A couple people had expressed interest in this topic, and I have a bit of extra time for a couple days, so here goes:
Bona fides: I am a former infantry NCO and sniper, hunter, competitive shooter, reloader, hobby gunsmith, sometimes firearms trainer and currently work in a gun shop, mostly on the paperwork/compliance side. Back in the day, was a qualified expert with every standard small arm in the US inventory circa 2003 (M2, 4, 9, 16, 19, 249, 240B, 21, 24, 82 etc.), and today hang around the 75th percentile of USPSA classifications. I've shot Cap-and-Ball, Trap and Sporting Clays badly; Bullseye and PRS somewhat better and IDPA/USPSA/UML/Two-gun with some local success. Been active in the 2A community since the mid-90s, got my first instructor cert in high school, and have held a CPL for almost twenty years now.
I certainly don't claim to be an expert in every aspect of firearms, there's huge areas that escape my knowledge base, but if you've got questions I'll do my best to answer.
Technical questions
Gun control proposals for feasibility
Industry
Training
Wacky opinions
General geekery
Some competition links (not my own) just for the interested.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=U5IhsWamaLY&t=173
https://youtube.com/watch?v=93nEEINflXE
https://youtube.com/watch?v=utcky0zq10E
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
You seem to be at risk of actually may needing to use it. (murder capital of the US, and all that).
Hi-Power is a solid gun, it was far ahead of its time when it came out.
With the right ammo - probably something JHP, it's an okay defensive gun, and might even be valuable, depending on the model. Make sure to test the ammo/gun combination though.
Not many things you could do, apart from getting a holster and laser cartridge /target to practice drawing and firing. I'd certainly do so were I living in such a place, though I'd probably keep the Hi-Power as a collectible and buy a more modern gun.
Getting up to speed on the legal issues. Gun forums go over that exhaustively, I believe.
But seeing as you live in murder capital, I'd worry somewhat, often these places are liable to have DA's that, as they say care about everything but crime.
Sorry I can't offer more advice. Things to watch out for are, some modern ammo may be too powerful (high pressure) for an old gun. But again, maybe high pressure rounds are okay in a Hi-Power.
Your best bet is either researching it one some of the bigger gun forums - whether higher powered rounds (9x19 +P or +P+) are okay, or just buying ordinary JHP ammo and checking whether it feeds reliably. Getting a failure to feed or bad ejection in a tight spot .. you don't want that.
Fire at least say, 50 rounds. There should be zero problems.
This might be a bit pricey, as JHP ammo typically costs more than basic FMJ or other simple ammo. With FMJ (those are the basic, fully metal encased rounds with the basic oval shape), there's some risk of overpenetration with 9mm, and the wound effect is lower.
People have been known to stay upright after getting hit multiple times, that's a risk with most pistols. Shotguns, however, are not handy and have punishing recoil.
For extra utility in case of home use, you may want to get a shoulder stock for your hi-power, and a say, some e.g. big 30 round magazines..
People have missed shots at amazingly close range in stressful situation with handguns, with a stock, it's much less likely.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link