A malfunction every 28 rounds... Hi-Point C9

A broken extractor at 5,000 to 6,000 rounds is not unheard of even with other "quality" makes, especially when using surplus ammo.

One also has to keep in mind that these things ARE of less quality metallurgy-wise. There can be absolutely no argument about that aspect of the pistol. However, what does one expect for $150? Y'all seem to think that for $150, one should be able to pick up a new gun and have it shoot 30,000-50,000 rounds out of it without any change in internal geometry. Pretty unrealistic, eh? If one wants a shooter like that, go pick up a trade-in S&W 915 for $100 more.

I've seen alot of videos on youtube with Hi Points running well through a number of rounds. Everybody I talk to seems impressed with them, including a couple of guys that own much more expensive stuff.

I don't know as I haven't actually owned one myself but they seem good enough for me. I'd buy one as a glove compartment gun or a bedside gun as long as I gave it a good workout first to check function.

you're starting to border on offensive.

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I apologize if I came across as hostile

Further, your list of ammo related failures assumes one extreme or another. There is a whole spectrum of conditions that are out of specifications that don't necessarily have to be one extreme or the other.

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Well, that's the thing; When a gun has to have ammo that's just right to function properly, I don't consider it a reliable gun. A lot of tightly fitted race guns and the like fall into this category. A reliable firearm is one that will shoot darn near anything you throw at it without breaking, including cheap surplus and slightly out of spec or deformed ammo. This is especially important with service type or defensive handguns.

Y'all seem to think that for $150, one should be able to pick up a new gun and have it shoot 30,000-50,000 rounds out of it without any change in internal geometry

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Quite the opposite, actually. We expect a $150 gun to have more stoppages and a shorter life. I expect a $500+ handgun to go at least 20,000 rounds without needing service beyond maintenance (which includes recoil springs).

I've never said that Hi Points aren't worth what they cost. I'd just rather spend more to get more. If there's $150 burning a hole in my pocket, there are plenty of accessories and ammo that I can go shopping for, not to mention non-gun things.

As I mentioned a significant portion of what I shot through that gun was old chicom surplus.

A hot out of spec load with work hardened brass snapped the lip off my extractor. Problem?

@Blue Brick: Yeah, it was a 9mm

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I dont see brass ever work hardening to the point of breaking a steel extractor. If anything, when it work hardened it would just crack, not break the extractor.

Wrong test for the gun. No one buys a $150.00 gun to put hundreds of $'s worth of ammo through it in 3 weeks.

He shoulda tested how well it sits in a sock drawer after firing a couple mags of ammo, they way the gun was designed to be used.

But seriously, I have a feeling that the many malfunctions he had was due to either a lemon or it just didn't like the ammo he was using. And the many stoppages he witnessed in his students is obvious. Anyone that brings a Hi Point to the class probably hasn't shot it very much, or maybe not at all. Most people that shoot any kind of regularly will shell out a little more for a handgun. I've lived in urban areas before where non member-only ranges are non-existent. A lot of new shooters take a class like his just to get a chance to conveniently and legally shoot a gun for the first time.

An extractor failure on a Hi Point seems a bit odd, since the extractor doesn't extract anything except an unfired round. All Hi Points are blowback, which means the fired case blows itself back out of the chamber without any involvement of the extractor except to act as a pivot point for the ejector.

Jim

Jim K said:

An extractor failure on a Hi Point seems a bit odd, since the extractor doesn't extract anything except an unfired round. All Hi Points are blowback, which means the fired case blows itself back out of the chamber without any involvement of the extractor except to act as a pivot point for the ejector.

Jim

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Sure, when the ammunition is letting the pistol function as designed. When your ammo is out of specifications and the pistol is dirty from firing hundreds of rounds of dirty ammo, things aren't going to function properly.

I'm the one that was shooting the gun, I'm the one that experienced the failure, and I have enough common sense and intelligence to be able to figure out what happened based on the evidence that presented itself at the time. Now I understand that you people don't have the benefit of that evidence, but the fact remains that you weren't there and no matter what you think you know, you can't say with any kind of certainty that my busted extractor was caused by anything other than what I already said caused it. Seriously people, get past it now and lets move on with the topic. If you can't get past it, go get one and run some hot loads through it until the extractor snaps off for you. Either way, give it up - Like I said - I know what happened. Thanks and now we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I heard that some states are considering legislation that proclaims certain guns (including the Hi-Point line) are so crude and unreliable that having one pulled on you is no longer considered putting you "in fear for life." The laws, if passed, will make it a crime to resist an attempted attack by someone using one by drawing your own gun (unless it's also on the list.)

