Has anybody played with a Chiappa Rhino?

[yorketransport]

I just picked up one of these today. Any gun that looks this wierd must be cool.


http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/725/images

I was in the market for a 357 snubbie and I just couldn't resist. The logic behind the lowered bore axis makes sense. It should reduce muzzle flip by a considerable margine. Hopefully I'll get out to shoot it this weekend.

Andrew

[Mossy]

does look pretty weird, kind of cool though.  Let us know what you think.

[FC]

Looks like a hand stinger, let us know how you like it.

[denali]

I like the novel design,    like others can't wait to hear how it runs

[MuleySniper]

I'm curious how much it weighs and what is the firepower?
MS

[Mossy]

says 1.54lbs

[Gutpile]

Read about it in G&A. Pretty weird looking but interested if recoil is actually reduced. Just seems like that little thing would not be fun to shoot with full power loads. Let us know. 

[CastleRocker]

Very interesting!  Any time you can lower the axis of the bore in relation to the hold it will reduce muzzle flip.  However, it looks to me like it might leave some powder burns on your trigger finger.

[MuleySniper]

My S&W 340 weighs just over 13oz's loaded It tickles when I shoot .357 through it Id be curious too how that Rhino shoots with that strange low barrel design.
MS

[Gutpile]

-

[yorketransport]

Thanks for posting the pics Gutpile. I couldn't figure out how.

The part about this gun that intriqued me the most was the possible reduction in muzzle flip. My wrists are quickly giving out on me and I need to start changing what and how I shoot before it gets much worse.

I had to work all day today (Horray for 80 hour work weeks!!!!  ) but I plan to get out and try it tomorrow. I'll post an update when I get back.

Andrew

[addicted]

Looks like it doesnt kick. might have to look into one of these for the wife. 

Chiappa Rhino Review and Rhino Revolver for Sale

[addicted]

Chiappa Rhino

[Thenewguy]

Where do I sign up?

[yorketransport]

Alright, range report time!

I didn't know what to expect from this gun, but I absolutely love it. I was nervous about buying it because nobody I know has first hand experience with it. Everybody seems to have heard about it but nobody has shot one. I was a little put off by the price (about $675). That's not cheap, but that puts it in the same range as a S&W model 60. The quality of the gun is in line with the price. It's well made and the cylinder locks up tight with no endshake. The metal finish is all even with no tooling marks and the sideplate fits perfectly with no gaps or high spots. The grip is a soft rubber that has a texture similar to the Hogue Monogrips. It's soft, but not squishy. The sights are functional and appropriate for the gun's intended purpose, although I think that a large fiber optic dot front sight (like the XS 24/7 Big Dot) would be better. The double action trigger pull is heavy (12+ lbs maybe), but smooth. The pull is more of a back and up motion than a straight back, so it takes some getting used to. The single action is lighter (6+ lbs) but again, it's a very clean break. The Rhino comes with a quality leather holster molded to fit the gun. It's a pancake style with 3 belt slots that will work for either right or left hand carry. It carries the gun pretty high so that the bottom of the holster and the end of the barrel do not drop below the belt. I preffer to carry IWB, but this holster works as well as any strong side hip holster I've tried. I'd rate it right up there with a Bianchi Black Widow or other similar holster. I would say that the holster is worth a solid $50 on it's own. I carried the gun all day and found it reasonably concealable and completely comfortable to wear. A different holster would have aided in concealment.

For the actual shooting, I ran factory Remington 158gr JSP and Hornady 158gr XTP loads. I went out and bought brass, dies, and bullets to load up some ammo, but forgot that the 357 Mag uses small pistol primers. I wasn't going to drive back into Lacey for primers, so I ended up just buying the factory ammo to test the gun. For the next range trip I'll have some 125gr XTP and 180gr XTP loads to test the recoil on the opposite ends of the load spectrum. I won't make any accuracy claims for or against the gun until I've had a lot more trigger time, but I'm happy with the results. I'm not much of a double action shooter, but I was still able to get fist sized groups at 10 yards with slow aimed fire ( 3 sec between shots). The gun lived up to it's claim of reduced muzzle flip. the sights are very quick to get back on target. Vertical movement is minimal, but as you would expect from a 357 snubbie, the muzzle blast is pretty substantial. Like I said, the trigger pull is a little unusual, but it gets easier after a while. With practice I can see this gun being a very serious defensive tool.

Now for the criticisms. Like I said before, I'd like to have a better front sight. What's on there is functional, but a fiber optic or tritium dot would be better. Also the rubber grip is great for shooting but not so good for concealment. The soft rubber tends to grab your shirt. There is a wood grip available that would work much better. And finally, the extractor seems a little small. When you extract the shells from the cylinder, if you don't drop them all out, at least one case would slip under the extractor and need to be popped out with a finger nail or knife. This wasn't a problem if I just pointed the gun up and kicked the shells out onto the ground. It only happened when I was trying extract them half way and then pull them out by hand.

Over all opinion, buy one! If you're looking for a snubbie 357, you can't deny the cool factory that the Rhino has. I put 100 rounds through it with no pain in my wrists or fore arms. By comparison I can only get about 25 rounds out of my 6.5" S&W 610 firing 18gr XTPs at 1300fps before my wrists start to get a little stiff.

Andrew

[chester]

Great write up! I want one now. How long til tax season? 

[Gutpile]

But................. They're so ugly.       

[thinkingman]

Andrew, great review.
This is a cool progression in 357 snubbies.

[superdown]

Kinda looks like old the Mateba auto revolver.

[yorketransport]

Kinda looks like old the Mateba auto revolver.

That was my thought when I saw it. As it turns out, it was designed by the same guy. This gun just screams Italian. It's over engineered, complicated, and styled like it's from 50 years in the future. But under all of the flash and bling, is a high quality and very functional machine. But man it sure is funny looking.

Andrew