3913 LEO and CO trade in quality

[VTHokiesDuckHunter]

What is the general consensus on the quality of LEO and CO (corrections officer- maybe kind of redundant!) trade-ins?

I've never purchased one but am now looking for a 3913 and am seeing a lot of clean looking trade-ins available for around $400. Most look like they haven't been shot much, and with the amount of holster wear one would expect.

I had always thought that LEO's would put a lot of rounds through a gun, but my best friend and hunting/fly-fishing partner is a local cop and his biggest beef is that many of the other cops he works with almost never do any range time, and in fact the chief makes it hard for them to hit the range more than once or twice a year!

His opinion is that a lot of LEO trade in's probably have less rounds fired through them than civilian trade ins.

One of the local shops here has several Ohio Corrections Dept. trade-ins and their gunsmith says they are in very good condition.

Obviously I'd rather find a NIB/LNIB 3913 if the price is not too high - but in the mean time are the LEO trade-ins generally a good way to go? (I'd of course do the standard inspection of any used gun).

Thanks for your opinions-

 

[dsink]

Most of them have been carried alot and shot very little. Most LEOs will only fire there weapon 1 time each year when they have to qualify. Its ashame to becouse you would think that if someone relied on a handgun to save there life they would practice with it all they could..

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

I agree that they are generally carried a lot and shot a little (except for guns used by special units like SWAT). I know the local PD only used to qualify twice a year when I worked for them, but that was 11 years ago.
As long as you aren't expecting a showpiece and they are mechanically sound, former police pistols are generally a good buy IMO.

 

[deanodog]

I have bought and traded for a good many trade-in pistols and revolvers and never did have one that had a problem mechanically. I consider them a good bargain snce they are generally cheaper for what you get. Here are a bunch of trade-ins I have now.

 

[steamloco76]

I've posted this in a couple other threads on 3913's- I just acquired a Boston PD trade 3913 for $375. The pistol still pretty attractive and boy does it shoot! I put 200 rounds of different ammo through it without any issues. I also printed the best combat groups I've ever shot with a 9MM with the 3913.

Snap one up for a good price while you can. Makes a fantastic carry piece. Not to big, not too small, not too heavy and 9 rounds of 9MM JHP.

 

[mlk18]

As an LEO I can assure you most of the agency owned guns in my part of the world are carried often and shot often. I am not sure where this belief came from other than maybe some big city PD's. We have few guns in the armory with less than 15,000+ rounds down the pipe (and they are all about 8 years old). A new Officer will shoot no less than 2,500 rounds his first year alone. That being said, shot a lot does not mean trades ins aren't great guns. I have a 5943 with at least 25,000 rounds through it and it's still a beautiful, solid and reliable gun. Don't be afraid of trade ins, they are usually well maintained and serviceable (other than the occasional cosmetic issue).

 

[ab4ka]

I have bought and traded for a good many trade-in pistols and revolvers and never did have one that had a problem mechanically. I consider them a good bargain snce they are generally cheaper for what you get. Here are a bunch of trade-ins I have now.

show off!

 

[Pioneer461]

I totally agree about the lack of range time with department issued guns. Training is budget based and many departments place a higher priority on other things. Another factor with department issued guns is that the person carrying it does not own it, and tends to place a lower priority to cleaning and maintenance.

As police departments began to unionize, extra training became an issue, with officers refusing to practice on their own time unless the department issued the ammo and paid them for range time while off duty. I'm one of the old timers who did not hesitate to fund my own off-duty firearms training. My highest priority was to get my a-s home in one piece.

If you buy a former police gun, try to make sure it is one that was well cared for.

 

[Cruiser RN]

From what I have seen LEO trade ins are generally good buys.If it is a gun that was carried alot and shot alot,such as a SWAT team member, you can be sure that it is well matained and cared for.If you have one from the department that has cops who say "They don't pay me to practice",you have one that was carried alot and shot a little.Either situation is a win win because you get a good gun at a reasonable price.JMHO.....Mike

 

[yustinus1973]

I have some cop trade-ins and I love them there in great shap, "carried alot, shot little".

 

[SWFanatic]

As an FFL who has acquired these very guns from Cali Dept of Corrections for resale, I can say the ones advertised as "Very Good" condition look like they have less than ten rounds through them. Some very slight holster wear on high spots, but no anodizing removed at all, the guns are more dusty and fingerprint covered than anything else. They clean up incredibly well. I carry a 3913 everyday, great gun! Thin, light, reliable, classy, and gorgeous styling.

I say buy as many as you can afford while they're cheap!

 

[smitty_bs]

I was talking off-duty officer at a party once. After a while I asked him what his duty weapon was.....he couldn't name it. He did know it was a semi-automatic in 9mm, but didn't know which brand or model. I couldn't believe it.

Then I asked him if he always carried a semi. He said "no" and that he used to carry a revolver. I asked what that was.....again, he didn't know. I asked him if it was a stainless S&W. He thought so, but wasn't sure. By now I was astonished that he couldn't name his sidearms (he wasn't drinking alcohol by the way). Anyway the conversation ended when he finally just said "I've never been a gun guy".

Now that is the type of LEO I want to buy a used gun from.