Chiappa Rhino 60DS Review: Low-Bore .44 Magnum on a Bigger Frame

The short version: Chiappa's Rhino 60DS puts the brand's low-bore-axis revolver design on a larger L-Frame so it can handle full-power .44 Magnum, and reviewer William Bell came away impressed with it as a field gun, despite a few quirks.

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The Rhino's signature trait is a barrel that lines up with the bottom chamber of the cylinder rather than the top, an idea that goes back to the 1997 Mateba Model 6. The first Rhino launched at the 2010 SHOT Show, and the 60DS adds a beefed-up frame and a larger hexagonal steel cylinder for the .44 Magnum. The barrel shroud and frame are 7075-T6 aluminum, and the hammer is internal, cocked with an external lever.

Bell tested a 6-inch, matte black gun topped with a Holosun red dot and fired more than 100 full-power rounds. He measured a 3.44 lb single-action pull and an 8.09 lb double-action pull, and his best five-shot group was 1.15 inches with CorBon 240-grain JHP. He believes the low bore axis does reduce recoil and muzzle flip somewhat, but notes the gun is still no plinker.

The flaws matter at a $1,470 MSRP: the cylinder sometimes failed to rotate in single action, the large, sharp-edged cylinder release left him with a blood blister, and the short ejector stroke means pulling empties by hand. Bell sees it as a hunting or silhouette revolver rather than a carry gun.

Key specs

• Action: DA/SA revolver
• Chambering: .44 Magnum, six-shot cylinder
• Barrel length: 6 inches; overall length: 11 inches
• Weight (empty): 46.4 oz
• Sights: green fiber-optic adjustable rear, red fiber-optic front
• Finish: matte black PVD; Hogue over-molded rubber grips
• MSRP: $1,470

Summary by GunWinner based on reporting by Athlon Outdoors. Deal links are affiliate links; GunWinner may earn a commission. Prices change quickly, so confirm at checkout.