When the Chiappa Rhino was first introduced, I had to admit it was the ugliest revolver I’d ever seen! As the years passed by, I read many positive reviews on the Rhino and I warmed up to it. It kind of reminded me of the gun used in my favorite science fiction movie, Blade Runner. I decided if a saw one at the upcoming Tulsa gun show I’d consider buying one if it was a good deal.

While at the Tulsa gun show this past weekend, within the first 30 minutes, I came across a BNIB Chiappa Rhino 30DS X 357 mag Special Addition 3” barrel, stainless steel, with a nice leather belt holster. Negotiations started. The seller was motivated and came down 300 bucks, a helluva deal I couldn’t pass up! I also bought a BNIB S&W M642-2 38 special (for the wife) for a great deal too, both guns were bought within the first 30 minutes upon entering! I never saw another Chiappa Rhino nor anymore decent priced 642’s for the rest of the gun show. I think it was fate I was meant to have this Chiappa Rhino!

The Rhino version I have has been described as ugly, heavy, clunky and expensive! I agree except I got a killer deal on mine. Weighing in at 45 oz with only a 3 inch barrel it does feel like a little brick with small grips. My version is no longer made and they offer a variety of additional models in several different calibers and finish options including a lightweight alloy frame (mine’s all steel) which makes more sense for a concealed carry gun. Forum member Dr. Mordo did a fairly comprehensive review on a Rhino back in 9/18. He liked his a lot although the consensus from other forum members back then was most hated it! I suspect the feelings not changed any.

I took it to my backyard range the following day to try it out. This isn’t a real comprehensive review, just an impromptu shooting session, shooting steel plates at 15 yards. The grips are very small but comfortable enough to shoot. It has a wide smooth target like trigger. I’d prefer a thinner combat trigger. I made sure to keep my support hand thumb tucked away from the hot gasses from the cylinder gap which I read about elsewhere since the cylinder is positioned lower than conventional revolvers.

I only fired in double action, 50 rounds of 38 special and 25 rounds of 357. Recoils was straight back, very little muzzle rise even with 357. Double action trigger pull is very smooth. For SA you can cock the hammer which really isn’t a hammer, it simply cocks the enclosed hammer and a red indicator pops up showing it’s cocked in SA mode. Sights are 3 dot fiber optic red and green. Really quick to stay on target. It was very fun to shoot and I reliably hit the metal plate.

It’s comparable in size to my S&W 686 PC but much heavier and blocky feeling. DA trigger was lighter on this Rhino than the 686 PC. I believe they are similar in price. As strange looking as it is, and in spite of the unique operating system, I really like this Chiappa Rhino! It’s a very controllable 357, reliable and accurate. I can’t say I like it better than my S&W, Colt or Ruger DA revolvers, it’s very different and I still prefer traditional designed revolvers but I’ll keep this one, it’s fun to shoot!

You know a gun is ugly, if it makes a Glock look sexy. Makes my guns with low self-esteem feel good about themselves.

If I can find a Chiappa for <$500, I'd consider buying it as a novelty.

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213th FBINA

I think a Hi-Point has cleaner lines. Even ugly girls need loving.

I'm glad you like it!

Just a word of caution... I had one and thought it shot well, but I got a little careless and singed the tip of my support hand thumb shooting .38 Special +P's. I have large hands and my thumb got too close to the flash gap. I hate to think what damage it could have done if I was shooting magnums. The internals are also very complicated and I would never take one apart.

I ended up selling it.

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"I also cook."

Thanks, I read that too and made sure to curl my support hand thumb down and away from gap. I normally don’t shoot like that, I usually shoot with my support thumb forward and not down.

I think they owe an apology to rhinoceroses everywhere.
The actual animal looks pretty compared to that revolver.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

[QUOTE=CH4;141863124]You know a gun is ugly, if they make a Glock look sexy. QUOTE]

Back in the day's of Cinderella liberty you learned to go ugly early.

I like the company. I like the concept. However..I don’t think there is an uglier handgun made. I’m usually a function over form person but a Rhino will never follow me home!

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Remain Viable

I'll agree that it may contend for one of the ugliest handguns of all time but for a design that brings some real difference to the table I am certainly willing to overlook the horrendous visuals of it.

The problem I've got is confidence in it. The internals are extremely complicated and Chiappa has proven all up and down their product line that they make absolute junk firearms.

A one of the huge local gun store chains here in town they had a brand new one in the display case a number of years ago and it was a slow day at the store so I asked the salesman to fish it out for me. We chatted and I handled it and then I asked him quite specifically if it would be okay if I dry fired it a couple of times to feel the double action trigger and he said that would be fine.

