Comments on the Hi-Point .45 ACP

LL617

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The boss has been after me to get a rifle that I could handle. I may have found one--at least from what I've read. I'm looking at a Hi-Point .45 ACP Carbine. Is anyone familiar with this weapon? I would appreciate your comments
 
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What do you need/want to do with a rifle? If you just need to shoot
it a few times a year it might work fine for you. If you want to shoot
more, and want to have a gun that holds its value, a High Point
might not fill the bill.

I've fired a High Point 9mm a few times. It went bang and I even
hit a few steel silhouettes with it. I was less than impressed with the
gun overall, however.

I would be more inclined to look for a deal on an M4 .223, an M1 Carbine, or possibly even a lever gun in a pistol caliber.
 
Sorta disappointed with your comments, although I am glad to hear them.

The point for getting this was so that I could provide backup to the boss's Ruger when the zombie squirrels attack! I've heard that they have been biting and infecting larger critters, too.

Seriously, I would probably use this mostly for target shooting; the boss might have taken it hunting. The boss would like me to have it for home defense, too, I guess.
 
You're not going to find a lot of love for Hi-Points on a forum like this but from what I've read elsewhere, their products do perform, as ugly as they are, particularly the carbines, and it's hard to beat the prices. I know the company enjoys an excellent reputation regarding customer service/warranty issues. If you're not concerned with resale/collectibility and desire an affordable American-made gun that simply works and it's not the end of the world if you drop it or it gets banged around, it might be the right gun for you. Do some research and look around.
 
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What? No one else around here knows about zombie squirrels???
I understand that they mutated from Southwestern ground squirrels but are now bigger and a lot meaner than their ancestors....You don't want these guys in your garden.

I am appreciating all the comments that have been made so far. It is helping me clarify my thinking, giving me directions in how to direct my research, and helping me create a list of features or "must haves" to look for.

1. Have to be able to handle weapon comfortably. Looks per se don't matter, but it needs to be fairly short and light. The boss's shot gun and Ruger are difficult for me to handle.

2. Price needs to be less than $800.00.
3. Needs to be fairly easy to clean and maintain.
4. Don't particularly care what it looks like but want reliability and sturdiness.
5. Want manufacturer help if needed. I haven't had problems with my S&W, but it good to know they will help me if I do.
6. Want to be able to obtain ammo easily.
7. Prefer to buy gun built in the USA.

I might add to this list later, but these are the big concerns now.

As I have been reading, I also ran into two other carbines that might be good to look at. One was the Aero Survival Carbine and the other was a Henry Arms Survival AR-7. So the search continues...

Incidentally, looked at the reference about the autoloading rifle model 1296. Interesting!

I'm glad to hear from everyone.
 
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Hi-Point gets a bad rap undeservedly from gun snobs. They have about the best warranty and customer service in the industry. I bought their 9mm pistol to make the transition from wheel guns and it was reliable and as accurate as any other pistol right out of the box. My son now owns it. We both qualified with it. Thousands of rounds without a hiccup. None of the LGS here can keep them in stock. If you can get by their looks don't be dissuaded by the low price. To me they are no uglier than any other polymer firearm.
 
I have had a HighPoint 9mm carbine for years and the only issue I've ever had with it is that the charging handle has to be tightened every 300 rounds or so. It has sub MOPP (Minute of Paper Plate) accuracy at 100 yards so you can hit a pop can enough to be interesting. Since the whole family shoots it well and reliably it serves as a Bump In The Night firearm at home and the cabin/tent/truck gun when we go camping. But that's just my experiance and your milage may vary.
 
I don't know if I've ever laid eyes on the carbines, but I had a Hi-Point 9mm pistol that I fired more ammo through than any other individual gun I've ever owned, bar none. I tried my best to make that think fall on it's face. It never did. I can't say it never malfunctioned, because it did. A half dozen times, four of which came out of one box of "range reloads" of unknown quality. It was a fun gun to have. When I started to thin the herd, I got almost as much for it as I paid for it (got my asking price with no trouble), and had people standing in line to buy it if the first deal fell through.

The carbines are well spoken of around the other boards I read, especially the 9mm version. The 45 is fairly new AFAIK. If I just wanted a "fun gun", I'd be tempted to grab one.
 
