Buying a Hi Point

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I'd save for either a Norinco 213 or some Makarov variant, specifically a CZ 82. Both are around $200 and both have great reputations for reliability. I had a 213 I picked up for $95 and it's the only firearm I wish I had back.
 
Christcorp: Kel Tec doesn't ask you if you're the original owner. I've owned a used Kel Tec that got warranty work- they didn't even ask.

I am not a big fan of kel tec, but they sure do have a good customer service dept.

I would definitely buy another Hi Point 995 carbine, but i have no use for their pistols. If price is not the issue there are other models that do everything a pistol can do better than a Hi Point can.
 
I also have no use for anecdotal evidence when we're trying to make recommendations to people. Mentioning to people that they shouldn't buy a hi-point pistol, for whatever reasons you have, and a "Suitable Alternative" based on similar price and similar warranty to the hi-point is a Kel-tec; is simply wrong. Doesn't matter what I like or not. That recommendation is simply wrong. That's like suggesting a mom of 4 kids who needs a new car because their mini-van blew up, that she should get a Ford F-250 pickup. The have nothing in common. The kel-tec is between $100-$150 more than a hi-point, depending on new or used. That's basically twice the price. And according to the Kel-tec website, they say specifically that the lifetime warranty is only for the original owner. I don't care if there's a secret handshake or if you speak to them a certain way, that they might cover it. Point is, they could refuse warranty work if they wanted to, because that's totally legal on their point. That's what matters.

And no doubt that kel-tec has good customer service. But hi-point has proven themselves to probably be "the best". And that's even admitted among those who despise hi-point. Some people love saying that for a "Few dollars more ....." Well, most times, it isn't a FEW DOLLARS MORE. It's twice as much, or more if you include shipping and ffl fees on some suggestions.

Also, the suggestions of all these other guns are "BETTER" is simply not true. Better at what?????? That is the key question. Too many people simply don't know what they're talking about. There are too many that think there are "Magic Bullets" that can do anything and everything. And that there is a perfect handgun out there. That too is wrong. There isn't a perfect ANYTHING out there. You might think the Newest BMW or Ferrari are the "BEST" car in the world. GREAT!!! Now, take you 4 kids to soccer practice in the ferrari or use the BMW to go get firewood. Well, when you say that for a few dollars more, you can get a "Better Gun"; that is simply wrong. And you are misleading people. For SOME PEOPLE, and for SOME USES, the hi-point can most definitely be the BEST pistol available. Maybe it's an HK. But those people that can't understand that most basic concept; not just for guns, but for cars, houses, neighborhoods, restaurants, etc....; then I can't discuss with them. They have no concept or reality. They've prejudiced their reality with rationalization.
 
gatopardo,

I really liked what you did with the glow paint. I can see where
this would be great for low light conditions.

Checking out your pics reminded me the c9 comes with
the ghost sight as well. I think thats a pretty cool feature.
 
You want something for home defense, and range use.
You want something in a decent caliber.
You want something inexpensive.
You want something now.

The Hi-Point C9 meets these requirements.
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tinygnat219,

I think your post struck home the most. You about hit the nail
on the head.

A lot of good replies from everyone else. Thank you all for
the pros and cons as you need to have a balanced view before
buying something.

I know 9mm is cheaper but, I am not sure if I need to worry about
practicing a whole lot. I'm a good shot out to 25 yds. Thought
about getting maybe the .40 or .45 and just keeping it stored up for
HD. The only thing I have against the .45 is availability.

Thought a lot about shotguns but, that is for another thread
on another day.
 
I say get the Hi Point YOU want, I can assure you none of the bullets from the Hi Point will bounce off any targets or bad guys! :cool:

Christcorp made some awesome points IMO ; because some "don't get it", shouldn't affect your choice one bit; most folks realize the Hi Point is a much better value than a few seem to "think"... and a Hi Point on the nightstand beats "savings in the nightstand" for a more costly (but no more effective) choice "down the road" IMO
 
Snowdog said:
I've long been a fan of the old proverb:

"A smart man learns from his experience, but a wise man learns from the experiences of others."

