Not your Grandfather’s Six Shooter 

By Zach Bianchi 

I have only been shooting handguns for a few years now and in that time, I’ve stocked my Spika safe with 9mms, 1911s and even a .22 Ruger Charger, all modern marvels of technology and engineering. However, I discovered there was something missing from my collection. I needed something with character, something that sets itself apart from all the black steel and polymer frames. I realised I needed the rugged reliability and western charm of the world renowned .357 Magnum revolver. 

The iconic platform has been in use since the early 1800s and is still ever popular in sports target shooting here in Australia. Those that know me, understand that my taste in firearms is somewhat eclectic. I tend to gravitate to the more unique and innovative firearms that are available. My first wheel gun needed to be something that was reliable and accurate for competition, but it also needed to stand out from the crowd whilst still being aesthetically pleasing. Pretty soon my search landed me on the unquestionably unique, Chiappa Rhino 60DS chambered in .357 Magnum. 

After reaching out to the good folks at TSA (Tasco Sales Australia) and expressing my admiration for the design of the Chiappa Rhino, they offered to send me their demo model that I could try before I buy my own; I didn’t waste a moment and jumped at the opportunity. Before I knew it my PTA was approved and the Rhino 60DS was waiting for me at my local gun shop to be collected and taken straight to the range. 

The .357 Magnum chambering allows the use of the softer shooting .38 Special rounds, which are the same physical dimensions (aside from case length) but have a much smaller powder load resulting in reduced power and recoil. I picked up a box of 38s for the range, but I had to grab a box of .357 Mag too, right? The PMC Bronze 158-grain jacketed soft points leave the muzzle at 1471 feet per second, with 759 foot pound of energy; these would really test the recoil control and accuracy of both myself and the Chiappa Rhino. 

After arriving at the range and setting my target at the 10m mark, I found myself studying and admiring the traditional yet somewhat futuristic look of the barrel and frame of the Rhino. The stainless steel is softened by a subtle matte finish and complimented by a warm timber grip, which finishes a little shorter than you would expect but gives you enough purchase to feel confident behind the gun. The angle of the grip aligns your forearm perfectly to maximise recoil absorption and minimise muzzle rise. The most notable and ingenious design feature of the Chiappa Rhino is the fact that it fires from the bottom of the cylinder, making the six-inch barrel’s bore axis incredibly low and drastically improves recoil control. 

Being a traditional six-shot revolver, I loaded the first cylinder and decided to test myself in double action mode. Although the pull weight is heavy in double action, I found the trigger very smooth and didn’t have as much travel as I expected. I was accompanied by other shooters at the range with their various Glocks and CZs chambered in 9mm, which filled the range with a consistent ‘pop, pop, pop’. I thoroughly enjoyed breaking that monotony with the .357 Rhino’s commanding ‘BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!’ Something that will never fail to put a smile on my face. 

The recoil of the relatively high-powered .357 Magnum rounds was so efficiently mitigated by the low bore axis and refined grip angle that not only did all six shots hit the target, but they also landed within the 9 and 10 score rings! Not bad for my first time shooting a revolver, especially one in this calibre. 

I decided to fine tune my group size and fire the next string in single action mode by manually cocking the hammer back, which rotates the cylinder and sets the trigger ready to fire. This is when I discovered yet another innovative and unique design feature of the Rhino 60DS. The external ‘hammer’ is in fact a snag-resistant cocking device that returns to position once the internal hammer is set. The entire firing mechanism is completely enclosed within the frame of the gun, reducing the number of external moving parts. There is also a visible cocked status indicator beside the cocking lever, which is a nice touch. 

Firing in single action mode, I was treated to a very light trigger pull with absolutely no trigger creep. As a result, my accuracy increased and I found five out of six shots landing in the centre ring, a testament to the crisp break of the Rhino’s trigger and the smooth operation of the internal firing mechanism. I found the bright fibre optic front and rear sights on the Rhino 60DS an absolute joy to use at the range and the rear sight is very easily adjustable. Although the Rhino has a top rail for optics, I have no intention of adding a red dot, as it is simply not needed. I feel that mounting electronic sights on the Rhino would interfere with the traditional aesthetics of this modern engineering masterpiece. There is also a picatinny rail found below the barrel for mounting other accessories such as a light, bipod or a foregrip if you feel that way inclined. 

The Chiappa Rhino weighs about 930 grams, which is very typical for a large revolver and feels right at home in the hand. For comparison, this is considerably lighter than most steel 1911 format handguns such as the CZ Shadow 2, which is 1.3kg. 

I am a huge fan of the Chiappa Rhino’s low bore axis design, resulting in amazing recoil control and minimal muzzle rise. Aesthetically, the team at Chiappa have nailed it. I love the unusual, futuristic twist on this iconic platform that draws interest at the range and stands out from all my other firearms. I think the Chiappa Rhino 60DS is great for those who are looking for maximum control and accuracy for competitions while also having a fun, unique looking range gun that turns heads and is a great conversation starter. 

Although somewhat expensive, retailing at around $2299 (shop around for the best deal), the accuracy and recoil control is outstanding. Time will tell on the longevity of the internal firing mechanism and the ease of access to those components but that is the price you pay for such an innovative and well thought out design. 

Would I buy it? Absolutely, without a doubt! This happy shooter gives it a solid 9/10. 

Chiappa Rhino 60DS specs: 

Barrel Length: 6 inches (152mm) 

Overall Weight: 930g 

Cylinder Capacity: 6 Shot 

Frame Material: 7075-T6 aluminium alloy with steel barrel and cylinder 

Sights: Front and rear fibre optic sights with adjustable rear sights