Possibly looking into a Chiappa Rhino 357....

[45/30-06OKIE]

Possibly looking into saving up for this beast, anyone have first hand knowledge or recently shot one these Chiappa Rhinos?

And I already checked the two wholesaler sites we have accounts with and they don't carry Chiappa products sadly.... Cause I'd also like their new M1 carbine that shoots 9mm.
Edit, Chattanooga does infact carry Chiappa products after all. Just doesn't have much of the cool stuff in stock.
Apparently MSRP is 1500 so 1189 sounds almost reasonable current market considered.

 

[UncleEd]

Merely an observation: The forcing cone/cylinder gap is awfully
close to where many shooters' fingers might be.

 

[Pat Riot]

@270OKIE my LGS always has at least 3 or 4 Chiappa Rhinos in stock all the time. I have noticed prices for the black or dark gray 357 revolvers run around $1100. The nickel plated ones are usually $100 more. Also the 9mm models run around $900.

 

[InTheSwamp]

Buy a Ruger, please.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I am also pondering a 6in one as I like the top rail to easily put a dot on with my aging eyes. Already have plenty of "standard" revolvers so looking for something different in this case.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Buy a Ruger, please.

I'm also considering a 686 Smith as well... any Rugers I should look out for specifically?

 

[InTheSwamp]

I'm also considering a 686 Smith as well... any Rugers I should look out for specifically?

Match Champion.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

No input on the Rhino, but Ive handled a couple of the Chiappa 9mm "M1" carbines you mentioned and they seemed like really cheap plasticky poo.
Iver Johnson made a few 9mm Carbines in the day and they were ok-ish. Of course, several manufacturers had made .22 "Carbines" with varying levels of realism and quality.
For good or ill, that platform really only works with the .30 cartridge. If you bite the bullet and get the real thing, they are super fun and rewarding little rifles.

 

[unspellable]

The thing on the top rear that looks like a hammer ain't. It has a concealed hammer and what you see is a cocking lever. Due to the mechanical advantage (or lack thereof) it's quite stiff to cock for single action. Other than that I have no complaints, although I haven't gotten around to shooting it yet. Chiappa makes some cheap stuff, but the rhino looks to be well made.

 

[sgmdcw]

Can't go wrong with a 686. The Rino just seems like an attempt to be different. Just my opinion though.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Having dabbled in the Rhinos, I give them mostly positive reviews. Tried in our 'Snubby' league, for carry guns, a Smith 66 2.5, and a Rhino. The Smith has an infinitely better trigger (okay, worked on, by me); the Rhino's fiber optic sights, and really good, stock, double action are a help. The Rhino really tames the recoil, especially with real magnum loads, not used for league. Our indoor league is better with fiber optics.
The Rhino is something altogether different; I scored great deals on a 9mm (new) and the .357 (used). Give one a try, they are entertaining.
Moon

 

[halfmoonclip]

I'm also considering a 686 Smith as well... any Rugers I should look out for specifically?

The 686 is a wonderful revo; wish I'd kept a couple older ones.
Never try to talk anyone out of one of these, but the Rhino is entirely different from whatever you think you know about revos.
Moon

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

The 686 is a wonderful revo; wish I'd kept a couple older ones.
Never try to talk anyone out of one of these, but the Rhino is entirely different from whatever you think you know about revos.
Moon

Yeah I keep telling myself if I ever get a "normal" revolver it needs to be a Smith.... So yeah I am kinda wishy washy... I have a Pietta SAA 45 Colt that is nice to shoot with powder puff loads FYI.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Oh I'm dumb apparently Chattanooga does infact carry Chiappa products but doesn't have Rhinos in stock at this time. However, they do carry a fair amount of Smith and Wesson 357/44 magnum revolvers... hmmm so I might need to ask people wether or not I should get a 44 mag or a 357...

 

[Pat Riot]

A friend of mine bought a Rhino and an S&W 686 L-Comp. He likes both of them very much. These are his first revolvers. He’s always been a Springfield Armory semiauto guy so his revolver experience is limited.
I like that there are companies like Chiappa , Rossi, Taurus, Rock Island, etc. making revolvers. I recall 10 or 15 years ago hearing gun writers and other people talk of the demise of revolvers.
Just goes to show you that revolvers have their niche even today.

 

[Tallball]

I shot a cylinder through one a few years ago. My dim recollection was that it was not really THAT different from shooting other revolvers. YMMV.

If they were reasonably priced, I would own one. $1,100 is just too much compared to the options. For instance, my Ruger Match Champion was $900 lightly used (earlier this year).

You could get a nice Smith or Ruger, NiB, instead of the Rhino for similar money. Maybe a little less?

Or a nice used Smith or Ruger for several hundred less.

If someone didn't own a DA revolver and wanted to try them, I'd recommend a nice used Taurus (I particularly like the ones from the late 80's and early 90's). If the trigger's a little stiff, replace the springs. It will be more accurate than most shooters and is a pretty typical example of a 357 DA. I got one for $300-something OTD in the last couple of months.

If someone already had a slew of revolvers and wanted a Rhino for something different... totally get that. Kind of an odd choice for a first DA revolver, though.

Just my humble opinions.

