Flame suit on...

[igofast]

I've been following a series on a 9mm Hi-Point here: http://gunnuts.net/

Obviously it has negatives, but has also shown some areas of promise.

That being said, I think these Hi-Power clones (Arcus 94) would be money better spent: http://e-sarcoinc.com/arcus94ka-mkiiigo ... n-1-1.aspx

[linksep]

I took my P2C class this weekend (from Loren at MN Tactics) and fired a Glock (model 23?) .40 cal, a 1911, and a pocket sized Kel-Tec .380auto. Right after class my girlfriend wanted to go gun shopping and I was happy to grant that request.

I think I've evolved to a $300 price range despite my earlier comments. One thing that scares me about the Hi-Point is using the firing pin as the extractor, and the difficulty of carrying the Hi-Point should I decide to carry (ever or often). After the Hi-Point I really wanted a S&W SD9-VE (new replacement for Sigma, reviews say it is a big improvement over the old Sigma). Then I saw the EAA Witness at Cabellas on sale for $299 and that reminded me of my research into that gun...

By the end of the month we will have made a trip to Bills to rent a couple more (.357 and a CZ-75, maybe a SD9 or Sigma if they have one). I'm torn between the Witness, SD9-VE, and a 4" .357 (probably Windicator or Rossi for price)... I'm going to have to shoot more before making up my mind... and then just to keep things interesting I'm also looking at the Taurus 905 (9mm revolver).

I like the fact that with a .357 I could shoot different rounds for price and ammo availability during the Zombie apocalypse (insert your favorite ammo scare here), and the most accurate I've ever shot was out of a .357 revolver...not to mention a revolvers reliability and simplicity. I don't like that .357/.38spl is not 9mm (for ammo cost). I like that the SD9 is DAO for consistency and that it has the large easy to grip slide, not to mention it would probably be the easiest to carry (conceal and find holster for) when compared to a 4" .357 or a Witness, but I worry about my accuracy with DAO (although I'm sure that could be solved with practice). As for the Witness, the man behind the counter at the second gun shop we went to said he has both a CZ-75 and a Witness... (Witness being a clone of the 75) he confirmed my idea that if I like shooting a rental 75 I will be just as happy with a Witness for 1/2 the money, but I did find it a little hard to rack with that tiny slide.

Even though we didn't shoot Loren's S&W Model 10, my girlfriend is looking at a "hammerless" or shrouded hammer 2" .38spl for the simplicity & reliability (and the fact that she saw a couple purple ones). She's very reasonable and will probably go the .357 route for the ability to shoot .38 spl at the range and keep .357 in it at home if she likes shooting a 2" .357 at the range.

Decisions decisions....

[Shipyard]

I took my P2C class this weekend (from Loren at MN Tactics) and fired a Glock (model 23?) .40 cal, a 1911, and a pocket sized Kel-Tec .380auto. Right after class my girlfriend wanted to go gun shopping and I was happy to grant that request.

I think I've evolved to a $300 price range despite my earlier comments. One thing that scares me about the Hi-Point is using the firing pin as the extractor, and the difficulty of carrying the Hi-Point should I decide to carry (ever or often). After the Hi-Point I really wanted a S&W SD9-VE (new replacement for Sigma, reviews say it is a big improvement over the old Sigma). Then I saw the EAA Witness at Cabellas on sale for $299 and that reminded me of my research into that gun...

By the end of the month we will have made a trip to Bills to rent a couple more (.357 and a CZ-75, maybe a SD9 or Sigma if they have one). I'm torn between the Witness, SD9-VE, and a 4" .357 (probably Windicator or Rossi for price)... I'm going to have to shoot more before making up my mind... and then just to keep things interesting I'm also looking at the Taurus 905 (9mm revolver).

