KEL TEC SUB-2000 vs Hi Point Carbine
by Chris Nelson on October 18, 2017
"I’m in the market for a pistol caliber carbine because I want a primary weapon that will shoot the same ammo and magazines of my secondary weapon but I’m not sure which one to go with?” Well you’ve come to the right place!
KEL TEC SUB-2000
KEL TEC SUB-2000 Short Opinionated Summary
The KEL TEC SUB-2000 is a moderately priced pistol caliber carbine with utility that far out weights the cost of ownership. It’s a utilitarian weapon of choice that’s been dubbed the “modern day truck gun” due to the ability to take it from a overall length of 30.5” to a foldable length of 16.25” x 7” and store it in your laptop case. Nothing comes close in this aspect alone. Not to mention this pistol caliber carbine will feed from a variety of common pistol magazines. KEL TEC has crafted two different generations of the carbine up to the writing of this article and they are still making changes/improvements all the time. If you compared an early Generation 2 (Gen 2 for short) to a brand new Gen 2 right off of the shelf today you would see some noticeable differences between the two. I think that isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it does say they’ve had to make some issues with things and have made adjustments for very good reasons.
KEL TEC SUB-2000 Model Options Available:
Generation 1- Better front sight and buttstock. Most that own these are fans.
Generation 2- Better Foregrip with M-lok and Picatinny rails. Gator Grip Design. I’m a fan of these personally.
KEL TEC SUB-2000 Attribute Rating Scale: 1(lowest) - 10(Highest)
Innovation = 9
Aftermarket Accessories = 9
Durability = 7.5
Warranty = 8
Cool Factor = 9
Accuracy = 8
Magazines = 10
Stock = 6
Sights = 2
Trigger = 2
Reliability = 7
Hi Point 4095TS
Hi Point Carbine Short Opinionated Summary:
The Hi Point Carbine is definitely the Ugly Duck of the Pistol Caliber Carbine world but it comes in at a beautiful price point. I mean you can’t beat their bone stock 4095TS for $325! For a brand new firearm that’s great but if you want a little extra you’re not going to find it here. Have you ever heard the old saying “you get what you pay for” well the Hi Point Carbine is a classic example of that and it’s looking right at you….I present you with the Hi Point 4095TS Carbine.
Hi Point Carbine Model Options Available:
4095TS - Bare bones model
4095TS FG- Forward Grip
4095TS FGFL- Forward Grip, Flashlight
4095TS FGFL-LAZ- Forward Grip, Flashlight, Laser
4095TS LAZ- Laser
4095TS RD- Red Dot Scope
4095TS 4x32- 4x32 scope
4095TS PRO- PP 40 Kit
Hi Point 4095TS Attribute Rating Scale: 1(lowest) - 10(Highest)
Innovation = 6
Aftermarket Accessories = 2
Durability = 8
Warranty = 9
Cool Factor = 4
Accuracy = 7
Magazines = 1
Stock = 6
Sights = 9
Trigger = 4
Reliability = 4
I’m a big fan of innovation and creativity but I just don’t see it in the Hi Point 4095TS. They have so many different model numbers and between all the different variations they have listed above the upgraded advantages between each of them are very elementary. Hi Point could have gone so much further with each variation but in my personal opinion they took a lazy approach and slapped a forward grip on the 4095TS and then called it the newly upgraded 4095TS FG because a removable forward grip requires a new model number for the 4095TS. It’s a very newbie sort of practice to make all sorts of different model numbers straight from the factory with minimal upgrades like this that you can pop on and off. That’s just not creative or innovative to me. In that case we should all give our upgraded firearms new nomenclature to represent every upgraded we’ve ever personally done to them and sell them for a huge profit on Gunbroker. It just doesn’t work that way and Hi Point missed the mark here.
KEL TEC SUB-2000 vs Hi Point 4095TS
KEL TEC SUB-2000 Specs:
Caliber - 9x19mm Luger, .40 S&W
Weight - 4.25lbs
Magazine Capacity - Supports 4 factory types including 33 round Glock Mags
Overall Length - 30.5"
Folded Length - 16.25"
Twist Rate - 1:10" or 1:16"
Trigger Pull - 9.5lbs
MSRP - $500.00
Hi Point 4095TS Specs:
Caliber - .380 ACP, 9x19mm Luger, .40 S&W, .45 ACP
Weight - 6.25lbs
Magazine Capacity - 9 Round Magazine
Overall Length - 31"
Folded Length - N/A
Twist Rate - 1:8"
Trigger Pull - 7.5lbs
MSRP - $325.00
Compared Accuracy: The SUB-2000 is a bit more accurate than the 4095TS due to the more precise manufacturing and attention to detail. The 4095TS accuracy would compare to that of a mass production AK-47. It’s not horrible but it’s nothing to brag about either.
Compared Magazines: One of the major benefits of the SUB-2000 is that it’s an adaptable platform to many different types of quality factory magazines to include the Smith & Wesson M&P (9mm or .40cal), Sig Sauer P226 (9mm or .40cal), Beretta 92&96, Glock 17, 19, 22&23. Unlike the Hi Point 4095TS that only shoots a cheap Hi Point magazine that commonly leads to Failure to Feed malfunctions. This is a huge flaw and a bad place to cut corners and make cheap components. The Hi Point 4095 Magazine is of very low quality and the alternative aftermarket extended magazine options are not any better either.
