Why I choose the Hi Point .40!

[Nushif]

It's OK to be a newb with pistols, just don't try and put down vets when they say a certain pistol is junk.

You know ... You are giving away way more info on your experience level at this point than you care to.
Or your own personal ability to form a coherent view of the world independent of other people's. Take your pick.

 

[PlateStacker]

Sheesh... the negativity from some posters in this thread. If one only has $180 to spend on a firearm then the Hi-Point is a good option. As long as it goes *bang* very time one pulls the trigger, doesn't FTF or FTE, and holds together.... who really cares how much it costs? It'll be there to save one's life if needed. I kept my JHP by my side for nearly two years as a HD gun. The only thing I should have done but didn't is replace the factory mags.

It's not negativity, it's just the truth. Nothing personal.
And a Hi-Point would be one of the LAST firearms to guarantee I don't get a FTF, FTE, and doesn't fall apart! Not to mention it's crazy heavy, top heavy, not ergonomic... I could on and on..

There are plenty of things in life you can skimp on.. a life saving tool is NOT one of them. A Hi-Point isn't a quality combat tested pistol at cheap price. It's a cheaply thrown together pistol for people who "don't know any better". There is nothing quality about a Hi-Point. Theres nothing a Hi-Point has than is even in the same ballpark as a quality pistol, internals or external. Good for the price? There no such thing to me. I wouldn't buy one for $20. I don't skimp one somthing that is ment soley for saving my life, or of others. It's either a quality respected firearm or it's junk when it comes to my Duty sidearm or CCW.

 

[Mike1234567]

It's not negativity, it's just the truth. Nothing personal.
And a Hi-Point would be one of the LAST firearms to guarantee I don't get a FTF, FTE, and doesn't fall apart! Not to mention it's crazy heavy, top heavy, not ergonomic... I could on and on..

There are plenty of things in life you can skimp on.. a life saving tool is NOT one of them. A Hi-Point isn't a quality combat tested pistol at cheap price. It's a cheaply thrown together pistol for people who "don't know any better". There is nothing quality about a Hi-Point. Theres nothing a Hi-Point has than is even in the same ballpark as a quality pistol, internals or external. Good for the price? There no such thing to me. I wouldn't buy one for $20. I don't skimp one somthing that is ment soley for saving my life, or of others. It's either a quality respected firearm or it's junk when it comes to my Duty sidearm or CCW.

RE: Negativity; I didn't point anyone out in particular. And, of course, all opinions should be welcome. This stated, posts can often be worded in far more positive language.

If all I can afford to protect myself with is a big stick then that's what I'll use. If I can afford a nice $500 or pricier firearm then I'll use that. If I have $180 for a firearm... and I don't know what used "deals" are available and can't find reliable/consistent advice for such... then I'll buy whatever new firearm will work. It's better than the big stick. I'll just keep the stick as back-up.

 

[USAF_Vet]

You must be a complete newb to firearms. Someone who doesn't know a lot and doesent have a lot of experience in firearms/pistols. Everything in this post is just.. silly talk.

No, sorry. Former US Air Force Security Forces, three tours in Iraq, including combat. I probably know more about guns than your average gun owner.

What I am is someone without a large disposable income who bought a brand new pistol that was in my price range, versus some underpowered unknown used gun, caveat emptor. After reading reviews, test firing many fire arm models, I made an informed decision as to what would fill a role and could afford.

I'm terribly sorry that My purchase doesn't live up to YOUR standards. Like hell I am.

To somone well verse in Firearms, this is not true. I'd rather take a $800 P226 or USP over any $2k show gun. Period. One with the most features? Bells and whistles? Naw man..

When you throw in the caveat of 'well versed in firearms' to CYA, then the statement might be true. I still stand by my comment. What you would do in the situation does NOT define what others would or should do presented with the same situation. I know plenty of folks, gun savvy and ignorant alike, who would choose a free gun that was less practical because it was more flashy.

A bullet from a $180 handgun is just as effective as one from an $800 one.

I don't see how this is at all faulty. Decockers, tritium sights, trigger safties, etc. do not make the gun. They are the bells and whistles that manufacturers present to the general public to make their guns more marketable than their competition.

It's OK to be a newb with pistols, just don't try and put down vets when they say a certain pistol is junk.

Apparently, your definition of a vet might be a bit different than mine. As I read this thread, the only put downs are coming from those who are bashing Hi Points. your opinion is that these guns are junk. Many other people agree. Many other people disagree. It is a friggin opinion, not a fact. your attitude toward this is the definition of a gun snob. Bash and tear down other people choices, then backpedal and accuse other of attacking you? Hypocrite.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

No, sorry. Former US Air Force Security Forces, three tours in Iraq, including combat. I probably know more about guns than your average gun owner.