A friend has a Hi-Point 9mm carbine that shoots well. My favorite little rifle is a 1943 Inland carbine that I use for coyotes.
 
Might suggest you look at a Ruger Mini-14, although I am not sure what "the boss" might hunt with it--if larger game then maybe a Mini-30.

1. Have to be able to handle weapon comfortably. Looks per se don't matter, but it needs to be fairly short and light. The boss's shot gun and Ruger are difficult for me to handle. Not sure what Ruger he has.

2. Price needs to be less than $800.00. It's under $800
3. Needs to be fairly easy to clean and maintain. Find mine pretty easy to clean
4. Don't particularly care what it looks like but want reliability and sturdiness. I'd consider them to be both
5. Want manufacturer help if needed. I haven't had problems with my S&W, but it good to know they will help me if I do. Ruger stands behind their products, and have heard great things about their Customer Service
6. Want to be able to obtain ammo easily. You can get .223 Remington almost anywhere
7. Prefer to buy gun built in the USA. Would be built either in New Hampshire or Arizona
 
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Ruger mini-14 or Saiga .223. Other than the fact that the Saiga .223 is built in Russia, it fits your needs.

2. It'll cost around $400 in unconverted form
3. The AK platform is super simple and easy to maintain,
4. AK platform is the ultimate in reliability
5. I would guess that Izhmash would stand behind it, but AKs are so simple you can fix almost anything yourself.
6. .223 ammo is available is many different weights and bullet types
7. Russian gun, but they build the AK right.
As far as number 1, the AKs butt stock can be left off with no effect on the function of the gun, and so shortens it by around 10 inches or so. The addition of a pistol grip to a Saiga is easily done with home tools in about 15 or 20 minutes, (it requires just grinding or cutting off 3 rivets and drilling out 1 spot weld), and a new Hogue pistol grip (my fave) runs around $20 (the nut is $5). This, and moving the trigger group ($30) would allow the gun to be kept without the butt and still fired, but is very maneuverable. The receiver already has all the holes for everything in the right place.

This one has a folding stock on it ($40), and a different grip than I mentioned, but will illustrate the idea:
18172d1233611991-saiga-223-factory-magazine-saiga-folder.jpg
 
Beat me too it!. If you have a $800 budget there are much nicer guns you can get,

That being said and what others have said the Hi Points are big, heavy, ugly but they do work and have excellent CS. Heck, they will clean your gun if you send it to them. LGS sells boat loads of them and never has a problem. Folks at the range shoot the snot out of them and they keep on working.
 
I've had a Mini 14, won't make that mistake again. I still have a Hi Point Carbine in 9mm and wont' let it go.

As Walnutred mentioned earlier my charge handle would loosen too from recoil, but a dab of nail polish took care of that problem. I've known a lot of folks that bought their handguns and like them a lot. I've loaded ammo for most of them it's hard to find a bullet that they won't feed and they are more accurate than most people around here can shoot.
 
The plot thickens...The Boss and our friendly FFL [and our friend] and I began to discuss various options. When we got to the Aero both said, "Never heard of it...changeable barrels???" Took a look at the video, got all excited. Now Boss is talking 9mm because ammo is cheap.

Still my primary purpose would be to be able to kill the zombie squirrels and have some fun at the range. I am going to try and locate someone with a Hi Point Carbine, that I can try and find out more about the Aero. I am hoping the local rifle range will have a Hi Point around so I can handle it.

Incidentally, the new Aero is being marketed in blue, green, and pink, as well as matt grey. They acknowledge that they want this rifle to appeal to the entire family. I'd buy it in pink, if it were cheaper, just to irritate the boss a little.

Meanwhile, my two dream revolvers still elude me...the Model 25 [or maybe a .357 with a scope] and the Model 547 - 9mm Revolver.

Again, I appreciate everyone's comments. I learn a lot here on the forums.
 
S.W.A.T. magazine gave the Hi Point some high marks.I've been looking for a 9mm carbine for about four months. Have five gun stores looking for one but so far no luck.
 
Check out nutnfancy gun review on the hipoint handgun and rifle. You will be surprised as i was. Pretty much a good cover/hide in the durt type of gun. It works but ugly as they get. Would i trust it for defense situation?, id like to hope i have better options but its better than nothing. Would i trust it like and M&P rifle? heck no but if its the only thing i had to fight of the zombies with id be ok with that.
 
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