Hi-Point firearms ?

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Anyone here have any. They are seen as "cheap" but incredibly reliable. On another board some pointed out that if you have to use one for home defense and the police take it for "evidence" you won't be "Cryin' the Blues" the way you would if they took your prize AR-15.

 

[always_an_eagle]

I got one. Once of the first rifles I bought with my FID card in NJ when I was 20. I was a broke college student looking to buy a rifle before the
2016 election. It has been reliable with me, I can hit what I am aiming at with the stock sights and has a great warranty. Two years ago I got the high tower armory bullpup stock for the high point which was a big improvement, and if you ever want a bullpup, it is the cheapest way to get into bullpups.

 

[dmthomp32]

From those who have them say this when I ask:
The carbines perform better than the pistols.
The pistols are okay as long as you don't run a lot of rounds through them. However they have lots of quirks like strange recoil impulse (lot of mass in the slide?). But in the end they have a great level of service and a warranty to cover you should anything go wrong.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[Bladeswitcher]

Poor people need to be able to defend themselves, too, you know . . .

Seriously, the Hi-Point pistols are big, clunky, inelegant, crude and ugly. They also have terrible trigger and are a PITA to disassemble for cleaning. Other than those things, what's not to like? They're cheap, reliable and have a lifetime no-questions-asked warranty.

Full disclosure: I own one of the 9mm carbines, though I've only shot it a couple of times. Seems like it would be a great home defense gun for non-gun people.

More full disclosure: I used to own a pawn shop and sold a ton of Hi-Points. I loved them because it was one of the few new guns you could make any money on. I'd buy the pistols wholesale for $120 and sell them for $180. Easy $60. That's roughly the same profit I'd make on a new $450 Smith and Wesson (not margin, but total profit). I'd buy used pistols for $75 or loan $60. They'd go in the used gun case for $135 or so and sell like hotcakes. I never worried about buying used ones because Hi-Point would fix them if ever there was a problem. Loved those things! Wish I had kept one of the used pistols for my own use.

 

[Eddietruett]

I have 2 of the older carbines. The ones with the solid stock. We around here call them "monkey guns" because they were used in one of the big movies. I think it was Planet of the Apes but could have been another one. Mine run great. Dont think I've ever had a misfeed. Fairly accurate especially for a $250 gun Will easily shoot a 1" group at 25 yards and we have a torso size steel silhouette at 100 yards that is a piece of cake to hit with every shot. Wish they came with mags that hold more than 10 rounds, but you can get 20 round aftermarket mags. The older ones didn't come with sights and mine have cheap red dots but are fun to play around with. Ironically, the most accurate ammo in both of mine is TulAmmo Steel Case 115gr. Cheapest gun with cheapest ammo. Hope to find a 45acp soon.

 

[MyDads38]

I've shot one of the 9c pistols, they do have a different feel/impulse during recoil. With the warranty, I would be comfortable buying one, if it was all I could afford. FWIW, for just a little more money, you could have a SCCY CPX-2 9mm. I've shot one of those also. I could get used to the trigger pull on the SCCY, easier than the recoil impulse on the Hi-Point; but that's just my opinion.

 

[OKFC05]

I was an IDPA match director for 16 years, and every HI Point used at the local matches broke within a year; not made for the heavy use over the long haul. And the company fixed everything for free. Great warranty and service.
Many of the failures were major components, like broken slides. They put new slides on them and sent them back. Sometimes they replaced almost everything on the gun, but no charge.
The people who wanted to keep shooting IDPA usually bought used Glocks or S&W Sigmas, which were durable under heavy use and easier to shoot .

 

[Bladeswitcher]

I have 2 of the older carbines. The ones with the solid stock. We around here call them "monkey guns" because they were used in one of the big movies. I think it was Planet of the Apes but could have been another one . . .

I can picture the guns in the movie, but I'm pretty sure they weren't Hi-Points. The movie came out in 1968 and Hi-Point wasn't a company until the early '90s.

According to the internet, the Planet of the Apes guns were modified M1 carbines . . . Planet of the Apes (1968 - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games)

 

[RobertJ.]

