Hi Point Carbine or SKS

[UKTN]

First time poster and I need some help.
I am thinking of getting a semi automatic center fire rifle. I see the rifle as a WITSHTF protection go anywhere in the woods type of gun,and am considering the following;
Hi Point 9mm or 40SW carbine, I have a 40sw handgun so it might make sense to stay with the 40SW but 9mm amunition is much cheaper. Would a 9mm be powerful enough? I have also thought about a SKS
What do you think?

 

[Technosavant]

Between the two, I would go SKS for one reason: the 7.62x39 is FAR more powerful than the 9mm or .40S&W. The SKS can be used as a hunting rifle, having plenty of ability to down a deer (check legality in your state), where the Hi-Point carbine in either caliber would not be a good choice if you needed to get your own food. A Hi-Point carbine would be useful for plinking, some self-defense, and some smaller critters, but the SKS has the ability to do all that at longer ranges (and up close too).

Ammo commonality is a good thing, but if the ammo that you have standardized on won't get the job done, the whole effort is wasted. Better to stock another caliber and be better prepared all the way around.

 

[baz]

I have a HiPoint 995 -- the 9 mm version -- and love it, partly for the cheap ammo, and partly for sharing the ammo with my Taurus PT24/7 in 9mm. But in your situation, I think technosavant's advice makes some sense. I wouldn't choose the 995 as my main WTSHTF weapon. SKS is better for that. Or look into a Saiga (a little more expensive, but gives you some other options on calibers -- .223 or .308).

Or, if you are thinking longer term, like I did, and plan to acquire something other than just the HiPoint, but want to start out with a low budget, then get the HiPoint. Just realize that while it will be better than nothing when TSHTF, it will be better yet to have something else. Then, the HiPoint can be turned over to a spouse, child, or buddy who doesn't have a weapon, while you carry your "main" WTSHF weapon. In my case, I bought a 995 first, for the reasons listed above. Then I saved up some money and got a Saiga in .223 (ultimately spent more for the Tromix conversion). So now I've got two.

I understand the need to think what to get when the budget is limited. I don't know where people get the $$$ to buy all these +$1000 sidearms and rifles. Since I started arming myself about a year ago, I've spent a little less than $2000, and have two sidearms, and three longguns to show for it, all good purchases -- and all NIB -- for the money. My normal "price point" for a firearm is that it needs to be less than $400. My Saiga broke that rule, sort of, but I laid out ~$300 for the Saiga itself, and ~$300+ for the conversion.

So, if you want to go with the HiPoint now, and pick up a SKS in a few months, that wouldn't be a bad plan from my POV.

 

[Will Learn]

Get the SKS, it's been around for years. The gun is very durable and pretty accurate out to 200-300 meters. Don't know what the Hi-Point is capable of but I don't think it can reach out that far. I have had my SKS since for five years now and I highly recommend it. YEA stripper clips!!!!!!

 

[dracphelan]

AS the others said, get the SKS. There is a reason you don't se 9mm or .40 caliber battle rifles.

If you want ammo commonality, get a 357 or 44 magnum revolver and lever action rifle. Both are good for self defense and hunting.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

I have both. Get the SKS. The quality is much higher and it is more powerful. The Hi Point feels like a toy and will not last near as long as the SKS. I would bet an SKS would be useable for a century if properly taken care of. You see a lot of 100 year old Krag rifles that are in great shape I would be the SKS wouldn't be much different. Does anyone really think a Hi point would stand the test of time?

 

[BobTheTomato]

for a SHTF secnario SKS:

7.62x39mm fmj beats kevlar

 

[Stiletto Null]

I vote SKS. Ammo's not much more expensive than 9mm or .40, and it's a whole lot more powerful.

 

[Jackal]

I just sold my Hi-Point. I hated it. For some reason, the recoil of my Yugo SKS is less annoying than the Hi-Point 9mm's. My Hi-Point would slap my shoulder and cheek with every shot, quickly turning my shoulder red after 1 or 2 mags. Please note, i am no sissy. I would just rather fire a 12 guage than a Hi-Point.

 

[carterbeauford]

Agreeing with all that has been said, consider this:

SKS rifles, in one form or another, have killed a lot of people. Hi-point carbines? Not so much.

If SHTF preparedness is your rifle's primary role, then consider the track record of the SKS. 7.62x39 is a good all around caliber for this role IMHO, whether you use it in an AK, SKS, bolt gun, whatever.

Never seen that done with hi-points

 

[UKTN]

Thank you

Thanks for the replies, I am originaly from England and now live in Tennessee
so I don't have a long history of gun ownership. I am in the process of becoming an American Citizen and value the 2nd amendment!

 

[Doug S]

I've owned both the Hi-Point and a number of SKS carbines. There is no contest. The SKS is the superior firearm. If you were only looking for a budget pistol caliber carbine for plinking, the Hi-Point might be the best choice. If you are looking for a very durable, reliable, reasonably powerful carbine that can serve the same purpose as the Hi-Point plus a whole lot more, than the SKS is the only real choice. My Hi-Point was fun and reliable (although I agree with the post above, it does slap your cheek), but it was a pain to take apart for cleaning, and did not appear to have the rugged durability of the SKS.