It's one of the reasons I visit various forums.
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Very good proverb. And that's actually why I decided to buy and try a hi-point C-9 9mm. Because I took the experience of other "Hi-point owners". The experience of someone who knows this guy, who's brother's barber's mechanic's cousin, who slept at a holiday inn express, doesn't mean anything to me. But the vast overwhelming majority of hi-point owners are and have been very happy with their hi-points. And these are people who also own H&K, Sig, Glock, Springer, S&W, etc...

So you are so right. A wise man will learn from the experiences of others.
 
Shoot a few hundred through it right out of the box to see if it works. If it works during that period you did ok. If not you're probably going to have problems from then on.
 
Shoot a few hundred through it right out of the box to see if it works. If it works during that period you did ok. If not you're probably going to have problems from then on.
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In that rare event send it back, get another and repeat.
 
I also have no use for anecdotal evidence when we're trying to make recommendations to people.
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99% of the info in all these threads is anecdotal.

Mentioning to people that they shouldn't buy a hi-point pistol, for whatever reasons you have, and a "Suitable Alternative" based on similar price and similar warranty to the hi-point is a Kel-tec; is simply wrong.
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I never told anyone not to buy one, but IMO telling someone that other options exist for a little more money is not just right, but also courteous and helpful as well.

Doesn't matter what I like or not. That recommendation is simply wrong. That's like suggesting a mom of 4 kids who needs a new car because their mini-van blew up, that she should get a Ford F-250 pickup.
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Straw man.

The have nothing in common. The kel-tec is between $100-$150 more than a hi-point, depending on new or used. That's basically twice the price.
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Not around here they're not. A used Kel Tec PF- pistol can be had for the low $200s round my parts, and probably less if you get lucky. That is not twice the price of a Hi Point.

And according to the Kel-tec website, they say specifically that the lifetime warranty is only for the original owner. I don't care if there's a secret handshake or if you speak to them a certain way, that they might cover it. Point is, they could refuse warranty work if they wanted to, because that's totally legal on their point. That's what matters.
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Kel Tec covers warranty work from 2nd owners because they don't ask if you're the original owner. I've had them just mail me parts by me simply calling and saying i needed it...no questions asked.

Also, the suggestions of all these other guns are "BETTER" is simply not true. Better at what??????
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Taking price out of the consideration, there are models that are literally better at everything that can be quantified in a handgun. Accuracy, reliability with varying types of ammo in all conditions, ergonomics, concealability, etc, etc.

For SOME PEOPLE, and for SOME USES, the hi-point can most definitely be the BEST pistol available.
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The Hi Point can only ever contemplate claiming the title "best" when it comes to most inexpensive. In all other ways not including price there are CLEARLY pistols that do everything better than it does.
 
If this is going to be your first firearm, then, in my mind, it needs to be utterly reliable as you may have to bet your life on it. I don't know much about the Hi Point but from what I'm seeing here is that their reliability is questionable so I would not get one as my first weapon.

Can you wait a little longer and save? Also, there is absolutely nothing wrong getting something used. Yes, I know you want new but you can likely get a better firearm used and many of them have rarely been used.

If it were me, I would go to Big 5 and get the Mossberg 500 shotgun for around $270 that comes with two barrels (18.5/20" for home defense and a 28"ish one for bird/clay shooting). Also, after having tried an number of shooting activities, I find that shoot clay pigeons (be it trap, skeet, etc) is about the funnest thing there is to do. Also, you can get birdshot ammo at Walmart for a really good price allowing you to practice more.

Again, just my two cents. My key take away would be for whatever you get to make sure it is going to be reliable.
 
I don't know much about the Hi Point but from what I'm seeing here is that their reliability is questionable so I would not get one as my first weapon.
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Have you read Justin's thread (and blog) on the Hi Point Challenge posted right here?

Some may be saying that, however most don't agree at all; NOR does Justin's results support them (and he was not and perhaps still is not a fan boy more of a hater LOL before testing at least!) and if the truth were known it's most likely at least 90% of the "Bashers/haters" of Hi Points do not own one and probably haven't shot them themselves but "heard" things etc.

Some bash them "because they're ugly" but let's face it most folks are not "gun nuts' like us and don't care about that at all, does it fire when trigger is pulled YES does it hit where aimed YES does it feed different ammo well YES', does it function and feed YES... In the real world (as opposed to gun nut world) those are All that matter to probably 90% of gun buyers... IMO

For $150 or so OTD, it's hard if not impossible to beat a Hi Point that is an indisputable fact and IF anything at all is EVER wrong with it, Hi Point will make it right, USA products like they should be to many that is also worth a bunch fwiw .
 
