Brown told me the reason they brought out Hi-Point firearms was to give the average working person a well-made gun (made in the USA) that was affordable. "So many gun makers have priced themselves out of reach of the 'average' person's pocketbook," he said. "We see and talk to customers every day that use our guns for self-defense, hunting, and truck, boat, or camp guns. A commercial halibut fisherman from Alaska told me he uses one of our .45 pistols to shoot the halibut prior to landing them. A bear hunting guide told me he gives his bow hunting customers one of our .45s to take to the stand with them. We have our guns at many indoor ranges across the country; in fact, they are used for the exact same things as all the other gunmakers' guns are used for! They offer the man/woman who may not have an extra $300 to $700 for a gun a gun that's reliable and affordable."

The author was impressed with the Hi-Point pistols' shootability, which is partly due to their easy-to-see sight system.

Let's be honest. You don't need to spend a fortune on a handgun for protecting your home. A firearm used for defensive purposes should have several characteristics: It must be safe and completely reliable in operation; it should fire a cartridge powerful enough for the job at hand; and it should provide sufficient accuracy at the distances at which it is likely to be used. If it does that, it doesn't matter if it costs $100 or $1000.

But this should in no way be construed as an excuse for not practicing with said handgun! Anyone who owns a firearm--for whatever reason--should make a point of practicing with it on a regular basis to become familiar with its operation, learn and practice safe handling procedures, and hone their shooting skills.

When I found out I would be evaluating Hi-Point pistols, I posted a question concerning them on a shooter's Internet forum I use on a regular basis. I received a total of 18 responses from persons who either owned or knew someone who owned a Hi-Point pistol. Of them, 17 were completely positive. Now, I know this is hardly a scientific survey, but I still found the responses most enlightening.

When it came time to conduct my own shooting evaluation of the Hi-Point pistols, my father and I went to my gun club. Pacing off 15 yards, I set up a series of Birchwood/Casey Shoot-N-C targets, and we proceeded to fire three five-shot groups with each ammunition load.

We found the two pistols more accurate than either of us had at first assumed; most of our groups were in the sub-three-inch range. With the .45-caliber Hi-Point Model JHP, honorable mention goes to Winchester's 185-grain Silvertip load, which consistently printed the tightest groups, while the .40-caliber Model JCP showed a definite preference for Remington 155-grain JHP loads.

Hi-Point pistols disassemble easily. Locking back the slide lines up a notch on the slide that exposes the takedown pin in the frame.

We then fired five rounds of each brand of ammunition across my chronograph, the results of which can be see in the accompanying chart.

It was then time to see how the Hi-Points handled in a series of offhand drills. Not having a suitable holster, I began each drill holding the pistol at a 45-degree angle to the ground (low ready position) and, using a D-1 target set out at seven yards, performed the following drill with each pistol. First lift the pistol and fire nine rounds, slow aimed fire. Then reload and lift the pistol and double tap the target. Lower and repeat three more times. Then I reloaded and repeated the second drill, firing the pistol unsupported. The final drill was to lift the pistol and fire nine rounds as fast as a flash sight picture could be obtained.

The vast majority of the rounds I sent downrange found their way to the high scoring rings of their respective targets. In fact, close examination of the targets showed that only two rounds were outside the X- or 10-ring with each pistol. You can say that the Hi-Point pistols are inexpensive, but don't ever say they don't shoot. They shoot darn well!

The first thing that must be mentioned in my summation is that even though they were fed a steady diet of JHP and SWC ammunition with bullets of widely varying weights, both pistols proved 100 percent reliable from the first shot to the last. That's right, there was not a single failure to feed, fire, or eject out of the 200+ rounds fired through each gun.

The sample pistols were surprisingly accurate with factory ammunition. Most groups averaged about three inches at 15 yards.

Considering their operating system, felt recoil was very soft, which enhanced controllability and the ability to make fast follow-up shots. A plus for those of you who reload is that spent cases were only ejected about three feet to the right of the shooter. Additionally, the orange dots on the front and rear sights made target acquisition fast and positive.

I have to admit that their massive slides made them feel a bit "odd" in my hand, especially under rapid fire. But it should be remembered that the circumstances under which these pistols are likely to see service, this should not be a problem.

I was suitably impressed with the reliability, accuracy, and handling qualities displayed by both pistols. I think it would be fair to say that if you are in the market for an eminently affordable handgun that is capable of firing authoritative cartridges for home defense or informal plinking, a Hi-Point pistol may just fill the bill.