GRANTECH BALLISTIC LABS

FUNCTIONAL RELIABILITY TEST

HI-POINT FIREARMS 9MM C-COMP

 

BACKGROUND SUMMARY

FIREARM INFORMATION-

Manufactured by HI-POINT FIREARMS / Beemiller, INC. Mansfield Ohio

http://www.hipointf.nv.switchboard.com

Marketed by MKS SUPPLY, INC. Dayton Ohio

http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/

Local Dealer

CLAY’S FISHING & HUNTING SUPPLIES

3740 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043

(410) 750-9777

Price $139.95 + TAX

10$ background check fee

Includes two magazines - 8 round & 10 round extended

Compensator

Tools – Hex wrench, lock, key, screwdriver

Trigger lock

 

TESTER-

William E. Fowler III, Three years experience with firearms. Including Rifles, Shotguns, Hand guns with over one hundred hours of range time per year. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being only shot once to a 10 being an expert I will rate myself a 7 (seven).

http://efowler.listbot.com

RANGES -

Outdoor - HAP BAKER FIREARMS FACILITY, Carroll County, MD

Indoor - Continental Arms, Timonium, MD

DATES TESTED -

July 23-24 31, August 1, 5 1999

 

AMMUNITION TESTED –

PMC 9MM 115g FMJ TARGET

UMC 9MM 115g FMJ

WOLF 9MM 115g FMJ – steel case

WINCHESTER 9MM 115g FMJ

WINCHESTER WinClean 9MM 115g FPL

AMERICAN 9MM 147 FMJ FP

CORBON 9MM 115 JHP +P

SPEER/CCI 9MM 124g GDHP

ULTRAMAX 9MM 115g FMJ - RELOADS

TEST PROCEDURE –

Followed the Personal Defense Ammunition Functional Reliability Test for Semiautomatic Handguns. Tactical Briefs (Volume 2, Number 5) May 1999 Firearms Tactical Institute

http://www.firearmstactical.com

This included:

STEP I. 13 step manual verification of all the handgun’s mechanical functions

STEP II. 100 rounds Slow Fire per document above

STEP III. 100 rounds full magazine rapid fire

ACCURACY –

5 rounds @ 15 feet 2 inch group

5 rounds @ 12 feet 1.5 inch groups

CLEANING –

Very easy to perform normal maintenance

CUSTOMIZATION –

 

BLUEING GRIP SCREWS.

POLYMER Grips cleaning of excess polymer

MAGAZINES – sharp edges, spring to tight

RECOMMENDED AMMUNITION –

 

HI-POINT Recommends copper jacketed ammunition

 

My recommendations

 

AUTHORS OPINION / RECOMMENDATION –

DISCLAIMER

Please be careful. Obey all safety rules. Firearms misuse could result in death. If you are not sure how to, load, fire and clean your firearm, take a class.

GRANTECH BALLISTIC LABS and William E. Fowler III will not be responsible for your actions.

This test was completed without any compensation from HI-POINT Firearms/ Beemiller Inc./ MKS Supply.

COPYRIGHT © 1999 GRANTECH BALLISTIC LABS , William E Fowler III

SPECIAL THANKS to FIREARMS TACTICAL INSTITUTE

Their test procedures where used and are copyrighted by FIREARMS TACTICAL INSTITUTE www.firearmstactical.com

 

STEP I.

Tested the HI-POINT 9MM C-COMP for mechanical functionality.

 

Function Check

Function check is a manual verification of all the weapon’s mechanical functions, usually after cleaning and assembly, to ensure the gun is in proper working order. After verifying the chamber is clear, Step 1 – 13 is checked:

