Hi points any good?

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

whm1974

member
Joined
Feb 10, 2004
Messages
3,051
Ok I was reading Guns&Ammo and they had an article on affordable handguns.
they mention the Hi Point 9mm comp which they say sells for $159. The low price
temps me but are these junk? Now I rather get a 9x18 Makarov for the price but
I also like to go anywhere and buy ammo.

Bill Meadows
 
*sigh* Oh, here we go. :rolleyes:

In my area, the Hi Points go for less than $100. Personally, I'd invest in some throwing knifes and learn to use them if a hundred bucks was all I could spend for defense.

Don't get me wrong, they go bang, and they are supposed to have really great CS, but for the weight, you might as well be carrying an M4 Carbine.

Wes
 
If you need a gun for protection and that $159 is ABSOLUTELY all you can afford to spend, a Hi-Point is better than nothing. But this is a classic case of the value of something not being directly related to its price. A first-quality pistol like a Glock, SIG, S&W, Ruger, etc. may cost two to four times as much, but their value is far out of proportion to their price. That $159 would make a good down payment on a layaway. ;)
 
I picked one up at a gun store and was suprised at how heavy it was. Also my finger could only reach far enough to the trigger to get the very tip of my finger on the trigger.

So no way in hell will I ever buy one.

Though I support the manufacture of cheap guns, cause even a cheap gun is a claw for the weak.
 
Ok heres what I'm experienced with these. They sell like hot cakes in Dallas, not sure why but they do. Basically they fall in the jennings/raven/bryco group. They seem to be very solid and dense. Then again bricks are dense but try making a gun out of one. Here you can get a 9mm hi-point for around $100. Heres what I've heard from them:

Store owner "they're sturdy but bulk guns, sorta like a Ruger"

CCW instructor to person who brought one "you need to take this back if you can. I've seen more then one of these blowup"

A LEO officer I asked "They're ok I guess. I wouldnt care one but I've seen them used in DRH (drug related homocides). They can't handle P+ so I hear"

Make of that that you will. As far as blowing up it might be user error (hell Glocks explode with lead rounds right). My advice is not chance it. If you only got a $150 buck I'd pick:

1.) For home defense: a cheap pump shot gun, lots of choices in this range at a pawn shop

2.) For carry: used taurus .38 or Ruger p89/95
 
So let me ask you this, how many professionals (LEOs, Private Investigators, CCW and/or shooting school instructors, etc) have you EVER seen packing a High Point in their holsters? I guess it never fails to amaze me that there are folks out there that would actually buy these things when you can at get say a Star BM in 9mm for $140 or a Makarov 9X18 for $130. Really on a budget, how about a CZ-52 in 7.62X25 for $90 instead? Hey, I got my old Norinco Tokarev several years ago used for $70 and it's never missed a beat! All of these are low cost high quality firearms that blow the zinc bricks away in most any comparison you can think of, accuracy, reliability, durability, safety, etc.
 
An acquaintance, who runs a very profitable gun shop, and who is highly regarded for his good business practices, says they're (Hi-Points) the ONLY inexpensive gun he'll sell -- 'cause they are the only ones that don't come back to the dealer after they've been shot a few times.

If I needed a good gun for home protection, I might look around for a used S&W Revolver. But some folks don't think the way I do, and some want a NEW gun with a warranty. Given that, and a very limited budget, the Hi-Points obviously feel a niche. Serious shooters don't use them. People who enjoy guns don't use them.

While I don't mean to equate Hi-Points to Glocks (there is no comparison), there are still folks who sneer every time a Glock is mentioned, too. Sneering and ridicule doesn't tell you a thing about the gun.

The Hi-Point carbines seem to be a better deal -- and you DO see some cops/deputies using them -- paid for with their own hard-earned dollars, and kept in the trunk of the patrol car.

Put another way, I also don't drive a Kia -- but they also fill a need.
 
An acquaintance, who runs a very profitable gun shop, and who is highly regarded for his good business practices, says they're (Hi-Points) the ONLY inexpensive gun he'll sell -- 'cause they are the only ones that don't come back to the dealer after they've been shot a few times.
Click to expand...

They can't be that bad if your acquaintance doesn't get returns. Still I rather have a Glock or an XD but I don't have $500 to spend on one.

Bill Meadows
 
You're citing two extremes. There is middle ground. Its not an either/or choice!

As suggested above, there are a LOT of good guns available for under $200, if you're willing to buy a used gun.

Knowing what I know, I wouldn't buy a Hi-Point. But that's me. A new gun with a warranty is great -- but you hope you won't need to use the warranty. (The gunshop/range where I shoot, has Hi-Points for under $100, and other used guns for not a lot more.)

If I were you, I'd would look around for a used S&W revolver.... I've seen lots of them for under $200, and they're stone cold reliable, accurate, durable, etc. I passed on a fairly nice Model 10 a while back for around $85. It needed some finish work, but seemed good otherwise.

Used EAA Witnesses are often available for around $200 - $250. And the Makarov previously mentioned (with a round that might be a little anemic) sure beats a pointed stick. There are also good Ruger revolvers in the same price range,and they're excellent guns. And all of these guns are almost trouble free.

On the other hand, the nice thing about the Hi-Point is that if it jams, you can always drop it on the bad guy's foot. That is guaranteed to put him out of action.
 
If I were you, I'd would look around for a used S&W revolver.... I've seen lots of them for under $200, and they're stone cold reliable, accurate, durable, etc. I passed on a fairly nice Model 10 a while back for around $85. It needed some finish work, but seemed good otherwise.

