[thomasdangerpowers]

I am a strong believer in the 2nd Amendment and wanted to find the best option for someone on a tight budget. We should all have the right to defend ourselves and our families but not all of us have the same disposable income. I did a breakdown that covers just about everything with side by side comparisons. Anyone that says your better off without a gun than an cheap gun is an idiot. I left links for people with this mind set to watch people defend themselves with a Hi Point then leave a comment saying "they should have waited till they could buy a higher end gun" or a "Glock on lay-a-way would have done better than a Hi Point at home"

 

[jim-henscheli]

I would avoid hi point, HERES WHY; you need tools to break them down. I would say first, a budget(only/first) gun out to be a long gun, like the Stevens 320. I got mine brand new for 250, 4 years ago, review to come. They can be had now for LESS THAN 100.... No question.
As hand guns go, I baught a brand new Tarus 85 for 300 bucks, now some may bash Tarus, and I avoid many of there products, but there short barrel revolvers are a known quantity, and have proved themselves to be rugged and reliability, it's hard to knocker up a 2inch revolver.

 

[jim-henscheli]

Taurus^

 

[redhawk]

I am a Ruger fan and have owned many of them over the years, but I understand your situation. I bought a Hi-Point model C9 9mm several years ago for a knock around truck gun. It is a little on the "blocky" side, but it always went "bang" when I squeezed the trigger. I ended up trading it to a guy for a snubnosed .38, but at times I wish that I still had it...JM2C

 

[beach23bum]

as a Firearms dealer I would stay away from hi point or Taurus. stick to Smith and Wesson, Springfield, Sig. you may spend an 100-150 for a good firearms, but you need one that is known to stand the test of time. for another time tested guns is the RUGER 10/22, great gun. I sell Springfields for under 500 bucks every day.

 

[Mad Trapper]

Quality 12ga pump, slugs and buckshot

 

[hag]

Hi point vs nothing?
If lives are on the line, give me a hi point!

 

[Denton]

Hi-Points are very reliable weapons. I have two pistols and a carbine. Launched a lot of rounds, only swabbed the bores. They don't seem to mind. Heavy? Sure. Reliable and accurate? Yup. Do I carry the cinder blocks? Nope. They're strategically placed in the house.

 

[Medic33]

there is nothing wrong with hi point they go bank reliably, maybe about the ugliest critter out there but they do work.
for cost yes they are a option for a shtf gun and I doubt you could go any cheaper but remember they are heavy and not fancy they just throw lead.

 

[AnotherSOFSurvivor]

HiPoints are verified to kill another human so id rather a C9 than a size 9

Other "budget" guns include but not limited to...
Ruger P series i.e P345D, Pwhatever the 9mm
Leo trade in gen 3 glocks (Glock 37!!! Dont sleep on the GAP)
Ithaca 88s or surp 870s/500s
Hi point carbines
CAI UZI carbines found some around 400ish local (maybe one off?)
Old 32ACP pistols like Berreta (85s?) And Cz82s...probably jacked those numbers up
Damn Berreta 92S for 270 from SOGW!

sent from a paper cup and string via quantum wierdness

 

[A Watchman]

Hi point vs nothing?
If lives are on the line, give me a hi point!

Hi-Points are very reliable weapons. I have two pistols and a carbine. Launched a lot of rounds, only swabbed the bores. They don't seem to mind. Heavy? Sure. Reliable and accurate? Yup. Do I carry the cinder blocks? Nope. They're strategically placed in the house.

there is nothing wrong with hi point they go bank reliably, maybe about the ugliest critter out there but they do work.
for cost yes they are a option for a shtf gun and I doubt you could go any cheaper but remember they are heavy and not fancy they just throw lead.

One word ... ugly. Not attractive enough to get me excited about utilizing for my own use. (A Watchman does have standards ya know?) Another word ... affordable. Therefore, I have thought about obtaining a couple for barter, to be considered in only but the direst circumstances.

