Hi Point Handguns

[buser]

HiPoint has been helping families protect themselves without spending a lot of money on a tight budget. Not all people are "gun guys". They want something for home protection, that's all. I have owned HiPoints, they are heavy and not pretty. But they do work every time that you pull the trigger. Most people that look down on the HiPoint have never fired one much less owned one. Snobs will tell you to buy something else. Buy what you can afford and practice with it.

 

[btruman]

HiPoint has been helping families protect themselves without spending a lot of money on a tight budget. Not all people are "gun guys". They want something for home protection, that's all. I have owned HiPoints, they are heavy and not pretty. But they do work every time that you pull the trigger. Most people that look down on the HiPoint have never fired one much less owned one. Snobs will tell you to buy something else. Buy what you can afford and practice with it.

+1.

Two of my neighbors own Hipoints. One a .40S&W and the other a .45. Both of them know the guns are inexpensive and not refined but the guns work and they're happy. After looking at them I'm not sure the Hi Points are much if any uglier than some of the highly touted autos that many swear by.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Buy yourself both a good handgun and a good bottle of Scotch when you turn 21. You'll regret neither purchase. My just turned 21 gun was a police trade in Model 64 4" HB. Dealer cost was 169 dollars in an advertisement in the Shotgun News. I think the going rate is another hundred now, but eh...

Anyway, Hi Points will usually work. If they don't, send them back. They'll fix it and give you some mags and such for your trouble and to defray shipping. Most of the lower tier gunmakers have great customer service, they'll send you free parts, etc.

If you want a hi capacity auto that works and is cheap, look for used 2nd and 3rd Generation S&W metal framed autos.

 

[oldman2]

Hi Points

I have both a 45 & 9mm, I think they are a bit crude & heavy but shoot quiet well. For the money they are hard to beat. I have put about 1000 rounds though the 45, the trigger smoothed up quiet a bit. the 9 mm I just bought & have only put a couple of 100rds through it. I hope it smooths out like the 45 did. I bought the 45 just on a lark & after a while I liked it. I'll never give up my Smiths however. the high points are fun to play with

 

[writerinmo]

I own a JCP .40 and C9 Comp 9mm Hi Points. Bought the .40 new for 160 bucks out the door with one mag, the C9 well used with hard case and two mags and laser (junk) for 150. Called HP and had them send me the newer design firing pin & spring assembly, extractor key and spring, and a new trigger just for the heck of it... free of charge, in the mailbox three days later which seems to be the norm.

Had some problems with the .40 FTF right off, but after adjusting all the mags never had a problem again with it, have about 1k rounds through it, all factory ammo, mostly Federal, Blazer and Magtech Guardian Gold, which my SW40VE refused to feed and the HP ate up.

The C9... no problems at all other than a squib from WWB that I will never buy again. It has about 1k rounds through it from me, and god knows how many from the previous owner, who seemed to think it never needed to be cleaned or maintained.

Yes, they are heavy, both these models tip in around 35 ounces. They are very accurate due to the fixed barrels. Not sure why someone said they kick like mules though... recoil is far easier to manage due to the weight of the slides absorbing most of it. My SW40VE was impossible to hold on target with the hotter Magtech loads, the HP did much better returning to the target with them.

Are they ugly? Yep, every HP owner will be the first to tell you that. Do they work? Yep, any problems you have will usually turn out to be in the mags. If not, ship it in and they will fix it and usually give you a new mag for the trouble. If it is a part other than the barrel, sear or sear spring, they will send it to you free of charge. Overall, I have to say I am well pleased with mine as far as accuracy, price and reliability.

 

[turndl1]

Thanks everyone for your input. Im going to see how much money I can save up and when the time comes, I'll make my decision. Again, thank you.

 

[writerinmo]

You might have trouble finding them, most gun dealers who carry them say they can't keep them in stock. Also, not sure which caliber you are leaning towards, but they are supposedly revamping the 9mm so that it has a picatinny rail under the muzzle for accessories that the current frame doesn't have.

