.380 or 9x19?

[Jupiter]

Hello. I've decided to buy a Hi Point pistol, but don't know whether to get the .380 model or the 9x19 model. Now, the .380 model is cheaper, but I've been told .380 rounds are more expensive and harder to come by? Is this true? My purchase pretty much depends on ammo price and availibility.

Thanks.

[blkA4alb]

Get the 9mm. 100 round packs at Walmart for 13 bucks.

[Jupiter]

How much more does .380 cost? Because the .380 Hi Point is 95$ while the 9mm is $115, and I'm very tight on cash. Also, I don't think there are any Wal-Marts even remotely nearby - let alone Wal-Marts that sell ammo...

[ivanimal]

9mm if price is the only reason.

[Bookworm]

9mm ammo will be about two dollars cheaper per 50 rounds, and it is much more available. The initial purchase price difference will be erased after about 500 rounds. If your decision is based on ammo price and availability, get the 9mm.
If your decision is made on some other factors, get the 9mm.

[762cavalier]

9mm You will offset the higher cost of the 9mm after a few purchases of ammo. 9x19 is also a better self defense round with more options and bullet choices. You can't go wrong with a 9mm

[Turbinator]

Any chance you can be persuaded to NOT go with a Hi Point?

Try a Makarov, if price is a concern. It'll be in 9x18 or .380, but the quality and reliability is definitely there.

Turby

[bu-bye]

Any chance you can be persuaded to NOT go with a Hi Point?

Turby

BIG +1!!!!

They really are junk guns. I'd rather have a beat to hell 20 year old glock over a new Hi Point. They had a used one at my local range for sale. I was told that it jammed every other round. The design of the pistol is a bad one with a look not even a mother could love

[GTKrockeTT]

Any chance you can be persuaded to NOT go with a Hi Point?

Try a Makarov, if price is a concern. It'll be in 9x18 or .380, but the quality and reliability is definitely there.

Turby

please do yourself a huge favor and heed this man's advice.

[Jupiter]

I couldn't find any Makarovs with a price even remotely as low as a Hi Point... though I do realize they are better guns.

[Turbinator]

I couldn't find any Makarovs with a price even remotely as low as a Hi Point... though I do realize they are better guns.

Where are you located? Perhaps one of our friendly Calguns FFL's can hook you up on a Mak.

Turby

[69Mach1]

I've shot the 9mm highpoint, and it ain't pleasant. It is the cheapest price semi-auto out there, but you get what you pay for. If that's perfect for your budget, than go ahead and get one in 9mm. If you haven't shot one yet, you should know that it has a "blow-back" type action like any .380 or .22lr handgun. The slide on that gun is huge because it has to slow down the rearward action during firing. There's no "delayed locking" or "tilting barrel" to help reduce recoil. The trigger isn't that great either.

By the way, I scored a Russian Makarov in 9x18 with 2 magazines for $250, in great condition, so the deals are out there. Picking it up tomorrow.

[AJAX22]

These guys are giving you some very good advice, HI points are hit and miss, some are acceptable, some are junk, if you absolutly have to get one, get the 9mm. if you only get one shot before it jams, you want every little bit of power you can squeeze out of it. Aditionally 9mm is relativly cheap and very easy to come by.

If you can find a cz52 in 7.62x25 for the same price, you might want to consider it, they are extremly well made and while ammo is a little more and kind of scarce, its roughly equivilent to a lower powered .357 magnum in a semi automatic.

Makarov's are nice, but most are chambered in a more obscure and hard to find round, if you can find a .380 at the price you're looking at, I'd jump on it, if you can get one in the 9x18.. well its a bit more pricey to shoot but it'll do you a whole lot better than a hi point.

Mil surp guns are a good choice for thrifty shooters, they are typically reliable, well made, and durable. and while they may be more expensive to feed, it won't be a gun purchase that you'll regret.

Those of us who do acknowledge owning (or having owned in the past) hi points, ravens, lorcans, jennings etc. typically wish we had spent an extra twenty bucks on a gun we could atleast sell when we grew sick of it. Low quality guns are the only type that actually loose value over time.

just my opinion, where are you located in CA?

[asintado]

I've shot the hi-point and let me tell you, for the price you're paying there's a lot out there that are much better. First off, the recoil is a bizatch, second, its very difficult to do a complete teardown for cleaning, third, its a low quality gun and resale is next to nothing. This is the gun criminal use to keep up their drug rings running. If you want a semi-auto at least try a Makarov or a Bersa Thunder 9 or 380. All can be had for a little more than what you're gonna pay for that hi-point. You'll be thankful you didn't buy that paper weight after you try a Mak or a Bersa.

[Bookworm]

Even though I previously recommended you get the 9mm, before I would buy a Hi-point or comparable gun, I would buy a Ruger or Browning .22 pistol. You could take all the money you will save on ammo, and when you have about $250 saved purchase a used revolver or Ruger P series semi.