Hi Point as a Carry

[carlspackler]

I am unemployed and don't even know how I will afford the inexpensive Hi point. Are these bad guns?

[Belgiboy]

The first requirement of defense with a handgun is: Have one. So a Hi Point is better than nothing if that is what you can afford. They are fugly and the internet is full of horrorstories about them. If you run into a second hand something else, I recall a member over here buying a used S&W revolver for just over $200, go for that. Also, remember that you'll need ammo to practise and a holster...
I'm sorry about your unemployment. Is there any chance you can change that before spending hundreds on handgun, training, ammo, holster, range fees, carry permit application, zombie t-shirt (you know you want one).

[Stradawhovious]

There have been many recorded accounts of a Hi-Point failing in some way or another, through no fault of the operator. Personally, I would not want to trust my life to a firearm that may or may not work when I need it to. Hi-Point's only claim-to-fame is that it's inexpensive, but there are other options. For not much more than a hi-point, you can get, for example, a used Taurus 85. it may cost a little more (in the $250 range) and it may not have the capacity, but you can be darned sure tha it will go "bang" every time you pull that trigger. There are many others in this price range as well.

Also, you need to keep in mind comfort. not only shooting, but carrying. I have shot hipoints before, and do not find them comfortable to shoot. Their design doesn't lend them to comfrotable carry either.......... A

Start shopping Around, but not just for price........... Go to the gun shows, go to the local gun shops. Ask a lot of questions and remember what opinions are worth. Try to shoot as many different guns and calibers as you can get your hands on to feel which one suits you best.

You may get some less than savory responses this question, but know that they are diercted at the firearm and it's shoddy reputation, not your question.

Be safe.

[cmj685]

The first thing important for a carry gun is that it shoots every single time you pull the trigger without exception. Because if it doesn't, you may end up dead. A cheap carry gun is OK, but a cheap carry gun that doesn't always work is not. Bear that in mind as principle one.
As a strictly unnecessary personal anecdote, I found the glock 19 to be far and away the best gun I ever had for carrying (why I sold it I still don't know!). It never ever failed, shot better than reasonably accurately as the IDPA scores usually showed, and was a pleasure to carry. But the best thing about it was that, no matter what the circumstances, it never ever failed to shoot when I pulled the trigger.

[Flip]

Just my $0.02 ...

Go to the firearms section here and post a WTB (want to buy). Explain what you're looking for, how much you have to spend and that you need a carry. There may be someone on the board that has a used but mechanically sound carry that would be reliable.

I'm not saying Hi Point is or isn't but that may be a way to get something that many folks would say is a better choice.


Flip

[mitchx3]

Get a CDNN catalog from their website, download, view PA62(63? 64?, i forget)s, Makarovs, Cz82s, enjoy.

[Seismic Sam]

As far as carry is concerned, Hi Points are the HEAVIEST gun made for any of the calibers you can buy it in. the reason? these are cheap blowback guns, meaning that the breech is not locked, but just held closed by a spring and a BIG chunk of steel that makes up the rear of the slide. In addition, it is neither slender or very friendly to IWB carry because of its edges, and with its weight, you get a choice of cincling up your belt until it's uncomfortable, or risking having your pants fall down. The 45ACP version is so heavy it makes a fairly good anchor for bass fishing.

CDNN is definitely a good idea, and they have all sorts of bargains in various calibers and sizes.

[White Horseradish]

I once had a Hi-point. It wasn't terrible, it wasn't great. I sold it as soon as I got some better pistols.

The first requirement of defense with a handgun is: Have one.

This.

So a Hi Point is better than nothing if that is what you can afford. They are fugly and the internet is full of horrorstories about them. If you run into a second hand something else, I recall a member over here buying a used S&W revolver for just over $200, go for that. Also, remember that you'll need ammo to practise and a holster...

Gun deals can happen, but it takes time and luck. Do you need a gun RFN? Can you wait a bit?

The "really cheap used S&W" is a possibility, but that is not nearly as common as it used to be. Usually you hear that from people remembering how things were a few years ago.

There have been many recorded accounts of a Hi-Point failing in some way or another, through no fault of the operator. Personally, I would not want to trust my life to a firearm that may or may not work when I need it to.

I know of one that was verified. Most of the bad things about Hi-Points are said by people who have not actually owned one. I had one, it worked OK. I only had stoppages with exceedingly craptastic ammo (a-merc).

Hi-Point's only claim-to-fame is that it's inexpensive, but there are other options.

I would not be so categorical. There are other options for you. Options may be more limited for someone else.

For not much more than a hi-point, you can get, for example, a used Taurus 85. it may cost a little more (in the $250 range) and it may not have the capacity, but you can be darned sure tha it will go "bang" every time you pull that trigger. There are many others in this price range as well.

"Not much" is rather subjective. In this case, "not much" is $110. That's a box of ammo short of another hi-point. Also, I have run into some less than reliable second-hand Tauruses (Tauri?).

