I’ve used Hi-Point guns for a long time. I have owned, or do own, their pistols and pistol-caliber carbines. Their 10mm carbine makes a dandy short-range deer gun, and I have one with a camo stock. But, if you had told me that they also make a 5.56mm/.223 AR-pattern rifle, I would have asked you, on what planet do they do this? I’d sure never heard of it until relatively recently.
For a company long known for its blowback designs to make a locked-breech AR came as a surprise to me. Announced this past April (2025), the gun started appearing on dealers’ rifle racks shortly thereafter. After I learned of its existence, I asked my FFL buddy Duane about it, and he confirmed that Hi Point had indeed commenced production. I was impressed, to say the least.
So, fast-forward a few months, and the gun writer in me wanted to see one. I contacted my Hi Point rep, and a nice, new AR appeared for me to look over.
Two Optics
Right now, I happen to have a fw different optics that I could mount on this gun for this review. So, I decided to go two routes… first, a red dot for targets at fairly close range, and then a scope for things further out. I shot it both ways; results are below.
Before we get much deeper here, let’s look at a few photos I took.
Photos
The photos are in random order. Some were shot outside, and some inside. I shot the gun with both the red dot and the scope mounted.
First, the red dot… It’s from Bear Creek Arsenal, a 1×20 red/green dot. At a retail price of only $40, with selectable red and green dots and seven brightness levels, it is a decent, less expensive optic choice. I see this optic being used in a truck or ATV setting… if it experiences a drop or other fall and breaks, you can replace it cheaply. Plus, it’s red or green – your choice.
Now, the scope. It’s a Guardian 1-8×24 SFP LPVO from Gideon Optics.
This $350 LPVO scope did surprisingly well, considering its price. It features an illuminated reticle with 11 brightness levels. Also included was a Gideon Optics Guardian mount. I found both of these items to be top-notch. The scope was bright, and the illuminated reticle worked very well in dim light. If you are in the market for such an optic, give this Gideon Guardian a look.
It is also available, for a little more, in 1-10x and 1-8, first focal plane. That allows the reticle to “grow” as you zoom in. Second focal plane reticles are the same size throughout the zoom range.
Here are some of its features, as provided by the company’s website:
1-8X variable magnification with a 24mm objective lens that provides a 2.6° to 21.0° field of view–14’-111.1’ at
100 Yds. With a 2.6mm to 8.8mm exit pupil.
Because it’s etched on the second focal plane, the adjustable magnification does not affect the reticle.
The etched and illuminated BDC reticle allows quick ranging from 100 to 300 yards.
The 4.9” (98mm) eye relief lets you find a comfortable cheek weld for accurate aiming on a variety of weapons.
Installation is easy with any compatible 30mm scope ring set or the 30mm Guardian mount, which is available
for a discount if ordered with your Guardian 1-8X scope.
Windage and elevation are adjustable to ≥ 120 MOA in ½ MOA increments using the exposed push/pull
locking turrets.
Features eleven brightness levels to ensure your illumination matches your shooting needs.
The etched reticle allows accurate aiming with or without illumination.
This ruggedized design is 1000g shockproof and IPX7 waterproof.
The 30mm tube is 10.4” in length and weighs just 19.1 oz.
Guaranteed by our lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and accidental breakage.
The BCG contains a decently-staked gas key
The lower receiver is cleanly machined
And, for the magazine-directionally-challenged among us, this magazine comes with instructions…
Specifications & Features
- Caliber: 5.56×45
- Barrel length: 16″
- Weight Unloaded: 6.25 lbs.
- Hand Guard: 15″ M-Lok
- Barrel: 4150 Chrom Moly Vanadium; threaded 1/2 x 28 barrel standard
- Barrel Twist: 1:8
- Gas System: Carbine
- Stock: M4 with QD
- Lower Receiver: Forged 7075 T6
- Upper Receier: Forged 7075 T6
- Muzzle Device: A2 Birdcage
- Pistol Grip: A2
- Manual Safety: 90 Degree
- Magazine Included: One 30-Round
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
- MSRP: $499.00
- Mil-Spec Bolt Release, Magazine Release, Charging Handle, Carbine Buffer
- All Hi-Point® Firearms HP-15s come with Mil-Spec Upper and Lowers
Where To Buy
Range Time
I was blessed to review ammo from Black Hills, so I grabbed some and headed to my backyard range. I recently had a tree come down by my 100-yard target stand, so I went out as far as I could, about 80 yards. (I know, not exactly scientific, but it’s what I have right now.)
