Hi-Point Firearms

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Hi-Points are strange creatures. On one hand they are heavy, ugly, and the blowback operation makes them kick fairly hard (by autoloader standards). On the other hand they're dirt cheap, accurate, and they have a great warranty. I bought a used Hi-Point in .45 acp as a cheap fun gun, and its only had two failures to feed/fire, and both were on the same box of ammo. If you can deal with the fact that it makes a Glock look like a beauty queen, a Hi-Point is a fine but spartan firearm.
 
I just bought a HP .40 carbine, that I haven't had a chance to shoot yet. It's butt-ugly, and definitely low-tech, but I bought it because it was under $200, I've heard they're a LOT of fun, made in the USA, and have a lifetime warranty. I can't speak to how well it works yet, but I'm looking forward to wringing it out real good. I just wanted it for FUN, not hunting or s/d.
 
I'm a Hi-Point Owner, and proud of it. I've got the 995 Carbine and C-9, both in 9mm. Both were accurate out of the box, with minor adjustments. They go bang when the trigger is pulled, and have a lifetime warranty attached to the gun, and not the original owner.

Some people have had bad experience with them. Some have had good experience.

You say you're looking for self-defense. Would this be just for at home,something to throw in the car, or are you looking for concealed carry? The answer to that could affect your answer.

I personally have no problems relying on either for home defense, or throwing them in the car. But I wouldn't CCW a Hi-Point, though some qual'd with 'em.
 
Like Prepster said...

Ugly, cheap, unrefined... but not a bad gun. If you can spend a little more, you can get something like a Bersa .380 for around $200 or a Bersa 9mm for around $300. There's no telling what else you could find used for a reasonable price. I got a full size HS2000/XD9 for $200.
 
No personal experience here, but from what I hear... they are very effective by reputation. That's pretty impressive value for such a cheap gun. I once considered buying one as my first pistol. The guys at the range may make fun of you, but who cares, really? The guy at the gun shop will definitely try to talk you out of it.

These things are very heavy and are made of "cheap potmetal" whatever that means. I'm pretty sure a lot of AKs are the same bag. If it's reliable and lasts awhile, who cares?

They are definitely heavy and large and ugly. I've heard of some ergonomics issues. I would definitely want to try running 300-500 rounds with no issues before I trusted it.

I hear the lifetime warranty service is pretty good. Probably better than taurus.

Please take what I say with a grain of salt. I have never shot one... or even seen one in real life. All I know is internet conjecture. I would hate to advise you to buy one and then have it fail in a life threatening situation.
 
Iv heard just about everything bad under the sun about the hi-points - but its always from people who have never actually owned one - everyone i know that has addmitted to owning one really likes em - i have a friend who ended up buying one on a whim and liked it so well he bought three more - so i guess maybe you should listen to those who have actually owned one and see what they say -

I shot a HP in 9mm about eight years ago - that is the only experience i have had with these guns - but I remember being impressed - a friend's brother bought a used one and talked me into trying it - i remember thinking that it felt good in the hand and i didn't think the recoil was too bad either - and it was more accurrate the the S&W 9mm i was carrying at the time - so - yeah - i would give it a shot - as with any new gun - run several hundred through it before you carry it for self defense
 
The guy at the gun shop may very well try to talk you out of it... but then again, the guy at the gun shop tried to talk me out of my first Bersa and told me I should save twice as much and buy a used Glock instead.

I'm as happy as I can be with my two Bersas. I didn't want a Glock then, and I still don't want one now.
 
I saw a take down guide of one and it’s amazing to me that it can function, all sorts of little springs that look to me like they should belong in a pen. And they’re made out of pot metal and plastic.:scrutiny:

Anything that I read needs to be broken in by firing 500 shots scares me too.

And the gun is like a loaf of bread with a pistol grip on it.
...........................
Buy a Norinco 1911 it may cost 2-3 times more, but they’re nice guns for the price, and you have a military grade gun.
 
I had a 995 Carbine. Nice little gun. I didn't care for the cocking lever that would keep coming unscrewed, even with Blue Loctite being used. So, it's on the Consignment Block.

They are nice accurate Carbines that are a lot of fun for the money.
Seems as if their warranty is pretty good too, but I didn't use it.
 
I have a C-9. No problems so far. If you can get past the looks it is a great gun for the money.
 
Never Again!!!!!

My past thoughts on hi point:banghead:
Quote:
Buying a gun is much like buying a tool. If its for just 1 job and you can toss it in the trash when you are done then High point is fine but dont expect it to last and/or work more than once.

On the other hand if you pride yourself in purchases and you need a tool that will last long enough to pass on to your children and/or its a multiple use or heavy duty use tool then spend the cash and buy a better line of product.

bottom line hi point was built and designed for one purpose to sell to those who cant afford kinda like buying christmas presents for your kids at the dollar store then wondering why they are all broken by newyears. I promiss you will be a lot happier with something else and for only a couple of hundred more.

Quote:
I have seen a bunch I have owned 6.
3 jamed every other round throught was burred really bad.
1 broke out right after 2 shots the trigger broke and was limp you could move it back and forth freely.
the mag realeas on one other one would not release the mag any more after 100 rounds.
and the sixth one worked.

