Hi Point firearms?

[daved]

Anyone have any actual experience with these?  Just stumbled across them at our local hardware store, had to check them out because I thought someone had put the wrong price tag on them.  Semi auto 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP, 9 or 10 shot mags, polymer frame, $169!  And made in the USA to boot.  Did some Internet research last night, turns out they've been around for 10 years.  The reviews I saw were of two varieties, the ones that trashed them never owned or shot one, the people that actually had gotten their hands on one were ALL positive.  Not necessarily rave reviews, some had issues with the grip or the location of the mag release.  But the bottom line was that all felt they were reliable, solid weapons, at a price that's well below anything else out there that I've ever seen.  Kind of like Ruger and Charter Arms back in the mid-70's.  Haven't owned a handgun for years, but I've been "feeling the need" for awhile now, I think I've just found what it's going to be.  Would love to hear some opinions from anyone here that's had or used one.  Later.

Dave

[TCups]

Never owned one.  Never fired one.  You can check out the usual firearm forums if you want to see what owners have to say, for example, thehighroad.org

Only one comment, though.  If you feel the NEED for a handgun for self or home defense, then you want one that is absolutely reliable.  I guess where quality is concerned, if a buy seems almost too good to be true, then it probably is.  In the final analysis, it doesn't matter where the magazine release is or whether or not the grip feels just right.  What matters is this:  Does the weapon fire every time, with absolute reliability, no jamming, no stove-piping, no exceptions?  It may be your life on the line if it doesn't. 

[Jonesin]

dave,

My BiL had a 9mm and it shot reliably (no stove pipes/misfeeds/etc) from the 50 rounds or so I fired through it. It was a "no frills" firearm, kinda clunky and plain looking to me, it wouldn't win any beauty contests for sure...and I found the trigger to be a bit awkward. Don't ask my WHAT I found awkward, it just didn't feel "right", but I'm used to 1911 type frames and revolvers. He has never had a complaint and the price is right.

Cliff

[a1Bogey]

daved,  I am not readily familiar with the Hi Point firearms you asked about.   But I checked out thier website and they look decent.   Why don't you make the leap and get one of your choice and let us all know what your impressions are with the Pistol.

I am not a snob when it comes to self-defence items as long as they work when you need them to work.    Not everybody can afford a Colt or someother expensive handgun.   I would rather read about some elderly person saving thier skin with an inexpensive handgun. And avoid being assulted because they could not afford a $500. +  handgun.
And the elderly of this country are targets of thugs and gangsters.   A simple reality.
But the anti-gun folks consider a handgun in the less than $200. a "Saturday Night Special" and should be banned.

[daved]

No arguments, Tommy, that's why I did some research.  The testing I found showed that they WERE reliable, and with a large variety of ammo.  And the entire line is +P rated.  From what I've read so far, I think a lot of folks are making the assumption that if it sounds too good to be true, it is, and they're bad mouthing them without finding out.  I've owned some nice pieces over the years, Rugers, S&W's, Springfield Arms to name a few.  These things are neither refined or pretty, but they seem to work, and that's really all that matters.  I can buy and shoot a lot of .45 ACP ammo with the cost difference between the Hi Point and a new Springfield Arms 1911-A1, and that's gotta qualify as a good thing in anyone's book.  Later.

Dave  

[crowpopper]

i have one
it will shot ANY ammo including hot loaded stuff
it is kinda heavy, and made with plastic grips but its Very solidly built
for home defence like i have and for in the canoe while out were i could encounter a bear
it is unbeatable for the price
accuracy is what you would expect out of a 3 in bbl
ive ran over 1000 through mine with no misfires or jams
plus they are made in usa in ohio and have an unbeatable NO questions asked full Transferable warranty weather your the 1st or 5th owner they will replace the gun free of charge
heres the gun along with a few others on mine

[Nathan]

I have a coworker who bought the 9mm from Ace Hardware. He has a problem with his, if he fills the clip to the max (I don't remember how many it holds) it will jam on the first couple of shots. If he fill it 2 or 3 less than full, it cycles no problem. He tried a different clip, but same results. I told him to call Hi-Point customer service cause they have a lifetime warranty. He has never gotten around to doing so. I myself gave some serious consideration to picking one up myself, cause for the price you'd think you cant go wrong. One reason I may not, is the wife wants to shoot, and those pistols are some what large and blocky and may not be a good fit for her hands. I'm not saying all Hi-Points will have problems, but my coworkers did/does. He wants to go back and get the .45 version. So he must like them

Nathan

[454 Big Block Chevy]

there good starting guns.  there not pretty, but if you can find one that functions, why not?