I like the fact that with a .357 I could shoot different rounds for price and ammo availability during the Zombie apocalypse (insert your favorite ammo scare here), and the most accurate I've ever shot was out of a .357 revolver...not to mention a revolvers reliability and simplicity. I don't like that .357/.38spl is not 9mm (for ammo cost). I like that the SD9 is DAO for consistency and that it has the large easy to grip slide, not to mention it would probably be the easiest to carry (conceal and find holster for) when compared to a 4" .357 or a Witness, but I worry about my accuracy with DAO (although I'm sure that could be solved with practice). As for the Witness, the man behind the counter at the second gun shop we went to said he has both a CZ-75 and a Witness... (Witness being a clone of the 75) he confirmed my idea that if I like shooting a rental 75 I will be just as happy with a Witness for 1/2 the money, but I did find it a little hard to rack with that tiny slide.

Even though we didn't shoot Loren's S&W Model 10, my girlfriend is looking at a "hammerless" or shrouded hammer 2" .38spl for the simplicity & reliability (and the fact that she saw a couple purple ones). She's very reasonable and will probably go the .357 route for the ability to shoot .38 spl at the range and keep .357 in it at home if she likes shooting a 2" .357 at the range.

Decisions decisions....

nice thing about the 38/357 platform - 38's are about the easiest damn load on earth to reload, saves you over half price, can be reloaded with minnimal, cheap low cost equipment and when you learn a bit more about the hobby, all the same dies etc can be used for .357 too! i started out loading 38's and could not believe how easy it was.....

good luck in the continued search!

[Spinner]

If you're not going to carry, how about a used Ruger p89? Easily in your price range and built like a brick craphouse.


Spinner

[Need4Speed]

I bought a Hipoint 40 S&W just a few weeks ago. Gone out shooting with it a few times now, about 300 rounds thru it. Some observations:

It does NOT like hollowpoint ammo, at least not the box I bought. Lots of feed problems. It is supposes to be 10+1, problem is if you load the clip with 10 it won't slide up into the gun all the way. Load it with 9, and it doesn't seem to feed properly, does the "nose down". I have settled on putting 5 rounds in the clip, then for the most part it feeds OK. Will probably work my way up, see how it does. I have not dug into that too much, it's my understanding the clips are the problem and there is likely some fixes out there. One last issue...in the 300 or so rounds it has fired two rounds at once on two occasions. Not a big deal when you got the gun pointed down range, but on one of those occasions my 20 YO son was shooting the gun and that second shot plowed into the ground 6 feet in front of him. If he had bigger feet it might have been ugly!

I paid $150 shipped for the gun, from Cheaperthandirt. Overall I think it was worth the $$$, and with a little time I can probably get it to work right. Too heavy for a carry gun, and as it is right now I wouldn't trust my life with it. For plinking, target practice, and just getting used to shooting I think it was worth it.

Already looking at the next gun, thinking GP100 357Mag, or possibly a EAA Witness Hunter in the 10MM flavor.

[Shipyard]

One last issue...in the 300 or so rounds it has fired two rounds at once on two occasions. Not a big deal when you got the gun pointed down range, but on one of those occasions my 20 YO son was shooting the gun and that second shot plowed into the ground 6 feet in front of him. If he had bigger feet it might have been ugly!

... Overall I think it was worth the $$$....

wow... you're a lot more forgiving than i

[plblark]

One last issue...in the 300 or so rounds it has fired two rounds at once on two occasions. Not a big deal when you got the gun pointed down range, but on one of those occasions my 20 YO son was shooting the gun and that second shot plowed into the ground 6 feet in front of him. If he had bigger feet it might have been ugly!

... Overall I think it was worth the $$$....

wow... you're a lot more forgiving than i

Or the ATF (depending on the cause, could be shooter flinch related)

[srtolly]

Speed, does that .40 mag have a green or orange follower. I have a JCP and the mag with the green follower gave me nothing but trouble like you describe. I bought a second mag from HiPoint and it had the orange follower and i have 3 more like it. Over 1300 rounds without problems unless I don't get enough crimp on my reloads.

I also had a C9 that was flawless for 300 rounds till someone offered me a good price for it.

[Need4Speed]

I have 3 clips, all green. They all do the same thing. Thanks for the tip...time to call Hipoint!

[plink]

+1 on the mags being the downfall of these things. Get those sorted and you'll be supremely better off.