Would Hi-Points sell better if they weren't so dang ugly?

BattleRifleG3 · 08-20-2005, 09:36 PM

Thinking about how to make simple firearms, I coughed up a few concepts of my own, and figured "Hey, these could whip Hi-Point's butt cause they aren't so dang ugly!", then started looking at Hi-Points and thinking "Man, if only they'd do that angle a little differently their pistol wouldn't look nearly as bad."

So what do you guys think? Suppose they would start selling a lot more, and even at higher prices, if they just did a couple basic refinements? Oh, that and make them use more standard mags, or at least a double stack proprietary mag.

NorCalAshnjikov · 08-21-2005, 04:10 AM

I don't think they're that ugly.
What do you find ugly?
What refinements would you make?
I don't think hi-points would sell better if their price went up.

troylaplante · 08-21-2005, 10:08 AM

I don't think they are that ugly, personally. They are heavy for being polymer framed and have a heavy slide that may need a bit of reworking. They do tend to be a bit top heavy. With target load ammo, I can actually see the slide movement. The double stack mag would be a nice touch, as well as developing their .45 to take a 1911 magazine. It would also be nice if they could take their carbines and rework them to accept the pistol magazines of the same caliber or vice versa. What I don't particularly care for is that the .380 magazine is the exact same as the 9mm magazine and there is a bit of room in the mag with a shorter length round. They could make their .380 a little less square and more "Glock looking", but I still don't think it is particularly ugly.

ash · 08-21-2005, 02:28 PM

I like Hi points they're cheap and they shoot straight what more do you need.

tommy · 08-21-2005, 04:44 PM

highpoints are great guns . they are cheap(price wise) and they shoot just as stright as the pricey ones.

jerry · 08-21-2005, 04:56 PM

I think they need to stay the course.
Let me tell ya why (IMO of course)
We have a local foreign automotive Mfg. They made a great little car, durable, good milage, affordable.

Then, they dicked with it. Well, business isn't so good anymore. The changes they made cost money which was passed to the consumer. In such a competative market (not unlike firearms) they slit their own throats.

Let the little carbine that could be the little carbine that could.

myarmor · 08-21-2005, 05:11 PM

I am with BRG3 on this one. It looks like a rock in your hand. There's no...umm...sexyness(?) about them. The price is definatly right and the main reason people buy them. Like you said if thtey would just cut some corners off the edges, and leave the main componets alone, I beleive it would boost sales a lot. You would be amazed how many people that buy a gun on looks alone. Is it a wise decision? No. But there are a lot of shallow people out there.

troylaplante · 08-21-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myarmor

It looks like a rock in your hand. There's no...umm...sexyness(?) about them.

I don't know about that. http://troylaplante.tripod.com/troyb...ntry_id=639237

NRAJOE · 08-21-2005, 11:10 PM

Never. A Hi-Point is still a Hi-Point, snicker snicker, guffaw...

myarmor · 08-21-2005, 11:51 PM

I stand by my claim man, Their main objective is for a target buyer. I have nothing to say bad about their performance, only looks. Then again I have only shot 2.....

practical · 08-22-2005, 12:15 AM

I think they should raise their prices for safety's sake. I was in the gun store the other day, and a couple of not so bright looking and very yound guys walked up to the counter and said, "What's the cheapest gun you have?" They bought a Hi-Point and left. Not sure I want those guys walking around armed. Not to mention the idiot at the range the other day...with a Hi-Point...shooting large rocks at his feet despite hearing the ricochets. I went to the rifle range instead.

Here's a poll. Do Hi-Points make people stupid or do Hi-Points just attract stupid people?

Big Dog · 08-22-2005, 05:13 AM

Stupid people don't usually have much money - they are stupid, after all. But every so often . . .
Fear the stupid man with lots of money - he can buy more dangerous toys.

The Hi-points take the adage of 'Function over form' to it's extreme. They are butt-ugly, but they work. Sure, some people have problems, but I see just as many problems with Ruger, Smith&Wesson and Colt these days.
Generally, the Hi-point works well.
The thing is, they are all blow-back pistols, even the 9mm and .45 - so that makes the big heavy slide necessary. Walther once made a scaled-up 9mm Luger-chambered version of the PP pistol, and it worked fine. But, it was too big and heavy, so they developed the P-38.
Added to the fact they keep manual operations to a minimum - that's where a lot of cost is saved. So, a poor finish. Early ones looked like they were buffed with a brick.
I like the looks of the Hi-point Carbine - no uglier than most sub-guns! Certainly prettier than an Uzi or the Kel-Tec Sub2000.

jamesfaync · 08-22-2005, 08:57 AM

only problem i have with hipoint is that to me the 380 seems to kick far harder than a 380 that heavy should

troylaplante · 08-22-2005, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesfaync

only problem i have with hipoint is that to me the 380 seems to kick far harder than a 380 that heavy should

Mine does OK in the regard. It kicks no harder than my other .380, certainly less than my 9mm.

