Rhino Arms
https://www.rhinoarms.com/
Tactical shotguns exist. Some are even highly functional. But an AR lower with a truly modular shotgun upper has been elusive. The fully functional, magazine-fed 12 gauge AR-patterned shotgun has become something of a holy grail. The most successful versions to date have employed specialized ammo. But The Rhino just may change the way everyone thinks about tactical shotguns.
Rhino Arms brought a prototype to this year’s SHOT Show. Its built a magazine that will reliably feed 12 gauge shot shells in through an AR-10 lower. Standard 12 gauge shells. With rims. Designing this has been the biggest hurdle for arms makers to overcome. The new shotgun upper is built over its AR-10 lower and has all of the features its normal line of VV series of rifles it manufactures. The new upper will have an adjustable gas system to allow the user to set it for different loads.
The idea was to make a rifle and shotgun combination for Law Enforcement use. An agency could buy these combos and get more versatility from one registered lower. By pushing out two pins you can swap between a .308 or the 12 gauge. Long range? No problem. Close quarters, or breaching? The Rhino does that, too. It would also be easy to swap over to less-than-lethal shotgun loads.
Rhino Arms hopes to have these ready to go by August. It will offer a standalone shotgun that will run an estimated $2,800 and a combo .308 rifle with the shotgun upper for $5,000.
I don’t know a whole lot about the AR 10. – 12 gauge , with 4 – chokes, and 2 — 12 round clips and I didn’t pay near what I been hearing. Maybe I bought a generic. Everybody said I got a good deal. Would like someone else’s. Opinion. Paid 395.00 plays 5.99. Shipping and handling.’ total was 400.99. Hope I got one that will not fall apart or desolve when getting wet.!! Lol
Atlantic Arms sells the BR-99. It’s based off the AR-15 and is just over $500…
So, it’s been a year. Where are these things?
Look at the cellular phone cost 20 years ago and compare with now. Everything depending on quantity, the higher the demand the lower is the price. Same goes to other AR manufacturer, if Govt. want to buy 1000,000 pieces price is much below $1,000.- or even lower than $700.-
Like their idea if it really work well.
Look at the cellular phone cost 20 years ago and compare with now. Everything depending on quantity, the higher the demand the lower is the price. Same goes to other AR manufacturer, if Govt. want to buy 1000,000 pieces price is much below $1,000.- or even lower than $700.-
Like their idea if it really work well.
Yeah because you yuppies always find yourselves in tactical situations. You are more than likely volunteer fireman or video game nerds! Just saying…
Y’all are forgetting the export market, particularly in countries where rifles are controlled and shotguns aren’t. Buying with controlled currency. The Saiga is a turd. By the time you “fix” a Saiga what do you have in it? Price is high for sure but we’ll soon see won’t we.
All the talk of ‘practicality’ and ‘overpriced’ is making me laugh. It smacks of class envy.
My McMillan Tac-50 cost $10,000 and fires rounds that cost near $5.00 each.
Is it ‘practical?’ Not in any way except as a very cool device that, if called upon, can produce devastating long range firepower. Is it ‘overpriced?’ Like ‘The Most Interesting Man in the World’ would say: “I do not know what that means…”
You want a used Chevy Cobalt? Buy it. You want a Ferrari? Buy it? Can’t afford it? Too bad.
Those of you complaining about the price of this very cool shotgun should just stick to your Mossberg 500’s, and leave the big boy toys to the rest of us.
If you want to overpay for something we can make for 1200 you can be the big shot who overpays for everything because your not resourceful enough to make it just keep handing people like me your money I would love to sell you a 1200 gun for 5000 …so many suckers
One other thing, as far as design… Inserting a magazine full of shotgun shells would be a lot faster reload than having to shove individual shells into a mag tube in a hot situation so there is that… I wonder what the mag capacity is?
Yep, way to high for the average citizen but then, I’m sure it takes a ton of R&D to develop, then build the machinery and such to fabricate, and the overhead, insurance, etc. These folks have to spend a lot to make a profit. Things work out, prices come down. I’ve always thought $1200 for a S&W .357 seemed high, not to mention some of the high-end Kimber’s, etc.
But now you factor in the millions (billions) of Federal dollars being put into local PD’s, sheriff’s, and so on to establish whatever it is they’re trying to establish and they can afford it.
They also mention the AR-10 platform… I guess those of us with a DPMS are out of luck even if they were affordable.
I don’t think the change option is valid for quick-change in a hot situation. It makes more sense for a team to configure their arms profile before going into action. How much is planning worth guys? Plenty; if you listen to the experts or have any common sense.
For the money you could have a an excellent 7.62 Nato semi-auto rifle or carbine and an excellent semi-auto shotgun with extended mag. There are plenty of short barrel 7.62s that that are accurate enough for sniper work under 300 meters and can serve as assualt weapons as well.
After thinking about this, to me, the only way that this combo enabling system makes sense is for the non-LEO shooter that wants the capability for whatever his reasons are. At this point he would be most likely be looking for something that makes economic sense.
