Hi-Point 380 carbine-16

Hi-Point carbine in .380 Auto, it does make sense.

I know exactly what you are thinking, as I was thinking the same thing. Why a carbine in .380 Auto when you can have one in 9mm Luger in the same configuration. Well before we get into that, let me introduce you to the carbine and we can go from there.

Initial Range Trip 

I took the carbine out and ran a several magazines of full metal jacket and jacketed hollow points at twenty five yards off hand and from a rest to get a feel of the rifle and see if it was indeed reliable. Accuracy was tested at twenty five and 100 yards. You can find the accuracy results in the table. You can also see the benefit of adding a sixteen inch barrel to the .380 Auto by following this link to the ballistic comparison. Right off I noticed the recoil was very mild and the fun factor was through the roof.

Hi Point .380 carbine accuracy

Accuracy test from 25 and 100 yards

Hi-Point 380 carbine-9

Plenty of area on the charging handle to get the gun running, note the USA stamped on the end.

Hi-Point 380 carbine-8

Protected front sight post.

Hi-Point 380 carbine-13

Rear sight aperture adjustable for windage and elevation.

Hi-Point 380 carbine-7

Plenty of Picatinny/Weaver rails to add what you feel is important for a defensive carbine.

Hi-Point 380 carbine-4

Standard Hi-Point carbine stock with the recoil buffer, if any carbine would not need that recoil pad it is this one.

Hi-Point 380 carbine-2

As far as dimensions this carbine is the same dimensions as the others, well except for the bore on the .45 Auto carbine.

Second Range Trip

Conclusions 

So, with the rifle proving to be reliable and accurate, there is not a whole lot bad I can say about it. Truthfully I see this as a bit more niche carbine than the .45 Auto or 9mm Luger but that is an important niche. There are a great deal of people that choose to carry a concealed handgun in .380 Auto, and more than likely they have decided on their favorite defensive and practice round and, hopefully, have collected enough for carry and training. As we all know ammunition, especially defensive ammunition, can get expensive in a hurry. For the person that already has invested money in .380 Auto ammunition they have an option for a carbine without having to start all over with ammunition research. The .380 Auto is, in most opinions, the minimum for a defensive handgun but as you can see from this ballistic test, the .380 shines in the carbine. A few other points worth considering, though, the Hi-Point 9mm Luger had little recoil, the .380 Auto was comparable to a pellet rifle. Also it was quieter than I would have expected, I would not want to spend the day shooting it without protection but of you have to deploy it in a hurry without time to get your ear protection on, I believe it would not be as damaging as higher pressure cartridges. Allison has helped me with all the carbine reviews, and of those three, she favored the .380 Auto the best, as did I. For someone who maybe is a bit recoil sensitive and/or familiar with the .380 Auto this would make an idea home defense carbine. Keeping all that in mind this carbine would also make an excellent training tool for the new shooter. With it’s ten round magazine capacity it has 40% more capacity than the average .380 Auto pistol, a longer sight radius, and plenty of rails to mount lights and such. If all of that does not apply, it really is a helluva lot of fun to shoot.

Hi-Point 380 carbine-14

Specifications 

Barrel length: 16.5″

Overall length: 31″

Weight: 6.25 lbs.

Sights: Fully-adjustable

Capacity: 10-shot magazine standard

Stock: All-weather, black molded polymer

All-weather, black polymer skeletonized stock

dot Sling, swivels and scope base

dot Internal recoil buffer in stock

dot Weaver style rails

dot Fully adjustable sights (“Ghost Ring” rear peep & post front)dot

dot 100% American-made parts and assembly

dot Optional forward folding grip

Acknowledgments 

Hi-Point

Hornady

Ruger Ammunition 

Winchester Ammunition 

By Hunter Elliott

I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Just after high school I enlisted and felt most at home on the rifle range, where I qualified expert with several firearms and spent some time as a rifle coach to my fellow Marines. After being honorably discharged I continued teaching firearm safety, rifle and pistol marksmanship, and began teaching metallic cartridge reloading. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films.

17 thoughts on “Hi-Point carbine in .380 Auto, it does make sense.”
  1. The author points out the very reason I own a Hi-Point in .40 S&W: ammo commonality with my handgun ammunition. The carbines work well and having to only stock one caliber of defensive ammunition is big plus.

