Why I choose the Hi Point .40!

[gglass]

If I can't say anything nice... I won't say anything at all... "silence"

 

[ny32182]

I will say this for Hipoints, despite their litany of downsides compared to to many (sometimes not THAT much more expensive) others, the few I have seen brought to matches have not broken or failed to function. Granted the sample size hasn't been large, but that is the most important thing of all.

 

[Jim NE]

To be honest, some of the negative comments may not have been fair, but I don't think calling people who don't like Hi-Point "haters" is quite fair, either.

Here's a possible tell-tale sign about the quality of Hi-Point. When I go to the GUNSAMERICA site, I'll search "Kel-Tec" or "Taurus" and find tons of used guns that are still working (according to the seller.)

I find very few used Hi-Points, however, (even though they're selling TONS of new ones) and the one's that are used are BARELY used. Is this because people people keep their Hi-Points? Or because they don't hold together over the long haul? I don't know, but it's worth considering.

My "Hi-Point" was actually a Stallard (that's what they used to call them), and I only found one of those used at GUNSAMERICA. Where are the rest??? It makes you wonder.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I don't know, when for the same money I can buy this:

Or this:

I'm not going to buy this:

 

[Nushif]

Here's a possible tell-tale sign about the quality of Hi-Point. When I go to the GUNSAMERICA site, I'll search "Kel-Tec" or "Taurus" and find tons of used guns that are still working (according to the seller.)

A counter argument to that could be that most people don't bother selling a used high point. they're so cheap from the get go it makes little sense to sell it for half or third the price and tack on transfer fees, etc.

 

[harmon rabb]

I don't know, when for the same money I can buy this

about the only reason to buy a hi-point over soviet surplus is ignorance, or being unwilling to deal with buying a gun online. CDNN has cz-82's for like $150 now. a hi-point over a cz-82, are you freakin kidding me? lol.

 

[Dean1818]

Tough crowd

I have shot my friends 45 from HP.

It was accurate.

It didnt fail me once.......It hasnt failed my friend....... after many thousands
of rounds

Pros:

Accurate
No questions asked warranty
MADE in America.

Cons
Asthetics
HEAVY and rough IMHO trigger
WAY TOO big for CCW

All manufacturers have guns that fail.

If impressing your friends is your focus in life......maybe get some new friends

I havent found a need for this pistol yet. Maybe a "truck gun"

If you like it buy it.



I also like the CZ82. Shooting holes in papers its great. However.... if you want it for HD or CCW...... you will notice that there are limited high quality choices for JHP for the MAK round. Its also a step below what I consider the absolute minimum for caliber of 9mm.

Just because a company like wolf or brown bear offers a choice for JHP, doenst mean that it will expand properly


Good luck either way you go....if you buy it.... you WILL get teased
but In my humble opinion the gun will not blow up and it IS a viable choice.

 

[Water-Man]

Just because some of you feel there are better choices doesn't justify critisizing someone for purchasing a Hi-Point. Some of you just don't seem to get it.

 

[Dean1818]

Sorry to hijack the thread but you are offering a solution vs
the CZ82 (I think a good paper puncher)

Check the performance of the Silver bear hollow points 9MAK

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEcsdZBIXN4

Its UGLY


There are MANY 40 cal HP offering that are better than the MAK

The HP isnt the best pistol, I dont own one, but I would trust it

 

[john5036]

I'm just glad that there's a gun that's finally UGLIER than a Glock...

Shoot, shoot and shoot some more... Hi-Point or not, you can't own just one gun anyways.

 

[JR47]

Yes, and if someone told you that bullsh*t was cherry pie every pasture would be a dessert tray. Please don't trust your life to that thing. It's fine for range plinking, but it is NOT up to snuff for self defense.

You may not, but there is zero data, not even some random anecdotal story to your opinion.

Some of you guys should listen to each other. First, the OP is wrong because he doesn't provide factual evidence about the gun. Then, a little later, he's treated to the "don't trust your life", "they aren't worth it" crap without a single shred of evidence, just opinion.

Trust your life? Why? Many areas still refuse to grant all of the Internet Commandos living there the ability to carry outside of the home. Doesn't seem to stop the pontification though, now does it?

Not everyone buys a gun for the single-minded purpose of CCW, or Home Defense. Leave people's choices alone until they ask your opinion, because that's all it ever is.

FYI, the Czech and Yugoslavian guns mentioned use non-standard calibers, with good ammo that isn't corrosive (in the case of the 7.62x25) is pricey. In comparison, .40 S&W is popular, easy to come by, and can be bought at Wal-Mart.

Oh, and the ominous "we'll discuss the .40s shortcomings in another place" is the truest example of BS in this thread. If the caliber is having so much trouble, you couldn't tell it by the sales of firearms chambered in it. That includes LEO and Security.

