Hi-Point made some waves this year after introducing its new AR-15 variant, the Hi-Point HP-15. These carbines are simple, no-frills, budget-friendly rifles that don’t pretend to be anything else. Nowadays, there are very few brands manufacturing AR-15s that cost less than $800-$1,000. These price points have become more of the norm and can be a hefty sum for a new shooter or someone who has never owned an AR-15.
These new rifle owners or newer shooters also might not need an AR-15 with ambidextrous controls, adjustable gas blocks, competition triggers, and all that jazz. For them, it’s about learning the platform and understanding which controls they might want to upgrade later.
HP-15’s Controls: Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t
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Many of us started out with a rifle outfitted with standard, mil-spec controls. It is wise for any new shooter to familiarize themselves with these mil-spec controls, as they come standard on most AR-15s. Mil-Spec controls include the single-sided bolt release button, single-sided charging handle, single-sided safety and the standard-size magazine release button.
I do not miss the days of using mil-spec triggers. I still remember the first competition trigger I ever had installed on my very first AR-15. It was the best upgrade I ever made to that gun and is still my favorite upgrade to make to any rifle. I do think it’s a rite of passage for gun owners to have to use a mil-spec trigger, and it also makes them appreciate a better-quality non-mil-spec trigger that much more. The HP-15 has a mil-spec trigger installed, but it’s easy to upgrade.
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Hi-Point uses the elementary A2 pistol grip on the HP-15, which features that single finger groove. It’s either comfortable or uncomfortable, depending on your hand size and how you grip the gun. Like virtually every other part that comes installed in the HP-15, the pistol grip is another easy upgrade.
Testing the Hi-Point HP-15 On The Firing Line
I knew that the Hi-Point rifle would surprise me in a good way, but I didn’t know at what point that would be. It just so happened to be during the accuracy and ammunition testing, which is where a rifle manufacturer should like to shine. I intentionally mounted a high-quality EOTECH riflescope using a Warne Scope Mount with a bubble level to achieve the best accuracy during testing. A rifle can only perform as well as the ammunition you feed it and the optic you mount on it. The only way to know just how accurate a gun can be is to mount the best scope you can and use the best-quality ammunition designed for long-range or precision shooting.
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The HP-15 had no trouble cycling any of the ammunition, which consisted of open-tip match bullets, boat-tail hollow points, and full-metal jackets. After shooting five rounds of each type of ammo, I was impressed to see the results on paper. The Barnes Precision Match 77-grain OTM ammunition performed exceptionally well, producing a 0.49-inch group. The next-best-performing load was the Hornady Black 62-grain FMJ, with a shot group of 0.83 inches. While the other ammunition didn’t perform as well through the HP-15, those loads have tested exceptionally well with other AR-15s. This is why I find ammunition testing so interesting.
After accuracy testing, I settled this Hi-Point carbine over my Wiebad Micro Mini Fortune Cookie over one of the tips of my tank trap for stability and took aim at my speed rack target. I easily went one for one on every shot, left to right, right to left, and nailed each impact. I heated up the barrel a bit and finally gave the HP-15 a break after a couple of magazines.
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Locking The Action Back & Showing Clear
There was a flaw with the HP-15 rifle that I think Hi-Point needs to fix. There are two QD mounting cups on the handguard directly over the barrel nut area. Because the barrel nut protrudes under the handguard, it prevents any QD mount from going into the mounting cup. It simply won’t snap in, so both of these QD cups are completely useless. Without those two mounting cups, there is no way to attach a two-point sling without mounting aftermarket M-LOK accessories to the handguard. This design flaw should be fixed before continuing to manufacture the HP-15 with that handguard. The QD mounting location needs to be moved further forward to clear the barrel nut interference.
Overall, the range test for any rifle matters most to me over its aesthetics or ergonomics. An inaccurate and unreliable rifle is worthless to me, whereas I can work with an accurate and reliable one by simply upgrading the parts I find uncomfortable. At the end of the day, even the QD cup and barrel nut issue can be worked around.
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At $499.99, this rifle is worth considering for a first-timer or budget-minded shooter in need of a carbine.
Make sure you check out the Rotten Gun review of the HP-15 here.
Hi-Point HP-15 Specifications
- Caliber: 5.56
- Action: Semi-Automatic
- Capacity: 30-Rounds (Magazine Dependent)
- Barrel Length: 16 inches
- Twist Rate: 1:8
- Gas System: Carbine
- Thread Pitch Pattern: 1/2 x 28
- Muzzle Device: A2 Birdcage
- Weight Unloaded: 6.25 pounds
- Stock: M4 with QD
- Sights: None
- Grip: A2 Pistol Grip
- Trigger: Mil-Spec
- MSRP: $499.99
Accuracy & Chronograph Data
| Barnes Precision Match 77-grain OTM | |
| Average Velocity | 2,392 fps |
| Best Group | 0.49 inches |
| Super Vel OTM 77-grain | |
| Average Velocity | 2,700 fps |
| Best Group | 1.62 inches |
| Hornady Black FMJ 62-grain | |
| Average Velocity | 2,790 fps |
| Best Group | 0.83 inches |
| Hornady Match BTHP 75-grain | |
| Average Velocity | 2,572 fps |
| Best Group | 1.09 inches |
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(5 Rounds Shot at 100 yards and Chronographed using the Garmin Xero C1 Pro)
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