I mentioned above that I’d put a red/green dot sight on the gun. Why not a scope? I wanted it to be portable. A scope is definitely beneficial, but it adds weight and makes the gun a bit more unwieldy. I’ve read other reviews of the HP-15, where reviewers shot from 100 to 500 yards with some heavy-duty glass, and the gun performed fine. I wasn’t concerned about long-distance accuracy – as I just said, this gun’s track record is, on the whole, very supportive where that is concerned. I just thought that many shooters want a portable, light 5.56 AR, and this red dot/carbine combo provides that.
So, I was looking more at the portable, light, bounce-it-around-in-your-truck mode that many AR owners employ. Plus, with the rail, it’s a piece of cake to swap the red dot for a scope if you need more precision or distance.
Anyway, I shot two Black Hills loads, a 5.56mm (62-grain Barnes TSX) and a .223 (72-grain Match HP).
(Actually, they make 14 .223 loads and 8 5.56 loads, quite a variety. But we have to remember that they make a lot of ammo under government contract, so it makes sense that they have so many loads in these two calibers.)
I shot a generic silhouette target from an MTM Case Gard High-Low Shooting Table (link below).
Here are a couple of cropped, representative targets… first, the 5.56mm, then the .223. I like 5-shot groups; the 5.56 target had two go into one hole. The gun obviously shot low and right. I would zero it properly if I were going to keep that red dot on the gun.
This isn’t exactly MOA shooting, but for a red dot at that distance, it will work. This carbine has proven to be at least a MOA shooter for others.
Now, for a couple of representative scope targets. The first is the 5.56mm, and the second is the .223.
Not bad, considering the range conditions. This carbine shows accuracy potential, for sure.
Observations
A lot of readers might be familiar with Hi-Point’s other firearms. As I said at the top, they are known for producing inexpensive blowback guns in a few calibers. This includes both handguns and long guns. I mentioned my 10mm carbine, which is solid. Their warranty is very good, as one of our sons found out when he had a mishap with a C9 pistol and forcibly separated the frame from the slide. They replaced it, no problem.
Building a 5.56mm AR is a bit different. For one thing, a blow-back-style action obviously wouldn’t work. Chambered for the 5.56×45, a carbine has to be heavy-duty. This one is. With a forged upper and lower, properly-staked gas key, M4 feed ramps, and other touches, this carbine seems to be well thought out.
One thing my engineer/shooter/reloader son discovered about the HP-15 concerns the M-Lok handguard. I had another AR, from a different manufacturer, lying beside the HP-15 on the table. Grabbing the other one, he ran his hand over its M-Lok slot cuts, then did the same with the HP-15. He was impressed that the Hi-Point’s handguard slot cuts had been chamfered and polished, and were smoother than those on the other, more expensive gun. He went so far as to say that, if you were wearing some types of gloves, they might catch on the slots of the one but not the Hi-Point. This shows good attention to detail and quality control. Plus, if you do have a problem, Hi-Point has some of the best customer service in the industry.
Summing Up
As with the 9mm micro and compact markets, the lower end of the AR-15 market is pretty well saturated. Sub-$500 carbines abound. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I read in another review that the reviewer would rather see someone spend $500 on a carbine rather than $1500, and then put the extra $1000 into ammo and training. That makes sense; I concur. If you have a gun that runs well, you have half the battle won. Plus, with Hi-Point, if it doesn’t work as intended, you have a good warranty behind you.
This carbine worked very well, fed whatever was in the magazine, and was decently accurate. If you or someone you know is looking to buy an AR in 5.56 (or wants a lower to add a different upper to), this might be a good option. It’s backed by some of the best customer service in the industry and is at least mil-spec in construction. Heck, they even make pistol versions in 5.56 and .300 Blackout if you’re looking for something a bit different.
I believe Hi-Point has a winner here. It gets generally good reviews, is solidly built, and won’t break the bank. At least it bears a look if you’ve got the itch for an inexpensive AR.
Links To Items Used In This Review
Here is what I used. These items are essential… I use them and similar items all the time, whether for a review or for informal shooting. The table is amazing… I can shoot sitting or standing with minimal adjustment needed.
Read the full article here