M1 carbine or Hi-Point carbine : Which one?
- Thread starter JustKen
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benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
A 9mm carbine is definitely easier to shoot accurately than a 9mm pistol, but a carbine with the magazine capacity of a small single-stack CCW pistol takes away one of the big advantages of a carbine for HD, and that is reserve capacity. For a HD long gun in 9mm, 10 rounds is a *very* limited capacity. As a point of reference, my HD pistol holds 18 with flush-fit magazines and 21 with slightly extended mags, which is pretty typical of full-size 9mm's.
If you can afford it, and you like the design OK, an M1 carbine is about twice as powerful as 9mm, and an M1 carbine has 1.5x to 3x the reserve capacity of the Hi-Point.
If you like the M1 carbine but you can't find an affordable one, a Ruger mini-14 in .223 Remington would be another option. Or one of the various 9mm carbines with over-10-round magazines.
If you can afford it, and you like the design OK, an M1 carbine is about twice as powerful as 9mm, and an M1 carbine has 1.5x to 3x the reserve capacity of the Hi-Point.
If you like the M1 carbine but you can't find an affordable one, a Ruger mini-14 in .223 Remington would be another option. Or one of the various 9mm carbines with over-10-round magazines.
25cschaefer
Member
Buy the Hi-point and $600 in ammo; if you want to feel nostalgic, put a helmet on and rattle a bayonet.
You will have more fun and get more use out of a gun you can feed cheaply and has a warrantee. Leave the M1s to the old farts with too much money.
You will have more fun and get more use out of a gun you can feed cheaply and has a warrantee. Leave the M1s to the old farts with too much money.
The sound that you want to have if you have no desire to shoot an intruder is the "chuump clink" of a pump shotgun. It's a distinctive sound that leaves little room for doubt. I think too many people are looking forward to confrontation rather than avoiding it. The way I see it, if an intruder comes into my home or shop after hearing that distinctive sound, at that point he is making the decision, not me.
dprice3844444
member
mectechsys.com makes rifles that use 9mm,40,45 and 10mm glock lowers instead of dealing with high point.
LeonCarr
Member
The Carbine, and start handloading it.
For those who drink wine, comparing an M1 Carbine to a Hi-Point Carbine is like comparing Dom Perignon to Two Buck Chuck.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
For those who drink wine, comparing an M1 Carbine to a Hi-Point Carbine is like comparing Dom Perignon to Two Buck Chuck.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Two buck? More like four to six buck Chuck anymore.
Then again anyone with a fine wine affectation, knows great wines come in a box.M1 Carbine hands down.
Ron
25cschaefer
Member
^^^ Exactly what I was saying, you could drink one bottle of champagne by yourself and giggle at the empty room you are sitting in or buy 8 boxes of Franzia and invite the neighborhood over. The latter would be way more fun and you would get more accomplished.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Don't let all the people shooting Ruger Blackhawks chambered in the 30 carbine round know that. The Ruger Blackhawk has offered a 30 carbine chambering for decades making it a nice sidearm to accompany the 30 M1 Carbine rifle.
While the 30 Carbine ammunition does cost a little more than most common handgun ammunition it is quite plentiful and easy to come by.
Ron
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DanTheFarmer
Member
One little additional fact to chew over.
The Hi-Point can take a larger, 15 round magazine. Several posters mentioned one strike against the Hi-Point was its low, 10 round, capacity. The aftermarket Pro-Mags are 15 round. They have their own set of issues but they are available.
Good luck on your choice. This thread was fun to read. It wasn't your usual LCP vs. P3AT or other very similar firearms to compare.
Dan
The Hi-Point can take a larger, 15 round magazine. Several posters mentioned one strike against the Hi-Point was its low, 10 round, capacity. The aftermarket Pro-Mags are 15 round. They have their own set of issues but they are available.
Good luck on your choice. This thread was fun to read. It wasn't your usual LCP vs. P3AT or other very similar firearms to compare.
Dan
Thirty years ago it would have been a no brainer i.e., M1 carbine every time. Now, the military ones are too collectable and ammo too expensive. These days any 9mm carbine is a better and more practical choice IMO. And yeah I have a WWII vintage carbine and a couple 9mm carbines.
10 rds is a lot ofmissing in your home.
Lots of holes in the walls,maybe a threat to your neighbors, or even your loved ones. The problem with any longarm is that you won't have it to hand when you need a gun. Therefore, it behooves you to either spend much less on it (ie, used Hipoint 9mm carbine) or get a lot more for your money (ie, M4 variant and all the fine accessories for same).
