Just what the masses were crying out for- a .380 carbine!

[Phaedrus/69]

I'll apologize in advance if this sounds a little snarky but I genuinely wonder what role it will fill. Hi-Point has just announced a new carbine in .380 ACP! The article mentions that out of the 16" barrel the .380 is making 9mm Para velocities, so that's something I suppose. And they also mention that it will use the same magazine as the Hi-Point pistols. Beyond the novelty who is going to buy this?

Of course, anything I say about the .380 ACP carbine someone else might say about a carbine in 9mm/.40 S&W/.45 ACP/10mm. Rifle weight with pistol power, etc. Still, the .380 makes more sense in a pistol than a carbine. After all a .380 handgun can be made substantially smaller and lighter than a 9mm. That will allow one to carry a .380 where they otherwise may not be able to carry a gun at all. Fine, I get that. But in a 6 lb carbine that isn't an issue. And the reason a 9mm carbine might make sense is commonality of ammo with your sidearm and maybe using the same mag. Again, I get that if you own a Hi-Point in .380 ACP this could be a neat complement to it.

At any rate I'm curious to see if this little gun proves to be as reliable as their other carbines. To me it's designed for a niche so small as to be nearly nonexistent but I suppose this news probably made someone's day.

 

[bannockburn]

With an MSRP of $297 I can think of quite a few other things I would rather spend my money on than a Hi-Point .380 carbine. Pass on this one.

 

[rhinoh]

Dang, next thing you know someone will be making a carbine in that weak .22 rimfire....

 

[Davek1977]

I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable niche this fills....but I'll be darned if I can figure out what it may be!

 

[boricua9mm]

For the .380s cost of 32 cents/round (give or take), I'd much rather be shooting 5.56 or 7.62x39.

*Shrugs*

 

[Deus Machina]

I really think it's because the new gun owners in recent years includes a bigger portion than ever before of those that bought pocket pistols and own nothing else.
Offering a cheap rifle that uses the same ammunition would tempt some of them to buy something a little more effective to keep at home, that wouldn't break the bank. For non-enthusiasts, A $400 AK, $500 .357, full-sized Glock they would never carry, or even a $200 shotgun--and then the ammo to feed them--would be a serious pain because that's just a paycheck sitting in the closet. Sharing ammo is a salve for that.
Is it going to be enough for a large profit? I doubt it, but I imagine it's not too expensive to tool up for a Hi Point, and they certainly have a monopoly on that market.

 

[barnbwt]

Eh, VZ61 or a PM63 is way cooler

What Hi Point buyer can afford carbine-levels of 380, btw?

TCB

 

[notaglockfanboy]

Its nothing I will be saving to get. They use the same mags for the .380 and 9mm, which are not the greatest. My son has a .380 and I had to fiddle with the mags to get it to feed better and it is still not exactly right. They will feed 9mm great, but the .380 will hang up every now and then. I know it isn't a sig or colt, but IMO the mags suck in the HiPoints and they can do better, even at the price point.

 

[bikerdoc]

I have the 9 and 45 pcc from another manufacturer.
Not sure I want or need a 380 carbine but kudo's to them for putting it out there.

 

[redneck2]

I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable niche this fills....but I'll be darned if I can figure out what it may be!

. Anybody that wants to waste quanties of underpowered, expensive, and hard to find ammo.

 

[Inebriated]

Many of Hi Point's customer base owns their .380 handgun. This provides a carbine to pair with it, at a very low price. It also likely costs Hi-Point almost nothing to make versus their 9mm. Not so much "why", more like "why not".

 

[hatt]

No .357 Sig but a .380.

 

[OilyPablo]

Still waiting for their 10mm!!

 

[WestKentucky]

It's actually something close to what I have been looking for. I had a 995 so I won't consider the 380 version, but I do hope other makers follow suit.

As for use, 380 delivers twice the bullet as a 22lr at similar velocity. Using cast lead projectiles a 380 carbine would be a great meat gun in a pinch. For critters up to coyote size it would do great. The big advantage here would be light, small ammo that could be carried in bulk. Mate that to something like a sub2k and your suddenly with a light carbine with reliable ammo shooting a quiet, yet powerful enough round to put dinner on the campfire. You have an incredible backpacking survival gun. 85 grain bullets in a smaller lighter case than the 115 gr 9mm, you can carry about 50% more ammo in weight or about 30% more by volume.

If they make 32acp I might have to make a purchase...but I would prefer a tiny bolt action carbine in these cartridges or similar small revolver cartridges to be even more reliable.

 

[newfalguy101]

If only they could put a giggle switch and high cap mags on it.......

 

[VA27]

I'd buy a Papoose in 25ACP.

 

[WestKentucky]

I would too.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I thought the same thing when I read the announcement. "Why?". 9mm is already probably the cheapest centerfire round to shoot, so why load a bargain bin gun (doent confuse that with crappy, I had a 995 and it worked great) in a less powerful, more expensive cartridge.

 

[Dain Bramage]

The article mentions that out of the 16" barrel the .380 is making 9mm Para velocities

Sounds like "Kickpuncher", the made-up, C-Movie cyborg hero "within a TV show" from Community. His only superpower is that his punches are as strong as a kick.

 

[IdahoSkies]

I expect it is dirt cheap for Highpoint to offer both the 9mm and the .380 carbine. The barrel blanks are going to be the same, with just a depth change. They are both blow back if I recall, so different springs, and that is probably it. Add another item to the catalog without much cost, so why not. If you sell even a few you make money.

Highpoint stepped into a niche and did that niche well. Ballyho to them. Do I want it, no. But some one might and that is awesome. And I agree it is probably those who own .380 highpoints (and can swap magazines) and those who have a .380 pocket gun for self defense but want something for home.

I would not sneeze at a .380 shoulder cannon if I only wanted one caliber. (which most of us here have no problem with). Its a bit of selection bias for us to "study" it as we are highly likely not the major market.

 

[loose noose]

Not exactly my cup of tea, as I already have the 995, but to each his own.

 

[bikerdoc]

I asked my distributor just now why, He said it is for foreign markets where people cant own military calibers. Mexico will be a top market.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

No thanks, I'll pass.

 

[Schwing]

I am in the minority here but I look forward to buying one. I don't see any huge advantages to the .380 cartridge but I very much like the idea of having a handgun and rifle for all of the calibers I can.

If you cast your own bullets and reload. The .380 is extremely inexpensive to shoot. Casting my own 100 grain bullets, I can easily reload .380 for under $3 per box! At that price, it would almost replace my .22.

All rationality aside, I just think a .380 carbine would be a cool addition.

 

[MCgunner]

Maybe a guy that is heavily into .380 ACP reloading? Shouldn't cost 'em much to produce a few to test the market. Biggest change is the bolt face. They could probably run off a bunch on adjusted 9mm machinery.

I, personally, think 9 and .45ACP carbines are usless at the proverbial mammalia on a boar hog. Don't get much out of these calibers from a long barrel. For me, the only useful pistol caliber carbines are chambered for magnum revolver cartridges or the .45 Colt which can be a magnum, effectively. The Rossi 92 in .454 Casull is the ultimate, I suppose. Mine's a .357, though. These cartridges truly become RIFLES with longer barrels.

I have 4 handguns in .357 and 3 in .38 special, so for me, the .357 is the way to go, anyway.