Rhino Handgun?

[oldfool]

"I handled a rhino a couple weeks ago."
"I don't believe you handled a Rhino at all."

That's about as close to calling someone an outright liar as it gets.
The guy coulda' shoulda' said why, I agree.
But there is way too much of this - somebody must be a liar going on here lately, because they don't like what I like. Say it ain't so.

People want "proof" that you are not a liar or part of some vast internet devious conspiracy unless you can prove to THEIR personal satisfaction that your own personal experience and opinion is what you say it is. We don't really need that.

You make really good points skt239, and do it really well; you don't need to call people you disagree with liars.

Me, pretty sure I own some guns some family & friends think are JUNK. But they manage to get through their day without telling me about it, and so could sirsloop. None of which makes them liars by omission, just makes 'em polite friends & family, and more fun to be around.

or, just shake hands and come out swinging

PS
ok, ok.. I do have one exception to that rule for myself (but it ain't 'da Rhino)
innocent NOT
(ain't right, no, but it's tough not to laugh out loud when you get to laughing too hard for your own good, it is)

I think the Rhino is a pretty keen cool factor thing, and it just might prove itself over the longer haul; the points in favor of strike me as pretty much on target. I have not handled one, and probably will not. But it just don't tinkle my wind chimes; that S&W 19-3 and SP-101 put 'em into full symphony mode, how it is. I ain't lying. Honest.

be well, shoot well and always mind your backdrop, both of you, skt239 and sirsloop
but be wary of shared range time together

 

[absinthe]

I've got a 4" Rhino. I enjoy shooting it and the felt recoil is really dramatically low. 38+P feels like 22 and 357 like 38.

That said, it's a light gun for its size and has complicated internals. I am concerned about reliability. I like it for a range gun, but I trust Rugers for HD/PD.

 

[oldfool]

by the way..
good to see you active here lately skt239
and welcome to THR sirsloop, stick around, there are kinder and gentler (and smarter) folk than me here, good company

 

[zoom6zoom]

The Mateba has almost the same bore axis position by the way - just for future references.

Hardly surprising. They were designed by the same guy.

 

[skt239]

Oldfool,

I should apologize because I was out of line. What I really meant by my comment was, by providing little to no info other than "it's junk" isn't really a good argument. If he had said something to the effect of...

"I handled a Rhino and the trigger was gritty, the lock up was loose and the cylinder was covered in machine marks. To me the it felt like pure junk"

That to me would be a fair description that everyone benefits from. However it's not my place to say who should post what and how. Again, to the poster, I apologize for my post and didn't mean to call you a liar even though I pretty much did.

Thanks for making that point, oldfool. I should keep in mind the old forum mantra, "think twice, post once".

 

[oldfool]

if I would learn to pay attention to my own free advice, stk239
I would be far far better off
innocent NOT

 

[shockwave]

My understanding is that the Rhino aims to solve two problems. The lower bore axis pushes the recoil more against the palm with less barrel snap, and the squared cylinder improves carry and concealability. Haven't held or shot one, so I can't comment on whether they actually do this, but that's the design concept.

And yes, like skt239 says, speed of follow-up shots really matters if you practice double taps.

 

[PabloJ]

You can view This handgun at http://www.mkschiappa.com . I think it's gonging to have a big futures. If you have commits on this Rhino,then have your say?

It handles much better then it looks but I'm not sure how it shoots because I haven't fired one. Having no desire to play with intricate Italian "toys" I would rather pay extra to get M&P R8.

 

[drunkensobriety]

Quote:
The Mateba has almost the same bore axis position by the way - just for future references.
Hardly surprising. They were designed by the same guy.

Woof - how the hell did I miss that one? Emilio Ghisoni did design both and then died in 2008 before the Rhino went into production. I think given the choice - I'd prefer a Mateba over a Rhino. In one aspect though i do like the Rhino: lower bore axis does decrease time between accurate follow up shots. More importantly: it decreases muzzle rise WITHOUT having to port the barrel.

Whenever I'm going to shoot a gun with a ported barrel - I wear double ear protection. I *hope* to never have to fire one without ear protection in a SD situation, even if I came out unscathed by a potential attacker I'd probably have serious hearing loss as a result.

 

[PabloJ]

The Rhino is improved version of Mateba.....you know easier and cheaper firearm to make.

 

[slow2run]

I will be happy when they find time to design a new frame for the 44 Rem mag and the 45 ACP, 45 long Colt and the 454 Casual? I hope it has better sights and longer barrels?** Note: Can you safely fire 10 mm ammo in their 40 S&W Gun?

 

[beag_nut]

There was a thread about the Rhino several months ago, I think on THR. At any rate, I think it's potentially a wonderful layout, though I don't like the internal mechanical complexity. I hope they do well in sales, if for no other reason that Ruger or S&W would come out with a simplified design to compete with them.
Again, it's a superior layout.

 

[OcelotZ3]

I really like my 5" Rhino. I'd like a Mateba but those are a bit difficult to find & expensive...

 

[slow2run]

Maybe someone in the know,could tell us how to make the Rhino action less complex or just make remarks?

 

[slow2run]

They make very good cars , boats and woman's in Italy, why not handguns ?

 

[NJG33]

On the Mateba note. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis have a new movie coming up called Looper there Gordon-Levitt plays the younger version of the Bruce Willis character. And one of the promo shots shows him holding a Mateba:
http://collider.com/joseph-gordon-levitt-looper-movie-images/153037/

 

[barnbwt]

On the Rhino note, I seem to recall a black 6" Rhino appeared in a music video for the Black Keys, "Howlin' for You" I believe. It was the weapon of a femme-fatale, in the action movie the video was spoofing.

TCB

 

[Rodentman]

I have one.



It was plagued with some horrible off-center light strikes...



My LGS sent it back for me. Came back worse. Went back again and they replaced the hand. Now it works fine.



If I could have only 1 revolver, this wouldn't be it, but since I am fortunate enough to be able to have several, I am glad to have it in my collection. It's fun to shoot.

 

[slow2run]

Any commits on firing a 10 mm in the 40 S&W Rhino? Note: someone on this topic, said they mists a good bet by not in clouding it?

 

[Confederate]

I just can't get used to the Rhino...sorry. A woman may be able to plow the ground and pull a handcart, but there's more to what I'm looking for than that! The gun is butt ugly, folks, plain and simple. It may not recoil as much, but I don't think it'll equal a S&W 686 in accuracy. In fact, I just got a magazine by Massad Ayoob, and he indicated that the Rhino keyholed some of their rounds a little bit.

Looking at the finish, I don't think you could call it "bluing" by any stretch. The stainless one would be my first choice if I were going to buy one. I might buy one if they were substantially cheaper than Smiths or Rugers, but I think they're asking as much or maybe more. In short, fellas, this thing looks like the Statue of Liberty in a bikini! It's a good concept, but I just don't have an incentive to buy one.

 

[barnbwt]

Nice sight-gag in that first pic, Rodentman

I wish someone I know would buy one of these (before I eventually succumb to my weaker nature and buy one) so I could try it out. I don't purport to have the info to make a real review, but I take the opportunity to check out any Rhino I come across, and of the 8 or so I've seen they have been:

First and foremost, overpriced by the retailer (above MSRP)
Small grip, high in my hand (granted I'm used to a 5" N-frame)
Comfortable to hold and point, with a really wide trigger that some like
More rough tooling marks than I am accustomed to seeing on revolvers, at places like the cylinder gap where they shouldn't be
A loose extractor star on several (the clockwork doesn't rely on the star like S&W, though) which looks to be pinned to the ejector rod. On one, I could actually get the star to get hung up on the timing studs as it went down
A consistently tough single action cock, at this point I believe because the cocking lever is so short; bad leverage
A fairly smooth and consistent double action pull
Slight misalignment of forward barrel shroud from frame; for a slab sided gun, they beg to be lined up perfectly, or it's a bit of an eyesore
I've never noticed bad timing alignment, but I'm just using a flashlight to check if the gun is safe to use at each chamber
VERY light-for-its build (aluminum frame) for all lengths
Decent enough surface finish, especially the clear-anodized (some call it "hard chrome" though:banghead

For whatever reason, the DA stubbies seem to get the best rep, and the mechanisms seemed to me to the smoothest on the short pistols. I don't know why, it makes no sense to me. I would think the barrel/shroud would be the only difference between the guns, but maybe they have different trigger groups or spring strengths. I really like these guns, but they're priced like Smith's, and seem to have the quality of Taurus'. I suppose it's a bit greedy of me to expect top quality out of such a new manufacturer, even at a premium

I hope someone who's actually bought/shot one of these can confirm or deny the pros and cons I've listed, and more importantly, if you find they actually impact your enjoyment of this very cool pistol.

 

[qcsmitty]

You can view This handgun at http://www.mkschiappa.com . I think it's gonging to have a big futures. If you have commits on this Rhino,then have your say?

 

[MisterNoisy]

Nice sight-gag in that first pic, Rodentman

I wish someone I know would buy one of these (before I eventually succumb to my weaker nature and buy one) so I could try it out. I don't purport to have the info to make a real review, but I take the opportunity to check out any Rhino I come across, and of the 8 or so I've seen they have been:

First and foremost, overpriced by the retailer (above MSRP)
Small grip, high in my hand (granted I'm used to a 5" N-frame)
Comfortable to hold and point, with a really wide trigger that some like
More rough tooling marks than I am accustomed to seeing on revolvers, at places like the cylinder gap where they shouldn't be
A loose extractor star on several (the clockwork doesn't rely on the star like S&W, though) which looks to be pinned to the ejector rod. On one, I could actually get the star to get hung up on the timing studs as it went down
A consistently tough single action cock, at this point I believe because the cocking lever is so short; bad leverage
A fairly smooth and consistent double action pull
Slight misalignment of forward barrel shroud from frame; for a slab sided gun, they beg to be lined up perfectly, or it's a bit of an eyesore
I've never noticed bad timing alignment, but I'm just using a flashlight to check if the gun is safe to use at each chamber
VERY light-for-its build (aluminum frame) for all lengths
Decent enough surface finish, especially the clear-anodized (some call it "hard chrome" though:banghead

For whatever reason, the DA stubbies seem to get the best rep, and the mechanisms seemed to me to the smoothest on the short pistols. I don't know why, it makes no sense to me. I would think the barrel/shroud would be the only difference between the guns, but maybe they have different trigger groups or spring strengths. I really like these guns, but they're priced like Smith's, and seem to have the quality of Taurus'. I suppose it's a bit greedy of me to expect top quality out of such a new manufacturer, even at a premium

I hope someone who's actually bought/shot one of these can confirm or deny the pros and cons I've listed, and more importantly, if you find they actually impact your enjoyment of this very cool pistol.

Barnbwt, I haven't had issues with the star or noticed any tooling issues on my Rhino. Your other comments are pretty much spot-on relative to my experience, though - in particular, the grip could really stand to be bigger overall. Since the aftermarket for these guns is nonexistent, I've taken measurements and tracings of the grip frame and will ultimately be trying my hand at improving the grip myself. While I don't have an issue with the cocking lever being tough to pull, many of the people I've let try it out at the range have - I chalk it up to me having piano hands, so it's easy to hook my thumb over the leading edge of the lever and pull it back. Pricing is highly variable, but I felt I got a decent deal on mine (though the shop had to special-order it).

All of that said, I'm a huge fan - my 60DS is easily the most accurate non-rimfire handgun I own, and a hell of a head-turner at the range.

I usually shoot 158gr .38 +P through it, and it's like firing .22WMR - just a peach and something that you could easily shoot all day with no fatigue. .357 is still pretty stout, but far more comfortable than the same cartridge through any other revolver I've had the pleasure of firing.

Obligatory pics:

 

[slow2run]

I check galleryofguns.com, doesn't have them in stock.

 

[sirsloop]

Fit and finish felt loose and cheap
Da trigger was gritty, heavy, and uneven
Cylinder release and opening the cylinder felt like a matchbox car toy car hood

Sorry guys I just didn't like it