Who has a rhino?

I do not have one myself, but a good friend has one and speaks very highly of it.
Some say it is ugly, and it is very different than you classic revolver, but I kind of like the different look. The gun feels really good in your hand too and I have to think that that very low bore axis, has to make a noticeable difference in both recoil and muzzle flip.

I might even pick one up someday, but right now I'm on a CZ kick that keeps my finances drained.

I will follow with interest as I am interested in a 3" but have not found one. I understand somewhere around 2014 they made a great improvement in the double action trigger pull, so I am looking for a newer one.

"What do people actually use rhinos for?"

Certainly if the rapid recovery from a low bore axis gun is a factor, why not just use a semi-automatic pistol?
Why use a revolver at all since semi-automatic firing is more accurate than DA firing?
And why limit yourself to what a revolver cylinder can hold?

To me the rhino seems like an answer in search of a question.

I've always wanted one. I think the odd look is what I find appealing about it. It's on the want list but not quite the gotta have list.

WestKentucky said:

I simply like revolvers better. .357 can barely be matched in a slide-gun, and this revolver supposedly makes a pussycat out of the beast of a .357 snubby. It’s also weird and I really enjoy weird when it comes to guns, so why not? Realistically I have all the guns I need and am diversifying within my selected niche. I also intend to be buying black powder revolvers in the somewhat near future. This gun seems to be the current cutting edge on technology, so that is the full range from the first wave to the most modern and most advanced.

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So it's just a another range toy like the cap & ball revolvers?

As far as being cutting edge technology, it's just a revolver. Hardly a modern concept.
It just has a spacey appearance.
And, revolvers have been made with aluminum frames for a long time now.

And, as a revolver, it is never going to be able to compete with or replace a semi-automatic pistol in a defensive role.
It has an 11 pound DA pull and the same 6 round capacity as other revolvers.
It's bulky and no faster to reload than other revolvers.
Certainly no competition for a semi-automatic pistol.

So, in a practical sense, what is the purpose of a rhino?

Old Stumpy said:

So, in a practical sense, what is the purpose of a rhino?

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You are absolutely right!
Chiappa...are you listening? Old Stumpy doesn't like the Rhino. You should stop production immediately and recall all your Rhinos! Same to you Heritage!

@WestKentucky Don't waste your money. Old Stumpy has decreed they are useless and will soon be removed from the market along with Heritage, Phoenix, HighPoint and I'm sure many others.

It seems like Old Stumpy is just here to be argumentative and try to prove some point in which you, the OP should ignore since it has nothing to do with what you are looking for in your post. I to have been intrigued by these but the price tag is usually what turns me off to one. I would love to shoot one though and see how it differs from traditional revolvers.

WestKentucky said:

Are you even aware of what a rhino actually is? It’s a major design change for revolvers. Flip the functional end of a traditional revolver without flipping the controls, the same concept of many new slide-guns in the low bore axis and minimized flip and perceived recoil (because of the leverage of a high bore axis amplifies muzzle flip and you feel that). As far as materials go, no nothing special, but still premium components.

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I am perfectly aware of what a rhino is.
It's a century plus old idea that never went anywhere that was resurrected by Chiappa.
No firearms manufacturer that I know of ever bothered to produce one in 120+ years, even though they knew about the concept, and had probably even seen a prototype or two.
The bulk and the complication over a standard revolver overruled the advantages of a low bore axis.
And then along came semi-automatic pistols which did have a low bore axis rendering the concept obsolete.
Semi-automatic pistols have also almost entirely rendered revolvers as obsolete in military, police, and defensive roles, because of their higher capacity, rapid reloading, compactness, lighter repeat trigger pull, and that low bore axis which is the rhino's only claim to fame.

Chiappa keeps on about it's rapid DA firing capabilities due to the low bore axis.
But it has the same six round capacity and 11 pound double action trigger pull of standard revolvers.
And it's bulky.

So what is it for?
What does it have to offer in a practical sense over a semi-automatic pistol?

ontarget said:

You are absolutely right!
Chiappa...are you listening? Old Stumpy doesn't like the Rhino. You should stop production immediately and recall all your Rhinos! Same to you Heritage!

@WestKentucky Don't waste your money. Old Stumpy has decreed they are useless and will soon be removed from the market along with Heritage, Phoenix, HighPoint and I'm sure many others.

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Seems like you guys get upset far too easily. I never suggested any of these things.
I simply challenged the practicality of the rhino, which is a fair question.
No need to go into a snit about it.
Buy a rhino if it appeals to you for range shooting.
Certainly, if I bought only guns with strictly practical purposes, I would own very few.
Practically all of my guns are lever actions and single action revolvers.

Godsgunman said:

It seems like Old Stumpy is just here to be argumentative and try to prove some point in which you, the OP should ignore since it has nothing to do with what you are looking for in your post. I to have been intrigued by these but the price tag is usually what turns me off to one. I would love to shoot one though and see how it differs from traditional revolvers.

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This IS a firearms discussion forum, not a mutual admiration society.
And, I think that my comments and questions were both civil and reasonable.
And I also think that If the OP or anyone else wants to buy a rhino and enjoy shooting it then he should do so.
I never suggested otherwise.

I have been interested by Rhinos for years but have never pulled the trigger (sic). I have many great revolvers which I love but at this point are mainly lookers, collectibles and range toys.

My field guns, carry guns and home defense guns have all made the switch to semi's long ago, for all of the reasons @Old Stumpy states.

The main reason I have never actually bought a Rhino, even as yet another collectible / range toy is that I don't want to burn my fingers. That mitigates any great improvement to the revolver design in my mind.

I thought the OP was looking for input from any Rhino owners here. I'm not one (yet.) That's why I didn't offer what I think about getting one (or not.)