I got dog'ed out in the other thread for what I said but I stand by it any way. Hipoint is junk 1 out of six guns worked they were all mine I kept taking them back for returns and kept getting another about to brake gun back did you see this 1 out of 6 worked

I therefore can not recomend one nor will ever own another infact the one I had got turned in on a police gun buy for a $50 walmart card money better spent.
Junk junk and junk you get what you pay for here I hate them and the folks that came up with them.

And for people that dont have money(in relation to the other thread) neither did I at the time so I saved for 8 months to get a quality 1911 see this againI saved for 8 months thats how you afford a gun.......rant off....sorry

Sorry but if you can just save even just $100 more than a hi-point costs you can get a beter quality gun. Just because its american made does not mean its good.

I only bash products that I beleive are bad not because I dont like them but because they are not reliable or of low quality.
Click to expand...

My experience was when the company was new. Their products were poor then and the reputation carries on. Aparently they have reorganized the company and things are better now. However since I have better guns now, and because of prior poor experiences I will not give them a second chance.:mad:
 
Youll be happier in the long run if you save a little more and get something with more quality. Ruger P's, Bersas, keltec, heck my taurus revolver never did me wrong NIB 240 so you have options...
 
I've never had a gun shop employee try to talk me out of anything. If I said "I want that Hi-Point" and the clerk told me "No you don't, it's junk" or something on that order, I'd ask "Well why do you carry it?"

When I bought my Hi-Point all I heard from the clerk was "Thank you for your business. Come back again." I bought a C-9, and it's been a decent gun. Well beter than decent really. It's jammed a couple of times, but I've shot the snot out of it trying to make it mess up. It just keeps on working. Nothing has broken or flown off it. It hasn't blown up, or ruined any of the other guns it's stored with. I can hit a target with it about the same as I can anything else I shoot, except a 22 maybe, but I can't blame the gun for any misses I don't think. I've actually cleaned it once, but it didn't really need it.

It's not a Colt, it's not a Glock, shoot it's not even a Bersa or a Kel-Tec, but for $139.00 back when I got it, it's pretty good. I've never found any of these other guns people say you can buy for "just a little more." Maybe you can, but it always seems the shops had them "yesterday" when I go looking for them.

I don't shoot my Hi-Point much anymore. I've got a few other guns I like more, but I'm going to keep it. When the Zombies come, somebody can cover the back door with it. :D
 
I looked at the Highpoint 380 a couple of weeks ago. I had the cash in my pocket and it was burning but when I pulled the trigger a couple of times it pinched my finger. Also It's the same size as the 9mm and I want something a little smaller in a 380 so I'm holding out until I find a Bersa that I like.
 
as a note, I have never owned a Hi Point, so this is all second-hand infomation.

Hi Point - Ugly, Large, but reliable and with a great warrenty. (lifetime no questions asked)

All this for a gun under $200 normally....

The best thing about Hi Point is that it really makes the "Ring of Fire" gun makers pointless. Why buy a Jimenez Firearms gun when at the same price you can get a much higher quality gun in a larger caliber.

From what I understand, they use steel when needed (for example, the barrel), Zinc alloy (AKA potmetal) on the parts that don't need the steel, and then top it off with encasing it in Polymer.

I know a lot of people think the Carbines are a hoot to shoot. ;)
 
Waiting for a Bersa is a good idea. They're almost universally loved by people who actually own them.

As for the finger pinching thing... yeah, it is a problem, but it's not unique to Highpoints. My new S&W 637 Airweight did that to me just yesterday. :) "Nice" guns can bite too.
 
Thanks to everyone that has replied. My upper limit on price right now is about $500, so I don't have to go with the Hi-Point. I just don't wait to pay more than I have to for a good gun. I'll move the Hi-Points to about the middle of my list of potential guns and then see if I can't get a chance to really try one out.
 
I wouldn't wanna carry one on my hip, but a gun you brought is better than one sitting at home in the safe.

There are lots of used S&W 6-shot mod 10s in .38 special floating around, you might wanna take a gander at.
 
Another brand to consider is Rock Island Armory, if you're by chance interested in a 1911 platform in .45 or .38 Super. I have three Rocks, and I'd heartily recommend them to anybody! Basic models are the GI, Tactical, and Compact, with minor variations. My Compact is my daily carry gun.

They're made in the Phillipines, but are excellent quality, and the US distributor stands behind them unconditionally. Made by Armscor, who also makes High Standard 1911's and until recently, Charles Daly's too.

Forgot to mention all their models are under $400 too, except the Match and Longslides.
 
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I bought a Hi-Power in .45acp just to see how it was and to have a cheap .45 range gun. It's not bad, just real ugly and awkward. I do seem to get some "looks" at the range when shooting it but who cares. Also, if it jams/runs out of ammo, i''ll put it in my sock and swing for the fences.
 
I believe the best current value in a new and reliable self defense auto is the Ruger P95, which can be had for just over 3 bills.
 
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