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A week ago I would have had a good chuckle at this. However, just last week at New York State appellate court held that Hi-Points have such a low collector value that only criminals would buy them, therefore Hi-Point can be liable for them being used in crimes.

The case is under discussion here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=680486

And a copy of the opinion is available here:
http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad4/Clerk/Decisions/2012/10-05-12/PDF/0938.pdf

What a load of crap. It really doesn't surprise me much in such an anti-gun state.

Interesting . First off, let me say I haven't read the review, so I don't know the particulars, but putting 2200 rounds through a gun even though it has an obvious problem doesn't quite make sense.

Flat tires don't fix themselves. Sometimes reliability issues can fix themselves, but I wouldn't count on it. And 2200 rounds of ammo is a pretty expensive way of fixing a reliability problem.

My problematic S&W (which I bought new) would have the same (or worse) reliability record had I not sent it back to the factory for repair, so I'm not exactly sure what this review is supposed to prove.

If he in fact DID send it back and it came back with the same problem, then you can start to draw some conclusions. As I said, I didn't read, and I'm not inclined to read, the review.

Jim NE said:

Interesting . First off, let me say I haven't read the review, so I don't know the particulars, but putting 2200 rounds through a gun even though it has an obvious problem doesn't quite make sense.

Flat tires don't fix themselves. Sometimes reliability issues can fix themselves, but I wouldn't count on it. And 2200 rounds of ammo is a pretty expensive way of fixing a reliability problem.

My problematic S&W (which I bought new) would have the same (or worse) reliability record had I not sent it back to the factory for repair, so I'm not exactly sure what this review is supposed to prove.

If he in fact DID send it back and it came back with the same problem, then you can start to draw some conclusions. As I said, I didn't read, and I'm not inclined to read, the review.

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The review was not very objective and it seems clear IMO that the writer intended to bash on the gun going into the review.

I agree that if it was having reliability issues he should've tried to correct it before shooting that much ammo. I think that the fact that the gun went 2000+ rounds (approx $400 in ammunitionand over twice the gun's value) without any parts breakages is pretty impressive for a $150 pistol with a lifetime warranty. A couple years ago everybody just KNEW that one would fly apart in a couple of mags.

However, just last week at New York State appellate court held that Hi-Points have such a low collector value that only criminals would buy them, therefore Hi-Point can be liable for them being used in crimes.

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I better get one quick!

If he was running steel ammo, that's the problem. Hi Points don't like steel cased stuff. With brass they run great.

I believe a person should buy the best quality product they can for their income level. High Points do not meet my personal expections of the best quality gun I can afford.

All makers produce at least the occasional lemon but i certainly wouldn't bet my life on a high point.

Funny thing is i don't think i've ever seen one at the range. I'm curious how much the guns were actually shot by the reviewers who say theirs is reliable.

JustinJ said:

All makers produce at least the occasional lemon but i certainly wouldn't bet my life on a high point.

Funny thing is i don't think i've ever seen one at the range. I'm curious how much the guns were actually shot by the reviewers who say theirs is reliable.

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And sometimes I find myself wondering how many people bashing them have ever fired one, much less owned one.

And sometimes I find myself wondering how many people bashing them have ever fired one, much less owned one.

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I did. They are cheap and I wouldnt own another one, I can afford better.

ljnowell said:

I did. They are cheap and I wouldnt own another one, I can afford better.

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That may be the case, however just because they are inexpensive and "less" than you're able to afford doesn't mean that everyone can afford better, and it doesn't mean they're unreliable garbage as some have either implied or outright said.

To top it off, Hi-Point has one of THE BEST warranties in the firearms industry, and has significantly BETTER customer service than nearly every other firearms company I've dealt with.

I had a great experience with my Hi-Point right up until I sold it. I wouldn't hesitate to own another, even though I have more expensive firearms. They have their purpose.

That may be the case, however just because they are inexpensive and "less" than you're able to afford doesn't mean that everyone can afford better, and it doesn't mean they're unreliable garbage as some have either implied or outright said.

