PD for 399 including 3 mags and night sights. I picked up a few and couldn't be happier when I unboxed the brand new guns! They still have used ones on the site as well.
 
Bud's has LEO trade-ins under the used guns section. A few months back they had unissued M&P40 and 40C from Detroit PD for 399 including 3 mags and night sights. I picked up a few and couldn't be happier when I unboxed the brand new guns! They still have used ones on the sight as well.
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Awesome choices. The M&P40 and M&P40C (I have both, among my .40S&W pistols) are among the best pistols chambered in .40S&W. Very soft shooting and quite enjoyable. And, they're not particularly high priced either. I just picked up a second M&P40C, brand new with night sights, on sale for $379.

Combining heavier-weight bullet performance (180 gr HST) with capacity nearly as high as 9mm, and with easy, enjoyable, soft-shooting qualities - .40S&W has become my top choice in defense calibers. I still shoot and enjoy .45auto and, to a lesser degree, 9mm - but .40S&W is my #1 and .45auto is my #2. 9mm is not a bad choice, by any means, but still falls to the #3 spot for me.

With the major shift in politics for our country (thank the Lord!) we are going to enjoy low prices and plentiful choices for quite some time to come (unless you live in hard-core liberal states, and if you do, I extend my sympathies).
 
I'm with DHART. I love my 1911. Had it for over 40 years. I first shot one in early '71 and bought it when I got home. It definitely is a people stopper.
Had my 9 for over 30 years. Fun to shoot the 9 but was never my defense caliber of choice. More of a plinking gun\round for me.
My Sig 40? Only had it a few months and I find the 1911 and 9 just sit in the safe while I shoot the 40.
Same goes with my daughter. She learned on my 1911. With all the upcoming laws we have here she decided to get her own handgun (soon we cant loan handguns anymore) and compared the 38, 357, 9, 40 and 45 (1911) and bought a Sig 40 earlier this year.
She's 5'2"\120 lbs and found the 9 too anemic for her and it was firing her Sig that made me want one too.

It's fast becoming my choice for a defensive round. It and the Sig that is. I've got some time and rounds to put into it to become as "familiar" with it as the 1911 but that will come. I'll probably pick up a matching Sig in 9 to cut the costs down a bit until it all becomes muscle memory again and then sell the 9.

If we could have picked up a couple of Sig trade ins we would have saved a TON of money!!!
 
Xcc rider... great choice for .40S&W - the SIGs. Try the 180 gr loads for it - they have that more enjoyable "push" recoil feel rather than the "snap" recoil feel of the 165 gr defense loads.

As for SIG, I'm quite impressed with the SIG P320 40. So much so that my first P320 40 Full size has been joined by three more (now: full size in 40, carry size in 40, full size in 9, and compact size in 9). With the modularity of the P320 - I can swap around all the grip frames with both calibers and slides/barrels.

My favorite for shooting is the full size - that 4.7" slide/barrel is a dream for accurate distance shooting and follow up shots are exceptionally quick and easy.



For carry, I most often choose the compact 40.
 
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Nice SIG's! Gotta wait until tax return time to get my next one. :( Then it's time to look for a new CCW for when I'm not in Kalyforrnya.
Right now I need to purchase my evil Kalyforrnya "assault weapon" before they get over regulated in January. :eek:
 
Thanks rider. Do whatever you gotta do to keep one step ahead of those liberal nazis that dominate Commiefornia. And when you get fed up with them, we'll welcome you over here in the beautiful State of Arizona - the state with the most gun freedoms in the entire country! I spent more than the first half of my life in California and it's a beautiful state, but now I'm SO glad to be free of the liberal mindset that prevails there. I've gotten to the point where I simply can't stand being around liberals; they really do suck.
 
SDF880... right with ya, buddy. In fact, I've given up a couple of long term friendships over their liberal mindset - I won't tolerate it and the belief system that drives it, anymore. The conservative philosophy is such a fundamental, elemental thing that is of critical importance in the grand scheme of things here in the USA. Liberal agenda is poison to the core values of this nation. Guess I'd better get back to topic now...

LEO trade ins are an awesome opportunity to pick up some great pistols at great prices.
 
Lamarw, The cities you cite are rather small in population and consequently the size of the PD would be reflected in that base. It is a lot easier for a department of 30-40 officers to change policy than departments in cities of 100 and more thousand persons. A change of caliber would need more than " the FBI did it so it must be good" as it is realized today the FBI has not a clue as to a satisfactory all around LE pistol is as they vacillate from one pistol / caliber to another.
I like the 9mm over the .40 but I personally do not belive there is a mass LE exodus to change from current .40 to 9mm pistols. If the " market is flooded with .40's I would believe it is a normal recycling of worn merchandise and if transitioning to a new brand is involved they probably would maintain the same caliber unless given overwhelming evidence something else is better. I have been in that position and can speak from experience.
 
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