 

[JmacD]

I’ll not give my opinion on the chippa (similar to your opinion of Hornady dies likely). My two cents is go for the 686. Or a gp100 or super redhawk(not as classy imho but built like a tank)

 

[CajunBass]

The only contact with a Rhino I've ever had was some years ago, I held one at the LGS. I will say it was comfortable, which surprised me.

 

[Targa]

Ahh the Rhino. With exception of maybe a Taurus 85 no-view/view, it is possibly the ugliest, strangest revolver I could ever imagine and I love it, I say get the thing!! With that said, I am the guy on the hunt for the Ultra Lite 85 no view so I would be very hesitant to consider my opinion about anything...

 

[reddog81]

I've been interested in trying one out for years. It's not one you see very often at the shooting range. I've heard mixed reviews on the recoil. Some people say firing from the bottom barrel makes a huge difference and I've heard others say the difference is barely noticeable.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Some people say firing from the bottom barrel makes a huge difference and I've heard others say the difference is barely noticeable.

Firing the full charge wadcutters, from the 66/Rhino, with about the same barrel length, it does make a difference. And the 66 is heavier. With WFO magnums, the low bore axis really makes a difference. Buddy has the short, fixed sight version, and even that handles magnums well.
Now, do they look like an artist's rendition of a gun, drawn by a guy who knows nothing about guns, yeah, that's what they look like. But they actually feel good in the hand.
Need to find a holster for the .357 Magnum version; that can be a challenge.
Moon

 

[MrBorland]

they do carry a fair amount of Smith and Wesson 357/44 magnum revolvers... hmmm so I might need to ask people wether or not I should get a 44 mag or a 357...

Depends on what floats your boat. If you're a recoil junkie, want a hunting or steel silhouette revolver, go with .44mag. If you're going to shoot a lot, shoot rapid fire DA, want to keep ammo costs relatively more affordable, want less recoil, keep it for HD, etc., go with .357mag (and shoot .38spl through it).

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I shot a cylinder through one a few years ago. My dim recollection was that it was not really THAT different from shooting other revolvers. YMMV.

If they were reasonably priced, I would own one. $1,100 is just too much compared to the options. For instance, my Ruger Match Champion was $900 lightly used (earlier this year).

You could get a nice Smith or Ruger, NiB, instead of the Rhino for similar money. Maybe a little less?

Or a nice used Smith or Ruger for several hundred less.

If someone didn't own a DA revolver and wanted to try them, I'd recommend a nice used Taurus (I particularly like the ones from the late 80's and early 90's). If the trigger's a little stiff, replace the springs. It will be more accurate than most shooters and is a pretty typical example of a 357 DA. I got one for $300-something OTD in the last couple of months.

If someone already had a slew of revolvers and wanted a Rhino for something different... totally get that. Kind of an odd choice for a first DA revolver, though.

Just my humble opinions.

Yeah I know 1200 is kinda steep for a odd duck of a gun lol. We can get a Smith Model 69 (combat magnum I think?) for $769 FFL cost.

Or a 629 Deluxe for $889.


I will add the only reason I even am considering the Rhino is due to the design to be honest. Like I saw a guy open carrying one at the gunshow this weekend and that's what made me think about them. I've never seen one in the wild before this weekend lol.

 

[trackskippy]

Merely an observation: The forcing cone/cylinder gap is awfully
close to where many shooters' fingers might be.

If you shoot thumbs forward, you definitely want to watch where your offhand thumb is. The cylinder gap and that "chamber" is right there above your thumb if you get it too far ahead, and it will let you know very quickly that you dont want it there.

The thing on the top rear that looks like a hammer ain't. It has a concealed hammer and what you see is a cocking lever. Due to the mechanical advantage (or lack thereof) it's quite stiff to cock for single action. Other than that I have no complaints, although I haven't gotten around to shooting it yet. Chiappa makes some cheap stuff, but the rhino looks to be well made.

I only ever cocked mine a couple of times, as I dont normally shoot SA. I didnt find it all that hard to thumb back, but it is definitely not the nice, easy, smooth cocking of a S&W. I found the Chiappa's DA trigger to be good though and it shoots well.

As far as the "cheap stuff", the OP mentioned their 9mm M1 Carbine. I havent shot one, but I did get to look at and handle one, and I wasn't at all impressed. Cheap would be one description of it. If you want an M1 Carbine, get an M1 Carbine.

I've been interested in trying one out for years. It's not one you see very often at the shooting range. I've heard mixed reviews on the recoil. Some people say firing from the bottom barrel makes a huge difference and I've heard others say the difference is barely noticeable.

I dont think the recoil is really any different, just that the impulse is a little different, and there is less obvious muzzle rise. With the barrel at 6 o'clock, its more in line with the arms, the impulse feels more straight back with less flip, and I always felt it more in my shoulder sockets the next day. Where with a traditional barrel at 12 o'clock, the muzzle wants to roll/flip up and you tend to take that in your arms ahead of your elbows. At least thats how it seems to me.

 

[trackskippy]

Ive always got my eye out for one of the 69's with a 2.5" (or whatever it is) barrel. All of them Ive ever seen, have had the 4".

Personally, if youre going that route, the 629 would probably be the better choice. A bit more meat in the gun and its a six shooter.