Hi-Point pistols are striker fired and use a single-action trigger mechanism. They feature polymer frames and slides cast from an aluminum/zinc alloy. Their safety levers and magazine releases are conventionally located.

As is SOP today, Hi-Point pistols come with a trigger lock known as the Dual Lock. The two halves are placed on both sides of the trigger guard (of an unloaded pistol) and are locked together by means of a spring-loaded shaft turned by a special two-prong key. Additional security can be provided by inserting a padlock (customer supplied) through a hole on the end of the shaft.

Controls of the sample JCP and JHP pistols were well located, and the trigger and the magazine release were easy to operate. The manual safety, while positive in operation and secure in either position, was on the small side and a bit difficult to manipulate without moving the pistol around in one's hand. The .40-caliber JCP comes with a single-column, nine-round magazine while the .45 ACP pistol comes with a 10-round magazine. All magazines come with large base pads to ensure positive insertion and prevent damage if they are ejected onto the ground. A generous mag well opening allows fumble-free reloading, and magazines fell free when the release was pressed--loaded or empty, slide forward or locked back.

A simple magazine safety, consisting of a steel bar (magazine lockout, part No. 35) underneath the right grip panel, blocks the trigger bar from pushing the sear cam if the magazine is removed. When a magazine is inserted, it bears against a curved portion of the lockout bar, pushing it sideways so the trigger bar can move to engage the sear cam. In addition, a clearance cut at the rear of the chamber, near the extractor, allows one to visually ascertain if a cartridge is in the chamber.

In common with most semiautomatic pistols, the Hi-Point's slide locks back when the magazine is empty, but it lacks a manual slide release. Thus the magazine must be removed (a loaded one may be inserted if you intend to keep on firing) and the slide pulled slightly to the rear to release the internal hold open. Then the slide is allowed to run forward and return to battery.

The .40- and .45-caliber Models JCP and JHP use single-column magazines with massive base pads.

GREAT SIGHTS & EXCELLENT TRIGGERS
The two features I found commendable were the sights and trigger pulls. Both pistols come standard with a blade front sight integral with a full-length rib on top of the slide and a rear sight that is adjustable for windage and elevation. (For those who favor such sighting equipment, Hi-Point offers an optional ghost ring rear sight.) The standard sights utilize a three-dot system for fast sight acquisition and positive alignment, but instead of the usual white dots, those on the Hi-Point pistols are Day-Glo orange in color. Now, I don't know about you folks, but as I have grown older I have found that sights with brightly colored dots or inserts are most helpful towards my hitting the target. The three Day-Glo dots sort of jump out at you and grab your optical attention, even in dim light.

Now for the triggers. As I mentioned earlier, the Hi-Point pistol is fitted with a single-action trigger. According to my gunsmith's trigger pull scale, the required weight to letoff was just under four pounds, and those on both pistols had small amounts of takeup and broke very crisply. One would not be out of place calling their trigger pulls impressive.

Despite their, shall I say odd, appearance, the Hi-Point pistols proved to be well balanced with ergonomically friendly grips. In fact, when practicing presentations with an unloaded pistol, I found it possessed natural pointing qualities, whether gripped two-handed or unsupported. The sample pistols were both 6.3 inches in height and 1.34 inches in width. They are covered by Hi-Point's lifetime warranty.

Field-stripping for normal maintenance is fairly straightforward. First remove the magazine and retract the slide to verify the chamber is empty. Then move the slide to its rearmost position, push the manual safety up in the small, forward notch and lock the slide to the rear. The slide retainer pin at the rear of the frame is now exposed through the large (rear) safety notch in the slide. Using a 1/8-inch pin punch, remove the retainer pin from the frame. Pull the safety down and ease the slide forward. Retract the slide about 3/8 inch and pull upward. Hold the rear of the slide and push forward, removing it from the frame. Reassemble in reverse order.

SURPRISINGLY RELIABLE & EXCEPTIONALLY AFFORDABLE
I have little doubt that some readers are already expressing doubts about Hi-Point pistols based solely upon their appearance and price. And while this is understandable, it cannot be condoned. Many years ago I read a two-part pro/con article about the so-called Saturday Night Special controversy. While the author of the "con" article condemned inexpensive handguns as the "weapons of choice of criminals," the "pro" side's author made a most succinct point when he said, "Your 'Saturday Night Special' is someone else's heirloom. Or perhaps, more important, the only handgun they can afford!"