Being in the military doesn't mean you know more. They issue you a gun, teach you how to shoot and maintain that gun and thats it. My dad served 21 years in the Air Force and I'm just an 18 year old and I know way more than my dad when it comes to guns, I even shoot better groups.

 

[Dapperdan]

Please tell me you're ****ting me.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Not a very constructive post right there.

 

[PlateStacker]

Being in the military doesn't mean you know more. They issue you a gun, teach you how to shoot and maintain that gun and thats it. My dad served 21 years in the Air Force and I'm just an 18 year old and I know way more than my dad when it comes to guns, I even shoot better groups.

It's all about what MOS you have. Security Forces does hold it's weight in Firearms training and tactics. A cook or Air Craft mechanic... not so much.

 

[Nushif]

A cook or Air Craft mechanic

Hey! You don't want to be on the receiving end of a wrench or TO thrown by me! >.O

 

[LiveLife]

It's all about what MOS you have.

Not always. I was a medic for my unit but also had to maintain the unit's armory (ummm, medical officers never dirtied their hands cleaning weapons ).

After so many pistols, you got to the point where you disassembled/assembled 1911s without even looking and you really got to KNOW the weapons.

Good times as I learned to admire/appreciate the virtues of 1911. Can't believe I got paid to play around with them!

Hooah!

 

[Kendal Black]

Let's see... Purpose of a pistol. You align it, press upon the noise switch, a hole appears in the target in approximately the desired spot, then realign and repeat...

Right. A Hi Point does all that. It fulfills the purpose. I am glad for its success, for the Hi Point's existence reduces price pressure on my favorite budget conscious guns, the used, battered condition cop revolvers. Go, Hi Point!

 

[fallout mike]

Usafvet, don't feel bad, apparently I must be a newb too according to platestacker. I was always under the impression that if you got shot by a .45 that the wound be the same regardless of the handgun that shot it. We must think like that very informed gun guru's mom I guess right?

 

[ol' scratch]

Shoot the pistol you want to shoot. What a great country we live in that you can actually get the pistol you want. Whether that pistol is a $150 Hi Point or a $3000 custom 1911 doesn't matter except to the person pulling the trigger. What an even better country we live in where we can argue about it. As far as quality, I have never fired a Hi Point. I have absolutely no experience with them, so I won't bash them.

The only thing I can say is that it is not a very beautiful thing to look at. But seriously, I don't take my socket wrenches out and look at them. If I want to look at something of beauty, I go to the art museum. Also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[USAF_Vet]

As far as quality, I have never fired a Hi Point. I have absolutely no experience with them, so I won't bash them.

Ol' Scratch, if only others with no Hi Point experience were as wise as you.

Being in the military doesn't mean you know more. They issue you a gun, teach you how to shoot and maintain that gun and thats it.

Right, you have so much experience that you can make this claim. This comment shows how little you know about a lot of things. I learned a lot more than just how to shoot and clean a gun. But I'm sure with all your vast experience, albeit completely secondhand via your dad, you must be right.

It's all about what MOS you have. Security Forces does hold it's weight in Firearms training and tactics. A cook or Air Craft mechanic... not so much.

So why the sudden reversal? A few posts ago I was nothing but a newb who lacked any real knowledge about guns and was covering up for my mistake buying a Hi Point.

Hey! You don't want to be on the receiving end of a wrench or TO thrown by me! >.O

I was an aircraft mechanic, too. A breaker bar upside the head can be quite a set back, and some of those TO's get quite heavy. Especially if you've got one of the DTOS laptops.

I was a medic for my unit but also had to maintain the unit's armory (ummm, medical officers never dirtied their hands cleaning weapons ).

After so many pistols, you got to the point where you disassembled/assembled 1911s without even looking and you really got to KNOW the weapons.

Heck yeah. In my day it was M9A1's but they aren't too bad. And I can still field strip an M-16 pretty quickly.

Usafvet, don't feel bad, apparently I must be a newb too according to platestacker. I was always under the impression that if you got shot by a .45 that the wound be the same regardless of the handgun that shot it. We must think like that very informed gun guru's mom I guess right?

Believe me, I don't feel bad in the least. I just wish more people were as wise as Ol' Scratch.

 

[LiveLife]

I live in California and the state banned all the "cheap" Saturday night special guns years back that were under $100.

How is a single working mom making minimum wage supposed to protect themselves living in the wrong part of town from the neighborhood gang members/criminals or even the next door neighbor with the wrong intentions? $129-$150 new price range is a lot more doable than the closest $350-$400 new/used 9/40 pistols.

