Right now I have a AR-7 knock off .22 surival rifle, & I an looking at the High Point rifles for other uses. The High Point firearms look to me to be a good budget minded series, and fairly reilable with not a lot of moving parts. There is a lot of 9mm ammo around too [even though I DO NOT like it!]
We have to think on what we can scrounge up in a worse case situation!
The High Point carbine is a better than merely acceptable gun for the money. It has gained a lot of respect for that lowball-price gunmaker which it didn't have before the carbine was offered, and it carries a lifetime warranty that is actually what it says it is.
I don't own one, but if I did I would prefer the .40 caliber chambering for the additional power if it is to be used for medium size game in a survival situation. But OTOH the 9mm cartridge is the most readily available centerfire handgun round on earth, and in carbine length barrels it will take small to medium size game at short range with hollow point ammo. Either round is adequate for short to medium range defense use if that is one of your criteria.