I just didn't like the c-9

2412 Views 21 Replies 18 Participants Last post by white_russian2, Feb 12, 2009

battousai

Discussion Starter · Feb 10, 2009

Ok so I actually found a store with a c-9 in stock which is an miracle by itself. I held it examined it....kinda just went through the normal gun exploration motions. And sadly it wasn't love at first sight. It's also too top heavy which I was expecting weight just not so much on the slider. Here in Orlando a reasonable price for it would be 200 and for that price I almost would say its worth a $100/$150 dollar upgrade. However I'm no calling it a piece of junk I just don't know if its right for me. Good news is in all my searches I finally found a place that will let me rent one so I can send some rounds down range and figure out if I really think its worth it.

My question is does the .40 and .45 share these attributes? If so I may just skip the hi-point handgun craze in favor of more ergonomic (for me) hand guns.

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Sittn86

· #2 · Feb 10, 2009

picky, picky, picky..... What'd you expect, a Kimber? A Block? It's more for us if you don't get one. What 'craze'? You sayin' our pistols are like bell-bottom leisure suits? <gasp> My pistol won't be popular in 5 years? OH NO!!! Just shoot one, it'll probably grow on ya. If it's ergonomics you're after, slip a Hogue or Butler Creek grip on it.
P.S. More ammo is an upgrade, not an overpriced pistol that doesn't perform any better.

Dave_H

· #3 · Feb 10, 2009

Try different pistols out and find what works for you. If both a bottom dollar price tag, and the 9mm parabellum cartridge are important, there are a number of lower cost 9mm pistols out there, if you find that you do not care for the C9
Ruger P-89
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122600861
Kel Tec P11
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122552087
Star BM
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.asp?SearchType=0&Keywords=Star+BM
Norinco model 213 (Tokarev)
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122353074
Helwan Brigadier
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122416414
Zastava M88 ( another 9mm Tokarev variant)
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122568449
and of course the C-9 is out there, if you decide to go that way
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122578839

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Strangerous

· #4 · Feb 10, 2009

Load up a mag of 147 JHPs!!!
It'll put some weight on the bottom end and make it feel better, I promise!

dosanti

· #5 · Feb 10, 2009

Hi-Points aren't for everyone and I haven't seen any 'craze' about them yet. But for my budget they are great!

Newskate9

· #6 · Feb 10, 2009

I don't like Glocks. Has nothing to do with all the back and forth of Glock vs. not. I don't like how they feel in my grip. So I'm not gonna buy one.

You gotta buy what you are gonna shoot.

battousai

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 10, 2009

If I had $200 in my pocket and knew that this would be the only gun I could ever afford then yes I would buy it without question. I think it has enough pro's to outweigh my con's. I am just playing devils advocate because finally after holding/handling one. Even though I haven't shot one yet it gave me my doubts. I already have a 9mm/45lc/38spl/12ga/410ga and dont really need an additional gun.

As far as Glocks go I do not like the look but I respect peoples opinion for them to go bang every time. Also I have shot a Glock and hold a good opinion based on my experience. Similarly before the jury is out on hi-point I honestly am going to try at least renting the C-9. This doesn't rule out me not liking or not liking/purchasing a higher caliber where I feel if it contained the same proportionate weight it would help with recoil like in a .40/.45.

Bottom line: I am considered the gun collector of my family and have been approached several times by family members about guns and gun prices. Although my opinion of hi-point is shaken a little their budget/and the opinions on this forum have not been. I will continue recommending it as an alternative just not my personal weapon of choice as I already have better.

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RDFabsRep

· #8 · Feb 10, 2009

picky, picky, picky..... What'd you expect, a Kimber? A Block? It's more for us if you don't get one. What 'craze'? You sayin' our pistols are like bell-bottom leisure suits? <gasp> My pistol won't be popular in 5 years? OH NO!!! Just shoot one, it'll probably grow on ya. If it's ergonomics you're after, slip a Hogue or Butler Creek grip on it.
P.S. More ammo is an upgrade, not an overpriced pistol that doesn't perform any better.

Relax, cowboy. He very politely stated his opinion--he didn't go on a Hi-Point rampage, trash-talking the gun to all high heaven. You're obviously very attached to yours--he doesn't feel the same. And neither do I, honestly.

Sittn86

· #9 · Feb 10, 2009

Forgive me for my tongue-in-cheek response to what I perceived to be a somewhat nose-in-the-air analysis of a reasonably priced pistol.

Oh, and, um, YEE-HAW!!!!!!!!

Silicon Wolverine

· #10 · Feb 10, 2009

a full mag evens them out somewhat but they still are a hiar nose heavy IME.

SW

G

· #11 · Feb 10, 2009

Battousai,
I respect your opinion and from what I hear, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders. The very best thing you can do is take advantage of the rental offer, especially since that is extremely rare (at least I've never heard of it.) I would continue approaching it "scientifically" and go play with one. Put a couple hundred rounds through it and see how it feels. There is no substitute for that. If you do buy and then decide later you don't like it, there are plenty of folks here who will gladly buy it off you. Good luck!

Budddha

· #12 · Feb 10, 2009

Ditto to vinas74.. Honestly though, at $200, that's the price I paid for my .45 JHP, AFTER taxes in our fine state. I hope that price includes an extra something or a couple extra somethings... although I picked mine up used at auction for $120 because there were no local dealers who had it in stock, the new suggested retail is only $155.

As far as the weight, its part of the design to minimize the recoil, that is one of the major things I like about mine (and when I run out of ammo, I can clunk the BG with it

). I tell you though, once I held it up in firing position I didn't feel the weight...then again, I started with the .45 first so the C9 feels like a toy in comparison to me. But the more I handled it from a low to high position, the more I got accustomed to it.. compared to same size Glocks, Taurus, Springfield, it is much heavier, but not so much that you can't hold it to let off a succession of controlled shots from a full mag.

