My brother bought a HP 9mm in alaska because it was 75$ and he loves it. he accidently left it on his bumper at this place called jim creek and drove away. went back a couple days later after realizing it was missing and found it in the dirt, having been run over and all and the thing still works.

Re: the video on 5 guns under 350.    I own a Kel Tec PF9.  Mine works and I'll be keeping it.     However, if Glock made a single stack G26, I'll get that.    Thought provoking thread...

Mahalo for sharing your views.
I am open to hearing other opinions, and continue to learn.
I personally don't have all the answers.

Aloha.

IMO, you should start with what the primary purpose of the firearm is.  If the firearm is just for range fun and plinking, then pretty much any gun that you fancy will do.  Be it inexpensive, expensive, super accurate, etc. 

I have handguns that are for teaching new shooters, just nice to have and personal defense.  If it's for personal defense, I'm looking for RELIABILITY first and foremost and then train, train, train.  I chose the Glock 17 since it is reasonably priced, proven reliable, has a vast selection of support for sights, holsters, etc and it accurate enough right out of the box. 

Hi-Points have a reputation for being cheap and unreliable.  Does that mean that everyone of them is junk, no?  However, just from reputation alone, it wouldn't be my first choice for a personal protection firearm when Glocks or even M&Ps and XDs aren't that much more expensive.  I truly believe you get what you pay for, particularly when it comes to firearms.  I don't look down on those who choose the most budget conscious choice, but I am not willing to waste my money trying out those budget firearms either.  Let others do the testing and choose from tried and true. 

I wouldn't get a cheap gun for HD or personal protection.
I do have an inexpensive .22 for plinking, bc thats what I wanted, an inexpensive gun to shoot cheap ammo.
but I would want something totally reliable if my life depends on it.

Good points, again.
Mahalo, my friends!!

AA

more guns = more ammo, therefore less money

However, just from reputation alone, it wouldn't be my first choice for a personal protection firearm when Glocks or even M&Ps and XDs aren't that much more expensive. 

Glocks or even M&Ps and XDs are more then 4-5X as expensive as a single HP.  how is that not much more expensive? 

Sure you can afford a lot of guns but not everyone can.  Should they not have protection against someone breaking into their house?  Most people will buy a gun and just throw it in to a drawer and forget about it but in the end, its better to have it and not need it rather then need it and not have it.  It will go bang and it will do the same thing your Glocks or M&Ps or XDs will do.  Just remember, a lot of people still do look down on Glocks or M&Ps or XDs.  Does that make them bad guns? 

Glocks or even M&Ps and XDs are more then 4-5X as expensive as a single HP.  how is that not much more expensive? 

Sure you can afford a lot of guns but not everyone can.  Should they not have protection against someone breaking into their house?  Most people will buy a gun and just throw it in to a drawer and forget about it but in the end, its better to have it and not need it rather then need it and not have it.  It will go bang and it will do the same thing your Glocks or M&Ps or XDs will do.  Just remember, a lot of people still do look down on Glocks or M&Ps or XDs.  Does that make them bad guns? 

Not true.  HP 9mm comes in around $200 whereas a Glock 9mm can be had for $550-600.  Same with XD's, in the $500-600 range.  Maybe 3 times as expensive at best.  That said, having owned glock 17, glock 21, HP 9mm and HP .45 as far as function goes, they all functioned as advertised.  The thing I hated most about the HP is that the barrel coating was not very good and after a while it was prone to rust.  And what I hated even more than that was the funky way in which the gun is put together.  Talk about a pain in the ass to disassemble and clean.  Tiny little spring that shoots out if you are not careful.  Glock makes the HP look like Rubik's cube.  My opinion is that if your life depended on it, glock gets a 10 out of 10 and HP gets a 6-7 out of 10. 

Glocks or even M&Ps and XDs are more then 4-5X as expensive as a single HP.  how is that not much more expensive? 

Sure you can afford a lot of guns but not everyone can.  Should they not have protection against someone breaking into their house?  Most people will buy a gun and just throw it in to a drawer and forget about it but in the end, its better to have it and not need it rather then need it and not have it.  It will go bang and it will do the same thing your Glocks or M&Ps or XDs will do.  Just remember, a lot of people still do look down on Glocks or M&Ps or XDs.  Does that make them bad guns?

Just looked online and new Hi-Points go for around $180-200ish, and that's mainland prices.  You could probably get a used Glock or M&P for around $300 range, again mainland prices.  The different is quite a bit more than I thought.  I didn't realize Hi-Points were that inexpensive!

That said, I'll gladly spend $100 for a used Glock over a Hi-Point, but that's just my opinion/preference.  For me, the cost of the gun is only a fraction of the total cost of the firearm when you factor in the cost of the ammo.  However, like you said, many will just buy it and throw it in a drawer and call it good. 

Should everyone have means of protection?  Yes!  Trust me, I am far from a gun snob.  If all one can afford is a cheap Taurus revolver, as long as it's reliable, go for it!  However, I would be willing to bet that you put 100 Hi-Points up against a 100 Glock in a even a handgun course that you'll find a MUCH higher percentage of problems experienced with Hi-Points than the Glocks.  If it doesn't function reliably, it won't do the same thing that the reliable guns will do.  My point is just that saying a Hi-Point will perform just as a Glock, M&P or XD will is just not accurate in a personal protection context. 