  2. Thanks for the review. I have been ridiculed out in public about buying a .380 carbine. Everyone says the velocity of the .380 pistol is too low for a carbine. But when i provide your FPS results, they kinda shut up and listen and realize that the velocity is sufficient and acceptable for a rifle.
    The thing I want in this gun is the fun factor and it delivers 100%. With little recoil and noise, it delivers 100% in that fun factor. Everyone that fires it smiles and laughs and comments positive about the gun. When they ask about the price, the next comment is always “I gotta get me one of those”. It is one of the most popular guns at the gun range.
    I just wished I could buy a 20 round magazine or a coil magazine to lengthen that fun factor.

    Robert in Winnsboro Texas

    1. Thank you Robert. It was not until the ballistic test until I was sure the .380 Auto carbine was pretty viable and the fun factor is high on this. I agree on the higher capacity magazine though, that would be nice.

        1. Had the 380 for about 2 years now with a cabela lpvo and it’s become my short range precision gear.
          Your accuracy chart is legit in fact it’s so accurate it’s almost not sporting to head shots small hogs. Glad you did this story. There are after market shrouds, charging handles etc for it.

        2. People put the 380 round down as inadequate for self defense purposes. A Ruger LCP would also be inadequate for varmint control. Why would a long gun chambered in 380 be inadequate for keeping squirrels out of your fruit trees, raccoons out of your garbage or coyotes out of your chicken coop? People who live out in the boonies could find uses for such a gun. A cc pistol not really any smaller than a 9 in 380 you can question the reasons for that.

  3. This is Steve. I am a gun store manager in Wichita, Ks. I have been around firearms since I was around 6. My first firearm I shot was a Colt Walker. I had to use the fence to hold it up and I landed about 12 feet back on my butt. I fell in love with that gun then I shot a grenier 10 gauge with the big brass shells. Again, I landed about 7 feet on my butt. Loved that gun, too. Over the years I have had numerous firearms and my favorite is still the walker and an old marlin 45/70. Still can’t afford a walker and now that reminton owns marlin they just are not the same. Last year around April I had the oportunity to tour velocity tactics ammo in Ft. Scott, Ks. They make a solid copper round that takes care of the 3 most important points a round needs. 1. defensive they tumble when they hit. 2 they are accurate 3 they are a very good hunting round with all the calibers delivering near or at plus P range without being plus P rounds. I was sceptical at first. So, I took a few guns with me and for the 380 I took a cobra denalli. 2.8 inch barrel and cheap. Well the tests went well and even over performed on the 9mm and 223 and 5.56 rounds. The 40 and 45 were not yet avalible and so I had to wait nearly 6 months to get any in. The little 380 blew me away at the 10 and 15 feet it went through 18 inches of balistic gel and left a wound channel 10 and a half inches long and 1 and 1/2 inches wide at 22 feet it went in 17 inches The test round was a winchester hollow point it went in at 10 feet to 10 inches pretty much standard penetration and about a one inch wound channel. At that time I mentioned that that round would sizzle out of a carbine. I do now own a Hi Point 380 carbine. I was shown an autopsy on a hog that was taken at 20 yards with a 380 it was devestating to say the least. Since then they have redesigned the 380 and it now tumbles at least 3 times and leaves about a 5 inch sphere wound channel yet still penetrates the 18 inches. It has even penetrated level 3 armour.I made the comment that “it looks like the little 380 just grew up.” So, if you are looking for that ammo that you can use for an all around use then check out http://www.velocitytactics.com. See for yourself how it works. Better yet try some in your favorite 380, 9MM, 40sw 45acp 223 or 556 they do have 308 as well. So, whatever you are looking for check them out. All I can say is fun fun fun and time to go hog hunting, too.

  4. I purchased a 20 clip several days ago direct from your website for my hi point 9mm carbine. Ive not received my clip. Can someone tell me when my clip will be shipped. I thought it would come to my home address but not sure.

    Please tell me what is going on?

    1. You did not purchase any magazines from me or rangehot, sorry. This website reviews firearms but I do not retail off of my site. You are probably looking for the Hi-Point website.

  5. By looking at .380 16 inch snout 1300 fps for a 95 grain bullet, that’ right at the lowest end .357 magnum velocity is out to say 100 yards
    And almost 350 foot pounds of thump with out over penetration
    Colt mustang. 380 good for 10 yards safety zone.
    Figure same range as .22lr just more thump at 100 yrs.

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