PD/SD officers I shoot with tell me that they CANNOT protect us if someone is kicking the door down because 911 response will be too slow (they'll respond in time to put victims in body bags). They highly recommend that each of us be armed to protect ourselves until police arrives. BTW, they much prefer to bag the bad guys instead, which sadly is rare in my city.

Hi Point pistols do not have the refinements of higher priced pistols but will shoot and several published/online reviews have demonstrated reliable function and surprising accuracy (especially for the 45ACP model).

Local gun stores can't hardly keep them in stock as they are sold out as soon as they get them. 10 rounds of decent 9/40/45 JHP is better than throwing rocks in my book any day.

I think we should view Hi Point as last remaining USA company that is working to preserve THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARM for the "economically challenged" citizens. Besides, they keep Americans employed and pay taxes.

Go Hi Point!

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Right, you have so much experience that you can make this claim. This comment shows how little you know about a lot of things. I learned a lot more than just how to shoot and clean a gun. But I'm sure with all your vast experience, albeit completely secondhand via your dad, you must be right.

Then what else do you learn in the military about firearms?

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I got a HP and it does what I want. It goes bang and hits what I am aiming at every time.

 

[jerryd]

Hi Point

Friends dont let friends buy Hi Points!!!!

 

[Mike1234567]

My H-P is fugly but many people think my Saigas are too. Frankly, I don't care what people say about them.

Are H-Ps cheap? Yes.

Are they unweildy? Yes.

Are they fugly? Yes.

Do they splatter BGs guts just as well as a $2000 1911? Yes.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Then what else do you learn in the military about firearms?

Enlist in a combat arms career field and figure that out for yourself.

 

[harmon rabb]

If I could find any of the above used hand guns as easily as I could find a new Hi Point, I might consider them as a purchase over a Hi Point. I'm going to trust a Brand New anything over an old, used anything every day of the week. Besides, I'd feel more confident knowing if I had to stop an attacker, the .40 would do so more effectively than a .38 snub.

Have you heard of the internet? The comm-bloc pistols, such as the cz-82, are readily available all over the surplus sites and gunbroker, and these are actual proven quality pistols, but, well, hi-points. For a few bucks (or the same amount, depending on which you bought) more you could've had a comm-bloc gun that would last you the rest of your life, even with regular practice.

With respect to trusting new over used, guns are not cars. You're being silly. Most used guns have barely been shot at all, and it's very easy to inspect a used gun for wear. Most of the surplus pistols were re-arsenaled before being shipped here, and some of them are literally brand new, never fired.

Hey, if your hi-point works and you're happy, that's all that matters... I just think a hi-point is a very, very poor choice in this era of cheap soviet surplus.

 

[harmon rabb]

My H-P is fugly but many people think my Saigas are too.

You're comparing a HP to what is effectively the highest quality AK money can buy? Uhhh....

 

[merlinfire]

Test every gun thoroughly before using defensively. Good is good, not is not. Your assailant will not check the name on the slide before succumbing to his wounds.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[tinygnat219]

Have you heard of the internet? The comm-bloc pistols, such as the cz-82, are readily available all over the surplus sites and gunbroker, and these are actual proven quality pistols, but, well, hi-points. For a few bucks (or the same amount, depending on which you bought) more you could've had a comm-bloc gun that would last you the rest of your life, even with regular practice.

The main problem with Com-Bloc pistols, other than having no support structure, or warranty behind them, is that most fire underpowered rounds with the over-penetrating 7.62X25 Tokarev being the exception. You list the CZ-82 as a good choice, and it's a fine firearm, probably the best Com-Bloc pistol out there. They have the unique ability to share parts with the current production CZ-83. If you know what you're doing, that's a good thing. However, with the Hi-Point, if something goes wrong, he returns it to the factory, problem gets fixed and he has a new gun. For the Com-Bloc guns, you can't do that. His .40 S&W chambering in the Hi-Point alone blows anything Com-Bloc out of the water.

With respect to trusting new over used, guns are not cars. You're being silly. Most used guns have barely been shot at all, and it's very easy to inspect a used gun for wear. Most of the surplus pistols were re-arsenaled before being shipped here, and some of them are literally brand new, never fired.

Used guns can be the best value on the market, but there's no guarantee that they'll work, or any real way of knowing how often they've been shot.

Hey, if your hi-point works and you're happy, that's all that matters... I just think a hi-point is a very, very poor choice in this era of cheap soviet surplus.

The Hi-point is a better value than the cheap soviet surplus and chambered in a much more powerful cartridge.

 

[Mike1234567]

You're comparing a HP to what is effectively the highest quality AK (Saiga) money can buy? Uhhh....

I didn't say "I" think Saigas are fugly. I said some other people do. In other words, "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."