Shooting the Chiappa Rhino .44 Magnum

We took to the range today to compare and contrast the new Chiappa Rhino 60DS chambered in .44 magnum against the well-known Ruger Redhawk. The .44 magnum round itself is one that can be difficult to shoot and enjoy. Enter: the .44 Special cartridge, which creates a similar scenario of shooting .38 Specials as opposed to .357 magnums, the result being a more pleasurable and inexpensive round. 

Both pistols performed well, especially with the .44 Special. Yes, not only was the Rhino the preferred model, but our grip was likewise preferred. The stock grip, well-made by Hogue, sports finger grooves and is made of rubber. However, it lacked the same features that prompted our initial venture designing Rhino grips, which are present in Grip 44; let's review each of them.

1. 1911-style grip angle. We are not Glock shooters anymore. Sure, they're reliable and ubiquitous, but their most glaring flaw is the "European-style" grip angle, which is too sharp and uncomfortable and far from natural. We want to be able to quickly and naturally point and shoot what we intend. We prefer not to point at a target on the wall and shoot the ceiling because we have not adjusted our natural grip to the Glock's angle. The angle of the stock Rhino grip felt even sharper.

The 1911 offers that fantastic 17.5 degree grip angle that allows a shooter to simply naturally point, shoot, and hit their intended target. This was feature number one in our grips and transforms the Rhino into a more familiar and formidable firearm.

2. Beavertail. Adding to the familiarity of a 1911 or an automatic pistol, a beavertail was added. While the Rhino's bottom-cylinder-shooting feature greatly improves its overall shootability, our beavertail compliments and completes it, further reducing recoil and muzzle flip.

3. Contours. Accounting for the several hand shapes, sizes, and preferences that handle a Rhino was rather challenging. We got prototypes into several hands. We created more than one hundred prototypes, the result being a rear palm swell that contours the hand. When paired with the beavertail, the shooter gets a lock-in grip, an extension of the arm.

4. Grip texture. Printing texture that is aggressive and comfortable--ensuring it's not too aggressive or spiky but can handle all-day shooting without slipping--is another tricky task. Like our contours, we prototyped several variations, found the right recipe, and wrapped it high and low around the grip.

The Rhino was very accurate and easy to use. Given that it's our fourth Rhino, yes, it was also familiar. It was also, however, needing some break-in. At times the trigger stuck to the rear, but that is somewhat to be expected, or at least is our experience. Our oldest Rhino is definitely the smoothest. It may have been the particular magnum rounds we were using, but the casings swelled in the cylinder, requiring a screwdriver to punch them out. The ejector rod was a tad short, only capable of pushing casings out halfway, requiring the shooter to pop them out the rest of the way. 

All in all, it's our new favorite .44 magnum. We prefer it over the Ruger Redhawk, Blackhawk, and the Desert Eagle. And yes, a major component of that preference is our grip. Shoot on. Boom!