Anyone have one of these guns? They are kind of funny looking, but I'm wondering if their claim to reduce the felt recoil and muzzle flip are accurate?

Bill

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US Marine, 16 years+

The novelty seeker in me would buy one if Chiappa would ever get them certified for sale in California.

I suspect I would prefer one of the models with a longer barrel. I don't feel the need to replace my 627 snubby.

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David Wilson

They do, and they do. You're right they are a little funny looking but I like mine and they feel really good in your hand. I have a 2" DA/SA "WHITE RHINO" (Brushed Nickle). The 2" version comes with an Italian Leather holster as part of the price, the 4" and 6" does not. I may purchase a 6" version in the future. Nice fit and workmanship and people who look at it comment on that.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Search the forum on these, there was a big thread here in the lounge about them.

Get a hold of member Erich, he has one and if I recall likes it a lot.

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Still Running Against the Wind

The novelty seeker in me prompted me to buy one via Gunbroker that I got NIB for a relatively good price. It has a 5" barrel, adjustable sights and a mounting rail under the barrel. It is surprisingly light for its volume - appears that the barrel shroud is aluminum.

I have not fired it yet, but I expect muzzle flip to be reduced due to the low bore axis. I have a Mateba semi-automatic .357 revolver that is similarly configured (fires from the bottom of the cylinder) and it certainly has reduced muzzle flip. However it is all steel and has the recoil-operated mechanism to soak up recoil, so it's an apples and pears comparison.

I have fired a snubnose that a friend owns.
We were shooting steel plates with his light .357 reloads.
Worked well after we figured out where to hold.
Didn't notice as much difference in recoil due to the low barrel axis as advertised.
I would buy one if the price wasn't so high.


I did better on the plates with my S&W M15 two-inch.

The "Mateba" (sp) is another one that shoots from the bottom of the cylinder, and it is a semi auto revolver, I think.

Erich...........!!!!!!!!!!

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

The Mateba was designed by the same designer as the Chiappa RHINO, unfortunately he passed away before the Rhino was actually finished and in production.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I'd be much more likely to try one if the 2" version were DAO. I believe that the trigger mechanism is made over-complex because of the addition hammer cocking mechanism. Without it, I believe, the trigger mechanism could be greatly simplified (and made more reliable).

Rhino is available as DAO or DA/SA.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

A local shop has one of the 4 inch models available. I'm going to go check it out later. I want a 2 inch model though. I really just want to get a feel for it. I wish I knew someone in the Louisville area who had one I could shoot a few cylinders through. Erich's link to another forum where he put his review didn't seem to work for me.

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US Marine, 16 years+

I bought the first one in my state just over a year ago and still love it after shooting the heck out of it.



Here's a good link to the thread on H&A:

Charged a Rhino - Handguns and Ammunition Forums

Erich,
Thanks for the link, good post all around.

I looked at a 4" model today. I have to say, it felt great in my hands. It certainly didn't have the reported 8 pound trigger pull. The trigger pull was smooth and crisp and didn't feel heavy at all. Now I'll have to keep an eye out for a 2" model. There's a gun show in Louisville this weekend, I will check around there. I wouldn't mind having one of the 4 or 6" models, but I want a 2 first. The long tubes look like space guns.

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US Marine, 16 years+

My trigger pull is SMOOTH and NICE. I think there may possibly have been some issues upon their initial release, if they had some the factory seemed to have reacted quickly to resolve them.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I was in my favorite shop yesterday looking at them again, had gone in looking for a holster for a 2 1/2" K frame, not intending to buy anything else (yeah, you all know how that goes). My pusher just happens to mention, hey, I've got a used 4" White Rhino down here on the bottom shelf.... well, you could barely tell if anyone had actually shot it, and it was $200 off the price of the new one....

Now if I can only find a real holster for it. Never did find the holster for the model 19.

