Thinking of getting a Hi Point .45

[TTv2]

Been thinking about getting a semi auto .45 for a while, something inexpensive as I plan to use it mostly as a home defense gun, so Hi Point immediately came to mind. Out of all the pistols Hi Point makes, the .45 is the one I think has the most merits to owning as the .380/9mm is too big for the caliber and the .40 I already have pistols in.

The only thing that I'm hesitating on with the Hi Point is the lack of a threaded barrel. It's common knowledge that .45 is great for suppressor use as it's naturally subsonic and while I may not have a can today, that doesn't mean I won't next year or the year after that.

What are the options for a low priced .45 pistol with a threaded barrel? Used is fine.

EDIT: And this should probably get moved to the Autoloader section.

 

[Dibbs]

You may want to price the barrels before you price the pistols. Some threaded barrels are very reasonable,
in the $120-160 range, some brands charge over 300 bucks. For just the threaded barrel.

If it's only a HD gun, perhaps you don't really need a suppressor, anyway.

 

[TTv2]

No need for the suppressor for home defense only, but I'm mulling over what amount more for something not the Hi Point, but can be suppressed is worth. Like for $300, if I could find a .45 with a threaded barrel, I'd buy that instead. For more money, it would depend on what pistol it is.

 

[MikeInOr]

Friends don't let friends buy Hi Point pistols!

Other than that I don't think you will get another pistol that is nearly as reliable at anywhere near the price of a Hi Point 45. Most all the slams you will hear about Hi Point pistols are from people that have never owned one... and most likely never even shot one.

Buy the Hi Point 45 for cheap reliable and ugly home defense. When you are ready to buy a suppressor figure out what gun and suppressor to buy then. If on the very rare chance the Hi Point 45 does jam on you... the intruder will probably be too busy laughing at you to attack.

 

[MedWheeler]

MikeinOr writes:

If on the very rare chance the Hi Point 45 does jam on you... the intruder will probably be too busy laughing at you to attack.

..and then the Hi-Point's excellent potential as an impact weapon comes into play.

(I don't knock Hi-Point guns. I have one myself, the C9, and it works.)

My "inexepensive" introduction to the .45ACP was (is) the Tisas 1911A2, for probably twice the price of the JHP ("Jumbo Hi-Point"?) I don't think the Tisas guns are still being imported, but there are several options in the $325-375 range 1911 range now, any of which could have a threaded barrel swapped in later.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The plus side to a Hi Point:
Cheap
They shoot
Lifetime warranty.

The Negative side to a Hi Point:
Cheaply made
Heavy as hell
Hammer and punch needed to dissemble.

I have probably fired more Hi Points then anyone here on the forum. I have probably worked on more Hi Points then here also. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I know how to work on them.
The Hi Point is the only brand firearm that I have seen where the barrel had been shot out within 500 rounds. (this was a new gun in a LAB test)
In the last six years of shooting approx. 1000 different guns a year, Hi points are the only firearms that I have seen with no rifling left in the barrel from guns that were picked up from criminals.
Most criminals don't use Hi Points anymore. They have learned that there are better guns out there.
Adding the weight of a suppressor to an already overweight gun is just....

I would spend the extra money on a better gun.
https://www.tombstonetactical.com/catalog/rock-island/51473-45acp-5-25in-threaded-8rd-parkerized/

 

[Winkman822]

For a better quality gun, there are some good deals to be had on Gun Broker for M&P 45's, XD/XDM/XDS 45's, and a couple of P320 45's. For a longevity, I'd take any of those over a Hi Point, even if it meant saving some cash a little longer.

 

[Tallball]

1) The Gunny really knows his stuff. I always listen to his advice.
2) The idea of putting a suppressor and threaded barrel on a pistol that is worth less than the suppressor, and possibly less than the barrel, is an odd one.
3) The OP could keep an eye on Gunbroker. No one else was very interested in the finish-challenged Ruger P90 45acp I won for a shockingly low bid of around $150-$175. I was the only bidder on a polymer Tanfoglio Witness (good quality CZ clone) and got it for $250. There are deals out there if you keep your eyes open. Basic "GI" Tisas or RIA 1911's are not very expensive used.
4) If the OP has 40 caliber pistols, why not just use one of them for HD?

View media item 1446

 

[Hokkmike]

Been thinking about getting a semi auto .45 for a while, something inexpensive as I plan to use it mostly as a home defense gun, so Hi Point immediately came to mind. Out of all the pistols Hi Point makes, the .45 is the one I think has the most merits to owning as the .380/9mm is too big for the caliber and the .40 I already have pistols in.

The only thing that I'm hesitating on with the Hi Point is the lack of a threaded barrel. It's common knowledge that .45 is great for suppressor use as it's naturally subsonic and while I may not have a can today, that doesn't mean I won't next year or the year after that.

What are the options for a low priced .45 pistol with a threaded barrel? Used is fine.

