rugerman07
Member
A friend of mine recently purchased a new Hi Point model 9C 9mm pistol. It only cost $160.00.
Are Hi Point's a good quality gun?
Are Hi Point's a good quality gun?
Hi Point Pistols & Carbines
- Thread starter rugerman07
- Start date
- Status
gunsmith
member
oh man, not this again!
your question will cause thread lock and fights, you may as well asked
"Why are Glocks so much better than Springfield .45's"?
Why is 9mm better then .45?
I plan on buying a hi point one of these days myself so I think they are swell....ugly as sin but swell.
Others really hate them.
your question will cause thread lock and fights, you may as well asked
"Why are Glocks so much better than Springfield .45's"?
Why is 9mm better then .45?
I plan on buying a hi point one of these days myself so I think they are swell....ugly as sin but swell.
Others really hate them.
tinygnat219
Member
To answer your above question, yes they are a decent handgun. They are ugly as sin, with some strange ergonomics, but they go bang. Would I personally use one for self-defense?
Not really. I prefer my firearms to be of a smoother, more ergonomic vintage. However, if you are on tight budget, the Hi-Point is literally worth its weight in gold. I DO own the 9MM carbine, and it's an inexpensive plinker that I think has oodles of potential. It's nice in that I can use it to get people to move beyond that .22 caliber barrier.
Don't expect a crisp trigger, or hand-polished finishes on these. They just aren't made that way. Expect a clunky, reliable pistol with a gritty trigger and a lifetime warranty; for the money, that's not a bad deal. Among those who use them, they have an extremely loyal following.
The company that owns them also owns Charter Arms (compact revolvers), and Chapparal Arms (Cowboy guns).
I wouldn't own one of their pistols, but then I won't dismiss them either. My interests simply lie elsewhere and that's pretty much the sum of the arguments that will follow this post.
Not really. I prefer my firearms to be of a smoother, more ergonomic vintage. However, if you are on tight budget, the Hi-Point is literally worth its weight in gold. I DO own the 9MM carbine, and it's an inexpensive plinker that I think has oodles of potential. It's nice in that I can use it to get people to move beyond that .22 caliber barrier.
Don't expect a crisp trigger, or hand-polished finishes on these. They just aren't made that way. Expect a clunky, reliable pistol with a gritty trigger and a lifetime warranty; for the money, that's not a bad deal. Among those who use them, they have an extremely loyal following.
The company that owns them also owns Charter Arms (compact revolvers), and Chapparal Arms (Cowboy guns).
I wouldn't own one of their pistols, but then I won't dismiss them either. My interests simply lie elsewhere and that's pretty much the sum of the arguments that will follow this post.
Last edited:
MKS Supply (Dayton, Ohio) is the parent Company of Hi-Point, CharterArms and Chaparall Arms.
Hi-Point firearms are NOT the most AP {Aesthetically Pleasing} guns out there, but they go Bang! on request, and put the lead where you aim.
I don't own any Hi-Points, but I have shot most of their models at some time. I am waiting for the release of their .45ACP carbine. (Since in a moment of GREAT foolishness and financial embarassment, I sold my Marlin .45 Camp Carbine.)
Hi-Point firearms are NOT the most AP {Aesthetically Pleasing} guns out there, but they go Bang! on request, and put the lead where you aim.
I don't own any Hi-Points, but I have shot most of their models at some time. I am waiting for the release of their .45ACP carbine. (Since in a moment of GREAT foolishness and financial embarassment, I sold my Marlin .45 Camp Carbine.)
Last edited:
revjen45
Member
ilbob nailed it. Gun snobs (people who love guns for their aesthetic appeal) think ill of HiPoints.. In one of these threads about them the only people who defend them are owners. Yeah, they're cheap and ugly, but if you don't have much money and don't care what it looks like it might be the right choice.
I've heard that they are reliable in that they go boom when needed. Probably a good gun for someone who needs a cheap gun for home defense. Other than that they are bulky, heavy, fugly guns. If you gave me one, I would sell it and buy ammo. Name one advantage this gun has over any other besides being cheap. You get what you pay for.
K
K
How about "fully supports the cartridge casing", so that it doesn't bulge out the brass and prevent the brass from being reloaded?