Here's a review of the renowned High Point C45:[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q13FUvzmGVQ[/ame]

 

[robvious]

had a friend sell his PPK 380... had a few thousand reloads but no gun.. he got a Hi-Point in 380 and 5 magazines... he and his son put about 3,000 mixed reloads and miscellaneous SD loads thew it in 4 range days over about 3 weeks... their thumbs hurt from loading magazines... it worked flawlessly... and then he sold it for what he paid... I got my son a Hi-Point Carbine... mostly because it reminded me of the Planet of the Apes gun... and I know if there are any issues they will be taken care of... the rifle was used and the previous owner sent it in after he dropped it and something popped off.. came back in 2 weeks with stickers and 2 extra magazines... no charge...
and if you want proof its tough check out the Demolition Ranch you tube videos...
looks like the gun can't be broken...

 

[Rammer Jammer]

I've got a 9mm carbine. Reliable, accurate, great warranty if needed and excellent for training new shooters on. If they drop it or bang it up in any way it can't get much uglier.

 

[CB3]

I've had a camo stocked 9mm carbine since the late 90's. I have thousands of rounds through it.

Only hicupped with an aftermarket hi-cap mag.

Other than that it's fun, easy to shoot, reliable, close range accurate, and one of my go-to guns for moving young or new shooters up to center fire. We use it just like a .22 for plinking—soda cans, golf balls, 2-liter water filled bottles, ground based clay targets.

Only drawback to me is low capacity. I have a cheap laser on mine which makes it even more fun, especially at an indoor range in the winter.

 

[sigp220.45]

I bought a new C9 at a police supply place for 35 bucks a couple of years ago. I've only put about 100 rounds through it, but it worked fine. I drove a nail into the wall in my garage next to the door into the house and its been hanging there ever since.

 

[Lonegle57]

Bought a carbine in 40 a number of years ago, used, for grins and giggles.Cut off the rear of the hollow stock an older model, camo, and filled it with wood and then put a rubber recoil pad on it. Scoped it,bought a few extra mags and is now a basement gun. The wife enjoys shooting it and she tends to be recoil sensitive. Have it zeroed at 50 yards, shoots well,and brings the grins to the wife when she burns ammo.

 

[stansdds]

Cheap? Yes.
Reliable? Yes.
Attractive? No.


The first time I saw one my reaction was "and I thought Glocks were ugly!" They do work as intended, but they are ugly pistols.

 

[Bladeswitcher]

The NRA did a good article on the Hi-Point . . . American Rifleman | Hi-Point Firearms And The Man Behind Them

 

[Bladeswitcher]

If I were ever to buy another one, I would want it to be money . . . cracks me up, that the cheapest low-life gun you can buy is covered with $100 bills. It's perfect.

 

[OLDSTER]

Not all folks who want a handgun for SD can afford $500 plus for a pistol or revolver. Hi Point provides people a reliable, well made pistol at an economical price.

 

[Pondoro]

The Walther PPX worked great but was redesigned. The Walther forums had all excoriated it. The detractors said it was "cheap", the fans said, "It works but it looks like a Hi Point."

 

[Oldsalt66]

The incredible reliability" of these simple blowback pistols is more myth than fact, but the company does stand behind the product, although that won't do anyone much good in the event the slide breaks when they need the pistol most.

I'd recommend that anyone who's short on cash but needs a handgun, buy a used example from a reputable manufacturer like S&W.

Of course these days good guns, new or used, at decent prices are difficult to find.

 

[old tanker]

Anyone here have any. They are seen as "cheap" but incredibly reliable. On another board some pointed out that if you have to use one for home defense and the police take it for "evidence" you won't be "Cryin' the Blues" the way you would if they took your prize AR-15.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86uu8bKy9Ro[/ame]

 

[JJEH]

Buy the best you can afford, if that's a Hi Point for now so be it. Would I rely on a Hi Point to defend my life with? Hell no. But I believe the owner said once that he wants everyone to be able to defend themselves and I respect that.

 

[Deacon KC]

Never shot one of the pistols, but heard a lot of good stuff from people I know and respect about how good their carbines were. Found a used 9mm and it is a doll! Runs like a scalded cat and accurate. Put an ATI stock on it and now it looks awfully good. The house gun for the Missus. Also, consider the carbines have a 10 round mag capacity so they are useful in restrictive states.

 

[RWPBR]

Life is too short for ugly guns or ugly women!

Seriously though my son has a carbine and a pistol in 9mm and loves them.

