Rfizzle's Hi-Point Review/500 rd test

[rfizzle]

I’ve had several friends (more like acquaintances) approach me and ask about Hi-Point handguns, and I’ve always encouraged these people to consider something different. I know the internets say that Hi-Point are total crap, but I decided to first hand how “crappy” they are. I originally purchased a used Hi-Point .380, which wasn’t ideal since I have no other .380’s or ammo. I eventually was able to trade for a used (less than 200 rounds) 9mm model C-9. It came in the original box, with one 8 round and one 10 round mag.

The Gun:




First Impressions:
-Ugly as sin
-Loose fitting
-Light Recoil Spring (I could rack the slide one handed by slamming the gun back/forth)
-Heavy Trigger pull (I don’t have a gauge but it’s heavy)
-In my bear paws the grips was a little small, not bad with the 10 round mag.
-Mags do drop free
-Magazine safety
-Mag Hold open (.380 didn’t) and to release the only way is pulling the slide


The Test:
I decided to do a 500+ round test on it. I started by cleaning the gun, and lubing it up. I decided to start with “better” ammo and them move to my stock of cheap ammo.

Ammo I used:
100 rounds of Federal "Champion" 115 Grain FMJ RN
Then
500 rounds of CCI Blazer (steel cased) RN FMJ (Just as a note, I’ve shot the other 1500 rounds I had of this through my Glock without incident)

First Shots: (5 yards free standing)


Jam #1; fail to feed the first round (round #1 of the test)
#1 happened about every 3rd Mag during the first 100 rounds, once I switched to the CCI it would happen about every other mag.

I blamed possibly on the first round is tilted down just slightly:


Jam #2
Sometime during the first 100 rounds I had a failure to eject the spent case. I failed to get a picture. (you might even notice my Jam #1 pic is CCI, I thought about pics a little late)

Jam #3 Is a failure to feed all the way. Fire a round, eject that round, but fail to complete feeding the next round
This occurred once during the 1st 100 rounds, and occurred 4 four times during the following 500 rounds.


I didn’t have a Double Feed, or failure to Fire. Just a bunch of feeding and extraction issues, which most were easily fixed by hitting the slide forward.


Final Thoughts:
After this test I’ve decided they aren’t total crap, but still not great. I’ve found that put in context most people look at Hi-Point because of cost, at $150+/- New or $100+/- used it does seem a like a deal or a much cheaper option. It might be a cheaper option, but the question I always ask is “Your life really worth only $150?” and maybe to some people it is. Maybe just maybe if someone really truly only had $150 for a handgun, it might just maybe be an option. Personally I will continue to encourage people to try and afford better.

[mtnwinds]

Thanks for this information. I've often wondered if they were any good.

Sounds like replacing the magazine spring & the recoil spring with stronger ones may solve the problems.

[cowboykjohnson]

Thanks for the info. I do know they have terrific customer service. I had a buddy with one... he dropped it and cracked the slide. They fixed it for free and sent him 2 free mags back with the gun.

I do not own one and probably never will because I wouldn't trust my life to it, but it's better than nothing.