How about "doesn't have polygonal rifling" so that you can shoot lead with it?
How about: Lifetime warranty, any owner, no time limits, no questions. You buy one used and it is broken? Send it to the factory. If anything of any consequence concerns you about the gun, send it to the factory and they will give it a once over. They will often throw in a magazine or two on the return trip for your trouble.
There you have three advantages, and I won't even say over which gun.
possom813
Member
I had one in a .380 that I bought for 150. It went bang on command and only had one stovepipe jam(I hadn't cleaned it in a while).
And like foghornl, I'm waiting for the release of the .45 carbine. I believe they're already distributing a .40 cal version.
-John
And like foghornl, I'm waiting for the release of the .45 carbine. I believe they're already distributing a .40 cal version.
-John
Dionysusigma
Member
You already named one in the first sentence of your post.
I've never bought a hammer for its engraving and gold inlay. Guns are tools.
I have, however, bought a screwdriver with a softer grip that was slightly more expensive than those in the $.99 bin. 'Course, you will never see me with a Glock as they don't fit my hands at all, but the Hi-Point feels nice. Recoil is a mere push, due to the unusually heavy slide.
My only complaint is that they're all single-stack.
ClickClickD'oh
Member
I can't speak for the pistols, but I do own a 4095 carbine. It's a blast as a plinker and has been 100% reliable over it's lifetime no matter what I put in the magazine. Yeah, it's ugly as sin... but that's half the fun when you pull it out at the range and watch the high speed low drag wannabies recoil in disgust. Their gun - $1800. Yours - $160
On waiting for the .45 carbine...
Does anyone else have the feeling that it will never be? Given the pent up demand for this, I'd expect it to be a high priority for HiPoint. Assuming it is, all this time makes me wonder if they aren't having some technical hurdle they cannot get past. For it to be a HiPoint, it has got to be cheap and rugged. Maybe in .45, that's proving hard to do.
Does anyone else have the feeling that it will never be? Given the pent up demand for this, I'd expect it to be a high priority for HiPoint. Assuming it is, all this time makes me wonder if they aren't having some technical hurdle they cannot get past. For it to be a HiPoint, it has got to be cheap and rugged. Maybe in .45, that's proving hard to do.
frogomatic
Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2007
- Messages
- 522
I have a hi-point pistol in .45auto, I like it. reliable as hell, plenty accurate, and has better ergonomics than a glock.
Also a little custom work goes a long way on these guns, Polish the ramp and some of the trigger bits and you'd be suprised how smooth it can be.
Also a little custom work goes a long way on these guns, Polish the ramp and some of the trigger bits and you'd be suprised how smooth it can be.
tinygnat219
Member
Well, the Hi-Point really is something to consider as "Glock-Lite".
A further insight on other guns in general.... more expensive than the HP... is in this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=310567
you pick 16 random "high quality" firearms, and 14 won't make it to 1000 rounds without some mishap or other. 6 of them did not even make it through a couple of magazines. Why would someone expect more from a Hi Point than you get from a Glock or 1911?
Out of my first thousand rounds with my HP .40, I only had a few failure-to-fire/failure to feed with retail ammunition. Given the thread I posted, this seems to be normal and in-line with other firearms.
p.s. I should mention that many of the failures to get to 1000 rounds were operator problems. If anything, though, this throws weight behind the idea that the perceived quality of the HP has as much to do with the people who buy them (newbies) as it does with the actual gun.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=310567
you pick 16 random "high quality" firearms, and 14 won't make it to 1000 rounds without some mishap or other. 6 of them did not even make it through a couple of magazines. Why would someone expect more from a Hi Point than you get from a Glock or 1911?
Out of my first thousand rounds with my HP .40, I only had a few failure-to-fire/failure to feed with retail ammunition. Given the thread I posted, this seems to be normal and in-line with other firearms.
p.s. I should mention that many of the failures to get to 1000 rounds were operator problems. If anything, though, this throws weight behind the idea that the perceived quality of the HP has as much to do with the people who buy them (newbies) as it does with the actual gun.
