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www.MKSChiappa.com
IT’S A
The Rhino will be available with
three different trigger actions, one being
lighter and easier to press than the next.
Chiappa’s president Ron Norton told
me that two of the trigger actions are
for competition only and require certain
types of primers, etc. These two trigger
actions are not for use in a gun that is
intended for personal security. At the
same time, Norton explained that Chiappa
understands there are a large number of
shooters who use revolvers for competitive
purposes and they want to make their
new design available to them as well, so a
competition-level trigger will be offered.
At first I thought the extreme
upward angle required to grip the gun
and engage the trigger face would inhibit
fast and accurate shooting but this was
not the case. In fact, the Rhino was almost
“intuitive” in how it felt in the hand.
Indents in each side of the frame also
help get the index finger on the trigger
face comfortably without having to over
extend. The Rhino also features an ability
to have the barrels changed, permitting the
Rhino to be adaptable to the field or as a
service/duty sidearm. With choices from
2- to 6-inch barrel lengths and varied sight
options, including tritium and fiber optic
sight blades that are removable, the Rhino
is a true multi-purpose handgun capable of
combative applications, scoring ten rings,
or taking game. None of these front sight
blades were yet available when I received
my test gun so I just did my old stand by
modification of painting the front sight
blade orange. This gave me a very familiar
sight picture, looking a lot like that on my
Glock pistol in configuration.
Featuring double- and single-action
capability, the single-action is actuated by
a hammer-cocking device that engages
the unexposed hammer to prepare to fire.
The hammer does not stay in a
cocked position, but returns upright. To
warn the shooter that they are handling a
cocked revolver, a red plunger protrudes
from the top of the revolver frame, which
is easy to see or feel in the event that one
is working in a low-light environment.