Thrawn · 08-22-2005, 09:26 AM

Rraaarrhh!!!

Sniper[MI] · 08-22-2005, 09:36 AM

Well,I'll tell ya.........

After holding one for the first time, I was surprised at how solid they feel. I don't think I would call it heavy as I like the feel of some substance to a pistol.

After firing one, I was impressed.

After personally e mailing back and forth with the Head Honcho at High Point, I was further impressed that them mainman would answer an email from an average joe like me.

As a shooter, a carry gun etc...what more coould you want than a gun you are going to wear out or sweat into rusting than a gun that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to replace.

As to the guy shooting rocks with the riccocets, I'd have beat rthe snot out of his backside right then and there....then reported the moron to the range boss....

In conclusion, oat bran fiber is overrated and a true sorce of fiber, and flax meal is much better for you in the long run.
(Translation? To each his own)

08-22-2005, 10:42 AM

Hi Points are kind of ugly

silentknight · 08-22-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by practical

do Hi-Points just attract stupid people?

Ding ding ding, we have a winner

tommy · 08-22-2005, 11:33 AM

i would say a highpoint is like a ak47 just a plain and simple gun that goes bang everytime you pull the trigger.the ones that rag them out probably never owned one or shot one. but i bet if they were or was given a highpoint they would take it .you can take 200 ak's and take 200 highpoints and i bet the ak's will have more defects on them than the highpoints will.

you just have to fase the facts that hightpoint is a good quality gun for a cheap price with the best warranty they have out there. i know if i broke my glock or my marlin or any of my other guns do you think that they would take it back like a craftsman tool and replace it with no qusetions asked(not) but highpoint will.

NRAEric · 08-22-2005, 04:58 PM

I like the idea of maybe changing the pistol design some, but the carbines should be left alone.

View Poll Results: Would you buy Hi-Points if their function was the same but they looked better?
Never. A Hi-Point is still a Hi-Point, snicker snicker, guffaw.	5	17.86%
I like them as they are. A Hi-Point is still a Hi-Point.	11	39.29%
I'd buy them if they were drastically improved ergonomically and aesthetically	5	17.86%
I don't care at all. I am a Wookie. Rraaarrhh!!!	7	25.00%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

08-20-2005, 09:36 PM	#1
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Would Hi-Points sell better if they weren't so dang ugly? Thinking about how to make simple firearms, I coughed up a few concepts of my own, and figured "Hey, these could whip Hi-Point's butt cause they aren't so dang ugly!", then started looking at Hi-Points and thinking "Man, if only they'd do that angle a little differently their pistol wouldn't look nearly as bad." So what do you guys think? Suppose they would start selling a lot more, and even at higher prices, if they just did a couple basic refinements? Oh, that and make them use more standard mags, or at least a double stack proprietary mag. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

08-21-2005, 04:56 PM	#6
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,899 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	I think they need to stay the course. Let me tell ya why (IMO of course) We have a local foreign automotive Mfg. They made a great little car, durable, good milage, affordable. Then, they dicked with it. Well, business isn't so good anymore. The changes they made cost money which was passed to the consumer. In such a competative market (not unlike firearms) they slit their own throats. Let the little carbine that could be the little carbine that could. __________________ I'm a down home back woods redneck

08-22-2005, 12:15 AM	#11
practical Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA/Casper, WY Posts: 736	I think they should raise their prices for safety's sake. I was in the gun store the other day, and a couple of not so bright looking and very yound guys walked up to the counter and said, "What's the cheapest gun you have?" They bought a Hi-Point and left. Not sure I want those guys walking around armed. Not to mention the idiot at the range the other day...with a Hi-Point...shooting large rocks at his feet despite hearing the ricochets. I went to the rifle range instead. Here's a poll. Do Hi-Points make people stupid or do Hi-Points just attract stupid people? __________________ Eric "The secret to life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made" Last edited by practical; 08-22-2005 at 12:17 AM.