I think Hi-Points are hit and miss. Many folks talk about their carbines being dealdly reliable- which their's very well may be. However, I have had an exactly opposite experience with a 995 that couldn't make ti through a mag without jamming. I know Hi-Point will fix it, but I don't know if investing more money into the weapon (Hi-Point doesn't pay shipping to them AFAIK) is necesarily worth it- in the end you end up with a $250 junk carbine- the only thing it has going for it are it's sights and ergonomics (I actually like Hi-Point ergonomics). The design has inherent flaws- the screws that hold the weapon together need be retightened frequently as does the bolt handle. Also the bolt lock is difficult to operate.
What Hi-Points are, in effect, is a modern, plastic, Saturday Night Special. They work, maybe good enough, and are cheap. Take that as you may.
For $150 to $200, one could get a surplus CZ-52 pistol and a 9x19 aftermarket barrel. Not perfect either, but you get the ability to shoot 9 (affordable and available everywhere) or 7.62x25 (cheap right now- may not be so cheap in the future).
There are police trade in .38's that sell for $200 to $225 at times.
What Hi-Points are, in effect, is a modern, plastic, Saturday Night Special. They work, maybe good enough, and are cheap. Take that as you may.
For $150 to $200, one could get a surplus CZ-52 pistol and a 9x19 aftermarket barrel. Not perfect either, but you get the ability to shoot 9 (affordable and available everywhere) or 7.62x25 (cheap right now- may not be so cheap in the future).
There are police trade in .38's that sell for $200 to $225 at times.
Im283
Member
I have a Hi-Point in .40 S&W. It was $179 out the door.
It had feed problems for about the first 300 to 400 rounds. Nothing terrible mind you but maybe one FTF out of 100 rounds. In the last 1200 rounds I have put through it there have been no failures period. I believe a fluff and buff at the get go would have solved any feed issues. I know others that have 1000 rounds or more through theirs with no failures at any point.
It is a bit clunky looking but shoots very well and is very accurate. And at the price they go for there is no reason to not have one. Makes a perfect truck gun.
The lifetime warranty is the real deal. A buddy bought a 9mm carbine used.
It looked really bad, the stock was in horrible shape. We went to shoot it and the trigger broke on the 11th shot. He sent it back to Beemiller up in Ohio and shipping was about $20. Shipped as machined parts since it was a non functioning firearm. Beemiller returned it in 13 days. It came back appearing to be a brand new rifle. New stock and all new inside parts. The only original parts were the barrel and frame. As an added bonus to make up for the shipping costs they included two magazines.
So to me it is a no-brainer. Buy a Hi-Point. I am looking for one under
$100. I do not care how beat it is as they will make it like new again.
Also if you want to learn more there is a forum dedicated to Hi-Points. Of course it is a HP love fest there as to be expected but there is a lot of knowledge that can be gained from their forum
http://hipointfirearmsforums.com/Forum/index.php
They recently had some catostophic loss of info on the board but all the same people are there so the info will quickly build back up.
Hope this helps.
It had feed problems for about the first 300 to 400 rounds. Nothing terrible mind you but maybe one FTF out of 100 rounds. In the last 1200 rounds I have put through it there have been no failures period. I believe a fluff and buff at the get go would have solved any feed issues. I know others that have 1000 rounds or more through theirs with no failures at any point.
It is a bit clunky looking but shoots very well and is very accurate. And at the price they go for there is no reason to not have one. Makes a perfect truck gun.
The lifetime warranty is the real deal. A buddy bought a 9mm carbine used.
It looked really bad, the stock was in horrible shape. We went to shoot it and the trigger broke on the 11th shot. He sent it back to Beemiller up in Ohio and shipping was about $20. Shipped as machined parts since it was a non functioning firearm. Beemiller returned it in 13 days. It came back appearing to be a brand new rifle. New stock and all new inside parts. The only original parts were the barrel and frame. As an added bonus to make up for the shipping costs they included two magazines.
So to me it is a no-brainer. Buy a Hi-Point. I am looking for one under
$100. I do not care how beat it is as they will make it like new again.
Also if you want to learn more there is a forum dedicated to Hi-Points. Of course it is a HP love fest there as to be expected but there is a lot of knowledge that can be gained from their forum
http://hipointfirearmsforums.com/Forum/index.php
They recently had some catostophic loss of info on the board but all the same people are there so the info will quickly build back up.