Compared Stocks: The Hi Point Carbine has a huge blocky stock that would be more naturally suited on a shotgun but to Hi Point’s defense it is more durable than the SUB-2000 Polymer Stock. It won’t scratch as easy like the polymer stock on the SUB2K. The stock and receiver on the Hi Point kind of remind me of that on my Mossberg 835 Shotgun, it’s bigger, heavier and much wider than that of what you would expect for a pistol caliber carbine like the ultra compactable SUB-2000.
Compared Sights: Hi Point Sights are way better than those on the KEL TEC SUB-2000. For one thing the Hi Point front sight doesn’t fall off like the one on the SUB-2000. The line of sight is also at a much more reasonable level than that of the SUB-2000. KEL TEC really did a horrible job on the SUB2K front sight as well as the ridiculously low line of sight that forces you to drive your cheek bone right into the steel receiver to get an adequate sight picture. A lot of shooters complain of their faces feeling numb after shooting all day with the SUB-2000. As much as I’m ripping on Hi Point they really did a much better job on their iron sights compared to KEL TEC plastic rear peep sight and flimsy front sight on the SUB-2000.
Compared Triggers: Both triggers are horrible and it’s hard to pick a winner but if I had too, I would say the Hi Point has a slightly better factory trigger because it’s 2lbs lighter than the factory SUB-2000 trigger pull of 9.5lbs. Don’t let that discourage you from buying the SUB-2000 because we have a complete trigger job for it to rectify those problems.
Compared Reliability: Amongst the Hi Point community it’s commonly discovered that the firing pin on the 4095TS is prone to eventually bending out of shape with extended use. The factory Hi Point 4095TS Magazine is also a source of many failure to feed malfunctions and the aftermarket extended magazine by Pro Mag for the Hi Point Carbine is an equally huge failure. It’s a really bad magazine.
Compared Weights: The overall weight of the SUB-2000 is 2lbs lighter than the 4095TS and the SUB-2000 will fold completely in half for excellent concealability. The Hi Point 4095TS is fatter, bulkier and clunky. The 4095TS won’t fold in half like the SUB-2000 and the 4095TS is not concealable at all.
Compared Function: The Hi Point 4095TS has a “last shot hold open” unlike the SUB-2000 which is a plus to the Hi Point and a draw back to the SUB2K. Although Hi Point did put the charging handle on the left side as opposed to the right which is a bit awkward and unusual for most shooters, unless you’re a lefty. They also restricted the safety to the left side only and it operates by sliding up and down. That might take some getting used to if you pick up a Hi Point Carbine. The SUB-2000 has a charging handle in rear center and it’s much easier to get to than the Hi Point and the safety on the SUB-2000 is a more convenient cross bolt safety. The SUB-2000 is much easier to field strip and clean compared to the Hi Point 4095TS. The Hi Point 4095TS is a really weird Pistol Caliber Carbine to field strip.
Final Thoughts and Opinions:
Ugly guns are nothing much to show off but they’re still fun to shoot with, just don’t let your friends catch you shooting with them! Haha…All kidding aside at the end of the day you have to do what you can afford to do. A brand new Hi Point 4095TS retails for $325.00 and a brand new KEL-TEC SUB-2000 retails for $500.00 but if you’re ok with a used one, you can occasionally find a gently used SUB2K for $350.00 on www.gunbroker.com
The aftermarket accessories industry is way more friendlier to the SUB-2000 than it is to the Hi Point 4095TS. There really aren’t a whole lot of aftermarket accessories for the Hi Point 4095TS. If the KEL TEC SUB-2000 is the modern day “Truck Gun” then the Hi Point 4095TS is the modern day “Cache Gun”.
The coolest part of the SUB-2000 is that it will completely fold in half and can be a rapidly deployed aggressive pistol caliber carbine that the bad guys won’t see coming. The coolest part of the Hi Point 4095TS is the spring loaded recoil pad to reduce recoil and improve handling under rapid fire.
Check out our full line up of KEL TEC SUB-2000 Accessories!
Will MCARBO create accessories for the Hi Point 4095TS? I think the 4095TS definitely needs more accessories and at the end of the day it’s really up to you guys. Would you like to see us make a Hi Point Carbine Trigger Job? If we’ve got a bunch of 4095TS owners that want better parts then we’re going to make them. I personally think the Hi Point Carbine Trigger Upgrade is a must. If you have a Hi Point and want something developed for it then send us an email help@mcarbo.com
Disclaimer: I may be a former Special Forces Sniper but it doesn’t mean that I know everything about everything. I’m a student at heart and a master of what I know. All skills are perishable and if we don’t use them daily they will deteriorate. If you have a comment about this article, please send it to me help@mcarbo.com or leave a post in the blog. I’ve got thick skin and I bet you do too.
Thanks Brother for reading and Happy Shooting!
- Chris