Used EAA Witnesses are often available for around $200 - $250. And the Makarov previously mentioned (with a round that might be a little anemic) sure beats a pointed stick. There are also good Ruger revolvers in the same price range,and they're excellent guns. And all of these guns are almost trouble free.
Click to expand...

Actully I am looking for a revolver. But I would also like a Auto as well. Right now I'm looking for something to shoot. However since I'll have it I might as well keep loaded for home defence. The Makarov are priced right, and the ammo is cheap enough to shoot, but how commen is 9x18? Can I go almost anywhere and get it? And I'm not too sure if I want a thousand rounds of ammo(except .22LR) laying around the house...

Bill Meadows
 
If you have access to a gun shop you shouldn't have trouble finding 9x18. You can't find it at Wal-Mart, but it's a common and inexpensive caliber regardless.

And I'm not too sure if I want a thousand rounds of ammo(except .22LR) laying around the house...
Click to expand...

How come? It doesn't take up much space, especially for a pistol round. It's no more dangerous than 50 rounds lying around the house.

I would go the Makarov rout. It's a reliable, solid, accurate, fairly slim, and parts can be found very easily.
 
The Makarov are priced right, and the ammo is cheap enough to shoot, but how commen is 9x18? Can I go almost anywhere and get it? And I'm not too sure if I want a thousand rounds of ammo(except .22LR) laying around the house...
Click to expand...

I don't live in a place that has many pure firearm shops nearby so I can't say but Wal-Mart(for example) almost surely won't carry it. It's all over the 'net though. Wolf, S&B, Barnaul(I think) all make it. Also, why not have a thousand "lying around"? It doesn't take up much space in, say, an ammo box. If you are worried about someone getting to it, put it in a safe. Don't have a gun safe? Then I'd be more worried about the firearms than the ammo.
 
If you have little/no money (like me), then Hi-Points are danged effective. Unimpressive, but so what? Snobs who turn their noses up at them would probably react differently if a Hi-Point is all they could afford (or if one was being used against them). You pull the trigger, it fires. So it's ugly... *shrug* It'll be just fine until you have the $$ for a 1911 or XD. :)
 
I've had times too when money was tight. A Russian IJ-70 Makarov in .380 was only $130 and what I went with until I got the Sigs, Berettas, 1911s, H&Ks, Glocks, CZ and a few others in the collection that were better quality. If you got a High Point that works and will hold up well, more power to ya and I hope it will always fire when you need it. Personally though with the cheap surplus handguns (Maks, CZ-52, Fegs, and 9mm Star BMs) on the market though, you ain't gonna find one of the zinc bricks in my hands when the better surplus guns are just as inexpensive.
 
I have a High Point 45. I bought it not because I couldn't afford something else, but because I wanted to see how reliable, and what the life of one would be. Mine has about 300 rds thru it now. It feeds anything I put thru it, mixed up mags also. Mine has a good trigger. IMO opinion it is decently accurate at 25 yds and been completely reliable.

Lots of people have snob attitudes IMO.. I would not hesitate to pick up mine if it was needed.

One member at my club has one that is going on 2000 rds without one hiccup of any sort.
 
I think I'd rather have a Hi-Point than the FEG PA-63. Have you ever tried one?

(The Makarov is a quality gun, and that would certainly be higher on my list.)
 
How come? It doesn't take up much space, especially for a pistol round. It's no more dangerous than 50 rounds lying around the house.
Click to expand...

Well I don't use an AC during the summer and in the winter I keep the heat as low as I can. I'm just afraid to spend $100+ on ammo and find later that the ammo was ruined.

Bill Meadows
 
whm1974, 1st off if you buy say 500 rounds it isn't going to go bad because you don't turn on the air or the heat in your house. Heck there is surplus ammo out there that is for sale that is probably older than you are and it still goes bang. If you buy online you can get good deals on ammo. At Dan's ammo you can get 500 rounds of 9X18 hollowpoints for $60 shipped east of the missippi river and $10 more for west of the river. They also have unissued bulgarian maks for $165 which is kind of high but look to basicly brand new. If you don't want to spend much you can't beat the makarov, they are rock solid. http://www.dansammo.com/ammo.asp Mark
F001.jpg

AB91801.jpg
 
My brother bought a Hi-Point in .45acp years ago. Shaped like a brick, ugly as a fence post, hurt your hand after shooting several mags. It is still running just fine and next to never hiccup no matter the load. It may not win any beauty contests, but it is reliable and fairly accurate (not target grade, but certainly service grade).
It is a pistol that the snobs will look down their noses at, but I have yet to see one blow or even break and they sell like hotcakes. Those I've talked to that own one seemed quite pleased with the functioning of it though no one like the asthetics.
 
quote----"Let use know how the prostetic hand works after your Hi-point goes Hi-explosive"





Thanks sevenpoint62mm;

I guess you would caution me against picking up my Glock or SA XD if I needed them either. Especially since we all know there have been KB's with them.

If the situation ever arises where you have a choice of picking up a High Point or using your hand to hand skills, let us know how skinned up your knuckles are.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Makarov VS. Hi-Point
2 3
Replies
58
Views
5K
M2 Carbine
M
W
  • Locked
Temped to buy a Hi-Point
2
Replies
40
Views
2K
whm1974
W
P
  • Locked
Price check Hi-point 9mm
Replies
18
Views
1K
albanian
A
S
  • Locked
  • Poll
best gun in 9x18
2 3
Replies
62
Views
3K
returningfire
R
C
  • Locked
Hi-Point .40
Replies
8
Views
395
ugaarguy
ugaarguy
Back
Top