      1. Rack the slide to cock the hammer/striker.
      2. Position the safety lever, if equipped, to the engaged position.
      3. Press the trigger to verify the hammer/striker does not fall.
      4. Position the safety lever to the disengaged position.
      5. Press the trigger to verify the gun operates in single action mode.
      6. Press the trigger to verify the gun operates in double action mode.
      7. Press and hold the trigger to the rear while racking the slide to verify the sear engages and holds the hammer/striker.
      8. Press on the rear of the hammer to verify it does not drop.
      9. Release trigger, retract slide approximately 1/4-inch, press trigger and verify hammer/striker does not drop.
      10. Release slide and verify it locks into battery.
      11. Insert an empty magazine into the magazine well, retract the slide and verify the magazine actuates the slide lock to lock open the slide.
      12. Remove the empty magazine, retract the locked-open slide, verify the slide lock disengages and ease the slide forward.
      13. Point the muzzle upward, insert a wooden pencil down the bore, rubber eraser end first, until it rests on the firing pin hole of the breechface. Press trigger and observe the pencil jump slightly when struck by the firing pin (for large bore autos you might have to wrap tape around the pencil to center it on the firing pin hole)

Additional function checks included:

 

 

RESULTS

The HI_POINT 9MM C-COMP passed all mechanical functionality tests. Exceptions No. 6 (only single action) and No. 8 (no outside hammer)

 

 

PHOTOImage2.jpg (10527 bytes)

 

 

STEP II. 100 Rounds Slow Fire

 

Slow-fire 100 rounds of FMJ ammunition. This should be accomplished systematically to verify that the handgun and magazines are free of defects. For example:

A. Load magazine with one FMJ cartridge, chamber and fire. Perform this single-shot drill three times for each magazine under test.

B. Load magazine with two FMJ cartridges and fire both rounds. Perform this drill three times for each magazine under test.

C. Load magazine with five FMJ cartridges and fire all five rounds. Perform this drill three times for each magazine under test.

D. Load handgun to full magazine capacity plus a cartridge in the chamber (henceforth this condition will be referred to as "battle-carry capacity"). Slow-fire handgun until all rounds are expended.

E. Repeat step 3D, alternating magazines, until 100 rounds total have been fired.

 

RESULTS:

50 rounds PMC 9MM FMJ TARGET 115gr

No Feed Problems

50 rounds WOLF 9MM FMJ 115gr

Feed problems – Nosedive : cause – coating on steel case not uniform

I will redo a test of the WOLF. It most likely was the tight mag spring that caused the NOSEDIVE. 8-6-1999

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEP III. 100 Rounds RAPID Fire

 

RAPID-fire 100 rounds of FMJ ammunition. This should be accomplished systematically to verify that the handgun and magazines are free of defects. For example:

A. Load magazine with one FMJ cartridge, chamber and fire. Perform this single-shot drill three times for each magazine under test.

B. Load magazine with two FMJ cartridges and fire both rounds. Perform this drill three times for each magazine under test.

C. Load magazine with five FMJ cartridges and fire all five rounds. Perform this drill three times for each magazine under test. Rapid –fire.

D. Load handgun to full magazine capacity plus a cartridge in the chamber (henceforth this condition will be referred to as "battle-carry capacity"). RAPID-fire handgun until all rounds are expended.

E. Repeat step 3D, alternating magazines, until 100 rounds total have been fired.

 

RESULTS:

50 rounds PMC 9MM FMJ 115gr

No Feed Problems

50 rounds UMC 9MM FMJ 115gr

No Feed problems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCURACY

 

BENCH- SANDBAG SUPPORT

25 yards – 75 feet

3.5 inch group of 5 rounds Best

3.75 inch Average group

INDOORS – 21 feet or less

Full Standing – 2 hand hold

5 Feet 2.75 inch group

15 feet 2 inch group best (SEE GRAPHIC BELOW)

2.35 inch average

Image3.jpg (114953 bytes)     Image4.jpg (398504 bytes)

15 feet indoors                        12 feet with flashlight attachment

 

CLEANING

 

HI-POINT recommends the barrel be brushed every 300 – 400 rounds

Complete disassembly and cleaning should be performed at 1500 – 2000 rounds.

The firearm can be cleaned in the field easily. Lock the SLIDE back to the second safety notch. This will hold open the SLIDE so a cleaning jig can be used. Make sure to remove the compensator for cleaning since it gets dirty. You will benefit by using a bristle brush on the compensator.

PLEASE ONLY PERFORM THE FOLLOWING IF YOU HAVE THE SKILLS.

In order to remove the slide a 1/8 inch roll pin punch is required. A Pin Punch can be found at major hardware stores for under four dollars.