"Also, the suggestions of all these other guns are "BETTER" is simply not true. Better at what?????? That is the key question. Too many people simply don't know what they're talking about."

Well put........ I'm one of those guys who was prompted to buy a HP 9 simply because of the posts in Justin's thread.

I bought it and took it out and killed paper men with it last weekend. The gun worked flawlessly... pointed, pulled trigger, and it went bang every time. It also made holes in very close proximity to the intended destination.

If you want a gun for the range or hd, you will be hard pressed to find a gun than is better functioning for those purposes. Period. Price point is just a major bonus.

The gun works wel,l so all the bashing from detractors just sounds silly to the rest of us. Justin seems to have shown that the gun is an adequate, if not above average, performer.

HP has sold me on the merits, not the rhetoric.
 
Hi Points are ok.

They do exactly what they should as long as you remember to lock the wrist and elbow seeing as they're a blowback design. I can see situations where this might not be possible - like when your behind the wheel at a car jacking. You can lessen the chance of a one shot firearm by getting one in .380 and forget the other calibers if this is gonna be your carry gun too. Mags years ago were CHEAP, not sure about the newer ones.

My 9mm was great as long as I remembered the rules but it never was a carry piece. Very accurate btw with the fixed barrel design.

Mike
 
If i'm going to have time to get off one shot in a pistol fight and that one shot has to be fast, and it has to be precise, and it HAS to go bang, and if money is not my overriding concern....then i am most assuredly not picking a Hi Point.

What i did pick was an HK P7 to fill that role, perhaps the most accurate service pistol ever devised, with a legendary trigger pull and cult like devotion to it's magnificent ergonomics and supreme reliability.

I have the luxury of having more money than relying on a serviceable but otherwise heavy, bulky design. One with "middle of the pack" accuracy.

In the classes of firearms i need, Hi Point is a non-competitive design when compared with the weapons i can afford.

Defensive firearms are like an insurance policy. Some of us can afford better policies than others.
 
Valorius; sorry. You put a lot of words on paper, but you sure don't say anything. Most definitely believe and buy what you want. No one has ever said for you to do differently. But until you know "Something" about hi-point, and can discuss it with some knowledge, I'm going to have to bow out of our little dialog. It's simply a waste of time. So don't get upset if I don't respond to any of your comments or rebuttals. There's just nothing there with any facts to work with. Sorry.

Obviously for the others, many are finding that the hi-points have their pros and cons. And for those who are interested in the pros of a hi-point, they won't be disappointed. And it doesn't matter if this is all you can afford, or if you can afford a $2500 Les Baer. The hi-point may very well be able to fill a certain niche for you. If you visit some of the dedicated hi-point forums; not generic gun forums like this one; you'll find hi-point owners of every kind. Those where it's their only gun for home defense, and those who own 20+ handguns of every price range. And you'll also find that the overwhelming majority of hi-points are very happy. And when most of these people also own springers, colt, glock, sig, hk, etc.... they obviously aren't rationalizing why they like the hi-points.
 
I'm saying something very clearly. For the uses i have for a firearm, the Hi Point is non-competitive as soon as you take $ out of the equation. There are other, clearly superior choices for my needs when $ is not a factor.

It is clearly not as good a CCW piece as my HK P7. The Hi Point is big, heavy, and bulky. It is not a good choice for concealment. Even if it could match the P7's accuracy (not), or speed into action, or totally unique safety system, it simply cannot compete with the compact dimensions and super slim profile of the P7. That's a plain and simple fact.

It is clearly not as good a choice as a deep cover pocket pistol as my LCP is. The Hi Point is totally non competitive in this role.

The 995 carbine, while excellent, is not competitive with my AR with regard to range, accuracy, or capacity. It is actually more compact than a M-4 with 16" barrel, but just barely so.

Hi Point doesn't make a shotgun, so obviously no hi point is competitive with my Beretta shotgun.

Now, some other roles where i can point to "Clearly superior" weaponry:

As a purely home defense weapon, many other handguns have significantly greater capacity- caliber for caliber- while also being lighter, and more compact.