EDIT: And this should probably get moved to the Autoloader section.

My brother has one for sale. Let me know if your are interested.

 

[IdaD]

You can get an 2.0 M&P45 with a 5" threaded barrel and raised sights for about $400 plus whatever your FFL charges. It's more expensive than a hi point but is a much better value for the money.

 

[Grunt]

So you want to buy the cheapest pistol around for defense of yourself and home but also want to buy a threaded High Point barrel and a suppressor and pay the $200 tax stamp for that ability to suppress a High Point that you will use to defend yourself and your home. Did I read that right? Have you ever thought of taking that money you are looking at buying a suppressor with (along with the $200 tax stamp), a threaded barrel and tack that price onto the price tag of some High Point bucket of crap and use that money to buy a quality pistol instead?

 

[railroader]

A while back the local gun shop had hi point 45s on sale for $129. I already have a few 45s but I decided to take a look. Well they might be reliable but what a clunker. Being blowback the recoil spring was so heavy racking the slide was an issue. The safety was hard to operate and the trigger wasn't very good either. Needless to say it didn't go home with me. To the OP you need to handle one before you decide to dump all that money into it. Get a used glock or some other 45. Pass on the Hi point.

 

[Drail]

Take the money you are going to spend for a Hi point and just throw it in the trash.

 

[mjsdwash]

I know one HiPoint .45 owner, and he's happy with it. I would handle one before you commit though, I have handled one, and I would bet it weights 4 pounds. Not exaggerating. A CZ 75 with a loaded magazine weights around 2.5, and that feels like nothing. A 7 1/2" Redhawk weights 3LB, and the HP felt far heavier than that. It reminded me of picking up a 10/22 one handed. The 9/380's feel like normal handguns, but that 45 strange, but I be recoil is light. Im sure it works fine. According to their websight it weights 2LB, but I was there picking up that CZ when I felt it, and there was a huge difference. Maybe that one had something wrong with it.

 

[TTv2]

The plus side to a Hi Point:
Cheap
They shoot
Lifetime warranty.

The Negative side to a Hi Point:
Cheaply made
Heavy as hell
Hammer and punch needed to dissemble.

I have probably fired more Hi Points then anyone here on the forum. I have probably worked on more Hi Points then here also. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I know how to work on them.
The Hi Point is the only brand firearm that I have seen where the barrel had been shot out within 500 rounds. (this was a new gun in a LAB test)
In the last six years of shooting approx. 1000 different guns a year, Hi points are the only firearms that I have seen with no rifling left in the barrel from guns that were picked up from criminals.
Most criminals don't use Hi Points anymore. They have learned that there are better guns out there.
Adding the weight of a suppressor to an already overweight gun is just....

I would spend the extra money on a better gun.
https://www.tombstonetactical.com/catalog/rock-island/51473-45acp-5-25in-threaded-8rd-parkerized/

Not a bad alternative. The other .45 that was threaded I have had in the very back of my mind was an FN FNX. 15 round capacity is impressive, but I fear the grip may be too big.

A Glock 21 Gen 4 is also a possibility, but then I'd have to buy a second barrel for it.

If we take suppressors and threaded barrels out, how are the large CT45's from Kahr? Any other sub $400 .45 pistols that are good?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Not a bad alternative. The other .45 that was threaded I have had in the very back of my mind was an FN FNX. 15 round capacity is impressive, but I fear the grip may be too big.

A Glock 21 Gen 4 is also a possibility, but then I'd have to buy a second barrel for it.

If we take suppressors and threaded barrels out, how are the large CT45's from Kahr? Any other sub $400 .45 pistols that are good?

Look around foe a M&P 45. I have one and love it. On the plus side is you can get a threaded barrel for it later on.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

No need for the suppressor for home defense only, but I'm mulling over what amount more for something not the Hi Point, but can be suppressed is worth. Like for $300, if I could find a .45 with a threaded barrel, I'd buy that instead. For more money, it would depend on what pistol it is.

If, by suppressor you mean a can at the end of the barrel that is used to substantially reduce the noise of the round being fired, a suppressor isn't NEEDED for home defense. BUT, if you ever have to fire that weapon INSIDE, hearing aids may eventually be the unplanned consequence of not doing something to reduce the noise levels or protect your hearing!

Our ears are a lot more delicate than most people realize. I keep a pair of electronic muffs near my gun when it's out of the safe and in the bedside table. (The electronic muffs both protect one's ears and can amplify other sounds in the house if the stuff ever hits the fan.) I've got a mild case of Tinnitus even though I've always used hearing protection when I shoot.

As someone else suggested, price the threaded barrels first, and then look for a lower-cost weapon that can use the barrel. Plan on waiting for 6 months to a year to get the paperwork (Federal tax stamp) you need to buy that suppressor. And suppressors aren't cheap. When you look at the costs, the electronic muffs become more attractive -- and you can put the money that you might have spent on the suppressor on the gun, itself.

