Glock 22
The Glock 22 in .40 S&W was the dominant U.S. law enforcement duty pistol for two decades—at one point carried by an estimated 65% of American police departments. The full-size frame holds 15+1 rounds of .40 cal, sits on the same platform as the Glock 17, and delivers a noticeable step up in energy over 9mm with manageable recoil for trained shooters. As departments have transitioned back to 9mm, quality Gen 4 Glock 22 police trade-ins have flooded the market at exceptional value prices. For the civilian shooter who wants .40 S&W performance in a proven duty package, the G22 remains one of the best buys in the used handgun market.
Read our full Glock 22 Buying Guide ↓
Glock 22 Gen 4 vs. Gen 5: What’s Available and What Changed
The Gen 5 Glock 22 was introduced but production has been limited compared to the G17 and G19 Gen 5 runs—most new G22s on the market are Gen 4. Gen 4 improvements over Gen 3 include the dual recoil spring assembly (reducing felt recoil in .40 S&W noticeably), interchangeable backstraps, and ambidextrous mag release. Gen 5 adds the Marksman barrel, no finger grooves, and ambidextrous slide stop. For most G22 buyers—especially those looking at police trade-ins—Gen 4 is the practical choice and represents outstanding value at $350–$420 in good condition.
.40 S&W vs. 9mm in the Glock Platform: Is the G22 Still Relevant?
The FBI’s 2014 return to 9mm triggered a mass law enforcement transition away from .40 S&W, but that doesn’t make the G22 obsolete for civilian use. Modern .40 S&W defensive loads deliver 180gr at 1,000–1,050 fps—meaningfully more energy than 9mm while remaining controllable. The trade-offs: .40 ammo costs more, magazine capacity is 15 vs. 17 for the G17, and muzzle flip is sharper. For a home defense gun where you won’t be shooting 500 rounds per range session, the .40 S&W performance advantage is real. For a high-volume training gun, 9mm wins on economy.
Glock 22 Police Trade-Ins: The Best Value in Used Handguns
As U.S. law enforcement agencies complete their transitions to 9mm (primarily Glock 17/19 Gen 5), the market has seen a wave of G22 Gen 4 trade-ins graded Good to Very Good. These guns typically show holster wear but have mechanically sound actions with modest round counts—duty pistols are carried far more than they’re shot. At $350–$420, a police trade-in Glock 22 gives you a genuine duty-grade pistol at half the price of new. Inspect the barrel, recoil spring, and frame rails; most trade-ins need only a deep clean and new recoil spring to return to like-new function. See our police trade-in guns page for current availability.
Converting a Glock 22 to 9mm: The .40-to-9mm Conversion
One of the G22’s most practical features is easy conversion to 9mm with an aftermarket barrel and G17 magazines. A lone Wolf or Storm Lake 9mm conversion barrel ($89–$130) plus Glock 17 mags turns your .40 S&W G22 into a functional 9mm with no frame modification. This lets you buy a trade-in G22 at value pricing and practice in 9mm while retaining .40 S&W capability by swapping back the factory barrel. It’s not a fully supported Glock configuration, but thousands of shooters run this conversion reliably. Using OEM Glock 17 magazines (not aftermarket) is strongly recommended for reliable feeding.
Glock 22 for Home Defense and Duty Use
The G22’s full-size frame and 15+1 capacity make it a capable home defense pistol, especially if you already own .40 S&W ammunition. The longer 4.49″ barrel extracts maximum velocity from .40 S&W loads. For home defense, a weapon-mounted light is essential—the G22 accepts standard rail-mounted lights like the Streamlight TLR-1. As a duty pistol, the G22 MOS configuration supports optics for agencies still standardized on .40. For shooters comfortable with .40 S&W recoil, the G22 platform is fully competitive with modern 9mm alternatives.
Glock 22 Specs, Accessories, and Related Models
G22 specs: 4.49″ barrel, 8.03″ overall, 32.12 oz loaded, 15+1 capacity. Takes the same holsters as the Glock 17. OEM .40 S&W magazines are widely available. The Glock 23 is the compact version (13+1, 4.02″ barrel) for those wanting a smaller .40 platform. Browse our full Glock lineup for all calibers and configurations, and visit our weapon-mounted lights page to pair your G22 with a compatible rail light.