Also, you need to keep in mind comfort. not only shooting, but carrying. I have shot hipoints before, and do not find them comfortable to shoot. Their design doesn't lend them to comfrotable carry either.......... A

That is very true. The blowback action is not a great match to anything above a .380. They are heavy and bulky. There are no decent holsters for them.

Start shopping Around, but not just for price........... Go to the gun shows, go to the local gun shops. Ask a lot of questions and remember what opinions are worth. Try to shoot as many different guns and calibers as you can get your hands on to feel which one suits you best.

You may get some less than savory responses this question, but know that they are diercted at the firearm and it's shoddy reputation, not your question.

Be safe.

Gun show wisdom is questionable. Remember, that's where you find the hi point and carry badge vendor. Trying guns is excellent advice.

To sum it up, I would say that while I think that a hi-point is a reasonable poor man's gun, it is ill suited for carry because of lack of holsters, bulk and weight.

Are you dead-set on a pistol, or would you consider a revolver? If you would, I think you might want to check into Armscor 206. It's an all-metal gun, brand new, and I have not heard anything terrible about it. It's a fairly faithful copy of a Colt Detective Special, so you would have a wide range of holsters available. It is closer in price to a Hi-Point than a Taurus and is a brand new gun. Shipping would probably run another $10 and the transfer yet another $10.

Alternately, you could find someone with a gun for sale here on the board and see if you can work out a payment arrangement. Some people are nice that way.

[Stradawhovious]

I I would not be so categorical. There are other options for you. Options may be more limited for someone else.

Damn Russians


All I'm trying say here is that you are trusting your life to your carry weapon. Hi-points are notorious for failure. As a matter of fact, I have yet to hear of even one running at 100%, or even for three mags without a malfunction. Would you drive a car that you KNOW to have bad breaks where a failure could kill you?

There are other options. This is your life we are talking about here, not Dog food.

Also, as far as the gunshow wisdom, also keep in mind my comment about opinions. Everyone has one, in many cases they are full of ****. The advice to go to gunshows was more to look at what is available, and get an idea of pricing not for wisdom and advice. I should have made that more clear for you Mr. Horsiesauce, I know how you need handholding.

Find a mentor. Get answers to your questions. Set a budget and work within it, but most importantly don't buy a gun without trying it first. I have made this mistake over and over again.

Everyone has their preferences. Whatever yours is will be the right gun for you.

[chunkstyle]

I recently saw an El Cheapo .38 revolver for $189. I'd take that any day over a Hi Point.

[chunkstyle]

Ah, here it is:

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/AC-M206.aspx

[White Horseradish]

Damn Russians

yourself.

As a matter of fact, I have yet to hear of even one running at 100%, or even for three mags without a malfunction.

Look above! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's my post that says that mine ran fine. There. You heard it now.

Would you drive a car that you KNOW to have bad breaks where a failure could kill you?

Hm. How did you know about that? Them's the breaks.

There are other options. This is your life we are talking about here, not Dog food.

Just because your life isn't dogfood doesn't mean nobody's is.

Also, as far as the gunshow wisdom, also keep in mind my comment about opinions. Everyone has one, in many cases they are full of ****. The advice to go to gunshows was more to look at what is available, and get an idea of pricing not for wisdom and advice. I should have made that more clear for you Mr. Horsiesauce, I know how you need handholding.

Ya know, I haven't been to a gunshow since i started working weekends a few years ago. Did things change and the prices become reasonable all of a sudden?

[Stradawhovious]

Look above! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's my post that says that mine ran fine. There. You heard it now.

I make it a habit to not trust the word of people who run around their neighborhoods butt nekked at 3am.

Ya know, I haven't been to a gunshow since i started working weekends a few years ago. Did things change and the prices become reasonable all of a sudden?

Nope. But you get to see a larger selection of firearms than any area gun shop, and handle them to boot, You can easily see which ones are comfortable and which are not. etc, etc, etc.

Try to keep up.

[onebohemian]

Ah, here it is:

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/AC-M206.aspx

Is that thing even legal to be sold in MN in light of the so-called saturday night special law?

OP, you've posed a good question. Keep asking more of them. (BTW, it's none of my business, but something in your posts has made me ask myself how old you may be? Like I said, none of my business. Just kind of curious whether your 21 or more.)

Good luck on your search for a new gun. I find the hunt a big part of the fun.

[goalie]

All I'm trying say here is that you are trusting your life to your carry weapon. Hi-points are notorious for failure. As a matter of fact, I have yet to hear of even one running at 100%, or even for three mags without a malfunction. Would you drive a car that you KNOW to have bad breaks where a failure could kill you?

I shot the beejezus out of a 9mm Hi Point one afternoon up at my cabin. 250 rounds of FMJ with no problems at all.

I don't own one, but I would use that one if I had to. The carbine we shot that day also worked 100% with everything but the aluminum cased Blazer.