 

[yayarx7]

Get both

 

[jjohnson]

SKS Hands Down

Welcome to the USA!

Ex military and shooter for 44 years.... I have a handful of SKS carbines as well as a few "pistol calibre" carbines. If I had to pick one and only one out of the pile for overall 'defense' of my property, I'd take the SKS every time. Don't forget that pistol calibre carbines shoot pistol ammo. An SKS is NOT one of those. Handguns are great, but a lot of people can't handle them; the handgun calibre carbines are handy, but for reliability, figure the only "military issue" that you mentioned is the SKS. They're reliable as dirt, and way more powerful than the others. You can get an almost new one for under $200 and ammo is generally cheap, so you can afford to go play with it until you're happy with it.

Sure, there are other options and ideas, but I try to stick with the original question. I even spelled 'calibre' right for you just to be a good neighbor...

 

[HMMurdock]

I've never been impressed with the feel, look, or performance of any HiPoints, especially the carbines. That being said, 99% of them will go BOOM! when you command it to. Although I have heard of the Carbines having jamming issues... HiPoint is considered bottom of the line in firearms, but perhaps the most reliable of the bottom of the line.

The 9mm, depending on the ammo, is sometimes not suitable for taking down a human (FMJ = No. Hydra-Shoks = Yes.), so I wouldn't trust it as a primary SHTF rifle, especially in the woods. The .40S&W is marginally better. In this case: not good enough.

Get the SKS, hands down. You can get tactical stocks and whatnot to customize it, too, which is sweet.

Bolt-Actions make good wilderness rifles. Many gun stores will occasionaly have Yugo 8mm Mausers for under $100, same with Russian Mosin-Nagant 7.62x54mm... but if you want tactical, go SKS. And the Saigas are a good idea, too. If you want to spring a little big more then cheap Romanian AK-47s are usually obtainable for under or around $400 and have a lot more firepower. With a smaller magazine, 5- or 10-rounders, you can hunt with them in some states.

Just my personal experiences...

TRL

 

[jjohnson]

DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

OHMIGAWD... I was just checking carefully back through the thread one more time, and I think this is as close as I've ever seen to something that resembles a
real agreement....

 

[KINGMAX]

SKS ?? maybe consider an AK47 ??

I am not a fan of the .40 SW. If you want a good pair of guns w/ the same ammo go to 9mm or even .44 mag if you need a lot of power.

If you are going to keep the .40 sw as a pistol round go w/ the SKS or even consider a used AK47, IMHO. The ole AK is hard to beat.

When tshtf, I have an AK47 for rifle, and a GLOCK 21 in .45 acp as my side arm. That is a lot of fire power, plenty of reliability.

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

why is this so hard? Get both....

 

[Hogfan1911]

I recently found an SKS at a gun show in Little Rock-brand new still in the grease, with bayonet & grenade launcher attachment-that my buddy bought for $135 cash. (I let him have it b/c I already have one ). I figure since you're only 1 state over you should be able to round one up fairly cheaply with a little bit of searching. Welcome to the USA!

 

[carterbeauford]

OHMIGAWD... I was just checking carefully back through the thread one more time, and I think this is as close as I've ever seen to something that resembles a
real agreement....

Of course if you want to pick off invading aliens at 800 yards, or in the air, get an AR-15. They never jam and you can put a hole in a dime with one at any range.

 

[MechAg94]

OHMIGAWD... I was just checking carefully back through the thread one more time, and I think this is as close as I've ever seen to something that resembles a
real agreement....

I don't agree with that!



SKS all the way. I like the Saiga suggestion also; available in other calibers.

 

[kfranz]

carterbeauford, did you intentionally tell the man to get the SKS and then try to confuse him by posting a pic with a bunch of Chicom Type 63's....

 

[carterbeauford]

carterbeauford, did you intentionally tell the man to get the SKS and then try to confuse him by posting a pic with a bunch of Chicom Type 63's....

Sort of. There's a whole thread full of those pics at SKSB, I picked the one with the most pissed off looking soldiers to make my point without paying much attention to the rifle.

 

[Jackal]

Although i coudnt stand my Hi-Point, i will say it was super reliable. Over 600rds. of Wolf ammo, and not 1 jam. Ever.

 

[jjohnson]

SKS Copies

Oh, yeah - for you AK47 guys - I know there's a lot of other ideas and options, but I was trying to answer the question (THIS or THAT, not what else) so same goes for the Black Stick crowd.

Anyway, I consider the SKS as a generic term - I have a Yugo and a couple of ChiCom Type 56's, consider them "SKS" also even though they're not Russian.
Same experience: Reliable, rugged, fairly easy to strip and clean. Sorta like a big boy's Ruger 10/22 in many ways. And I have nothing against the Hi-Point other than it's uglier than a CZ52, but hey, I own a couple of those and don't bitch... So I wouldn't want to tell our British friend that ONLY a for real Russian SKS is a bad deal - my Yugo came packed in armory grease and I think I paid $150 for it, so it's a good choice for a truck gun.

Reminder, though: LOTS of that cheap ammo is corrosive primed, so if you're going to get one, learn to strip and clean it.