Hi-Point Firearms has been manufacturing some of the most budget-friendly semi-automatic pistols and carbines available for more than two decades. While the aesthetics of the guns may not gladden the eyes of all who gaze upon them, they are loaded with features, constructed from 100-percent American-made components and assembled by a U.S.-based labor force. This year, Hi-Point decided it was time to ramp up the power potential of its carbine line with the addition of a brand new 10 mm version called the 1095TS. As of this writing, the 10 mm is available in either a standard flat black or Realtree Edge camouflage finish. This review takes a closer look at the Realtree Edge version.
Like its predecessors, the 1095TS Edge is a blowback-operated, striker-fired semi-automatic carbine with a single-action trigger. The striker mechanism, bolt assembly, trigger group, external controls and single-stack magazines all take their cues from Hi-Point’s pistols. However, there is no magazine disconnect in the carbine and the monolithic grip cannot be swapped out or modified.
The round profile 17.5″ blued steel barrel has a muzzle threaded at .57×28 TPI in order to accept muzzle accessories. A knurled thread protector is provided. The factory iron-sighting system consists of an adjustable hooded post attached to the barrel and a fully adjustable peep sight at the rear. The rear sight is set into a stamped sheet steel housing which can be removed in order to install a magnified optic or red-dot sight.
The receiver is cast from Zamak 3 alloy which is, apparently, strong enough to handle the increased pressure (SAAMI Max: 37,500 PSI) of the 10 mm cartridge. Each caliber of Hi-Point carbine is rated for +P ammunition so as to be able to fire all factory-manufactured, SAAMI-spec ammunition. However, history has shown that 10 mm pistols of all types tend to wear out more quickly than similarly sized models chambered for 9 mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP because of the increased pressure levels and bullet velocities. It seems likely that a 10 mm carbine, no matter which company makes it, is going to reach the end of its working life span more quickly than other pistol-caliber models.
A sheet steel shroud is placed over the receiver to keep out dirt and to support the back end of the sight rail. In this case, the shroud has been given the same hydro-dip camouflage treatment as the polymer stock to create a unified appearance. The ribbed fore-end, pistol grip and shoulder stock are all constructed from a single piece of textured high-impact polymer. A polymer handguard, which is ribbed to match the fore-end, is clamped over the barrel to lend support to the front end of the 9.5″ Weaver-style sight rail. A 3.5″ accessory rail is mounted under the barrel along with a 4.5″ rail attached to the fore-end of the stock.
Hi-Point carbines are configured to eject spent shell casings to the right of the receiver with the manual controls installed on the left. The round, reciprocating charging handle is simply twisted into the bolt assembly and tightened using the provided combination wrench and sight adjustment tool. The manual safety swings up into the Safe position and down, exposing a red-dot, to fire. The polymer round-button magazine release allows the magazine to drop free of the pistol grip when pressed. The 1095TS Edge arrives with one blued steel 10-round, single-stack magazine with an oversized black polymer baseplate.
The black polymer trigger is best described as having a single-action trigger pull even though the arch of travel is a bit longer than most single-actions. The trigger feels surprisingly smooth and breaks with 5 lbs. 11 oz. of trigger pull. The skeletonized shoulder stock provides a 14.5″ length of pull (LOP) with a soft rubber cheek pad. The black polymer recoil plate is supported by three extensions, each of which is fitted with a recoil reduction spring. The carbine arrives with a simple nylon web shoulder sling and a set of removable blued steel sling swivels.
The two features that keep Hi-Point carbines selling like hot cakes are their low sticker prices and the platform’s reliability. At the shooting range, the 10 mm 1095TS Edge experienced two failures to feed in the first 50 rounds. After that, it merrily munched its way through whatever it was fed from relatively low velocity (1,150 f.p.s.) practice-grade imports to premium hunting and defense loads. The carbine feels good to hold, it points well, the sight system is easy to use and the recoil reduction system built into the shoulder stock kept felt recoil to a comfortable moderate level. The Realtree Edge camouflage finish has been properly applied and provides a refreshing alternative to a flat black finish.
In most cases, I conduct formal pistol-caliber carbine accuracy testing at 50 yards from a benchrest. However, much like the Hi-Point 4595TS PRO carbine chambered in .45 ACP that I tested three years ago, the five-shot group sizes of the 1095TS Edge opened up to around 5″ at 50 yards when firing practice grade ammunition. But I wanted to know the distance at which this 10 mm carbine could produce practical group sizes of 3″ or less. Once again, the practical target distance proved to be 25 yards when shooting less expensive ammunition.
Although I stuck with budget-priced loads during the .45 ACP carbine test, this time around I broke out some premium-grade ammunition in a variety of bullet weights to see if the 1095TS Edge’s accuracy could be improved. I was also curious to see how its 17.5″ barrel would affect bullet velocity, which was measured for 10 consecutive shots using a Lab Radar chronograph with a 12″ offset from the muzzle of the carbine.
Formal accuracy testing began with one of the heaviest-bulleted commercially-available cartridges loaded to a maximum safe velocity for its weight, Buffalo Bore’s Heavy Outdoor 220-gr. hard-cast flat nose with a listed pistol velocity of 1,200 f.p.s. at the muzzle. This round’s velocity was upped to 1,325 f.p.s. by the carbine-length barrel for 858 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy with a best single group of 2.31″ and a five-group average of 2.53″.
The fastest and lightest bullet of the day was an Underwood Ammunition’s Xtreme Defense 115-gr. CNC-machined solid-copper Xtreme Penetrator with a listed pistol velocity of 1,700 f.p.s. These rounds scooted right along at 1,912 f.p.s. for 933 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle. It printed a best group of 1.35″ with a group average of 1.47″. SIG Sauer’s Elite Performance 180-gr. V-Crown jacketed hollow point loaded to 1,250 f.p.s. is a top-notch, multi-purpose load which is accurate and reliable in pistols and carbines. Bullet velocity increased to 1,400 f.p.s. for 783 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy with a best single group of 1.56″ and an average of 1.70″.
The Hi-Point 10 mm 1095TS brings a new level of punch to a platform favored by those who are looking for a reliable pistol-caliber carbine at a rock-bottom price. Although this gun’s best accuracy potential is realized at around 25 to 30 yards, instead of a more typical pistol-caliber carbine distance of 50 yards, quality 10 mm loads will get the job done within that range. I’m glad to see that fans of the 10 mm Auto have a new, less-expensive way to put this terrific cartridge to work. With suggested retail prices starting at $389.99, it’s certainly the most affordable carbine in this potent caliber.
Specifications:Manufacturer: Hi-Point FirearmsModel: 1095TS Edge CarbineAction: Blowback-operated semi-automaticCaliber: 10 mm AutoReceiver: Zamak 3 alloy, steel shroudBarrel: 17.5″ blued steel with threaded muzzleBarrel Threading: .57×28 TPI, thread protector providedTrigger: Single-action striker-firedTrigger Pull: 5 lbs. 11 oz. (as tested)Stock: High-Impact Dupont polymer with recoil bufferStock Finish: Realtree Edge camouflage, hydro-dippedFront Sight: Adjustable hooded postRear Sight: Fully adjustable peep sightOverall Length: 32.25″Weight: 7 lbs. 13 oz. with empty magazineCapacity: 10+1 roundsTwist: 1:12” RHRifle Grooves: 9Accessories: One magazine, sling, sling swivels, sight adjustment tool, lock, owner’s manualMSRP: Camouflage Finish (1095TS Edge) $439, Black (1095TS) $389.99
