Anybody heard of Hi-Point pistols?

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
My friend bought a .380 handgun made by Hi-Point for $100. They sound like Saturday night specials. Are these guns any good, or would it be prudent to be concerned about them blowing up when trying to fire one?
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Yeah, they're dirt cheap crappy guns that are great for criminals

Edit: and poor college students - my roommate in college had one. It's fine if you just want to have some fun.

I wouldn't worry about it blowing up on you...
 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
Originally posted by: mugs
Yeah, they're dirt cheap crappy guns that are great for criminals

Edit: and poor college students - my roommate in college had one. It's fine if you just want to have some fun.

My friend is a criminal? :Q
 

phantom309

Platinum Member
Jan 30, 2002
2,065
1
0
It won't blow up on you. In fact, about 30% of the times you pull the trigger, nothing will happen at all.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,542
921
126
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
My friend bought a .380 handgun made by Hi-Point for $100. They sound like Saturday night specials. Are these guns any good, or would it be prudent to be concerned about them blowing up when trying to fire one?

I'm sure it isn't going to blow up in your hand otherwise they wouldn't be in business very long.

Are they any good? Who knows. They are probably okay but it likely doesn't do anything really well. Worst case it might jam a lot.

:laugh:MAO at the Saturday night special reference.
 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
Originally posted by: phantom309
It won't blow up on you. In fact, about 30% of the times you pull the trigger, nothing will happen at all.

That's what I've been reading.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: mugs
Yeah, they're dirt cheap crappy guns that are great for criminals

Edit: and poor college students - my roommate in college had one. It's fine if you just want to have some fun.

My friend is a criminal? :Q

Maybe. ;) Funny thing is my friend sold his Hi-Point and then got a call from the police a few months later because it had been used in a crime of some sort.
 

SlowSpyder

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
17,305
1,001
126
My buddy has a Hi-point .45 ACP. It has never miss-fired. It isn't as accurate as we would like though, and has kind of a cheap feel to it compared to a Glock or other nicer gun. Lots of plastic parts.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,542
921
126
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
What would be a better choice for an inexpensive first handgun?

Get a Smith & Wesson revolver. .38 Special or .357 Magnum with a 4" barrel. Taurus also makes decent revolvers in these calibers. The nice thing about a .357 Magnum is that it will shoot .38 Special which is cheaper and has less recoil which is good for beginners. You should be able to pick up a used one in excellent condition for around $300-350.

Edit-Ruger would also be an excellent choice.
 

AnyMal

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
15,780
0
76
For not much more then $100.00 you should be able to pickup a good Eastern European surplus pistol like Makarov, CZ52, or similar.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
50,091
41,049
136
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
What would be a better choice for an inexpensive first handgun?

For automatics the Ruger P series or CZ75 pistols are good entry level guns.
 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
What would be a better choice for an inexpensive first handgun?

Get a Smith & Wesson revolver. .38 Special or .357 Magnum with a 4" barrel. Taurus also makes decent revolvers in these calibers. The nice thing about a .357 Magnum is that it will shoot .38 Special which is cheaper and has less recoil which is good for beginners. You should be able to pick up a used one in excellent condition for around $300-350.

Edit-Ruger would also be an excellent choice.

What about the one at the bottom of this link?
 

phantom309

Platinum Member
Jan 30, 2002
2,065
1
0
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
What would be a better choice for an inexpensive first handgun?
For that kind of money the only gun I'd bother with would be a good used Smith and Wesson Model 10 revolver. Extremely well made, as reliable as a handgun can possibly be, very accurate and reasonably powerful with the right ammo. The disadvantage is that you only get six shots. But if you want protection for under $200 that's about the best you can do. Most cheap semiautos just aren't reliable enough to trust your life to.
 

phantom309

Platinum Member
Jan 30, 2002
2,065
1
0
Originally posted by: AnyMal
For not much more then $100.00 you should be able to pickup a good Eastern European surplus pistol like Makarov, CZ52, or similar.

The Mak is a good pistol but I think the CZ52 might be a bit much for a n00b. Plus it's getting harder to find ammo for them.
 

JasonSix78

Platinum Member
Mar 5, 2005
2,020
1
0
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
My friend bought a .380 handgun made by Hi-Point for $100. They sound like Saturday night specials. Are these guns any good, or would it be prudent to be concerned about them blowing up when trying to fire one?

They would make a good "aquaintince" pistol for the first-timer. For an experienced, regular shooter, look elsewhere. This guy I know has a Hi-Point 9mm, it felt and looked very cheap. I pulled out my stainless steel SA-XD 9mm and he was like "ooohhh, that's a nice pistol!"

-Jason





 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
Originally posted by: phantom309
Originally posted by: AnyMal
For not much more then $100.00 you should be able to pickup a good Eastern European surplus pistol like Makarov, CZ52, or similar.

The Mak is a good pistol but I think the CZ52 might be a bit much for a n00b. Plus it's getting harder to find ammo for them.

Is a Makarov expensive to shoot?
 

ranmao

Member
Dec 1, 2005
40
0
0
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
What would be a better choice for an inexpensive first handgun?

Get a Smith & Wesson revolver. .38 Special or .357 Magnum with a 4" barrel. Taurus also makes decent revolvers in these calibers. The nice thing about a .357 Magnum is that it will shoot .38 Special which is cheaper and has less recoil which is good for beginners. You should be able to pick up a used one in excellent condition for around $300-350.

Edit-Ruger would also be an excellent choice.

What about the one at the bottom of this link?

That Ruger GP100 was my first handgun and it's great. It feels solid and it's accurate. I will admit though that I'm trying to get rid of mine, but thats just cause my brother gave me his S&W 66 which is identical to the gp100 but with smoother action. While I've heard that Taurus has improved its quality I do know some good gunsmiths that avoid them like the plague. The Star 9mm thats being sold is also a good gun but I like to recommend revolvers for beginners.
 

Project86

Golden Member
Nov 12, 2002
1,001
3
81
One of the guys on our local SWAT team tells me that this http://www.mkssupply.com/carbine.asp is pretty good for a begginer. He also said that their .45 ACP has been about as reliable as any major brand in his experience. Maybe they just have bad quality control and end up shipping some bad units?