Hi Point vs. SKS

[dispatch55126]

Heres the deal. If you had a choice between a SKS and Hi point, which would it be.

Bear in mind the conditions are:
1)Accuracy
2)Reliability
3)Cost of ammo
4)User friendliness

I know everyone is going to jump at the SKS, and its an option, but I don't need a semi auto zombie killer/SHTF rifle.

I want something I can shoot at the range all day, possibly reload, take in the woods for small game, use for HD (with kids in the house) and generally screw around with and have fun.

 

[dracphelan]

1)Accuracy
2)Reliability
3)Cost of ammo
4)User friendliness

1) SKS is more accurate at longer ranges. At 100 yards, the SKS wins.
2) Toss-up. They are both equally reliable.
3) Cost of ammo. If you are going to be hunting small game, you will need the 40 caliber Hi-Point. So, again a toss-up.
4) Both are equally user friendly.

You also mentioned home defense. Well, the bayonet on the SKS for the win on that one. Plus, you can get one of the Tapco collapsible stock and stick on laser and flashlight if you want to go the tacticool route.

 

[W.E.G.]

I think a shotgun.

 

[Clipper]

I have a AK and a Hi-Point 9mm with the ATI stock and a BSA red dot. I can hunt small game just fine with the HP, at 3/4 the ammo cost of my AK, it's lighter (much lighter than an SKS), and at only 31", handles much better as a HD weapon. It's no deer rifle, but will do anything smaller at 100 yards or less, and it's the quietest gun I own. It's also by far the favorite (of my guns) of new shooters and women by virtue of it's mostly non-existent recoil.

 

[esmith]

Get the sks.

1. The sks isn't made anymore.
2. Accuracy is going to be better with the SKS at longer ranges.
3. Both guns are reliable. I don't really know why people are always worried about rifles being non reliable. Every gun i, and my dad, has ever owned has never broken, nor had mechanical problems outside of one feeding issue.
4. If you get a good deal on 7.62, it should be about equal. Today Hi point ammo is a little cheaper, but by pennies.
5. Both you will be able to use easily. You don't really need to worry about user friendliness since when you clean your rifles you need to get to know them anyway. Its not rocket science
6. The sks, even chinese ones, looks A LOT, and i mean A LOT better than a hi point.

 

[DMK]

Well, I'm not sure what you are looking for, but an SKS is a rifle. It's good out to at least 250-300 yards with a proper zero and it's built like a tank. Get a Tech-sight rear aperture on there and you've got a pretty versatile carbine good for SHTF, home defense, hunting, plinking, casual rifle matches, etc.

The Hi-point is a pistol caliber carbine. It's not effective for anything past 100-150 yards. It's got a horrible ballistic curve. The only things going for it is it's cheap to shoot, has low recoil and you could shoot it at a pistol range.

I think ammo cost is a wash. The SKS will long outlive the Hi-point and has legendary reliability unless you add aftermarket mags to it.

 

[MCgunner]

I just have no use for any pistol carbine except for lever action magnum calibers like my .357 Rossi.

Small game? Forget the Hi Point and get a good .22 rifle or put .38s in your Rossi. Wanna shoot deer? Put magnums in that Rossi.

 

[woad_yurt]

The SKS fulfills everyone of your requirements. I've owned both Yugos and Chinese ones and I prefer the Chinese version. A little bit more accurate and much lighter. A $28.00 Williams peep sight was a very worthwhile addition. Aside from its outperforming the Hi-Point by a mile, the SKS is built to last and last and last....

 

[Eyesac]

I vote SKS for all the reasons mentioned above...

 

[Hoppy590]

i own both and suggest you do too

 

[nwilliams]

I voted SKS

Sorry its been my opinion ever since I can remember that Hi Points, be it pistol or carbine are the ugliest commercially produced guns of all time.

The SKS will meet all your criteria and you can bubba it all you want and still at least have something resembling a rifle.

Now granted I've never owned nor shot a Hi Point and whether or not the work fine is a mute point because I can't get past how hideous looking they are. They could be the most accurate reliable guns in the world and I still wouldn't want one in my collection! I will say though that the ones with the Advanced stock are a little better looking at least, but I think I'd spend the extra money and just get the CX4 if I wanted something like that.

 

[Clipper]

You'll notice that most of the respondents here don't actually say they have a Hi-Point, but they all have reason to talk trash about them...

I'll stop short of saying any are gun snobs...

 

[Chris B]

Another vote for a 12 guage pump. Pistols and rifles present more of a concern for overpenetration than a shotgun. As for your other criteria:

1. Shotguns are accurate, just ask Bambi.
2. My .22 has had FTF's, so has my AR and my .308, my 870 never has.
3. 12 guage is one of the cheapest and most widely available calibers around.
4. Pump shotguns are user friendly. Trust me, you and your wife and your kids can all operate one.

If you REALLY only have a choice between an SKS and Hi-point, I'd take the SKS. I find pistol caliber carbines quite cumbersome. Pistols for pistol calibers. Rifles for rifle calibers.