If money's an issue and don't plan to shoot a lot, a Hi-Point and low-cost electronic hearing protection will satisfy your immediate needs. If you plan to do a lot of shooting, something like a used, older Witness in .45 might be a better choice. Or any number of 9mm guns. And whether you buy the electronic muffs or the silencer/suppressor is a budget issue.

 

[tallpaul]

High points have their place but if you have the money for a legal suppressor you have the money for a better gun. If you want a home defense cheaper .45 I would look for a used ruger like suggested or a Rock Island Armory basic 1911... either will be a better gun for a shooter not just a cheap defensive shot little gun. I have had highpoints I bought cheap to either keep around the garage or shop but they all end up going to non gun cheap folk that I would rather see armed than not.

 

[94045]

A while back the local gun shop had hi point 45s on sale for $129. I already have a few 45s but I decided to take a look. Well they might be reliable but what a clunker. Being blowback the recoil spring was so heavy racking the slide was an issue. The safety was hard to operate and the trigger wasn't very good either. Needless to say it didn't go home with me. To the OP you need to handle one before you decide to dump all that money into it. Get a used glock or some other 45. Pass on the Hi point.

Yes. Larry's has the .45's for $133.33 right now. I'm always amazed how well they function at that price. If you shoot the rifling out just send it to them and they will either fix it or send you a new one (Everyone I know that has returned one for something got a new pistol).

But given a choice between that and his X-Police Glock 22 Gen 2 .40's for $279 I'll take the Glock as it's definitely more than double the gun the Hi Point is even well used.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I've heard those Remington Glock clones in .45 are real keepers. Those might be worth a look.

And frankly - buying a couple hundred dollar suppressor plus a $200 tax stamp plus probably $100+ to thread a barrel just to use a $150 pistol doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

[TTv2]

A while back the local gun shop had hi point 45s on sale for $129. I already have a few 45s but I decided to take a look. Well they might be reliable but what a clunker. Being blowback the recoil spring was so heavy racking the slide was an issue. The safety was hard to operate and the trigger wasn't very good either. Needless to say it didn't go home with me. To the OP you need to handle one before you decide to dump all that money into it. Get a used glock or some other 45. Pass on the Hi point.

Yes. Larry's has the .45's for $133.33 right now. I'm always amazed how well they function at that price. If you shoot the rifling out just send it to them and they will either fix it or send you a new one (Everyone I know that has returned one for something got a new pistol).

But given a choice between that and his X-Police Glock 22 Gen 2 .40's for $279 I'll take the Glock as it's definitely more than double the gun the Hi Point is even well used.

I rented a .40 Hi Point at a range last year and know full well how they feel and work. Shot fine at 15 yards and most of my inside the home distances will be a lot less than 15 yards.

Already have .40 caliber Glocks.

 

[FL-NC]

Putting a legal suppressor on ahi point is like those ghetto kids that invest $$$$ in things like sound systems and spinny rims on 30 year old oldsmobile cutlass.

 

[TTv2]

You can get an 2.0 M&P45 with a 5" threaded barrel and raised sights for about $400 plus whatever your FFL charges. It's more expensive than a hi point but is a much better value for the money.

Just did a quick search on gunbroker for .45 pistols under $500 and the brands that stuck out were Colt (not gonna bother with that), Ruger (apparently the American is not selling well cuz prices are hovering around 300, other models are not going to be easy to suppressorize), Taurus (old ones with bad triggers and 1911 types I'm not interested in), and S&W.

I think I'm gonna wait for another rebate from S&W and then buy that 5 inch .45 with the threaded barrel. I have tried that 2.0 trigger and it is amazing.

BTW, can you get me a link to that pistol?

 

[Steve E]

I would look at some of the LE trade ins, you can sometimes find them under $300.00 (then change to a threaded barrel). My neighbor had a new 45 acp High Point and after about 400 rounds the 'cartridge pickup' on the slide started to be bradded over and the part that was displaced started to crack off the bottom of the slide. I guess that was enough to make it start to misfeed rounds, up until then it feed pretty much everything.

Steve...........

 

[TTv2]

I would look at some of the LE trade ins, you can sometimes find them under $300.00 (then change to a threaded barrel). My neighbor had a new 45 acp High Point and after about 400 rounds the 'cartridge pickup' on the slide started to be bradded over and the part that was displaced started to crack off the bottom of the slide. I guess that was enough to make it start to misfeed rounds, up until then it feed pretty much everything.

Steve...........

The only LE trade ins I'd trust would be Glock and their Gen 3 SF models cost a lot, the Gen 4's just as much. Add a threaded barrel I have to buy for $150 and the cost of just buying a new S&W is actually less, especially when a rebate may be involved.

I like the Glock's 13 round mags and ability to be converted to 10mm, but I think I'd rather just have a Glock 40 MOS instead for that 10mm.