Hi Point handguns?

weinerd

weinerd

Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
352
I've been a long time air pistol plinker, and have spent some range time on semiautos (Glock 23, Sig P226).

I've been given the go-ahead by my wife to get a handgun... I don't have a lot of dough to throw around, considering I need to buy lock boxes for the gun and ammo (plus saving for the ZT 0560). I'm also in California, so a bunch of firearms aren't available here... This will be for home defense only (no CC) and range use.

So I've been looking into the Hi Point handguns- only the CF380 and the C9 are California certified... The price is right, people that own them seem to like them. Major complaints are weight, some jamming and older blowback design. Otherwise, US company, US made, lifetime warranty (have read good things about their CS).

Anyone here fire/own Hi Points? The closest dealer is about a hour away... I'll have to see if my local place can bring one in...

Recommendations on caliber? I was leaning towards the .380 for home defense and the lower recoil would be easier on my wife... but 9mm rounds seem to be cheaper at the local range (by a few bucks per 100), probably because of demand (there are less than 10 .380 ACP handguns that are California-certified)...

Or other recommendations for less expensive .380 acp or 9mm semiautomatics? I had been eyeing the PK380 until I found out it wasn't available here. :(
 
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Keltec makes some pretty good low cost handguns, but i dont know if they are legal for you...Also the cw series kahr pistols are low cost and have a large fan base, a friend has the cw45 and loves it, and a family member has a pm series as an backup, imo kahrs' seem to be worth a look. Also Taurus has cheaper small handguns in many different calibers, but i think they are hit and miss with their QC.

Hope that helps!
 
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I have a Hi-Point C9 and it is a decent gun for the price. It is a bit heavy for the size. I have not had a jam but have not put a lot of rounds through it. The recoil is minimal.

btw, I paid $99.00.
 
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I dont want to go so far as to say that Hi Point is junk, because there many opinions when it comes to firearms. However, I do believe there are many other, better choices on the market. I personally prefer a revolver for home defense, but a lot of folks these days shy away from them. They are reliable and do not require magazine rotation. A medium sized revolver with a four inch barrel (.357 or .38) offers a nice sight radius and controlability. Granted, they are not as "cool" as a semi-auto, but will do the job as long as your not expecting a protracted gun fight. Just a thought.
 
If you have been shooting Glock and Sig in the past your HiPoint will be a LowPoint IMO. I don't know all the details with ownership in CA. but I say Save up a bit longer and get a Glock, Sig, Kahr or Spfld XD. Don't go smaller than 9mm, your wife may not enjoy practice at the range, but if she ends up having to use it for self defense she won't feel the recoil at all.

A .357/.38 Special revolver was also a good suggestion if you need to get it now. They are very reliable, ammo is easy to find and less expensive.
 
There are only two Hi-Point handguns approved for sale in the PRK. I am not a gun snob, but when I see the words Zinc Alloy, I would not even consider one.
Zinc alloy = pot metal. Also, the fact that Hi-Point recommends that the pistol NOT be disassembled would scare the hell out of me. Hey! It's your money.
Buy what you want.

Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale

Model Gun Type Barrel Length Caliber Exp Date
C9 / Polymer, Zinc Alloy, Chrome Moly Pistol 3.5" 9mm 10/11/2011
CF380 / Alloy, Zinc, 4130 Barrel Pistol 3.5" .380 ACP 10/11/2011
 
I have fired one of there 9mm pistols until I got bord shooting it

also fired there carbine ALOT

both are butt ugly and both worked fine
 
If it's all you can afford, go for it. I've never shot their handguns, but the carbine is accurate and reliable. If it breaks, their customer service gets high marks.
 
Leatherface said:
I have fired one of there 9mm pistols until I got bord shooting it

also fired there carbine ALOT

both are butt ugly and both worked fine
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What he said ^^^^^^
There was a time A hi point was all I could afford they are ugly heavy and cheap looking. made 100 miles north of me in ohio so they are tons of them around here , only seen one that jammed any at all It was sent back to the factory it return firing every time and a hand full of extra mags for the trouble. I have out shot many guns costing several times what that cheap old C9 cost
Roy
 
ruger makes some fairly priced pistols that are very reliable. you should also be able to pickup a used glock pretty reasonably. if you're going to use it for home protection I guess I would spend the extra money to make sure it's going to go bang when it needs to. i have nothing against hipoints and they are nice plinking guns but I wouldn't trust my life to one.
 
Hi-point is garbage don't waste your money and possibly put your life in danger with that junk. I have the carbine and have shot one of the pistols (looked like a space weapon) and wouldn't recommend either to my enemy. My carbine jams more than fires and might as well close your eyes when it does shoot because accuracy was obviously not the main goal.
 