I read an article which said the originals had 10 lb triggers, but they were going to bring them down to 8 lb. Well, if the one I held today was 8 lbs, then I'm much stronger than I thought I was!!

If I came across a used one for 200 less than new price, I would likely be hard pressed to walk away!

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US Marine, 16 years+

Chiappa Hippo might more accurately describe it! How could a S&W owner even consider such a kluge?

The gun is actually pretty small. I know it's hard to believe looking at it, but it is. I'm looking at it as a great CC gun, and just an all around cool gun to have, I might end up with a couple of them. I think the 6" one is calling my name as the next one!!

Bill

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US Marine, 16 years+

The Rhino reminds me of Rick Deckerd's pistol in the film "Blade Runner", in a good way.

mtb1bkr,

If you ever come by a 6", Please give us a shooting report. I think it will do well. I have a 2" and possibly see a 6" somewhere in my future.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Other than being stylishly different , and unnecessarily complex no doubt , being of Italian design , I just don't get the point of it.

The manufacturing complications seem to outweigh any benefits of which I can see (none).

And I doubt if any will ever be put through the same rigors that millions of S&W , Colt and Ruger revolvers have proven themselves through.

The six inch will have to wait until early/mid 2012. With us moving to Utah next month, I'll be plenty busy for some time.

The benifits of the gun have been stated and tested by several folks. The lower bore decreases muzzle flip as well as felt recoil. Both of those allow quicker follow up shots as needed.

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US Marine, 16 years+

Some of these comments crack me up. Unlike certain armchair experts opining from home, I am limited in my knowledge and can only comment on my experience with the gun I've actually owned, carried and shot for a year.



Why is it interesting? The Rhino's design avoids virtually all muzzle lift: I can accurately fire full-house .357 Magnums through my 2" 25-ounce snub faster than I can fire .38 wadcutters through a much heavier K-frame. The flat-sided cylinder allows an L-frame sized cylinder wall depth in a gun that carries like a D-frame. The Rhino has withstood every brutal sort of Magnum loading I've run through it - hundreds of them (I've got over 1500 rounds through the thing, split half and half between Magnums and .38s) and has not shown the slightest frailty.

+1+1+1 for ERICH, BOO-HOO to all the wannabe firearms experts, I love my 2" RHINO also.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Erich, thanks for the photos and testimony. I still want one of these (maybe a couple) and am hoping that the company will see fit to get them certified for California. After all, one eighth of the American market and one-seventh of its gun buying dollars are found here. Why would a hungry company NOT reach for the loot?

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David Wilson

Erich, you showing me pictures is making me want one even worse!!!

There was a black 4" at the shop I went to yesterday with a knick on the cylinder. Looked like another gun had probably been dropped on it. I may wander back over there and try to get it at a discounted price if I don't stumble on a good one at the gun show this weekend.

Bill

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US Marine, 16 years+

I still haven't had a chance to shoot my 2" Rhino. Received an email showing a guy shooting a 2" with .38 special ammo. The muzzle barely moved. Very impressive.

Erich knows what he's talking about. I trust his word completely.

The one thing I think other manufacturers should consider is the flat sided cylinder (for even number of round cylinders only). It seems like a good way to narrow the weapon without resorting to the complex machining that the Ruger plastic thing uses.

Eric knows what he is talking about-great groups, but I gotta tell ya that is one UGLY revolver none the less
But as they say....eager beats pretty everytime

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Forum consigliere

Hey, it's Italian. I'll bet the first time you saw a Lamborghini it looked strange, too. I think the Rhino is pretty cool looking. It must have been my week to find good deals on nickel 357's.


Since there's a seam along the back of the barrel shroud, and a nut at the end of the barrel, it would be interesting if they would interchange lengths like a Dan Wesson.

I can't rest now.....

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God spelled backwards is dog.

What does being a S&W owner have anything to do with the decision to purchase this gun?

Glad you guys that have 'em like 'em. Might be a good gun. I just couldn't own anything that looked like that. Life's too short to shoot/own ugly guns.