 

[USAF_Vet]

While I have zero interest in the .40 cal round in general, I do own a HP 9mm carbine, have a .45 pistol on order, and will probably get the compensated 9mm pistol as well (depending on how the .45 fares).

What experience I have with Hi Point firearms, I do recommend them for someone who is tight on cash. The opinion of "save up a few more weeks/months and get something better" may be feasable in your life, but for many, it just doesn't work out that way. To say something along the lines of

it is NOT up to snuff for self defense

shows a lack of any real experience with the weapon.
They are what they are, an inexpensive no frills fire arm with literally zero marketing or
advertisments.

Love em or hate em, but do so as an educated person, not a blindly biased one.

 

[KodiakBeer]

There are MANY 40 cal HP offering that are better than the MAK

Yeah, until you try and carry a .40 Hi Point around, then the CZ begins to look like a much better buy. You can also buy surplus .38 and .357 S&W's in that same price range, and for a hundred bucks more you can buy a surplus Glock 22 in .40. How about a refinished Ballester Molina .45 for $199 at JLD enterprises?

Any of these guns will shoot rings around a Hi Point and be a reasonable defense or carry gun. It's not that I hate the Hi Point, it's just that I don't see it as a wise consumer choice when there are so many better alternatives.

I've reminded of "back in the day" when a younger colleague without much money wanted to buy a new Yugo. It was new and had a great warranty, right? But, I suggested he should buy a used Toyota or Mazda or something like that at the same price. He bought the Yugo and, well, it was a Yugo... My little Mazda ran for 200K miles and then I sold it, still running like a clock.

 

[Dean1818]

Kodiak...... you MAY want read my FULL post before you quote me

The phrase "Way too heavy for Carry" was in the post that you DIDNT read


For home defense..... (In a night stand Kodiak)

If my ONLY choices were an HP and a CZ82

I would take a HP in 40 with the latest in technology
over a MAK 9mm that MAY expand

EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK

 

[KodiakBeer]

If my ONLY choices were an HP and a CZ82

Those aren't your only choices. You can get a Glock .40 for $300. You can get a Ballester Molina .45 for $199. You can get a S&W .357 for about $219. And really, if it's only for home defense you can get a Norinco 12 gauge that will trump any handgun for $200.

I would take a HP in 40 with the latest in technology
over a MAK 9mm that MAY expand

Sorry, but a blowback .40 with a pound of zinc in the slide isn't quite the "latest in technology". In fact, it's technology that was left behind about 1900 when a guy in Utah figured out how to create a locked breech for heavy pistol rounds.

I really do understand the temptation to buy a Hi Point. It's affordable and at least adequate for many purposes. But... there are better choices in the same price range.

With that said, enjoy your Hi Point! If you ever check out one of those old Ballester Molinas, you might see my point.

 

[Kendal Black]

I don't own a Hi Point but I'm not saying I never will. My impression (based on collected scuttlebutt) is that they work. Looking at the exploded diagram, there is every reason to expect them to work. They use a simple fixed-barrel blowback design. Of course that is the reason for the outsize slide. It is unusual to make blowback pistols for adult cartridges and of course they don't end up looking normal--for our accustomed ideas of normal.

So you end up with these blocky, bulky pistols that just happen to run well, and because they are simple internally and made without great attention to fit and finish, the makers offer them at a price point much lower than more conventional auto pistols.

It's clear that isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's clever design work.

Odd story I happened upon: http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C...PEgQfc3dHrCw&start=0&sa=N&fp=169e21e43324c42f A fellow shot some Steel Challenge matches with a Hi-Point. He found the heavy trigger and slowish cycling (?) to be drawbacks but did pretty well anyway. This is the kind of real-world tryout that will settle the Hi Point debate, if anything will.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

As I've pointed out a number of times, I've paid four to six times much for guns that still malfunctioned and shed parts anyway. And I do rather fancy one of those carbines. I shot one - the older style - briefly a few years ago, and it put a magazineful of bullets in a decent grouping with no malfunctions.

 

[mgmorden]

Is it law or part of the sales agreement that you must at least own a boat, truck or tool box to purchase a HiPoint?

This is the first time in a LONG time that something in a Hi Point thread has made me smile. Thanks .

If you dont like a certain brand of firearm, or a certain caliber, fine. But keep your mouth shut and your opinions to yourself.

Personally I think the forums would be a pretty boring place if all we did was come here and slap each other on the rear shouting "That's great!". Discussions aren't always about pep talking. Rational discussions can be had about something while fairly and with civility pointing out the faults in something.

With that said, I have no issue pointing out that the Hi Point is not without (significant) faults. Yes, it's a gun. Yes, it's cheap. Yes, it typically goes bang when you press the trigger. If that's all you want, get one.