"your never gonna need 10shots in a self defense situation" untill you do.

"Your never gonna need a .357magnum in a self defense situation" untill you do.

Old Stumpy said:

So it's just a another range toy like the cap & ball revolvers?

As far as being cutting edge technology, it's just a revolver. Hardly a modern concept.
It just has a spacey appearance.
And, revolvers have been made with aluminum frames for a long time now.

And, as a revolver, it is never going to be able to compete with or replace a semi-automatic pistol in a defensive role.
It has an 11 pound DA pull and the same 6 round capacity as other revolvers.
It's bulky and no faster to reload than other revolvers.
Certainly no competition for a semi-automatic pistol.

So, in a practical sense, what is the purpose of a rhino?

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I want one cause practical is over rated, and I'd .357 snubbys more versatile than a 9mm compact for anything I'm likely to do.....tho I got the best (or worst) of both worlds and bout a 7 shot 9mm/.357 revolver.

I still want a 3" rhino tho, as I'm probably yanking the 2.5" barrel off my 692 and seeing if the 6" 1/2 lug 66 barrel will fit.

Old Stumpy said:

Seems like you guys get upset far too easily.

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Not at all. However some people on THR seem to get a big ego boost by telling the rest of us why our choices in firearms are inferior or impractical or cheap junk or whatever.
I've never understood how miserable someone must be to live such a contrarian life.

Old Stumpy said:

I am perfectly aware of what a rhino is.
It's a century plus old idea that never went anywhere that was resurrected by Chiappa.
No firearms manufacturer that I know of ever bothered to produce one in 120+ years, even though they knew about the concept, and had probably even seen a prototype or two.
The bulk and the complication over a standard revolver overruled the advantages of a low bore axis.
And then along came semi-automatic pistols which did have a low bore axis rendering the concept obsolete.
Semi-automatic pistols have also almost entirely rendered revolvers as obsolete in military, police, and defensive roles, because of their higher capacity, rapid reloading, compactness, lighter repeat trigger pull, and that low bore axis which is the rhino's only claim to fame.

Chiappa keeps on about it's rapid DA firing capabilities due to the low bore axis.
But it has the same six round capacity and 11 pound double action trigger pull of standard revolvers.
And it's bulky.

So what is it for?
What does it have to offer in a practical sense over a semi-automatic pistol?

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Does the Chiappa Rhino work better and give options to use rounds that weren't available in those guns from 120+ years ago?

I have a 40DS and had troubles with it. Off center primer strikes and FTF. Went back to mfr twice and got a new hand. It just seems "loose" to me and I'll fire 38sp but not .357 thru it. The DA trigger pull is HEAVY. Not my favorite piece.

Another member on a different forum uses rhinos for competition shooting in ICOR and another one I can't remember. He sings praises about them for the low muzzle flip and all-around handling. I believe he has done a decent amount of trigger work on his pair to get them to his liking and one did go back to the factory. In his opinion the trigger work and trip back to the factory could have happened to any gun on the market although the factory trip took longer than he liked and says the revolvers are worth it. I hope the OP is okay with secondhand information.

11 pound D A trigger pull negates any bore axis advantage. My Smiths average a 5.5 to 7 lb DA Trigger pull on a Lyman gage. Pass.

I at one time was very interested in the Rhino concept. Until I became familiar (via online forums) with its extremely complex action/trigger mechanism. Not that I would never try one, just that I doubt that I would buy one. The concept (lower barrel) is very appealing, but they seem to have fumbled the ball.

OK, I'll toss my 2 cents in here.

First of all, I have a DS40. and I'm quite happy with it. To be sure, it's a conversation piece every time I take it to the range. It has that "wow" factor.

On the subject of trigger pull, the 11lb mentioned here sounded excessive, so I used my Layman Digital trigger pull gauge to measure it. The average of 5 DA pulls was 8lb 0.4oz. The average of 5 SA pulls was 3lb 1.6oz. So considering this is not a slicked up, or tuned revolver, the SA is pretty nice and the DA is not that terrible either.

Cocking the hammer, does require a bit of effort. The hammer is not actually "the hammer", it's just a lever that actuates a plunger inside the frame, so it has to push on a lot different parts and levers to actually cock the hammer. Here is a cutaway showing the pretty complicated lockwork inside the Rhino.



This is a video showing the difference between the lockwork of a Rhino, and of a Smith & Wesson. Very good and informative.



Anyway, going back to the revolver itself. What makes it special or different? well pretty much everything makes it different. From practicality perspective, the hexagonal barrel makes it flatter overall, therefore more concealable. The lower bore axis gives it a less pronounced muzzle flip, therefore followup shots should be easier to acquire, and the perceived recoil is less than other 357 with a similar barrel length.

The grip is very comfortable to me, but it does require a different hold that other "standard" revolvers. Also, if you're a two handed shooter that like to stabilize the gun with the supporting hand thumb forward, you need to remember, to move it out of the way, because this thing fires from the bottom, and the cylinder gap blast will not do your thumb any favors, especially with a .357 round.

Other than that, it's a neat futuristic gun, worth having in a collection, if you can justify the high cost.

ontarget said:

Not at all. However some people on THR seem to get a big ego boost by telling the rest of us why our choices in firearms are inferior or impractical or cheap junk or whatever.
I've never understood how miserable someone must be to live such a contrarian life.

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I simply asked about whether the rhino was a practical firearm and what it is actually for. And then a few guys flip out and get angry about that.
I mean, I am entitled to my opinion and you are entitled to disagree with me.
And, I did say that if you want to buy one and enjoy it then you should.

Jeez, don't regard someone who questions your favorite firearms' wonderfullness as someone launching a personal attack on you.
I most assuredly am not. Lighten up.