Should I recommend a Hi Point?

[CompVest]

I don't think it matters whether the gun is a shot gun or a handgun. They both need some range time and training to use well and effectively. I don't think one needs more or less training.

[safety1]

If that's all one can afford I say yes. If they can do beter I would not reccomend it

[Wysiwyg101]

I went to a pawn shop the other day and was just looking at what they had to offer. The last one that I asked to mess with was a hi point. Like the other handguns before it I pulled the slide back to clear it since the guy behind the counter didn't do so. It got stuck. I mean seriously stuck and while I was still there it wouldn't unstick. One of the other guys suggested dropping the mag out as sometimes that helps it unstick. No such luck this time. But I can just see that situation in real life.

Bad guys are coming up to you. You pull that out and pop off a round and the slide sticks. What's the BG's gonna do? Stop and tell you that you might try dropping the mag out?

[Ropin]

I have a friend who has and loves his High Point. His always goes bang, handles +P, and is one of the ugliest guns I've laid eyes on.

If it's what he can afford, it beats the heck out of popping balloons in the hope someone thinks its gunfire and runs off.

[drjoker]

I don't think anyone should recommend any gun (or restaurant, etc.) unless they have personal experience.

I think that's the most wise advice out of all given to me. Since I have no experience with Hi Points, I'm going to recommend that my friend gets a Kel-Tec P3AT for HD. That is the only handgun that is decent for home defense that costs less than $200 which I have experience with.

I think that he'll be better off with a shotgun since he does not plan to conceal carry. However, he wants to carry it around inside his apartment in his pocket to answer the door with, so he doesn't like the shotgun.

380 ammo is hard to find and expensive, so I'll be a good friend and give him some ammo for Christmas.

That said, I think Hi Points should be OK. I mean, they do have a lifetime warranty. However, guns are investments as well as tools. Hi Points have terrible resale value, so they make terrible investments. If you buy a Hi Point from Cabela's for $190, I'll bet you'll be lucky if you get $50-90 for it if you sell it. Aside from Cabela's, I've never seen anyone sell a Hi Point. That's over a 50% financial loss. However, if you buy a KelTec from someone on the forum for $200, I'll be you can sell it for $200 later if you need cash. That's a good investment. You get self-defense for free (you're selling at the same price that you bought it for). Based on this, I'm going to recommend the Kel-Tec P3AT.

[KD5NRH]

Hi Points have terrible resale value, so they make terrible investments. If you buy a Hi Point from Cabela's for $190, I'll bet you'll be lucky if you get $50-90 for it if you sell it. Aside from Cabela's, I've never seen anyone sell a Hi Point. That's over a 50% financial loss. However, if you buy a KelTec from someone on the forum for $200, I'll be you can sell it for $200 later if you need cash. That's a good investment. You get self-defense for free (you're selling at the same price that you bought it for). Based on this, I'm going to recommend the Kel-Tec P3AT.

That's another useful point; if you spend $200 on a used 870, you can almost certainly sell it for $200 later if you need the money in a hurry.

[Ziran]

My father bought 45acp Hi Point:

1) It is really painful to clean (you have to punch out a pin to take it apart)
2) It does not feed hollow points reliably
3) After few hundred rounds the barrel feed ramp has noticeably deteriorated/scarred (poor quality steel)

I would spend the $200 on something else

[rm9792]

My 2 cents. One of my first guns was a Hipoint 9mm. Always fired, never jammed but was ugly and heavy. I would not tell anyone not to buy it but to shop around first. Check CDNN, pawn shops and gun shows. I would recommend a CZ75 in that price range. Had one of those as well and it was a nice 9mm. I went 1911 and sold all the 9mm I had including the CZ though. Might find a Star 1911 under 200, I have seen several.

[phrogg]

I don't think anyone should recommend any gun (or restaurant, etc.) unless they have personal experience.

I think that's the most wise advice out of all given to me. Since I have no experience with Hi Points, I'm going to recommend that my friend gets a Kel-Tec P3AT for HD. That is the only handgun that is decent for home defense that costs less than $200 which I have experience with.

I think that he'll be better off with a shotgun since he does not plan to conceal carry. However, he wants to carry it around inside his apartment in his pocket to answer the door with, so he doesn't like the shotgun.

380 ammo is hard to find and expensive, so I'll be a good friend and give him some ammo for Christmas.

Or you could spend that money to help him upgrade to the next level and pick up a used Kel-Tec P11. Its 9mm, will fit in his pocket, and ammo is readily available and cheap. I know there is one listed on the forum right now for $240 :-). The seller might even be willing to throw in a box of SD ammo to keep it loaded with.

[flechero]

On that budget, I assume practice ammo and range time will be seldom. In that case, a second hand revolver would be my probable recommendation. Decent ones can be bought easily at $200. I like shotguns but for most people they don't actually keep them handy (for very long) due to size. Plus for a single gun owner, the shotgun limits you on SD uses.

If it's a close friend, I would lend them an extra revolver or pistol, use the $200 for ammo and range time and then ask them to start putting a few bucks a week back for a purchase next year when I take my loaner back.

[dewayneward]

own a 9mm hi-point (first gun). Great gun. Shoots decent. Got my 1911 and now it collects dust.

If they cant afford a 1911, recommend a hipoint. american made lifetime warranty, and shoots reliably after the feedramp gets polished.

[XinTX]

My limited sample of using a Hi Point (1) was not good. It was the .40 version and was a jam machine. Fired less than 20 rounds out of it before I got tired of clearing the jams. Never got two consecutive shots out of it. I understand that if you get a good one, they're fine. But if you get a bad one, send it back. I do understand they have a great lifetime warranty though.

Still, I'd recommend a shotgun. Quite effective in close quarters. Reliable as rocks to boot. But if you do go with a Hi Point, take it to the range and run a box or two through it to make sure it will feed. Then clean it (a PITA, but not overly complicated). I wouldn't trust one unless I'd verified that it would indeed work.

[E.Marquez]

Should I recommend a Hi Point?

Only if you dont like your friend much .

[KD5NRH]

Plus for a single gun owner, the shotgun limits you on SD uses.

What uses do you need for SD? Shotguns excel at the only legitimate one, which is to render an assailant unwilling to or incapable of continuing to present a threat.

[RichardT]

I own and shoot a Hi Point in .45. I bought it for fun because I had heard good things about them. Let me tell you, 3 years later and about 3,400 rounds through it of all types and weights and I have yet to have a single issue out of it. My son shoots it regularly and it was his favorite gun until his Glock came in.

I would not have a concern at all recommending this gun to anyone that has a need for an inexpensive, well shooting firearm.