My experience with Taurus pistols has been nothing bit positive and my go-to CCW is a Taurus 185CH. Hammerless 2" snubby with .38 +P. Easy to carry all day and short of an extended firefight, gets the job done.--KV
 
I have a keltec PF9 and it rocks. I picked it up used for $220. The only advantage I see with Hi point is that you never have to clean it, when it gets dirty just throw it away and buy a new one :D
 
If I were you I'd look around on the internet for awhile and look at reviews from actual owners of High points, a large portion of them seem to be perfectly satisfied with their guns I only own one High Point a 995 carbine and that gun has given stellar preformance I even ran some of my lead cast 9MM reloads through it and they ran fine also I have a friend that has a C-9 pistol and he has put upwards to 1000 rounds of ammo through that gun and only had a couple of ammunition related failures if I were on a strict budget and all I could afford was a High Point I wouldn't feel bad at all I would just use it in the mean time while saving for a better quality weapon that being said also in the price range of the High point their are a couple of alternatives such as the S&W police trade in revolvers or for a little more you could snag a surplus CZ-82 or Bulgarian Makarov.
 
Here’s my opinion take it for what you paid for it. It sound like you’re going to be a one gun guy. So why not get one that feels good, looks good, and does everything you need it to do well. Your life is worth more than a $100 bucks right????
Save up your money and spend around $500 on at least a 9mm pistol. Defense ammo is about $1.00 a round in every pistol caliber out there but range ammo is the cheapest for the 9mm. Brands choice is up to you but in most cases you do get what you pay for. Do not shy away from used pistols. There is some deal’s to be had on police traded-ins and most people just simply don’t shoot there guns a lot.
Hi-Point = junk. If they were good, a police department would adopt them. Think about it your wanting to spend more on a knife than a pistol.
Brands that I would recommend you consider. Ruger, Glock, Sig, S&W M&P, SA XD’s in 9mm something with a 4” barrel.
 
I would recommend a revolver for home defense, if for no other reason than your small motor reflexes will be compromised. A revolver goes bang every time and there is no tinkering with magazines, safeties, jams, racking the slide, etc. Rugers make bullet proof revolvers at a very reasonable cost; I'd check them out. Also, a .380 often has much more kick than a good size 38 Special or even a .357. I know my wife greatly prefers a GP-100 to a Ruger LCP. If you're set on a .380, look into the LCP. It's a pretty reliable gun in its current configuration/production. If you want to go the 9mm route, the S&W M&P is a good gun that seems to be pretty ergonomic for alot of people (as opposed to Glocks, which either fit one's hand or simply don't). My two cents...YMMV.

- Mark
 
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knifenut1013 said:
Hi-point is garbage don't waste your money and possibly put your life in danger with that junk. I have the carbine and have shot one of the pistols (looked like a space weapon) and wouldn't recommend either to my enemy. My carbine jams more than fires and might as well close your eyes when it does shoot because accuracy was obviously not the main goal.
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Have you contacted hi-point??? they will make it right I have taken groundhogs at 80-100 yards many times with a hi-point 995 carbine I used one for years to take groundhogs around building where a 22-250 was to much gun .
 
Thanks for the info and suggestions... I plan to try whatever the store can bring in before I buy, but I think it's going to be difficult to even get a Hi Point in to try- I've been looking on calguns and they get snapped up pretty damn fast.
And haters: might as well save your breath; you're being ignored. Constructive information- keep it coming!

Your life is worth more than a $100 bucks right???? If they were good, a police department would adopt them. Think about it your wanting to spend more on a knife than a pistol.
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I use my knife everyday, opening, cutting cardboard, rope, plastic etc etc. I like knives, I like the beauty and art in knives, and I carry one all the time, so I have no problem spending more on a knife than a handgun. Guns to me are just guns, really. My bike is junk compared to pro racers. Doesn't mean it doesn't still get me from point A to point B. Different tool for a different job. Yeah, my life is worth more than $100, but I've never had a gun before, so? Having 1 is infinitely better than having none. Besides, what was it that Massad Ayoob said?...
 
I strongly disagree with those that badmouth Hi Point. Yes, they are butt ugly and they are big and heavy. But, they are accurate at combat distance and they go bang everytime the trigger is pulled. My neighbor has the .40 and I, personally have shot the crap out of it just trying to get it to fail. It didn't. Yes, there are other guns at higher reasonable prices, but none as inexpensive (notice I didn't use the word "cheap").
Cheers
Balding
 
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