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RIP Ron Smith - The Voice of Reason

I think the Rhino will be like owning a big bore revolver. Everyone will see it and want to check it out/shoot it. The difference is, it's still affordable to let folks shoot the Rhino. When I used to take the 500 to the range all the time, I had to watch the budget when letting others try it out!!

Bill

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US Marine, 16 years+

Just bought a new 2inch Rhino yesterday. Have not fired it yet but really like how it feels in my hand and the fit and finish.




Some pics against my 642:

cal45,
I'm sure you'll enjoy it, I enjoy mine.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

There are things out there that are uglier than the Rhino.
This one also fires from the bottom chamber.

Wow, that one is ugly! At least the Rhino looks like it's made well enough to hold together when fired. Whatever that thing is in the above post doesn't look like it would withstand the first round. As I value all my fingers, I'll pass on trying that baby.

There are things out there that are uglier than the Rhino.
This one also fires from the bottom chamber.

Game, set, and match to Mike 1957.

Regards,

Dave

Wow! A Braverman!

I wasn't fortunate enough to find Rhino worthy of bringing home. The only 2" I found was at Shooter's Supply in Louisville. It looked like it had been one of the guns sent to California for certification, he cocking lever was flattened out on one side like it had been dropped from a fairly high point. I mentioned it to one of the guys behind the counter and he said, nope, it's brand new!! I just laughed my way out of there!!! The only others I seen were a 4 and 6" gun out at Keens in Bardstown, but I want a 4" first. I suppose I'll have to wait to get to Utah now, as they still can't be bought in California.

Bill

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US Marine, 16 years+

It would have to be a "Braver Man" than me to fire that thing!!

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US Marine, 16 years+

That company (Braverman) also made a "PEN" gun, as in it looks like an ink writing pen.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Wonder if anyone is making a holster for these or do you just carry them in a sack. That 4" one is starting to get to me.

Uhhhh-
Wouldn't it be just as easy to cut and paste your text here?

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I had heard that the company that assembles them in Dayton, Ohio was looking into working with some holster manufactures. They had experienced some problems with the Italian factory. The Italians may have been trying to support the Italian leather industry at home by doing things over there.

Dayton was not having much luck with them supplying the Dummies or whatever to (U.S.) holster makers.. They (Dayton People doing assembly) were looking to do it themselves (the dummies) here in the U.S. They just wanted holsters made for the larger barreled models no matter where they were made.

The 2" model comes included with a beautiful Italian Leather holster, but not the 4" and 6".

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

No, boss: the H&A thread evolved over several months with lots of additional posts from updates, etc. In order to integrate all the information on that thread, I'd have to spend at least half an hour cutting, pasting and editing. I certainly like my friends here on Big Blue, but I don't have time to do that for them. I have posted a good deal more info on my Rhino here on this forum before, but I'm sure the original poster had already run across that information when he was doing his due-diligence search of this forum before posting his question.

Moonman, a while back on one of Lefty's Bell Charter Oak threads in the Vendors' Section, I discussed my communications with the Chiappa USA folks about trying to get dummy guns for US holster makers. Chiappa Italy was making it difficult for them, apparently in a desire to monopolize holster-making for these guns for the Italian Ghost Leather outfit. Your post above gives me hope that the Chiappa USA guys are still after it - those Ghost holsters are okay but the Italians certainly do not produce leather for every US carry need . . . and certainly not for mine (appendix IWB). Anyway, thanks for your post with the updated info: it gives me hope that I someday might be able to buy one of Lefty's great holsters for my ugly gun!

Sorry, I'm with Duke, I just say no to ugly women and ugly guns. It may shoot fine and if you like it, more power to you. For me a gun has to have some beauty, some soul. I hold my S&W model 65 in one hand, My Colt custom shop 1911 in bright stainless in the other and beam with pride. No Rhino for me.

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You need guns- buy more guns!