HOWEVER, it does have a huge hulking slide that was made overly large due to a cost cutting design measure (setting up a blow back action on pistol rounds that really shouldn't use that type of action). They keep that big hulking slide even on the .380 where it's not needed because it's cheaper to not retool. That slide is made out of a pot metal zinc alloy that will wear itself out an order of magnitude faster than a quality steel slide would. Yes, it can be sent back to the factory for a "free" repair if/when it does wear out, but after covering overnight shipping via a common carrier out of your pocket, you've already made up the price difference between the Hi Point and a better pistol on the first trip.

They also utilize a single-stack magazine in a gargantuan pistol that shouldn't use it (because double-stacks are harder to get right), limiting the capacity of the gun. They have a dinky little safety lever that is pretty much just a piece of metal with a 90 degree bend in it - not ergonomic at all. Due to the aforementioned brick of a slide, they also are notoriously difficult to find holsters for and the ones that do exist are not even remotely suited to concealed carry.

Heck even in the lauded "torture test" video that the defenders point to the gun even jams at least once.

I don't think ANYONE here is saying that a Hi Point doesn't go bang. That doesn't mean that the people who don't like them are "snobs" or don't have their reasons though. A $0.99 burger from McDonalds ain't poison, and won't kill you (at least not immediately), but don't kid yourself and start saying it's "just as good" as a t-bone from a nice steak house. And what's REALLY worse, is that while the t-bone might cost 20x what that McDonalds burger costs, decent pistols start out at only about 1.5 to 2x the cost of the Hi Point. Hence, why many view them as a waste of money.

As I've pointed out a number of times, I've paid four to six times much for guns that still malfunctioned and shed parts anyway.

All a matter of frequency. If a pistol has a 30% failure rate (which is atrocious) there are still going to be 70 people out of 100 screaming that theirs is working fine. If another pistol has a 1% failure rate (much, MUCH better) there is still 1 person out of 100 to come to the forum saying that their more expensive gun broke. Just because you can find examples of each doesn't mean the playing field is even.

 

[mgmorden]

How about a refinished Ballester Molina .45 for $199 at JLD enterprises?

Just a minor quibble, but those listings at Cruffler have been out of date for at least 6-7 years. Ballester Molina's now command a much higher price.

The CZ-82 is still an infinitely better all-around gun than the Hi-point though, and the M57 Tokarev's aren't a bad buy either.

 

[Kendal Black]

Something the Hi-Point has going for it is it is offered in popular chamberings; you can buy ammo anywhere. And, personally, I would prefer .40 S&W or .45 ACP to 9x18 Makarov or 7.62x25 Tokarev, for defensive use.

If you decide you ought to have something that shoots a round that 'starts with a four,' your choices in the budget category are very, very limited.

 

[chrisnoel27]

Hi Points are what they are, more plastic and zinc than steel but they they seem to go bang most of the time and the company has a awesome repair/return policy that I'm sure will come to good use. Frankly I don't care what the OP shoots as long as he's shooting something.

 

[Hunt480]

I'm just glad that there's a gun that's finally UGLIER than a Glock...

The truth sneaks out ever once in awhile. The Hi-Point is an affordable option especially at todays prices on other guns. Every time I see the Hi-Points at the gun shows I think about buying one.

 

[GLOOB]

Hi Points are great for the occasional shooter, or if ammo was free. But for anyone that launches more than 100 rounds a month, it's a false economy. It's like drinking Grey Goose martinis out of a paper cup to save money. If I someone gave me one, I wouldn't shoot it. Every shot fired would be one better spent. I'd function test it with a few mags and then put it away. Come to think of it, I have a lot of "Hi Points" in the safe, collecting dust. (The only difference is I didn't buy them knowing I'd never shoot them).

That's the market for these things. People that don't like shooting. They just want a gun that works. Nothing wrong with that. If you plan to spend $30.00 on ammo in your lifetime, why spend more than $180.00 on the launcher?

 

[UcanRun]

a high point 9mm was the first hand gun i bought myself. i put alot of rounds through it and never had a problem. would i buy another one? probably not but thats because i can aford better guns now.

 

[MachIVshooter]

While I won't knock the OP for choosing a firearm that has, thus far, proved a decently reliable unit that is accurate enough to have fun with and has a great warranty , I will say that I'm in the "better guns for similar money" camp.

I have bought dozens of quality pistols for under $200, many more under $300. That's the beauty of the used market. Same with anything else. I just picked up a 3 year old 70# PSE Nova for $95. A new compound bow for under $100? What do you think I'd get? Nothing that'll handle and perform like the Nova. Or go SUV shopping with $20K. You can buy a brand new stripped down Kia or Hyundai thing, or you could get a 4 year old Durango or Tahoe with some decent amenities and a real engine (That won't be much worse on fuel, either).

Bottom line is that your dollar buys a lot nicer things if you don't have to get it brand new. It's all about priorities.