Had the opportunity to inspect 5 examples from http://aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?groupid=2303&name=Glock+22+.40cal+Handgun+Gen+3
 
4 looked really good - hardly any signs of use - just minor wear on the high spots. I'll post a pic of one of the Good Ones at the END of this post.
 
Serial number range suggests 2006 vintage.
Hard to believe that guns less than 10 years old are turning up in the "surplus" market already.
 
For most of what I want to cover here, we're always interested the most in the ones that look like they've been-there-done-that. The pics that follow are of one that definitely meets that description.
 
Lots of wear on the finish of the slide.
 
Back plate has some major dings.
 
Looks like it rode in a hard (Kydex or some such) for much of its life.
 
Original Glock night sights still visible in the dark.
 
Little bit of grittiness in the trigger.
I've never taken-apart a Glock lower assembly. This one is a good candidate for learning, but haven't done it yet. For the amount of wear on the exterior, I figured this one had to have come from some sandy place.
 
I was really surprised that the innards really showed no signs of sand/grit. Just a very small amount of grime in the usual places.
 
I did disassemble the upper assembly. Not much to that. It all just snaps and slides apart. No tools required unless you count the tip of a ball point pen as a tool.
 
Almost no grit in the upper assembly. Only place I could find any grit was in the plastic sheath for the firing pin. Even then, I'm not sure it was actual grit, but rather some scuff from having been in contact with grit at some point.
 
Evidently some competent armorer had this gun apart, and cleaned it THOROUGHLY before it got funneled through AIM.
 
The bore had some fouling in it. That kind of surprised me since the rest of the gun was so clean notwithstanding the obvious exposure to sandy conditions. The fouling all came out without even the use of any solvent. Just a stiff .45 brush and a dozen strokes. Bore now looks brand new. No dings on the muzzle.
 
That about covers it for description. No range report yet. Maybe I'll get a chance for that over the holidays.
 
Now for the pics.
 
All the pics are from the "worst one," except for the last two pics which are representative of what the rest of the lot generally looked like.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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...and now a couple pics of the one that is typical of the rest of the bunch.
 

 

Wow thats a lot of finish wear. My G17 I bought used through summit gun brokers, it barely has any finish wear just the park kinda greyed and was shined some.

Cerakote. Problem solved.

G17's sometimes make a showing on the surplus market.

Usually for about $50 - $75 more than the G22's.

I have a G17 that I use for training - as it allows me to shoot the absolute cheapest ammo.
.40 ammo usually ends up costing $3-$4 more per box for the same cheap brands.

I like to have a spare or two of my "operational" (favorite ninja-word) EDC.
I agonized over whether the EDC should be 9mm or .40
Finally settled on the .40, so the AIM guns worked out well for me.

I got the chance to take a closer look at a couple of the "nicer" ones today.
Insides looked a little dirty on one of them.
Still haven't done a full strip-down on a Glock lower.

Noticed that the bores of the two I looked at today actually were more fouled than the "worst" one.
Several strokes with the bronze brush got most of it out, but there is sill some fouling that didn't want to give up on just the action of the brush.
I inundated the bores with CLP, and I'll let them sit for a couple weeks while I do other stuff.
I expect the rest of the fouling will let go when I go after it again.

...and of course the .40's can be converted to 9mm easy enough if you're willing to buy barrels.

Look good.

Nice. Too bad they don't have mags in stock. FWIW, I ordered some LEO trade in mags for my surplus G22 from J&G Sales. $19.95
ETA: Link

You can get brand new mags for that from CDNN.

I just received a bunch of "used" Gen4 G22 mags I got from CDNN for $15ea and they were like new and are current production and not beat up.

I just bought a couple lowers from them, shipping was very fast, was tempted to buy one of the trade in 17s.

I just ordered one of the gen4 G17s from AIM tonight, I'll post pics when it shows up

I came to say this.  Not shabby price for us non LEO buyers.

Missing 2 mags and the back straps though.

They go on sale next month.

Typical Aim tactics.

LOL

 
 

My duty 22 is an "L" and came from just after these guns.  One nice advantage nobody has pointed out with these older gently used guns:  It has more machined steel components for those MIM haters.

"Yeah those Aim guys suck"

No, No they don't.

Going all Scrooge McDuck with 'em...

 

Mmmmmm.

One of mine came with a free butt-plug.

Like these: http://www.glockmeister.com/Grip-Plugs/products/64/

I'm going to wait until Christmas to pull the plug out.
Maybe the PO left me a secret message in there.

I also ordered one of the trade in Gen 4 17s...I'm excited for it to show up.

It should read....

 

I want one!!!  I need a back up to my USPSA gun...and these would not be a bad deal. (at least the Gen4 17).  Why do the good sales go down when my money has already gone out...

Because you touch yourself and Gaston hates you for it.

 

I don't know.  When you add the cost of the two missing mags and the backstraps, you are pretty much at the PSA (sale) price for a new Gen4 17.  I suppose if you already have plenty of mags and don't need the backstraps, that it is a good deal.

I have been thinking about getting a .22lr conversion slide for my Gen3 Glock 17.

same kit,

Seriously... That is a dam fine question. Everytime.  It's like they have contact with my wife or something.

Just left my  FFL with my Gen 4 G17 from Aim.

Came in its original case with one new-gen ambi mag. It has the large backstrap on the gun but didn't include the others. Has all original paperwork in the Glock envelope.

The gun itself is pristine and doesn't look to have a round through it. Zero signs of wear, with the original copper grease still inside. No holster marks anywhere. Trijicon night sights are bright.

The slide is marked USA and the frame has the GA stamp on it with a seven digit serial number.

Overall I'm incredibly happy for $415 shipped. Pics to follow tonight and range report this weekend.