Slide the SLIDE back and engage the safety on the second latch. This will enable you to use the pin punch to punch out the SLIDE RETAINER PIN. Lift up then forward to remove the SLIDE.

The FIRING PIN SPRING is the smallest and goes behind the firing pin. The RECOIL SPRING goes under the BARREL.

CUSTOMIZATION –

PLEASE ONLY PERFORM THE FOLLOWING IF YOU HAVE THE SKILLS.

Simple things can be done to improve the appearance and help with ammo feed problems. When you break down the handgun the two screws that hold the grips can be re-blued. The slide retainer can be re-blued.

To re-blue: 1. Clean and degrease, 2. Rub with steel wool, 3. Clean again, 4. Heat the part , 5. Put hot part(s) in solution of PERMA BLUE; let it sit 15 minutes. 6. Rinse/dry 7. Repeat till 1 – 6 till dark enough, 8. Soak in oil over night and then dry off in the morning.

Grips: When cleaning the first time remove the grips and use 400 grit sandpaper to clean off the polymer edges.

Magazines: All magazines when new need breaking in. All will be tight with them loaded to capacity. It is a good practice to load the magazine to capacity over night to help compress the spring. Some will need minor sanding / polishing to eject properly. Once you break it in with 400 rounds the mags worked fine at full capacity.

 

Adding Laser, Flashlight, Scope: The compensator has a .22 cal mounts on the top and bottom. The .22 cal rings should cost less than 10 dollars. Then find a scope, flashlight or laser.

RECOMMENDED AMMUNITION –

Target Shooting

PMC 9MM 115g FMJ TARGET

UMC 9MM 115g FMJ

WINCHESTER 9MM 115g FMJ

AMERICAN 9MM 147 FMJ FP

CORBON 9MM 115 JHP +P

SPEER/CCI 9MM 124g GDHP

ULTRAMAX 9MM 115g FMJ - RELOADS

 

PERSONAL DEFENSE – Based on FBI data

CCI/SPEER 9MM GOLD DOT GDHP 124 gr.

FEDERAL Hydra-Shock 9MM JHP 124 gr.

FBI Gelatin DATA Copyrighted FIREARMS TACTICAL INSTITUTE http://www.firearmstactical.com

 

9mm 124 grain CCI/Speer Gold Dot JHP +P, 4/17/97:

Test Gun

Barrel Length

Velocity

Bare Gelatin

Clothed Gelatin

Penetration Expansion Penetration Expansion

SIG P226

4.25"

1223 fps

13.40"

0.68"

20.25"

0.53"

 

9mm 124 grain Speer Gold Dot JHP, 3/3/97:

Test Gun

Barrel Length

Velocity

Bare Gelatin

Clothed Gelatin

Penetration Expansion Penetration Expansion

SIG P226

4.25"

1116 fps

11.80"

0.69"

22.00"

0.36"

 

 

AUTHORS OPINION / RECOMMENDATION –

When I first was looking into purchasing a 9 MM handgun I went around to the Gun Shows, read magazines, and did research on the internet. My main concern was price/performance. Since I had limited funds my choices were not of the big three – Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger . I did not want to purchase a firearm that came from the ring of fire (Bryco, Jennings, etc.)

I did find the Hi-Point 9 MM. Last year I called the Beemiller company and spoke with a representative of the company about warranty, testing etc.

Well a year later I was ready to buy. I looked on www.dejanews.com to get opinions. I did not find any one complaining of jamming. I did read the usual "it’s ugly" or "top heavy hard to get the second tap in" or "made of 2 x 4’s and painted".

I purchased the handgun and decided to do my own modified test based on the test script in www.firearmstactical.com. I tried three different types of ammo.

Two passed one didn’t. I did not find anything wrong with the mechanics, feeding, sight etc. for the price I paid I think I got a bargain.

Remember most of the time it is you not the firearm when it comes to accuracy. Learn how to keep you firearm clean and make sure to practice. Some days I shoot well other days not so well.

UPDATE:August 6, 1999

The HI-POINT 9 MM Comp has now 400 rounds fired from it. Check out the ammunition that has been tested. I will retest the Wolf Ammo in the next month. I can say I have shot about all the different kinds of 9MM ammo available locally and have not had any major problems. In fact I am getting more accurate every week.

 

 

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