On the second stroke of the trigger something inside this brand new revolver broke. Trigger stayed back, it was down for the count. Salesman was literally within feet of me watching when it happened. I apologized profusely and I was embarrassed. He thanked me for apologizing but he wouldn't have it. He knew it wasn't my fault and he even commented that it was far better to have happened right there than if some poor customer had purchased it.

It's long been my hope that Chiappa would fail on the whole and some real gunmaker would take on the project of designing a quality low-chamber revolver. The Mateba exists but these seem to be freakish in price and not possible to find.

When did this happen to you? I researched various online forums and reviews and I think it possible there could’ve been some “growing pains” not uncommon with well known gun companies sometimes when a new firearm is introduced. There was one alleged blow up on a Rhino but most likely a double charged reload. The few negatives were from years ago. I haven’t read anything recent.

I’m not that familiar with Chiappa. They seem to make some nice guns, including reproduction 1886 Winchester lever actions, I didn’t get the impression they were junk? I only handled them though, never shot any. Anyhow, we’ll see how my Rhino 357 withstands the test of time. I’ll certainly report any issues that come up. My only concern so far is for those with large hands, you have to make sure your support hand thumb is tucked down and away from the cylinder gap because I certainly don’t want my thumb scorched!

The Chiappa Rhino, the ultimate teaching tool for the thumbs down grip.

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Release the Kraken

If I recall correctly, mine (Al-frame) weighs 23 ounces. Fantastic the way the recoil comes straight back: even that lightweight, I can rip through full-bore .357s with no real discomfort except for my eardrums.


She ain't pretty but she sure can cook.

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How God has blessed us!

Three or four members of our gun club have one. I was at the range last week when the last guy that purchased one brought it to try it out. His was in .357, with the light weight alloy frame in nickel finish. He ordered a couple of *factory* accessories (see picture attached): a longer set of grips, and a set (?) of springs to lighten the heavy trigger pull. So, I didn't care for the looks, but hey, as long as he liked it, that's what matters. However, there was one feature that I *really* did not like. He explained that because the hammer is not a hammer, per se, once you cocked it with a round in the chamber, you HAVE to shoot it. At that point you cannot lower the hammer, OR open the cylinder. Yikes! That doesn't sound good to me!

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Just hope you never have a squib load or a KABOOM from over pressure ammo. You will most likely lose a finger vs a traditional revolver. I don't trust them.

In the TV show "Covert Affairs" the CIA agent Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) carried one upon ocassion. I think the idea was the general public would think it was some super secret Q Branch creation.

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NRA RSO

Kudos to Chiappa for building an upside down revolver.....and my Chiappa '86 is a fine rifle. Smooth action and well made.

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Even older, even crankier....

I'm pretty sure he's mistaken. IIRC, they can be decocked by pulling the cocking lever all the way to the rear and holding it back, pulling the trigger and carefully lowering the cocking lever.

Hopefully, someone who still owns one can verify that.

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"I also cook."

s&wchad,

When he told me that I said "what...!?" and so he showed me. Being a new gun, maybe he didn't know what he was doing? Perhaps BrendonJames65 can try it out at the range and report back...

S&wchad is correct. I can see where your friend thought that though. It’s covered in the manual. The exposed cocking lever, s&wchad is correct by mentioning this, (it’s not a hammer, which is internal) is simply pulled back and by gently squeezing the trigger and simultaneously lowering the cocking lever, brings it back to DA mode.

Ditto! The de-rigeur 'thumbs-forward' hold for autoloaders is a ticket to
!@#$%^ OUCH with this revolver. USE extra care.

Thank you, gentlemen--I'll tell him!

That's happened with mine, despite my careful urging of the correct grip position when I handed it to the vato. Nice burn.

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How God has blessed us!

I’m far from a professional, but that gun looks like Spandex on a Water Buffalo.
But if it saves a life……..

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Waiting For The Sun.

You people says the Rhino is ugly. To me, it is weird. Just different. Anyway, I'm curious to see your reactions to its grandma, the 6Unica . What an engineering masterpiece!

Beautiful! Quality comparable to Korth and Manurhin I think (and cost!). Probably deserves its own thread.

A Ruger makes any Rhino or Glock look like a beauty queen!

I purchased a Chiappa Rhino 30 DS in the Hunter Green color. I put the Form Stocks on it. It is now my duty weapon.

I run it with moon clips. I can't tell the difference between shooting 357 158 gr than shooting 38spc. The recoil feels light.

I call it my "Spaghetti Space Blaster".

Mine says hi.

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How God has blessed us!

It's your duty weapon? I'm a little surprised your department let's you do that. Is it because you have lots of small departments in that part of Texas and you all do your own thing?