08-22-2005, 05:13 AM	#12
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,219	Stupid people don't usually have much money - they are stupid, after all. But every so often . . . Fear the stupid man with lots of money - he can buy more dangerous toys. The Hi-points take the adage of 'Function over form' to it's extreme. They are butt-ugly, but they work. Sure, some people have problems, but I see just as many problems with Ruger, Smith&Wesson and Colt these days. Generally, the Hi-point works well. The thing is, they are all blow-back pistols, even the 9mm and .45 - so that makes the big heavy slide necessary. Walther once made a scaled-up 9mm Luger-chambered version of the PP pistol, and it worked fine. But, it was too big and heavy, so they developed the P-38. Added to the fact they keep manual operations to a minimum - that's where a lot of cost is saved. So, a poor finish. Early ones looked like they were buffed with a brick. I like the looks of the Hi-point Carbine - no uglier than most sub-guns! Certainly prettier than an Uzi or the Kel-Tec Sub2000. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

08-21-2005, 04:10 AM	#2
NorCalAshnjikov Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 688 Images: 1	I don't think they're that ugly. What do you find ugly? What refinements would you make? I don't think hi-points would sell better if their price went up.

08-21-2005, 10:08 AM	#3
troylaplante Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Selma, NC Posts: 2,223	I don't think they are that ugly, personally. They are heavy for being polymer framed and have a heavy slide that may need a bit of reworking. They do tend to be a bit top heavy. With target load ammo, I can actually see the slide movement. The double stack mag would be a nice touch, as well as developing their .45 to take a 1911 magazine. It would also be nice if they could take their carbines and rework them to accept the pistol magazines of the same caliber or vice versa. What I don't particularly care for is that the .380 magazine is the exact same as the 9mm magazine and there is a bit of room in the mag with a shorter length round. They could make their .380 a little less square and more "Glock looking", but I still don't think it is particularly ugly.

08-21-2005, 02:28 PM	#4
ash Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 934 Images: 3	I like Hi points they're cheap and they shoot straight what more do you need.

08-21-2005, 04:44 PM	#5
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,034 Images: 6	highpoints are great guns . they are cheap(price wise) and they shoot just as stright as the pricey ones.

08-21-2005, 05:11 PM	#7
myarmor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southwest ,VA Posts: 1,147	I am with BRG3 on this one. It looks like a rock in your hand. There's no...umm...sexyness(?) about them. The price is definatly right and the main reason people buy them. Like you said if thtey would just cut some corners off the edges, and leave the main componets alone, I beleive it would boost sales a lot. You would be amazed how many people that buy a gun on looks alone. Is it a wise decision? No. But there are a lot of shallow people out there.

08-21-2005, 11:10 PM	#9
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,052 Images: 3	Never. A Hi-Point is still a Hi-Point, snicker snicker, guffaw...

08-21-2005, 11:51 PM	#10
myarmor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southwest ,VA Posts: 1,147	I stand by my claim man, Their main objective is for a target buyer. I have nothing to say bad about their performance, only looks. Then again I have only shot 2.....

08-22-2005, 08:57 AM	#13
jamesfaync Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: fayetteville nc Posts: 167	only problem i have with hipoint is that to me the 380 seems to kick far harder than a 380 that heavy should

08-22-2005, 09:26 AM	#15
Thrawn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Okeefenokee Posts: 1,618 Images: 6	Rraaarrhh!!!

08-22-2005, 09:36 AM	#16
Sniper[MI] Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Future 51st state, "New Hope" Posts: 3,796	Well,I'll tell ya......... After holding one for the first time, I was surprised at how solid they feel. I don't think I would call it heavy as I like the feel of some substance to a pistol. After firing one, I was impressed. After personally e mailing back and forth with the Head Honcho at High Point, I was further impressed that them mainman would answer an email from an average joe like me. As a shooter, a carry gun etc...what more coould you want than a gun you are going to wear out or sweat into rusting than a gun that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to replace. As to the guy shooting rocks with the riccocets, I'd have beat rthe snot out of his backside right then and there....then reported the moron to the range boss.... In conclusion, oat bran fiber is overrated and a true sorce of fiber, and flax meal is much better for you in the long run. (Translation? To each his own) __________________ FNUH!

08-22-2005, 10:42 AM	#17
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Points are kind of ugly

08-22-2005, 11:33 AM	#19
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,034 Images: 6	i would say a highpoint is like a ak47 just a plain and simple gun that goes bang everytime you pull the trigger.the ones that rag them out probably never owned one or shot one. but i bet if they were or was given a highpoint they would take it .you can take 200 ak's and take 200 highpoints and i bet the ak's will have more defects on them than the highpoints will. you just have to fase the facts that hightpoint is a good quality gun for a cheap price with the best warranty they have out there. i know if i broke my glock or my marlin or any of my other guns do you think that they would take it back like a craftsman tool and replace it with no qusetions asked(not) but highpoint will.

08-22-2005, 04:58 PM	#20
NRAEric Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 42	I like the idea of maybe changing the pistol design some, but the carbines should be left alone.