Please don't take criticism of one's gun as criticism of one's self... but why on earth would anyone buy one of these as a self-defense handgun?
Isn't your life worth more than that? Would you trust your life to this gun? For me the answers are, "Heck, yes!" and "Heck, no!"
There are so many good guns on the market, made by companies who are proud of their product and who invest in the machinery, people, and materiels to make a quality product, that it is truly incomprehensible to me why people buy guns like the Hi-Point.
People don't realize this, but the 'junk gun' companies are the most profitable in the industry (for the company AND the dealer). The dealer margins on these guns approach 50% and because of their low cost most people don't complain or bring them back when they don't work so warranty claims aren't an issue. That's why they can afford to have a lifetime warranty... few people take advantage of it, and the guns are so cheap to make that giving the customer a new one doesn't really eat into the profit margins.
Anyone who can afford Internet access can afford, and should buy, a better gun for self-defense. Now, if you just want to waste some money... it's a free country.