Lots of holes in the walls,maybe a threat to your neighbors, or even your loved ones. The problem with any longarm is that you won't have it to hand when you need a gun. Therefore, it behooves you to either spend much less on it (ie, used Hipoint 9mm carbine) or get a lot more for your money (ie, M4 variant and all the fine accessories for same).
Ash
Member
I have an M1 Carbine - a Quality Hardware - and use it often. Ammo isn't that expensive and easy to get at Academy if I don't mail order it. GI Magazines are definitely NOT expensive. Yeah, they cost more these days, but 30 carbine is superior to 9mm.
If you're really wanting something that size, an SKS isn't all that much heavier.
If you're really wanting something that size, an SKS isn't all that much heavier.
I just ordered 200 rds of 30 Carbine ammo, 110gr SP, suitable for home defense (17" penetration in gel) for .45c per round. Not too shabby. What does decent 9mm HP ammo cost these days?
With an Ultimak rail, small red dot sight, light, and decent SP or HP ammo, the M1 Carbine doesn't give up anything to a decked out AR15...for the first 15 rounds.
I think it is the ultimate HD choice in a ban state where you can't have an "evil" AR. I can, so my M1 Car. is just for fun and backup HD duty. It is the best pointing and balanced carbine I have, by far.
With an Ultimak rail, small red dot sight, light, and decent SP or HP ammo, the M1 Carbine doesn't give up anything to a decked out AR15...for the first 15 rounds.
I think it is the ultimate HD choice in a ban state where you can't have an "evil" AR. I can, so my M1 Car. is just for fun and backup HD duty. It is the best pointing and balanced carbine I have, by far.
.30 Carbine gives up quite a bit to an AR.
It lacks a threaded muzzle, for starters. It lacks the accessories, the drop in trigger jobs and lumimous sights. It doesn't have half the range that the M4 has, and it wont penetrate helmets or Kevlar vests. It's not available as a stripped lower receiver. It's not available as an 80% finished receiver, either. One of the plastic variant of the latter can be finished without a jig, mill,or drill press, and that 80% can be had for $50, too. For the thousands of guys who want an AR that nobody knows about, that's handy.
It lacks a threaded muzzle, for starters. It lacks the accessories, the drop in trigger jobs and lumimous sights. It doesn't have half the range that the M4 has, and it wont penetrate helmets or Kevlar vests. It's not available as a stripped lower receiver. It's not available as an 80% finished receiver, either. One of the plastic variant of the latter can be finished without a jig, mill,or drill press, and that 80% can be had for $50, too. For the thousands of guys who want an AR that nobody knows about, that's handy.
Ash
Member
I use my M1 like I use my Ruger GB out in the country. My 9-year old has no problem with the M1 should it be necessary.
USAF_Vet
Member
I think most people don't even know the Hi Point was used in Columbine.
If I'm spending my money, I will choose the Hi Point. Maybe more than one and tinker, like converting the 40 S&W to 10mm. That was a cool mod.
If I'm spending my money, I will choose the Hi Point. Maybe more than one and tinker, like converting the 40 S&W to 10mm. That was a cool mod.
bannockburn
Member
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I have always thought the M1 Carbine would make for a decent HD gun. Would probably opt for one of them over getting a Hi-Point.
ExAgoradzo
Member
FWIW I sold my Carbine b/c I didn't like it relative to what I was able to sell it for. Ammo expensive. No better than a 40 cal you could pair with a Glock or an EMP.
YMMV
Greg
YMMV
Greg
Carl N. Brown
Member
Closer to home we have had local high profile murders with knife, hammer, baseball bat and rock. Personally I don't blame any weapon for murder, I blame murderers.
Added: If one wants to think of the HP as the columbine murder weapon, the Texas Tower shooter used an M1 carbine and the ROTC students who kept his head down after the initial killers used personal M1 carbines to slow his rampage.
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CoalTrain49
Member
I was looking for carbine awhile back. I don't really care for the 9 mm so my choice came down to a USGI or an Auto Ordnance M1. The AO is $700 but they need some upgrades out of the box. The barrel band needs to be a type III and the rear sight needs windage adj. There was a reason the later USGI carbines replaced those. Also the build quality didn't impress me. I found an Inland for less so I bought it. Those things are built like a hammer. It's too bad Ruger doesn't build an M1 with the same quality as their Mini 14 at the same price. People are starting to discover the 30 carbine cartridge. You really couldn't design a better 100 yard auto loading cartridge for self defense. With the right bullet it works very well.
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