 

[turndl1]

Yea, i want to get a 9mm. I will keep an eye out for one with a pic rail, that would be nice to have

 

[walnutred]

I know nothing about Hi Point pistols, but I expect I'm not the first with no first had experience to express an opinion. If what you are looking for is an inexpensive firearm to put ammo down range and possible home defense the Hi Point will probably work fine. However if you are hoping to improve your shooting skills along with putting lead down range in my opinion you should save you money a little longer and buy something else.

I do have a Hi Point carbine though and think it fits the purpose for which I purchased it very nicely.

 

[mkk41]

Hi-Points seem to get a lot of free TV time too. On the evening news and COPS-type shows. One of the most encountered guns used in crimes. Low cost , major caliber. Made from heavy zinc castings , they sink good when thrown into the river.

 

[austintexas]

We have two gun shops in town, one is upscale and sells name brand and ultra expensive shotguns and the other is a mom and pop type of gunshop. The upscale won't sell Hi-points but the mom and pop shop sells all they can get. Chuck says he won't sell guns that have problems and he sells alot of Hi-points. Alot of shops around here won't take one in trade but Chuck says what the heck, they have a lifetime garenttee and he just sends them back for repair. Used M&P .38s around here sell in the $275 to $350.00 range and the $160 seems right for the fellow with a limited budget.

 

[Mod10]

So how are these things so reliable and durable for such a low price?

 

[sipowicz]

The are made by 9 year old sweat shop workers in India, at night, after their clothing shift.

 

[Jellybean]

So how are these things so reliable and durable for such a low price?

How are they reliable? They use a very simple design, much like Bryco/Jennings etc.

Durability is a different story. Firearms are machines and every time a machine is used it causes wear, so the more it's used the more it wears. Another factor here is what it's made of. Different materials will wear at different rates and this is where a lot of people have a lack of understanding. All firearms are being made of cheaper material then they were long ago. They all work just fine but their longevity will vary widely depending on exactly what is being used in their manufacture. In other words, I'm afraid firearms are no longer going to be the family heirlooms they used to be, unless they don't get used. The simple design and zinc castings used by Hi Point are the reason for their low cost but will probably cause them to wear faster than other brands, this is where their lifetime guarantee really helps out. But, for their intended uses, they are about the best deal in the business.

 

[walnutred]

I think of Hi Points as the 21st Century version of the old IJ or H&R top break.

 

[OKFC05]

Not sure why someone said they kick like mules though... recoil is far easier to manage due to the weight of the slides

If you really are wanting to know, it is because they are blowback design. For a given gun weight, blowback semi-autos always kick harder than locked-breech semi-autos.
This is just inherent to the blowback design and has nothing to do with quality of materials or workmanship. An old SIG blowback .380 kicks as hard as a Kahr 9mm of the same weight.

Recoiling masses have been incorporated into designs to make .22s kick harder, like a centerfire, for training.

My real issue with the HiPoint is that it is very hard to clean and is made of "pot metal" (zinc alloy) thus is not durable, so is unsuited for my use. I shoot the dickens out of any gun I own--or get rid of it if it won't take it: like the often-cussed S&W .380 with the pot metal slide, which just wasn't made for the long haul.

Don't mind if people buy a cheap gun made for limited use, as long as they understand that's what they are getting. Not only do better materials cost more, they are harder to machine, and locked-breech designs require more machining and fitting, all raising the price.

 

[Jellybean]

Not only do better materials cost more, they are harder to machine, and locked-breech designs require more machining and fitting, all raising the price.

This is true. But MIM castings don't require machining or fitting and while the base material may cost more than a bar of steel, there is much less of it left on the shop floor as waste. So with less waste/more yeild and the reduction of costs from machinists and fitters labor, how come their price didn't come down too?

It sounds like S&W was trying to get a piece of the "cheap gun" money with their .380, but they don't want to admit how cheap they are making their guns now. Both in quality and cost.

 

[cmort666]

The are made by 9 year old sweat shop workers in India, at night, after their clothing shift.

...and before they have to dig for the Shankara stones.