If your sig includes all of the weapons in your collection then I'd reccomend a pistol. You have rifles that will take small and large game and be shot relatively cheaply. Pistol shooting is great fun as well.

And there you have my impertinant input.

 

[Novus Collectus]

1)Accuracy....an SKS is fine, and as others have poited out the concept of accuracy with the Hi Point is moot past 100 yards and the SKS can shoot easily shoot accurate enough well beyond that.
2)Reliability.......An SKS in good shape is of such rigid construction that it will probably be more reliable than I have heard second hand that Hi Points are.
3)Cost of ammo....after the Iraq war is over, surplus 7.62x39 should be dirt cheap once again.
4)User friendliness.....it is inccredibly easy to field strip an SKS for cleaning and there are not that may parts.


As far as home defense, I guess you could reload a few rounds of 7.62x39 specifically for home defense that would have much less penetration of walls.

The biggest difference between the two is the Hi Point will only go down in value over time, but an SKS kept in the same general condition will most likely only go up (unless Chinese SKS that are over fifty years old start coming in as C&Rs by the millions in a few years).

 

[Aaryq]

1)Accuracy
2)Reliability
3)Cost of ammo
4)User friendliness

Hi Point. Accuracy isn't as good at longer ranges, but they're equally reliable and cheaper to feed (I can't compare the user friendlieness of the two because I've never held an SKS).

My primary reason for you to chose the Hi Point is the fact that you have kids. I have 2 girls and overpenetration is my biggest concern when I'm selecting anything to use as a HD weapon. Another good thing about a Hi Point is if you get it chambered in 9mm, you can go to the range and blow ammo out of your butt (not literally I hope). It's not too expensive to feed it and it goes bang every time you pull the trigger...plus I like the Hi Point. When I finally leave this god forsaken country and get back to the states, I'm getting both and I'll probably post something comparing these 2 ugly carbines.

 

[GRIZ22]

You're comparing apples and oranges in my book. The Hi Point is a pistol caliber carbine and the SKS is a medium powered military style rifle.

To answer your questions up to 100 yards both are equal for the criteria you give. The SKS is substantially more powerful.

I don't need a semi auto zombie killer/SHTF rifle.


I think you answered your own question.

I want something I can shoot at the range all day, possibly reload, take in the woods for small game, use for HD (with kids in the house) and generally screw around with and have fun.


The 7.62x39 is much more expensive to reload and purchase ammo, even the 9mm will take most small game, the 9mm doesn't penetrate as much as the 7.62x39 for HD, either can be lots of fun.

Buy the Hi Point.

 

[DMK]

You'll notice that most of the respondents here don't actually say they have a Hi-Point, but they all have reason to talk trash about them...

I'll stop short of saying any are gun snobs..

I've never owned a Hi-point. But I did own a Marlin Camp 9. Sold it to buy an AR15 (and I rarely sell firearms). I just can't see the point of pistol caliber carbines of any brand. Even if completely reliable and accurate (as mine was), none of them is as tough, has the range, the ballistics, or the versatility of an SKS.

 

[Soybomb]

If I'm going to have something the size of a rifle, I want it to fire rifle rounds, not be a big gun with all the power of a handgun. Ymmv, the hi point would be cheaper to shoot.

 

[GunNut]

I'll take the SKS.

I just can't bring myself to buy one of the Hi-point carbines.

 

[dispatch55126]

I bought the Hi Point 9mm

It think it came down to largely the way they shouldered. The Hi Point just went to where it needed to be without readjusting.

I'll eventually get a SKS, but the quick ten rounds I put through the Hi Point this afternoon tells me this was the right choice...It is butt ugly though.

 

[dispatch55126]

Here's a pic

Here's the pic of my new addition.

 

[Clipper]

The ATI stock adds a little weight, but looks much sexier...It was the first thing I did to mine.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Get the Hi Point. I have both and we take the Hi Point out to play all the time. Just asked my son and neither of us can really remember the last time the SKS came out to play. Also, my GF is deadly with the carbine. Wouldn't want to face her in a dark alley.

 

[6_gunner]

I vote SKS. Although I don't own either one, I have friends who do. My one friend's SKS has been 100% reliable and has survived untold abuse by bored morons (let's do a bayonet charge on that tree). My other friend's HiPoint has also been very reliable, but the cocking handle fell off when he fired the first magazine and now he has to cock it with a Leatherman tool.
The SKS is tougher, better looking, more powerful and more accurate than the HiPoint. The HiPoint is reliable and it handles very nicely, but it is the crappiest looking gun I have ever seen and it is not nearly as tough as an SKS.

I intend to get an SKS soon, perhaps my next gun. I will NEVER own a HiPoint carbine.

 

[esmith]

You'll notice that most of the respondents here don't actually say they have a Hi-Point, but they all have reason to talk trash about them...

I'll stop short of saying any are gun snobs..

You don't need to own a gun to say that you don't like it. One, the Hi Points look awful. I leave behind better looking things in the toilet. Two, you can read ballistic tables for the Hi point and similar guns all over the internet, which will show you how the pistol cartridges will fall short to the 762 39. Three, i have held Hi Points and i don't find them comfortable.