Like the others suggest, go rent it, send many rounds through it, just grip it 'well'.. if you have medium to large hands you will want to get the 10 round extended magazine, I did.

Good luck! AND if you do buy it and afterwards don't want it, let me know, I am only on the west end of I-4 from Orlando. 8)

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995Rookie

· #13 · Feb 10, 2009

Some people love them...some people dont! In the local gun shop here the owner says he wouldnt use an HP for an anchor for his decoys! I pulled mine out of its holster and told him it will shoot just as good as anything on his hip or on his shelves and walked out!

Its all a matter of preference. Just get what you like, but make sure you dont buy just because it has a good name...do it because you like it!

Croz

· #14 · Feb 10, 2009

At least you gave them an honest evaluation. Many who decide they don't like them, have never even handled them. Rent one, shoot it and see how you like it. At least your evaluation will be based on facts, not on Internet nonsense.

Loopster

· #15 · Feb 10, 2009

I like c9 (a lot), but it's not the only gun I have. It's not really even my "favorite" gun. Mine is reliable and accurate, and of course, afforable. It has pros and cons like all the others. Everyone who shoots one doesn't fall in love with it right away. And its ok.

I have had the JHP .45, and while it was a very accurate and dependable firearm, it was just too clunky for me. I didn't dislike the gun, it just didn't fit my needs.

Thanks for being fair in your critique. Do shoot it before you make up your mind, though.

javelina80

· #16 · Feb 10, 2009

I own a C9 and I think I got what I paid for. I got a gun that works. I still am having to tweak it to get it to work with out flaws. If or when I have money to spend on a nicer hand-gun... I will. Why not? HP's are nice cause they are inexpensive, but I don't pretend there aren't better handguns out there. I know exactly how you feel battousai. I just can't afford anything better right now. I felt like I needed a hand-gun right away so... I bought what I could afford, the C9. If you can afford it why not get something nice? That is my opinion.

FriedChicken

· #17 · Feb 10, 2009

I picked up one for the first time a couple days ago at a gun show. The second I picked it up I thought ... "daaang, its heavy".
Didn't buy it, it had a lot of wear and I could tell the thing has seen LOTS of bullets and the guy was asking $150 for it. I offered $130 and was turned down.

I kinda had my heart set on the JH .40 anyway. Other than he .380 at the same table those were the only hi points at the show.

cdbillups

· #18 · Feb 10, 2009

When I bought my C9 and CF-380 price was a major deciding factor. I had originally wanted a .22 semi but couldn't bring myself to pay that much for one. A 9mm for $125 sounded like a great deal. Since then, I went ahead and bought a .22 semi and a .38 revolver. I've since sold my C9 and CF-380 to KCJeff to fund my next 9mm. I guess you could say the C9 was my "gateway gun."

battousai

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 11, 2009

I like c9 (a lot), but it's not the only gun I have. It's not really even my "favorite" gun. Mine is reliable and accurate, and of course, afforable. It has pros and cons like all the others. Everyone who shoots one doesn't fall in love with it right away. And its ok.

I have had the JHP .45, and while it was a very accurate and dependable firearm, it was just too clunky for me. I didn't dislike the gun, it just didn't fit my needs.

Thanks for being fair in your critique. Do shoot it before you make up your mind, though.

I think this post sums it up. I'm not trying to be a snob I just think that at my phase there are better options for me like stocking up on ammo for what I do own. Hopefully I can get to the range and rent it to tell you what my final say is. All this still being equal i'll take a hi-point over a knife any day!

Oh and I dont really care to meet any of you proud c-9 owners in a dark corner. You may just try and have a dual of honor over my words.

freedom

· #20 · Feb 11, 2009

Ok so I actually found a store with a c-9 in stock which is an miracle by itself.

COOL 8)

I held it examined it....kinda just went through the normal gun exploration motions. And sadly it wasn't love at first sight.

Bummer

It's also too top heavy which I was expecting weight just not so much on the slider.

They are top heavy, but if you shoot them some you get use to it. And then you don't even notice.

Here in Orlando a reasonable price for it would be 200 and for that price I almost would say its worth a $100/$150 dollar upgrade. However I'm not calling it a piece of junk

No worries. Lots of people call them that, some say they shoot great but look to cheesy. etc. Personally I think HPs are ugly guns but they work great and don't cost an arm and a leg. And the looks kinda grow on you in time.

I just don't know if its right for me.

Thats cool, take your time and if it grows on you later, so be it.

Good news is in all my searches I finally found a place that will let me rent one so I can send some rounds down range and figure out if I really think its worth it.

That is great, that you found a range that will let you rent and that has one to rent. Give them a chance, and if nothing else you get to go have some fun.

My question is does the .40 and .45 share these attributes?

Yes they are all top heave. But the C9 IMHO is the nicest one for a few reasons.
Gun is a good price.
Ammo is cheaper.
You can CCW with the C9, I do.
It makes a good house gun, truck gun, boat anchor, etc.
Thruth is I realy like my HP C9 as do most here.

If so I may just skip the hi-point handgun craze in favor of more ergonomic (for me) hand guns.

Also good. Better to be happy with what you spend your money on.
I personally wish HP would redesign the C9 so that it looked more like the Walther P99 or the Springfield XDdm. And built it so that it would work with say.....................Glock hi capacity magazines. That way you could buy it, and find quality mags for it just about any place.
They could build it with all the same internals of the current C9, just reshape the slide so that it looked more like the P99 or XDdm and re do the polymer frame to accept the Glock magz.
They could even charge more for it and I'm sure people would buy. I know I would.

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