Yes, people do look down on Glocks, look down on 9 mm, look down on whatever.  Hey, their choice.  As I said in my initial post, I don't look down on anyone who chooses a Hi-Point.  While it is my opinion that there are much better options available, their freedom to choose.  If someone is comfortable with going with a Hi-Point, so be it.  I just won't recommend it to anyone. 

I don't mind get any gun... that I like.
It's my money.
(For plinking or personal self defense)

My biggest concern for the HP in Hawaii... is this...

From Justin1098
keep in mind, high point pistols are cast zinc alloy. The alloy is called ZAMAK-3 and melts at 718-727 F.
See rule Kokohead rule 17
http://www.khsc.info/index.php/prohibited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi-Point_Firearms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamak

By the way...
Yes... I have a Glock 36, S&W .38 Special, and just bought an M&P Shield 9mm.

Not true.  HP 9mm comes in around $200 whereas a Glock 9mm can be had for $550-600.  Same with XD's, in the $500-600 range.  Maybe 3 times as expensive at best.  That said, having owned glock 17, glock 21, HP 9mm and HP .45 as far as function goes, they all functioned as advertised.  The thing I hated most about the HP is that the barrel coating was not very good and after a while it was prone to rust.  And what I hated even more than that was the funky way in which the gun is put together.  Talk about a pain in the ass to disassemble and clean.  Tiny little spring that shoots out if you are not careful.  Glock makes the HP look like Rubik's cube.  My opinion is that if your life depended on it, glock gets a 10 out of 10 and HP gets a 6-7 out of 10.

my  brother has had his HP 9mm for over 2 years and he has abused the crap out of it trying to get it to malfunction and it just wont. like i said, he was able to pick up a lightly used one for 75$. you can rarely find a lightly used glock 9mm for under 400. every time he has pulled the trigger it has gone boom and cycled. he hasnt complained about take down and cleaning, because he has never done it. since he has had the gun he has not disassembled it to clean once. the one complaint he has about it, is the way it looks. it just looks awkward. from my brothers experience, i would buy one even at 200.

btw i myself am a glock guy. just trying to provide insight that the HP guns may not be the trash that people may assume they are.

I don't mind get any gun... that I like.
It's my money.
(For plinking or personal self defense)

SNIP

By the way...
Yes... I have a Glock 36, S&W .38 Special, and just bought an M&P Shield 9mm.

Well, looks like you're all set then!  No need to buy another gun.  Haha. 

That Glock 36 must be pretty interesting!

I think many of us here don't "need" another gun, but we surely want more. 

Seriously though, looks like you've got a decent collection of firearms there!   

Maybe a long gun or two would help?   

LOL!!
Yep...
Here's the kids.. (without the M&P Shield/ 9mm, yet) - See below.
That's the next family portrait.
LOL!!

If I may, just buy a few good super high quality reliable firearms.

Spend any extra cash on ammo + training.

Training is not cheap either.

Mahalo, Mahalo ALL!!!

LOL!!
Yep...
Here's the kids.. (without the M&P Shield/ 9mm, yet) - See below.
That's the next family portrait.
LOL!!

Very nice!   

I don't see a bolt action rifle in there.   

If I may, just buy a few good super high quality reliable firearms.

Spend any extra cash on ammo + training.

Training is not cheap either.

Yep!   

I've been lucky to have been able to afford a few classes with schools/instructors with excellent reputations in the past few years.  They are NOT cheap, especially since I had to fly to the mainland to attend.  IMO, it is a great investment and I try to share what I've learned with the people I shoot with.  Training not only improves your shooting abilities, but also helps you figure out what firearms, gear, etc work for YOU!  I've learned the hard/expensive way what gear doesn't work well for me, but better to find out in training. . .

Agreed on importance of training.

I am blessed to have been shown a few things by Mr. Russell Tanji.
He is awesome!!
He even told me to learn from everybody.
Still LOTS to learn. (Never ending, for sure)
Once you think you "know it all". You're pretty much too arrogant for me.
LOL!!

Bolt Action.... YES!!

LOL!!

Mahalo, ALL!!
Your opinions meet alot to me.

Thanks for your time!!

Aloha!!

Agreed on importance of training.

I am blessed to have been shown a few things by Mr. Russell Tanji.
He is awesome!!
He even told me to learn from everybody.
Still LOTS to learn. (Never ending, for sure)
Once you think you "know it all". You're pretty much too arrogant for me.
LOL!!

Bolt Action.... YES!!

LOL!!

I've taken a few classes from Russell Tanji and he is certainly passionate about firearms and training.  Discussion regarding legal implications of employing a firearm was very interesting! 

Yes.  Learn from everybody.  Try it out and see what works for you!  Create your own Alan A-style!  Even now, when I help as an "instructor" (very loose use of term here), I find that I learn things from even the greenest of shooters.