As an offensive weapon, no hi point is anywhere remotely near competitive with a FN Five Seven with it's 31rd mag, 100yd range, and armor piercing projectiles. Not even the 995 carbine (though, again, i think this is a dandy little carbine).

As a battlefield weapon of any kind no Hi Point is competitive with a true military type weapon due to their relatively complex field stripping procedure that requires the use of tools.

So clearly, factually, obviously, for my needs, and many other needs, Hi Point is non competitive, regardless of it's price.

Understand?

They are however perfectly serviceable guns, and i will never knock their ability to go bang when you pull the trigger and hit reasonably close to the point of aim. They clearly work, and work well.

But there are better choices out there for almost any role if you can afford them.
 
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I bought it and took it out and killed paper men with it last weekend. The gun worked flawlessly... pointed, pulled trigger, and it went bang every time. It also made holes in very close proximity to the intended destination.

If you want a gun for the range or hd, you will be hard pressed to find a gun than is better functioning for those purposes. Period. Price point is just a major bonus.

The gun works wel,l so all the bashing from detractors just sounds silly to the rest of us. Justin seems to have shown that the gun is an adequate, if not above average, performer.

HP has sold me on the merits, not the rhetoric.
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VERY well said and congratulations on your new and very reliable Hi Point.

I wonder how many of these Used, so called "better" 9mm pistols in a similar price range (meaning double the cost all things considered) are +P rated?

I (like most I would bet) don't care who doesn't buy a Hi Point, but it's concerning to me (at least) that some would try to sway someone away from one on totally false pretenses (at best). Perhaps with more folks like you and Christcorp getting the truth out there, the "false rumors" will finally end.
 
Ace' if you check out the hi-point throw down thread, the last post by Kimber45 is one of the best written posts I've ever seen. Real experience and real details.

The problem we're seeing with those that have a hard-on against hi-point, is they tend to talk all about the things hi-points weren't designed to do. Then, they try and use that as justification for why they think there are "Better" guns out there to buy. They are simply rationalizing their choices and the money they've spent.

If a person said: "The ONLY thing I want a gun for is concealed carry". That is a great reason NOT to buy a hi-point. If a person said: "I am really into competition shooting, and I want a gun that can be modified and hold up to 1000 rounds a month". Again, I would agree that the hi-point would not be a good choice. I have no problem with people discarding a hi-point as an option when it can't do some of the things they want it to. Or at least do it efficiently. The problem I have is with those who when put into a corner and forced to discuss the hi-point for the capabilities that is WAS designed for, they immediately start talking about: "Well, for just a few dollars more....". They are wrong, and they just can't admit it. Most Hi-point C-9's can be had, out the door, for $150. Even an inexpensive CZ-82 9mm makarov (Which is one of my all time favorite pistols), costs $220 to order. Throw in $25 S/H and $25 for FFL transfer, and you're up to $270. Sorry, but that's not "Just a few dollars more". Not for some people. Plus, as used, there is no warranty work and you need to research sources for parts, magazines, etc... And even some of the other more modern used guns; like a Kel-tec Pf9 or P11 will cost about $100 or more than the Hi-Point. And you take your chances with warranty work. They might let you have free warranty work done, but then again, they might not. They specifically say in their documentation that the lifetime warranty is for the original owner.

Point is; for what the hi-point is intended to do, it is a very good gun. And people like justin who have been doing some very good tests, are showing that it indeed is a very good gun. "For what it's designed for". And just about every hi-point owner; including those who are fortunate to own many other guns; including some very expensive guns; are very pleased with the hi-point. No, it's not as accurate as my Sig P220. It's not as comfortable as my CZ-82. It's not as shiny as my Kimber or Dan Wesson. But I know that if I throw it in my glove box, put it in the garage, throw it in a back pack, or have it in a drawer in a spare room in the house; that if I need to use it, it WILL go bang when I need it.
 
What kind of shootout are you imagining yourself in? A mag that holds 10 shots is readily available from the hi point website and will be more than plenty for any citizen-level conflict. Sure, if I've got an armored division of nazi's attacking I might want something more but for the average bum stealing your TV or trying to take your wallet anything that goes boom loudly and reliably enough will get the job done.
 
Ace' if you check out the hi-point throw down thread, the last post by Kimber45 is one of the best written posts I've ever seen. Real experience and real details.
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I did and I agree 100%
 
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