 

[hag]

Kentucky gun company had a sale on some Taurus9mm pistols a year or so ago and I bought a couple. They were $189 a piece. I thought I would put them in a couple of the trucks and that would be that. Got them home and shot them and liked them every bit as well as my xd springfields. I don't even remember the model of the guns. I will have to look when I get home.

Heard somebody say one time that scary is the next best thing to deadly. Bad guys usually tend to walk wide of the armed "victims" without taking the time to find out what brand of handguns they are packing.

 

[6811]

Hi points have killed a lot of folks on the streets in any inner city in this country. They do the job, they are very affordable. People hate hi point because they are the ugliest looking gun ever built. I will own one, or few of them someday but It will be for barter,or better yet, winning an ugly gun contest...

 

[Targetshooter]

Hi point guns are cheat in price ,they will save your life in a SHTF event , and yes a very good barter gun , ugly ? Hell yes . It's better to have a Hi point then none at all . I my self have , ruger , browning , I would love to have a springfield range officer 9mm , I can't pay the price for one . we all have what we are able to spend on a gun . that's why the make low priced guns as well as high price guns .

 

[Oddcaliber]

There's a major difference between cheap and inexpensive. I'd rather have a Hi Point in hand than a Glock on lay away any day. As long as it works when needed I'm not worried about looks.

 

[A Watchman]

Hi points have killed a lot of folks on the streets in any inner city in this country. They do the job, they are very affordable. People hate hi point because they are the ugliest looking gun ever built. I will own one, or few of them someday but It will be for barter,or better yet, winning an ugly gun contest...

Now there's an idea! Maybe a new Christmas tradition ... replace those silly ugly sweaters.

 

[Smitty901]

I will assume we are talking hand gun here and will limit my .02cents to that. If it will be laying around the house size does not madder much in fact a full size is likely bets for HD. If it is also going to do double duty as a CC weapon that changes things.
HiPoint goes bang that is a fact from there on it is down hill.
Shopping around you can purchase a Ruger SR9C or LC9S at very reasonable prices and have a life time warranty
Taurus offers some good weapons at affordable prices that do double duty very well also a life time warranty.
Glock is over priced for what you get. good weapons and can be great for some just way over priced.
Budgets are real and must be adhered to for many, but saving just a little bit longer and or shopping smart leaves you with a weapon that will do the job better and last a life time.

 

[csi-tech]

I think I would buy something that is lighter. A Hi Point will send the right ammo downrange but there is enough pot metal in those things to build a bridge. My favorite budget minded guns are the Skyy CPX-2, The Chanick TPSA, Smith and Wesson SW series and I also like surplus Polish Radom P-64s in 9mm Mak. I just can't warm up to any Taurus handgun after several bad experiences. By far (IMO) the winner is the $300.00 Smith and Wesson Shield 9mm. They were selling right at this price point before Christmas.

 

[Real Old Man]

I would avoid hi point, HERES WHY; you need tools to break them down. I would say first, a budget(only/first) gun out to be a long gun, like the Stevens 320. I got mine brand new for 250, 4 years ago, review to come. They can be had now for LESS THAN 100.... No question.
As hand guns go, I baught a brand new Tarus 85 for 300 bucks, now some may bash Tarus, and I avoid many of there products, but there short barrel revolvers are a known quantity, and have proved themselves to be rugged and reliability, it's hard to knocker up a 2inch revolver.

Jim no offense, but a lot of folks (especially young couples just starting out) can't afford $300 for a Taurus. Many would have a hard time coming up with $100. In addition to Hi Point, Jimenez, Jennings and Bryco handguns from .22 to 9mm are available for right around a century note.

Yes, it would be great if everyone could afford a really great and well made handgun.

My first handgun was a hy hunter for right at $40 in pre 68 dollars

 

[Prepared One]

Stay within your budget, do your research and shop around. Plenty of good hand guns can be had at a competitive price. A cheaper defensive weapon is better then no weapon at all. send plenty of rounds down range to practice and insure reliability. Plenty of time to budget for higher end weapons as you go. @ csi-tech is correct. I have seen the S&W Shield here in Houston for around 300 bucks. Mine goes bang every time.