The Chiappa "Rhino"

[Awoke]

New revolver design. Possibly revolutionary. Lower center of bore means more "Straight back" kick, as oppossed to "upward" kick. I like the idea, and I like the look, but I don't know if I will like the price.


http://www.defensereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Rhino_Revolver_Black_2-inch_Barrel_Chiappa_Firearms_1.jpg
2 inch barrel


http://www.defensereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Rhino_Revolver_Black_4-inch_Barrel_Chiappa_Firearms_1.jpg
4 inch barrel



Chiappa Rhino 6-Shot .357 Magnum Revolver for Concealed Carry (CCW) Applications
Published by David Crane (http://www.defensereview.com/author/david-crane/) in Featured (http://www.defensereview.com/category/d-h/featured/), Pistols (http://www.defensereview.com/category/m-r/pistols/) on August 26th, 2010 (http://www.defensereview.com/chiappa-rhino-6-shot-357-magnum-revolver-for-concealed-carry-ccw-applications/)


By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com
August 26, 2010
Chiappa Firearms (http://www.chiappafirearms.com/) and MKS Supply, Inc. (http://www.mkssupply.com/) have teamed up to manufacture and market the new “revolutionary” patented Rhino .357 magnum revolver (http://www.chiappafirearms.com/products/4), which is unique in that it fires from the bottom chamber, rather than the top chamber. This significantly lowers the bore axis, bringing the recoil forces closer to the center of your hand than on standard revolvers. This is supposed to make for fast, accurate multi-shot firing strings / fast and accurate follow-up shots. Since the Rhino is a 6-shot revolver, you get 5 follow-up shots of .357 magnum firepower. Not bad.


The Chiappa Rhino revolver (http://www.chiappafirearms.com/products/4) is an interesting (and interesting looking) handgun that’s designed specifically for concealed carry (CCW). To this end, it sports a hexagonal, flat-sided cylinder and flattened overall profile. The longer-barrel models (4″ and up) feature a ribbed/vented barrel and what appears to be a Mil-Std-1913 “Picatinny” rail for mounting tactical white lights and lasers (laser sights).

Rhino Specs:
- Caliber: .357 magnum (and of course .38 Special)
- Barrel Lengths: 2,3,4,5, and 6-inch
- Basic weight 25-ounces with a 4-inch barrel
- Frame Material: Ergal (a high-strength aircraft aluminum alloy)
- Metal finish: Blued or brushed alloy and stainless steel (stainless version first available in U.S.)
- Stocks: Composite rubber or wood. One piece, retained by a single screw at the butt.
- Capacity: 6-rounds
- Final fit and finish work done in U.S.A.
- Stainless Polished Version Price (MSRP): 2- and 3-inch, $775; 4-inch, $899; 5-inch, $925; 6-inch, $980.
You don’t wanna’ take a hit from this Rhino!



More at the Article:

http://www.defensereview.com/chiappa-rhino-6-shot-357-magnum-revolver-for-concealed-carry-ccw-applications/

I think a Stainless one would look pretty, in an ugly way.

[chad]

wow, that's pretty cool. as someone who is a big fan of .357 + who just got cow permit, i may have to pick one of those up if they are reasonable.

[Awoke]

I would love to own one of these. Very unique look and I like the theory behind the center bore height.

[Awoke]

I was looking for some stainless images and found this review by "The Truth about Guns".

Some quotes:



What’s new about the Chiappa Rhino .357 Magnum revolver? Everything. Forget everything you ever thought you knew about magnum revolvers, or snubnose revolvers, or handgun recoil, or concealable stopping power. If Chiappa can iron-out a few wrinkles in its execution (ergonomics, anyone?), the Rhino could be to conventional revolvers what HMS Dreadnought was to capital ships. Even the Ruger LCR already seems quaintly backward by comparison . . .


I think it just might change everything in the revolver world. Did I already say that? It’s worth repeating then.



Conclusions:

Our test gun is pinpoint accurate and built like a brick shithouse. We couldn’t duplicate RF’s accuracy problems, possibly because I have long pianist’s fingers and Wayne is simply a giant.
Reliability was 100% through over 200 rounds fired. (We had planned for a longer shooting day, but the weather went from bad to worse and we bugged out when the drizzle turned into steady rain.) It even ejected long .357 cases with authority, which is extremely unusual for a concealable .357.
The Rhino lives up to its hype. It carries almost as lightly as a steel J-frame although it’s a bit chunkier, and it shoots with the ballistic authority and the accuracy (almost) of a service revolver. And it does all of this with almost no recoil.
It sounds too good to be true, and it almost is.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/10/chris-dumm/gun-review-chiappa-firearms-rhino/

And here is the picture I was looking for:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/6316573907_df73b4c730.jpg

I have to say, I really like the look of this gun.

[midnight rambler]

A friend has a 6" barrel Rhino and he loves his.

[freespirit]

I was looking for some stainless images and found this review by "The Truth about Guns".

Some quotes:








http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/10/chris-dumm/gun-review-chiappa-firearms-rhino/

And here is the picture I was looking for:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/6316573907_df73b4c730.jpg

I have to say, I really like the look of this gun.