To top it off, Hi-Point has one of THE BEST warranties in the firearms industry, and has significantly BETTER customer service than nearly every other firearms company I've dealt with.

I had a great experience with my Hi-Point right up until I sold it. I wouldn't hesitate to own another, even though I have more expensive firearms. They have their purpose.

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No, you didnt read what I said. I didnt say inexpensive, I said cheap. There is a big difference. My Rock Island Armory 1911 was inexpensive. It was a decently made firearm that was reliable, solid, and dependable also. The Hi-point is a cheap firearm. The seams om the plastic, the thickness of it, the feel of it, the pot metal slide, etc. Its cheap.

As far as warranty goes, their warranty isnt all that special. My friend had an issue with his RIA 1911, they picked up shipping both ways, fixed the gun, did a few upgrades even while they had it. My uncle had a Springfield 1911 that had issues, same thing. They picked up shipping both ways, and in his case replaced a three year old gun with a new one.

If its all a person can afford, then I am happy for them that they have it. I would NEVER disparage a person with one for owning one. I would gladly have the portion of non gun owning Americans all buy one to keep for protection. I have shot next to many people at the range and see them enjoy their pistol and would never make a negative statement, in fact the opposite, I would agree with all of their praise because thats the gun they worked hard to pay for and they should be proud of that.

All of that doesnt change the fact that its a cheap gun that will never have the quality of a better made firearm.

While it is true that most high quality manufacturers pay shipping both ways, their guns also sell well above the price range of a Hi Point. When you pay $450+ for a handgun they should pick up the tab for shipping because you paid that much.

Show me another gun that has an unconditional lifetime warranty that costs $150. I'd like to own a C9 just to have a gun that I don't mind getting scratched and beaten up.

Show me another gun that has an unconditional lifetime warranty that costs $150. I'd like to own a C9 just to have a gun that I don't mind getting scratched and beaten up.

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So thats the only good feature of it? Thats all I keep hearing is the warranty. Its definately not its ergonomics, compact size, high capacity, great trigger, or awesome sights.

Its great for what it is, but when you start comparing it to better made quality firearms its a losing comparison every time.

ljnowell said:

So thats the only good feature of it? Thats all I keep hearing is the warranty. Its definately not its ergonomics, compact size, high capacity, great trigger, or awesome sights.

Its great for what it is, but when you start comparing it to better made quality firearms its a losing comparison every time.

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Actually it is the price that is impressive. There's nothing in the same price range in a respectable caliber worth buying.

Actually it is the price that is impressive. There's nothing in the same price range in a respectable caliber worth buying.

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Thats whay I meant by:

Its great for what it is, but when you start comparing it to better made quality firearms its a losing comparison every time

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They are great for what they are, a gun everyone can afford. Some people want to insist they are more

ljnowell said:

Thats whay I meant by:


They are great for what they are, a gun everyone can afford. Some people want to insist they are more

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Yes I understand that, my point was that you shouldn't try to compare the quality to a gun twice the price. I don't think anyone will try to tell you that a Hi Point is as high quality as an XDM but for what it is the quality is sufficient.

So thats the only good feature of it? Thats all I keep hearing is the warranty. Its definately not its ergonomics, compact size, high capacity, great trigger, or awesome sights.

Its great for what it is, but when you start comparing it to better made quality firearms its a losing comparison every time.

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1911 Colt Commander

Weight 32.5/33 oz
Length 7.75
Barrel length 4.25 in (Commander model)
Capacity 7-round standard detachable box magazine

Hi-Point JHP 45ACP

Weight 35 oz
Length 7.75 in
Barrel length 4.5 in
Capacity 9-round standard detachable box magazine (or modified 7 rd 1911 mags)

Ergonomics-----------------Same grip angle

Compact size---------------Overall length same (Hi-Point is wider)

Capacity-------------------7 rounds compared to 9 rounds

Trigger---------------------Single action 1911 should be better

Sights----------------------Similar (Hi-Point does include a ghost ring sight for free)

Price-----------------------Hi-Point is less expensive

Warranty-------------------Hi-Point is better



Side note: I don’t own a Hi-Point, but my next firearm will be a Hi-Point JHP Model in 45 ACP.