I owned a Hi-Point 9mm carbine. I'd say they are reliable. However, I wouldn't recommend using surplus ammunition. I wouldn't recommend those cheap cartridges for any shooting, actually. Just buy name brand. Seriously. Except Wolf rifle rounds. The local range banned those after they kept exploding.

Ugliest gun I've ever laid my hands upon. Ugly, but ergonomic. I put the tactical stock on it for kicks, which was clearly made for looks and not practicality. It handled like shit.

For the price, these guns are a good choice. Would buy again.

My biggest gripe about this weapon is that it required a lot of work to dismantle. Stripping it requires hex keys, two wrenches, and a screwdriver. Everybody else is packing up their just-cleaned weapons while I'm still wrenching on the damn Hi-Point to get it apart. The shroud atop the thing fit like shit, too. I had to use a Dremel to grind some areas and clean it up. Keep in mind, this was when the gun first came on the market. It might have improved since. An AR-15 requires ONE pointy object, such as a bullet that the gun fires, for stripping. I took that one down in a minute the first time I'd ever handled one, without any guidance. Most pistols just come apart. This Hi-Point carbine, however, was built like a freakin' car part.