...dude, that's hot! looks fantastic!

[mightymanx]

You whip that baby out and everbody will think you are a Blade Runner.

Now all kidding aside I have always likeed the bottom barrel shooter concept.

I kind of think that it is wasted on a .357 but....

Everybody I know that owns one is in love.

If I had the cash........Well I still got my stainless 6" GP100 to fondle in the mean time.

[Glass]

interesting looking beastie. To me it harkens back to the days of the flint lock. The line through the barrel and down the grip. It seems to have the same sort of angles as those do.

[Half Sense]

Hard to find ammo for it, though.

http://barrygoldberg.net/worth1000/square_bullet.jpg

[BrewTech]

I like the looks and apparent function of this pistol. I think, however, I will wait a little while for the bugs to be worked out before I commit the big $$ for it.

Or, maybe I'll just suck it up and go get one. I dunno.

ETA: I really like the looks and function of this pistol, and I usually don't care much, as I have all the stuff I want. But DAMN!

I think I need to have one of these.

[solid]

I think I need to have one of these.

Well, not to be a bummer, but not CA legal. Not on the gun list. Can't get 'em here unless you are LE.

[BrewTech]

Well, not to be a bummer, but not CA legal. Not on the gun list. Can't get 'em here unless you are LE.

What? Why the hell not? Too useful?

[hoarder]

I look at where the web of my hand would fit the grip. Then I look at how low the trigger is. My index finger would have to reach way downhill to reach that trigger down there.

[solid]

What? Why the hell not? Too useful?

To my understanding, probably not cost effective for Chiappa. Same with Taurus, Taurus basically gave CA the middle finger and won't even bother trying to sell most of their gun models in CA.

This is how it works in CA. We have a state 'approved' list of guns we can buy. To get on this list, the gun manufacturer must pay thousands of dollars in fees and prove the gun passes a rigorous safety standards test. For a lot of guns that are unique, it's not worth the time and effort for the company.

You wouldn't believe how many guns are NOT available in CA for this reason. The approve list we have is only a small fraction of what's available.

EDIT: Brew, a quick search and I found this. A database where you can search to see if the gun you want is on the list. Check it out..

http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/

[chad]

can you buy it out of state and bring it in?

[mightymanx]

To my understanding, probably not cost effective for Chiappa. Same with Taurus, Taurus basically gave CA the middle finger and won't even bother trying to sell most of their gun models in CA.

This is how it works in CA. We have a state 'approved' list of guns we can buy. To get on this list, the gun manufacturer must pay thousands of dollars in fees and prove the gun passes a rigorous safety standards test. For a lot of guns that are unique, it's not worth the time and effort for the company.

You wouldn't believe how many guns are NOT available in CA for this reason. The approve list we have is only a small fraction of what's available.

EDIT: Brew, a quick search and I found this. A database where you can search to see if the gun you want is on the list. Check it out..

http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/

Yet another of the millions of reasons people should abandon California and let it rot.

[solid]

Yet another of the millions of reasons people should abandon California and let it rot.

Where should we go? From what I've heard, lot's of folks in other states don't take kindly to folks from CA. As if we're some disease that could spread to their state...

Damned if you do, damned, if you don't.

Sometimes it feels as though it's either CA, or just leaving the damn country.

[mightymanx]

Where should we go? From what I've heard, lot's of folks in other states don't take kindly to folks from CA. As if we're some disease that could spread to their state...

Damned if you do, damned, if you don't.

Sometimes it feels as though it's either CA, or just leaving the damn country.

The problem comes from people that try and convert the new place they move to into California they move and sell their CA house for bazillions and then try and buy the new town.


If I moved to Chile I would not try and convert it to a mini USA but that is just me. And not all Californians are like that but you know how it goes "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch"

[JJ.G0ldD0t]

Where should we go? From what I've heard, lot's of folks in other states don't take kindly to folks from CA. As if we're some disease that could spread to their state...

Damned if you do, damned, if you don't.

Sometimes it feels as though it's either CA, or just leaving the damn country.


Suburbs of any larger town or big city in Texas.

We get all kinds. We've learned to deal with people like they are while, for the most part, doing at least a mediocre job of retaining our heritage.

You've got a boat- Lots of sleepy fishing towns up and down the coast. Betcha could find work on a boat.

[midnight rambler]

can you buy it out of state and bring it in?

Well now that would be *illegal* if one were a *resident* of Californicate when one purchased a handgun 'out of state'. I'm certain no one around these parts would even think of doing such a thing.

[Osiris]

I like the look of the one in the first pic, I have always wanted a revolver. Wish I could shoot one first, as that is a lot of money! Thanks for the info!

[Osiris]

Well, not to be a bummer, but not CA legal. Not on the gun list. Can't get 'em here unless you are LE.

This will show my ignorance but, I didn't know CA had a "approved" list, thought that was an east coast thing.

Anyone a fan of Tool here? Reminds me of the lyrics to "Aenima"

Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking Time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay.