Chippa Rhino .357

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  • DonH

    Well-Known Member
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    0   0   0
    Dec 29, 2013
    45
    6
    Mandeville, LA
    I'm considering buying the 30DS (3" .357) to carry in my car. Nearly all of the videos I've viewed speak VERY highly of it's functionality: Very little lift and high accuracy. Could I get some opinions, please?
     

    RaleighReloader

    Well-Known Member
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    33   0   0
    Jan 30, 2015
    1,177
    48
    Baton Rouge, LA
    I don't own a Rhino, but I've had two occasions to shoot them.

    My impression was that it was a perfectly good gun, but not the "revolver killer" that it may look like at first. The muzzle rise wasn't all that different than a comparable traditional revolver. Single action break was superb, but the trigger was *very* heave in double action. With the same ammo I was shooting the same groups with the half-dozen other common revolvers I had brought with me (S&W 65, S&W 686, Ruger SP-101, etc.).

    Some time ago I watched a few YouTube videos of a Rhino being disassembled, and it looked inordinately complicated (and internally quite different than most other revolvers). I'm generally a fan of "tried and trued" technologies, so this was a strike against it for me.

    If I was looking for a truck gun I'd find myself one of the old police-issue S&W Model 10's that can be found at gun shows. Those guns benefit from over a hundred years of progressive technological development, and are as tried-and-proven as one could possibly hope for.

    Mike
     

    DonH

    Well-Known Member
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    0   0   0
    Dec 29, 2013
    45
    6
    Mandeville, LA
    They are expensive, but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. When I first saw a picture of one I thought it was ugly as sin, but it's growing on me. Of course I did have surgery on my right eye last year that left me with only 50/50 vision.
     

    DonH

    Well-Known Member
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    0   0   0
    Dec 29, 2013
    45
    6
    Mandeville, LA
    I'm surprised about the muzzle rise, that's what nearly every YouTube video raves about. There really isn't much difference between the Rhino and "normal" revolvers?
     

    DonH

    Well-Known Member
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    0   0   0
    Dec 29, 2013
    45
    6
    Mandeville, LA
    Presently I'm carrying a 3" Ruger GP100 in my car, it's a great gun. It's the claimed meek muzzle flip that appeals to me about the Rhino. Maybe I'm just bored right now and looking for another toy. Hey, aren't we always finding excuses to blow more money.
     

    RaleighReloader

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    33   0   0
    Jan 30, 2015
    1,177
    48
    Baton Rouge, LA
    I'm surprised about the muzzle rise, that's what nearly every YouTube video raves about. There really isn't much difference between the Rhino and "normal" revolvers?

    Well, that was my experience. In both cases I was shooting .38 SWC rounds, which admittedly weren't the hot .357 defensive rounds that someone might load into a self-defense truck gun. All the same, I didn't feel a perceptible difference in the muzzle rise.

    My only real criticism of the Rhino was the double-action trigger pull. All in all it's a perfectly good revolver, but I didn't see enough of an advantage to justify its extra cost—especially when compared to some of the excellent Rugers and Smith & Wessons that are tried-and-proven.

    Mike
     

    323MAR

    Well-Known Member
    Silver Member
    Rating - 100%
    24   0   0
    Jan 15, 2014
    2,484
    83
    New Oeleans LA
    Presently I'm carrying a 3" Ruger GP100 in my car, it's a great gun. It's the claimed meek muzzle flip that appeals to me about the Rhino. Maybe I'm just bored right now and looking for another toy. Hey, aren't we always finding excuses to blow more money.

    It looks like you are already good to go! That Ruger wheel gun is as reliable and rugged as it gets! Bet your life on it!
     

    Magdump

    Don’t troll me bro!
    Rating - 100%
    163   0   0
    Dec 31, 2013
    9,396
    113
    Hammond, Louisiana
    I don't own a Rhino, but I've had two occasions to shoot them.

    My impression was that it was a perfectly good gun, but not the "revolver killer" that it may look like at first. The muzzle rise wasn't all that different than a comparable traditional revolver. Single action break was superb, but the trigger was *very* heave in double action. With the same ammo I was shooting the same groups with the half-dozen other common revolvers I had brought with me (S&W 65, S&W 686, Ruger SP-101, etc.).



    Mike
    I gotta agree. Truthfully, my bud’s S&W 686 in .357 is the sweeter shooter! And cost him less than the Rhino. He may be willing to part with his Rhino though. I’ll try to ask him this week.
    I know how it is when you have your sights set on something in particular, so I’ll just offer my opinion. I’m not a huge revolver fan especially, I like most guns and some of my revolvers are dear to me and I enjoy the few I own. I did not feel the Rhino was anywhere near the ultimate shooter for a revolver. It was accurate enough. The single action was nice but nowhere near my 29-3, the double action even less so, recoil and muzzel rise didn’t feel noticeably less than other full-size .357 revolvers I’ve shot. The gun did seem a tad heavy for the barrel length and caliber. My impression of his impression was he’s a little sorry he spent that much money on it.
     

    jdindadell

    Not Banned!!!
    Rating - 100%
    267   0   1
    Feb 14, 2010
    4,200
    63
    Slidell
    I have a snubby rhino in 357. It seems well made, not sure if it is made as well as a smith...

    Bit pricey to be used as a truck gun, used glock all the way for that!
     

    DonH

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 29, 2013
    45
    6
    Mandeville, LA
    Thanks for the advise, Magdump. My wife has a 4" 686 that has been trigger-worked.... it's a fine piece of equipment. That 29-3 is a sweet gun. I have a nickel plated 5" model 27 that I paid $140 for in 1973. Has less than 50 rounds fired through it. The trigger action is very smooth.
     

    DonH

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 29, 2013
    45
    6
    Mandeville, LA
    I couldn't be any happier with it. A dream to shoot.....In response to 323MAR's Ruger wheel gun suggestion.
     
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    DonH

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 29, 2013
    45
    6
    Mandeville, LA
    A friend told me earlier today that he bought a Rhino 5 years ago and uses it for a paperweight. Sent it to the factory 3 times for jamming problems and they can't seem to fix it. It's nonsense they haven't offered him a new one. Pure greed!
     
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