[crowpopper]

for the jamming issue you need to "smooth" the feed ramp a bit
to much tesions causes the bullet to jam
smooth the shapr edges with a dremel and your all set

[MichaelM]

they are what they are... economical reliable shooters that if you run out of ammo you can beat the person to death with the gun itself

its kinda the old soviet mentality of make it cheap make it work and make alot of them.... they will definatly not win any beauty contest and they are definatly SIMPLE guns.... but thats the good thing about them... they are VERY simple rugged reliable designs...... I have worked on a few of them over the years where simple things like people having the safty on and mashing the platic triggers so hard they break them and such.... and without fail everytime I have contacted Hi Point they have sent me the replacement parts asap no questions asked.... they have a lifetime warrenty on all the stuff they do..... AND they are just down the road from me

That being said I dont own one myself but have shot a few and if you want a economical reliable shooter... they would be a good thing to look at!

[Jay]

LOL talking about poor old "Turtle" like that MichaelM shame on you son. As MJ said they are made in Dayton, Ohio here, an really for a "leave in the car gun" or "stick a couple around the house" weapon's they are HARD to beat for the price. I have seen a bunch come thru CCW class an they have all been very reliable gun's,mainly the only problem's has been in the mag's causeing the jam's, as I've seen student's on the range's afterward with new mag's an having a ball with them an functioning perfect. Would I carry one on me? "No" but that is just because I'm spoiled an like fancy hand gun's. Grab you a couple daved an some spare mag's an you will be happy with them, they also make a very nice little carbine for the home defense package that the mag's interchange with.

[Jonesin]

Now y'all almost have ME convinced and I've already shot one!  LOL But, then again, when it comes to any firearms, I'm not a hard sell!!

[crowpopper]

im going to be picking one up in 40 or 45 soon also
the newer 45's are a lil nicer feeling also
but my ol reliable 9 doesnt fail  my buddy had one he takes while out snowmobiling he had it last year out on the lake it was all wet from the sluch and had birt and stuff from his pack on it and was frozen
he gave the slide a whack on the ski of the sled to break it open   racked a shell in it and we blasted of a box of 50  with NO jam. FTF's or missfires

[1377x]

i had the .380.9mm and .45
never had a problem with any of them they functioned flawlessly
and accurate taboot
if they do break and cant be fixed they make a great boat anchor.HEHEHEHE

[larspawn]

Guys,

I almost forgot I had this in one of the safes.  Since the airgun bug bit hard I don't go into the safes that much anymore.  Well the post reminded me and I just pulled this out to look at.  

Its the 995b carbine in 9mm.  I was thinking a 33" rifle with relex sight would be kind of cool.  At the time they didn't sell hicap mags.  Wonder if they do now.  From what I remember this sucker could shoot the hottest 9mm loads and it still felt like nothing.  Very accurate too!

I had read the pistols were jam and break proof.  That sold me on the carbine.  I think it was well worth the peanuts it cost and I would have been happy to pay more.  

Plus they are light.  I'm not sure if I just broke the no lifting greater than 5# rule?  Was much lighter than the Bronco or is it the drugs?

[1377x]

Guys,

I almost forgot I had this in one of the safes.  Since the airgun bug bit hard I don't go into the safes that much anymore.  Well the post reminded me and I just pulled this out to look at. 

Its the 995b carbine in 9mm.  I was thinking a 33" rifle with relex sight would be kind of cool.  At the time they didn't sell hicap mags.  Wonder if they do now.  From what I remember this sucker could shoot the hottest 9mm loads and it still felt like nothing.  Very accurate too!

I had read the pistols were jam and break proof.  That sold me on the carbine.  I think it was well worth the peanuts it cost and I would have been happy to pay more. 

Plus they are light.  I'm not sure if I just broke the no lifting greater than 5# rule?  Was much lighter than the Bronco or is it the drugs?

i forgot i had one of the carbines also,it was very accurate at 50 yds

[clip]

I have several friends that have a Hi Point or two, and all like them. There have been no major issues with any of them with the exception of one with "stovepipes". This was in a .40 caliber and was handled at the factory in a short time. When the gun was returned, they had included a new clip. The only bad comment I've heard was they fell from the top of an ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

[Joshua A.]

they are very popular here in ohio, being that they are made "here in ohio". anyhow i have fired all of the different pistols, as well as the 995 carbine. all of them are Very Very reliable my friends all have a few of them so i have played with them quite a bit. no one has ever complained of any problems with them, other than the looks, and weight..but if it functions flawlessly, and is reliable, then who cares....not me. I would recommend them to anyone, and have. the 995 carbine is on my list of powder burners to buy. the newer ones have a more tactical style stock with all kinds of rails on it, plus there are a few different stocks, and accessories you can buy for them as well. I almost bought one at Dunhams a few months ago. Really if you think about it: what assult rifles can you buy for under 300.00???.....exactly, you cant. this gun stands alone. and their pistols absolutely cannot be beat for the price. as a general rule of thumb, If you want a reliable pistol-you are going to have to spend at LEAST 350.00....if not 4-5 hundred. in my opinion the pistols stand alone as well. just my opinion..

Joshua A.