Flame suit on...

[GunGoogler]

Clearly a retired Police Chief is a fan. Now, I have some doubts about this "fact", but this is the quote HI-Point is using on its .45 ACP page (located here: http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/handgun ... 45acp.html):

Just want to say I own the 9mm and 45. I am a retired Police Chief and know my guns. The 9mm C-9 is now my CCW gun in a Houston holster. The 45 is my night stand gun. -- S-Heath, Seiverville,TN

It seems as though the department could have set him up a little better than that (salary-wise). Just sayin'.

[linksep]

Thank you everyone for your constructive and non-flaming input.

It was quite late when I was posting and seems I neglected to mention that I don't really intend to carry often (if ever). What I'm looking for is a Home Defense & range gun that is cheap to buy and cheap to shoot. Also after comparing prices of ammo (WWB in 9mm, .40, .45, .38, and .357mag) it really seems 9mm is the most affordable ammo in a home defense handgun caliber, and when you factor in the $179 MSRP of a brand new C-9 I can only think of three reasons to get anything else:
1) If the Hi-Point was uncomfortable to shoot (either fitting my hand or the slide biting me as I have read about elsewhere).
2) I am more accurate with a 6" .357 DA revolver... but that accuracy comes at a price (both the purchase price and the dramatically increased price of .38 and .357 ammo compared to 9mm).
3) I decide on a Hi-Point .40 for the extra inch of barrel and larger grip (that's only $20 more on the gun and $5 more per 100 rounds on the ammo).

@Evo: Thanks for the tip on the Hi-point challenge. I agree that so far the results don't look too good, but I'm not dismayed yet as I have read elsewhere that Hi-Points need give-or-take 300 rounds through them for a break-in period and after that they shoot much more reliably...we shall see.

[Cuda66]

For the price point...have you considered a CZ-82 in 9mm Makarov?

13 rounds in a quality pistol. A bit more oomph than .380.

[linksep]

I just looked and (at least in WWB) 9x18 ammo is EXPENSIVE!

My requirements are (from most important to least important):
1) Home/personal defense handgun caliber (that rules out $0.04 per round 22lr and although .380ACP is theoretically enough like you said 9mm has more oomph so that's as small as I want to go).
2) 3-6" barrel (longer is better).
3) Cheap to buy.
4) Cheap to shoot.
5) Bigger bang & more kick is more fun.
6) New is slightly more desirable than used.

The above info probably should have been included in my first post...

[rugersol]

I think you should buy a HiPoint! ... Enjoy!

[PileDriver]

This thread makes me want one. Damnitt.

[gunforhire]

I have had Hi points and I wish I had never sold my .45. couple things you can do:

don't use WWB, c9's don't like em for the most part
sometimes the crappy mags need the feed lips adjusted, needlenose pliers works well
if you want to get fancy, you could pull it apart and polish the internals and feed ram, even theough the ramp has a "special" coating that will wear off.
Shoot the hell out of it!

I know a bunch of guys that would be more than willing to help you along the way as well, it haw I learned about them and decided to buy one.

http://www.universalshootingsports.com
http://www.hipointtalk.net

[Fritz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDZSjMpwBAU&feature=g-u-u

[Cuda66]

I just looked and (at least in WWB) 9x18 ammo is EXPENSIVE!

My requirements are (from most important to least important):
1) Home/personal defense handgun caliber (that rules out $0.04 per round 22lr and although .380ACP is theoretically enough like you said 9mm has more oomph so that's as small as I want to go).
2) 3-6" barrel (longer is better).
3) Cheap to buy.
4) Cheap to shoot.
5) Bigger bang & more kick is more fun.
6) New is slightly more desirable than used.

The above info probably should have been included in my first post...

The joy of combloc guns is cheap combloc surplus ammo; AIM surplus has 9x18mak for $9.95/50, and for less if bought in bulk.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx? ... dium=email

Just some info.

[plink]

I think most ranges will allow shotguns if you use slug, but then the price per shot goes up. I'm still on the shotgun bandwagon for most home defense situations.

I've got a C9. It's fairly reliable after messing with the magazines. Hi-Point will fix any damn thing you can find wrong, but part of buying the cheapy was not being afraid to mess with it and learn from it mechanical wise, so I'm trying to slowly improve it myself. And I don't worry about shooting cheap steel case ammo through it either. Surprisingly accurate gun once you get used to it.

[Grandpa Rex]

I own one of the 380's and bought it used on the cheap. It has been a dependable range gun with nary a failure ever. Acurate for what it is.

For a first handgun it wouldn't be bad. Good way to get into a calibre.

Shoot the heck out of it to ensure that it is dependable and remember it is a cheapie.

Save your pocket change for a while and upgrade in time to something more quality and ergonomic.

You can always sell it later for 50% to 75% of what you have into it.

I would be hesitant to carry it for the weight and feel issues but it wouldn't be bad for a nightstand gun if it proves dependable.

It may not be a gun you keep forever because after you try a few others a couple of hundred higher on pricepoint you may find it lacking.

If purchase price is a key issue I say go for it! If you can wait till you scrape together more money you will be happier in the long run.

[gunforhire]

By the way, you have a problem with the gun and you want to fix it yourself, call Hi point and they will send you small parts for free. If you want them to, they will send you a free mag for your trouble after its fixed

[sgruenhagen44]

You know if ya want a revolver I'm sure you can find one in .38 special that is the same price as a new high point, and you know it will always go bang. There are a ton of police surplus revolvers out there.

[White Horseradish]

As far as revolvers are concerned, you could get into a used Taurus revolver for that price range. Even the used ones should have a lifetime warranty.

Good luck!

Nope. Warranty only applies to Taurus guns imported after the Florida company was set up. Taurus guns prior to that have no warranty of any kind.

[sigsauersauce]

My personal opinion would be if you're confident in the gun and the caliber then why not? I'm not going to say much about Hi Point as I have no personal experience with them, but as long as you've shot them and you feel it's adequate to protect you and your family, well then that's really all the convincing that needs to happen.