Hope this helps.
YardVarmint
Member
They ain't bad but for what they are but I have 3 handguns I bought within the year that ran me only $50-$70 more.
1). CZ83
2). Ruger Sec-Six
3). Argy FM made P35
But if you need something for defense right now and have a limited budget I can see the merits of them.
BTW- I agree about the carbine being great plinking fun. A cousin of mine had one and I got to shoot it several times. If/when the .45ACP version comes out I might get one.
1). CZ83
2). Ruger Sec-Six
3). Argy FM made P35
But if you need something for defense right now and have a limited budget I can see the merits of them.
BTW- I agree about the carbine being great plinking fun. A cousin of mine had one and I got to shoot it several times. If/when the .45ACP version comes out I might get one.
YardVarmint
Member
No, all things being equal a fixed vs floating barrel have the capacity to be just as accurate or inaccurate.
What matters is how consistant the lock up and movement of their respective designs from shot to shot.
For example if you benched a HK VP7OZ 9mm along with a Hi-Point 9mm(Both are fixed barrel blowback pistols) and fired them at a 50yd target I'd put my money on the HK for shooting a tighter group.
What matters is how consistant the lock up and movement of their respective designs from shot to shot.
For example if you benched a HK VP7OZ 9mm along with a Hi-Point 9mm(Both are fixed barrel blowback pistols) and fired them at a 50yd target I'd put my money on the HK for shooting a tighter group.
kingpin008
Member
For the record, I don't own any High-Point guns, but I may in the future.
I just wanted to add - there have been a few commenters who have downplayed the High-Point because of their ability to find other guns (CZ-52's, Makarov's, etc) for the same or less money.
That's all well and good - but like others have commented - with the High-Point you have a full lifetime warranty. If it breaks, send it back and you'll have it returned like new. Usually with a few free mags/spare parts along with it. Break your Mak/Cz-52/FEG? You've got a broken gun. Ship it off to a gunsmith and watch that bargain gun get more and more expensive.
I just wanted to add - there have been a few commenters who have downplayed the High-Point because of their ability to find other guns (CZ-52's, Makarov's, etc) for the same or less money.
That's all well and good - but like others have commented - with the High-Point you have a full lifetime warranty. If it breaks, send it back and you'll have it returned like new. Usually with a few free mags/spare parts along with it. Break your Mak/Cz-52/FEG? You've got a broken gun. Ship it off to a gunsmith and watch that bargain gun get more and more expensive.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Only if you can compensate for the fact that the felt recoil with a blow-back operated gun chambered in anything over .380 is going to be rather more severe than one with a tilting barrel.
I think the reason people rave about Hi-Points is because for $150ish no one is going to set their expectations very high. Low expectations get surpassed, and viola, everyone raves about them.
The Wiry Irishman
Member
A friend of mine had a HP 9mm. Personally, I despised it. The gun is nothing more than a brick with a handle. It constantly feels unbalanced, and the slide is so heavy that it jerks the gun all over the place when its fired. It wasn't particularly accurate, and the jerky recoil combined with the rough finish would leave the skin between my thumb and forefinger raw and bleeding after 1 box of ammo.
That being said, the gun never malfed, not once, ever. He sold it to another friend of mine, and it was still ugly, still a pain to shoot, but still never failed to fire. I'll even go so far as to say the trigger wasn't half bad. I hated looking at it, holding it, and shooting it, but some people may not have those problems, and you can't fault the reliability, especially with a lifetime warranty like HP's.
That being said, the gun never malfed, not once, ever. He sold it to another friend of mine, and it was still ugly, still a pain to shoot, but still never failed to fire. I'll even go so far as to say the trigger wasn't half bad. I hated looking at it, holding it, and shooting it, but some people may not have those problems, and you can't fault the reliability, especially with a lifetime warranty like HP's.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Of course it didn't. Hi-Points are blow-back operated guns chambered in cartridges that are generally considered too high-pressure for such a system. That's why the slides are so blocky.
When you look at how the pistols work, the reason they're so reliable is because there's plenty of energy generated to cycle the weapon. It's a bit like driving a drywall nail with a sledge hammer.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
