Un-biased Hi-Point Opinions

[A.J. Holst]

Ok, it may be a little biased since I own one.

I was looking for a plinker, the Ruger 10/22 #1 on the list. Then my buddy bought a HiPoint 995 Carbine.

After I did as much internet research I could on the brand and model, this too was a viable option as a plinker with the potential as a HD carbine if proved safe and reliable. On the HiPoint website, there is a pic posted of a deer slain by the hunter with a 995 carbine, so it MAY also be acceptable as a short range hunting rifle with the right optics and ammo.

I paid $175 for the carbine from above mentioned buddy, unfired condition.

It is a older "B" model with the planet-of-the-apes stock.

Never shot with that stock, upgraded to the $40 ATI Beretta-clone stock. I like the look MUCH better.

Sighted in at 50 yards, 1" - 4" groups depending on who is shooting it.

Found out from additional internet research that ATI stock can void the lifetime warranty, but damage only seems to occur from heavy use and I am in the light use category.

Bought a $40 bi-pod, really getting the mall ninja tacti-cool look and way fun to shoot!

Then 3 weeks ago, another buddy gave me a Crimson Trace MVF-515 foregrip.

So now I've got a foregrip that probably costs more than the weapon...

2 Options: by a rail system from ATI for $40+ OR

Spend another $40 to purchase the TS style stock from HP. Went with this option: needed rails to mount the cool new grip plus with a factory-designed stock so no warranty issues if I have a problem.

The TS stock is a well made piece of molded polymer-stuff. Good design for easy field-stripping. It has good ergos for me. I find it more comfortable than the ATI stock,

The TS stock is advertised with pictinnany rails but the foregrip has wider locking lugs. The rails are made from another type of hard polymer material and since I had nothing to loose, I widened the rails with a file and the grip fits properly.

Upsides of my first EBR "build": low investment, free parts, simple mechanicals, versatile and affordable caliber. Fit and finish are pretty good. Acceptable machine chatter marks. Been pretty fun to work on with basic tools. With the TS stock, if I have a malfunction in the field, I can dis-assemble in a pinch if all I have is a pair of pliers.

Downsides of the product: 10 round magazines, apparently pro-mag put out a 15 but everything I have read indicated it was not reliable. The mags are only $10 and you get what you pay for. Meaning you have to break-in the mags may have to adjust the mag lips to ensure reliable feeding. The trigger action is OK, but you'll have to judge for yourself.

I haven't shot it enough to review the comleted package with the TS stock but will post an update for those interested.

[R1100R]

I have on in the ATI stock and love it. Has a big Tru-Glo red dot on it and pretty accurate. I haven't heard anything about the warranty being void for using a ATI stock. What does it do?

[Oh Shoot]

....Found out from additional internet research that ATI stock can void the lifetime warranty, ....

Though the warranty actually states that only the first buyer is covered, in actuality nothing voids the warranty, even being run over by a truck by 10th owner.

- OS

[I_Like_Pie]

I have owned one of the carbines....despite their internet reputation the rifle wasn't all that bad and would be perfect for raccoon hunting or ever a cheap self defense carbine. I only put 4-500 rounds though it before I sold it, but it never jammed and was really fun to shoot.

[Jasongar8]

Hi-Point's warranty is rock solid. I know a guy who got a piece of .40 brass stuck in the barrel and then put five .45 bullets behind it and bulged the barrel. He told Hi-Point this when he called them and they just said send it in. He had a completely rebuilt gun back to him in about a week.

[East_TN_Patriot]

Although I have never actually owned one and used to be a die-hard critic of them, based on numerous comments I have read over the years I would say that Hi-Point makes the best guns in their price range. I have seen "torture tests" and multiple videos on the web and it seems that their guns hold up extremely well. If it breaks, send it back and they will fix or replace it. In fact, the only thing that kept me from getting one of their carbine rifles is the single-stack magazine (I ended up getting a Kel Tec Sub 2000 instead).

[jgradyc]

I have a Hi Point 995 with the ATI stock. The original stock is just about the ugliest stock on the planet, in my opinion. The trigger pull was always hard and it eventually broke. I called Hi Point, sent it in, and they replaced it free. I also complained that the trigger pull was too heavy and they fixed that at the same time. I was not the original owner and they didn't even ask. I didn't send the barrel or the stock, just the lower assembly. A toothpick used to apply a dot of fluorescent orange paint to the front sight helps a lot, although I also have the ATI laser. Most guys ask what it is and are surprised to learn that it is a hi point.

[Will H]

I would buy a carbine. They seem to be made very well. The pistol I am not a fan of. They just seem "awkward" to me.

[A.J. Holst]

I don't like the ergos of the pistol at all. The biggest drawback is weighing in at 29oz loaded with only 10 rounds.

Getting ready to use the warranty on my 995...put a kink in the recoil spring...entirely operator error...HP is shipping out a new one with no questions asked...

Thus my review of the TS stock modification is on hold, stayed tuned

[TNWNGR]

Although I have never actually owned one and used to be a die-hard critic of them, based on numerous comments I have read over the years I would say that Hi-Point makes the best guns in their price range. I have seen "torture tests" and multiple videos on the web and it seems that their guns hold up extremely well. If it breaks, send it back and they will fix or replace it. In fact, the only thing that kept me from getting one of their carbine rifles is the single-stack magazine (I ended up getting a Kel Tec Sub 2000 instead).

Other than having a Sub2K this is pretty much the way I feel about the HP 995. I'll eventually get one because its to good of a carbine not too.

[UncleJak]

This review is better than mine....I agree with it 100%. I have a 15 round mag with mine that I was told came from high point. I haven't tried it yet, only the 10. The guy I got it from said it worked just fine.

[Oh Shoot]

..I have a 15 round mag with mine that I was told came from high point. ...

Nah. ProMag. A miracle if it works reliably. Hell, HP's own ten rounders don't necessarily work reliably over time without tweaking, the only weak point with HP carbines or pistols.

However, HP is slated to finally release their own 15 rounder for the 995, dunno about the .40 and .45. Of course, it was better part of 10 years before they finally did the .45 carbine after leaking it, so best not to hold your breath.

- OS

[turkeydad]

Ive never had one of these. . but Ive held and shot a few that various friends have had through the years ( I seem to be a magnet for pistol caliber carbine comparison since Ive owned a Ruger PC 9 since the late 90's). . these little hi points remind me of the ugly girl that you may or may not have kissed on the playground in the 7th grade. .she aint no prom queen. . she may not be the one you want to marry. .but it was still fun and she aint a bad ole gal. . you just dont want to let your friends catch you doin' it. .

[Reg]

I bought a 995 several years ago to practice Duracoating and other stuff. I figured I wouldn't be out much if I screwed something up. I bought the ATI stock and several accessories made by Bushman Parts, including a skeletonized trigger. I shot it a while, then put it on Gunbroker and actually got more for it than it was worth, around $400. This was during the '08 gun scare and the Beretta CX-4 Storm carbines were inflated to around $900-$1000. It shot well and never malfunctioned, I just never got over the crudeness.