 

[uncleted327]

They are ***** but reliable by all accounts. If you can afford $500+ get a Sig or Glock or the like. If you can afford $300+ get a Shield or a J frame. If you can afford $200+ get a SCCY or a LCP or a cheap Kahr. If your budget is under $200 its about the only game in town...

 

[mckenney99]

In the shop that I ran, we did not carry the pistols, as we could not touch the local gunshow table prices. We did sell a few of the carbines and never had any issues with them. I did have 2 customers bring in pistols, that they bought elsewhere, to ship back to HiPoint, (we did UPS shipping). Both had suffered catastrophic failures with the frames cracked or blown into pieces. Both looked like Out Of Battery Failures or horrendously over pressure rounds. In both cases, HiPoint returned new guns to the customers.

 

[sandog]

I know a couple guys that have the carbines, they are a bit heavy, and limited to 10 round single stack mags but they work.

I have a retired LEO friend who bought a place in Yuma, and we get together in the winter to do a camping trip in the huge gunnery range east of Yuma.
You have to sign in and get a permit at the Yuma Marine base.
They tell you to be alert for smuggling activity, don't leave your keys in the car, etc.
Rick has a GB model Mini-14 that he received upon retirement and he brings it along, and I bring one of my red dot equipped Mini-30s.
For handguns we take something different every time.

One year I wanted to stop and shoot some with my Uberti SA .45. and Rick pulls a High Point .40 out of his pack.
He tried to get it to fire, couldn't and handed it to me.
I tried and thought there must be a safety we didn't know about.
Turns out it just had an ungodly heavy pull, it must have been 20 pounds. He got rid of it soon after the trip.

 

[ancient-one]

I have a 9mm Carbine that has had no problems. There is a company that makes a larger cap mag, 20 rds. IIRC, that Hi-Point approves. I will try to find the name.

 

[Drm50]

Any gun is better than none and Hi Points are cheap for those who can't afford better. But in the words of old uncle Joe " Come on Man" why would guys with quality firearms was time or ammo on such a gun? I hope it's not the if I have to shoot someone the cops won't take my good S&W, ect. If you have to shoot, that means you life is in danger. I think I will carry a quality piece. This reminds me of true story. Retired guy and buddy are going on dream fly fishing trip to Alaska. Guy comes to me to get him a handgun for bear protection. He brought his new custom fly rod to show me. He bragged how much he had in the stick, guides, seat , cork , ect and the new reel, lines. He had hundreds tied up in that outfit. Then we got down to business on gun. I ask how much do you want to spend. Guy says $40-$50 , I'll only be using it once. Needless to say didn't have a bear gun at that price point, but you get the point.

 

[Echo40]

All evidence points towards them being good, reliable, inexpensive firearms.

That being said, I neither own one, nor do I plan on owning one. Furthermore, I wouldn't really recommend them either, simply because you can get firearms of significantly higher quality on the surplus market for roughly the same price or just a bit higher, so I just can't see recommending a Hi-Point C9 over say a Tokarev, Makarov PM, or some other high quality surplus pistols. Furthermore, you can often find some insanely good values on police trade-in pistols for maybe $99-$125 more than a Hi-Point, but you're getting so much more gun for the money. So I'd sooner recommend that someone save up a bit more money and get a police trade-in M&P or Glock than buy a Hi-Point.
Honestly, even if someone asked me who felt that they needed a firearm immediately, anticipating an imminent threat, I would sooner offer to loan them the difference for a surplus/police trade-in pistol. Heck, I would sooner recommend that they spend their money on a Heritage Arms Rough Rider in .22 Magnum, simply because it's a much nicer gun which breaks down much easier than a Hi-Point.

That being said, they do seem to be reliable pistols, so if absolutely no other option were available, then a Hi-Point would suffice, but even now, in the midst of a Global Pandemic in which folks are panic-buying guns and ammunition like crazy, you can still find other inexpensive guns like the Rough Rider, Taurus G2, Ruger LCP, EC9s, S&W SD, then there are surplus Tokarev pistols, and even police trade-in pistols pop up from time to time.

Oh, and I'm not being a snob either... I carry a Sigma, for crying out loud, which is basically just a step up from a Hi-Point! So I'm not putting down Hi-Point, just saying there are better options for roughly the same price.

Still, if you want a Hi-Point, then by all means get one, it'll do it's job just fine.