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Release the Kraken

Friend at the club has one in 9mm and the owner of Chiappa did a trigger job on it for him by request. I shot one cylinder through it, it was different because of the recoil. “Kinda cool”!! We shoot a double action revolver league at the club, he used it for shooting the league.

He is starting to sell some guns because of eye sight worsening and just old age. I may seriously consider buying it when for sale. I reload 9mm, I usually keep the velocity down enough to cycle my semi-autos so this will be a piece of cake. Larry

My “kids” say hello also

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Being a Glock fan I don't want to criticize another firearm based strictly on looks, but that does take some getting used to.

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- Change it back -

Just like when going to Walmart! There's just some things you wish you could unsee!

First one I ever saw was as a prop in the 2015 SyFy show "The Expanse". The sheriff character had one. Looked like a sci-fi gun. It made sense as a gun to use in a low gravity environment - recoil is straight back, and semi-autos tossing empties is a bad idea. Then a few years later I saw one in a LGS, and was not impressed with the trigger pull and action. Not seen many since in the stores, ten years after.

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Heavily armed old man.

[quote=chiefdave;141863154]I believe that the complete quotation is "Go ugly early and drink 'em pretty." A grammarian would notice that this is not a singular occurrence.

Back to firearms: what is functional is not ugly.

I wouldn't mind running into a Rhino for sale, but I don't particularly expect it in my location.

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Formerly Model520Fan

I came into my Chiappa Rhino by trading an even less attractive gun for it...A polymer frame 9mm...

I really, really have come to love mine. It's very smooth and reliable. It's kind of a bear cat to thumb cock, but that's not something I'm at all into anyways. It shoots accurately, and recoil is easily managed. Most ammo stays within the same point of impact, presumably due to the reduced muzzle flip.

I have started carrying it on more small trips due to it's light weight
I probly have an interesting style going on. Old wool panta, wool flanel, beat to heck old bush hat, carbon steel fixed blade knife...and my Buck Rogers revolver on my hip.

But...sumpthing I learned while doing pre-hospital care is that if something looks stupid, but it works, then it ain't.

I agree, but that logic usually applies in exigent circumstances where you have no other options.

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213th FBINA

I work for the elected district attorney as an investigator. We have 25 sworn peace officers. Our agency purchases our ammo, but we must provide our own firearm. Our office policy lists several approved calibers to include 38 Special and 357 Magnum.

Our range masters ran me through our normal qualification course of fire and I passed with no problems. I am currently qualified with my agency on the Chiappa Rhino 30 DS, S&W Model 65, and my Ruger LCR which is a 357, but I run 38 Special. I am waiting to qualify with my S&W Model 627PC and have a S&W Model 581 No Dash coming next week.

The DPS CID Agent I work with on most days carries his S&W Model 19 and he just picked up a S&W Model 681.

In post number 30 I mentioned a Rhino may be for sale in 9mm. Well, it’s for sale. Gary is having a hard time shooting so selling some nice guns. Decent price with a moon clip loader and unloader and some moon clips. Also had a trigger job by someone at Chiappa when purchased. I did shoot the gun after Gary bought it a couple years ago, only about 150 rounds shot in it.

Did anyone hear of reliability problems with the Rhinos, do they hold up over the years?? I have till next Tuesday to make a choice if there are negative points with the gun. Searching all I find is positive opinions. I reload 9mm so the ammo will be low powered, Larry

Does it help with ED?

Hey Larry,
I don't shoot my .357 Rhino (which I've owned since it was released - mine was the first on in my state) all that much, but nothing about it seems to indicate an issue with it holding up (something that initially concerned me, being that it was an aluminum-framed .357) and I ran it with hot stuff. Based on that, I have no idea why you'd feel the need to download 9mms. That said, I don't know if you've ever seen the insides of these Chiappas - they're not the simplest (some great images here: https://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Rhino/rhino.html ; disassembly here: ). If you want a guaranteed probably-won't-break/easy-to-fix 9mm for serious use that your great-grandkids will be using in their old age, you'll be happy with a Glock or an SP101. I don't have any reason to think the Rhino won't do it, but it wouldn't be the horse I'd bet on between the three types I mentioned.
cheers, erich

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How God has blessed us!

Erich, I download for less arthritis pain while shooting. Just looking for any mechanical or durability problems before I buy it. Soft loads put less stress on the gun over time. Interesting video, thanks.

The only downside so far searching is the appearance which is not bad for me. Anyone else have some experience with the Rhino, Larry

Larry, gotcha. Although I'm sure you're already aware: the Rhino recoils mostly straight back and not so much upward. While this makes it really controllable in fast shooting for me, I don't know how that would affect your particular type of arthritis.

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How God has blessed us!