I almost think we are now faced with a situation where we are being given way too much choice just as a way soak up money. Even if I were the weapons officer for an assault unit I don’t think that I would go for this option as there are just too many ways to satisfy the need with out the cost (no matter what my budget) and to satisfy that need with a choice that makes much more sense. Then again is there really a need for this option.
However, this Rhino Upper does make perfect sense for the hobbiest who want to collect as many options as possible just to see if he can do it and if it works…
I just don’t see a professional need for this. My opinion only, and I have been known to be wrong – occassionally.
AR 10????? Are we talking about something that will fit a real Armalite lower??? I doubt it. Once I dumped that wimpy .308 for a .338 Federal I finally had something. Now that all the wackos are killing people with shotguns instead of 5.56mm’s it shows Obama is way off on his gun grab plan. What/where does “registration” of a lower ever takes place???? No place I ever worked at. Of course I haven’t found anything to beat my Mod 1897. Just point, pull trigger, keep working that slide and your target will be full of 00 buck depending on the length of your mag tube.
New ain’t better, Charly
I spent 22 years in the military. Infantryman, 11B, retired First Sergeant of a Heavy Weapons Company. Served in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Concept is great for the military. However, when it’s time for a shotgun (mission dependent, usually CQC) you take a shotgun. When it’s time for a sniper, you bring a sniper. The platform is awesome, and it would be a plus to have the planning flexibility this platform brings during mission planning. However, carrying two basic loads and two uppers for two different weapon systems isn’t a burden (the weight) I would put on a Light Infantryman. Secondly, I’ve never been in a firefight and thought I had time on my hands. Point being, changing over to a different receiver is unpractical when bullets are flying. Precisely why a typical Infantry Squad has four rifleman, two M203 gunners, two SAW M249 gunners, and a two man M240 team attached, IOT meet the needs of changing situations. Not to mention you can put a pistol grip on a Mossberg 590, have a rifleman carry a 1/2 basic load and cover the breaching requirements that might be required. I loved carrying my 590 in Iraq for house to house missions, however, most of my Soldiers preferred to carry their M4’s. May be more of a SOF platform. The price for the military is not an issue. It is for me, wish I could get one, but I too will wait until someone else works out the bugs and competition brings the prices down. RLTW!
Nice, but if they want my business they need to move out of that commie state of MD.
Rhino’s in MD and not St. L MO?
I have the Gilbert Arms USAS -12, so I don’t really need another super hi-cap 12 gauge, (and have an HK-91 also, covering me for the .308) but I’m wondering if this piece will cycle low base ammo, as my USAS will not – No big deal, as I only use low base in my SPAS and 590 anyway.
You guys have seen the Akdal MKA1919, right?
Most LEO or Govenrment institutions buy the low bid product. If you are LEO, then you understand Cop Pricing. If you are not, simply put Cops get Cop guns much cheaper than retail. The everyday consumer pays retail. No good LEO will spend his/her money on an unproven weapon system that basically has an Out-Of-Sight warranty. If I am to spend $2k on a tac shotgun, it will be spent on a Benelli M-4 Tactical. However, the inexpensive (Low Bid) semi-auto shotgun entrusted to me works just fine. (Benelli Retail = $1900 / Cop Pricing = less than Retail)
I agree with most of the posters, the price is a gigantic rip off and I do not think the majority of gun owners would be stupid enough to consider a purchase even for a nano-second, especially from a newly designed weapon which you know has not been thoroughly tested for function or durability, that would cost too much of their projected profit so as most gun companies do today they test it on the public and then have 2 or 3 years of recalls often called “upgrades” (coined by Glock of course).
Also lets face facts unless you are part of the para-military lunatic crowd when would you ever need more than the 6 shots a garden variety and proven reliable Mossberg gives you. FBI statistics prove the average gun fight lasts only seconds and the average rounds fired even with todays multi-shot blasters is still as it was many years ago during the 6 shot revolver era and that is about 2 to 3 rounds maximum.
I think most people who would be nuts enough to spend the ridiculous price would only do so for the “cool factor” , in other words, “look what I have got” and what you have not got. Realistically the gun makes little sense unless it was priced more reasonably.
Realistically again you make no sense, although I actually agree with you on the overpriced for everyone part. You go and bash Glock who has nothing at all to do with this article and makes some of the most reliable handguns ever made. Upgrades are important to keep your product relevant when the shape and outer appearance pretty much remain the same. Enough of that now since I am off track on this article I will leave it at that.
As for this Rhino guns system waaaay over priced and with a one year warranty they obviously are afraid to stand behind there ridiculously over priced products. I think even more than the price is the embarrassing warranty coverage. That just shows a new company that isn’t sure about their products so they place the minimum warranty on them. It’s sad really, if they had made some more reasonably priced products with a quality lifetime warranty like many other gun companies offer maybe they would make it. I see this company disappearing from this market within the next 2-3 years max.
I think the price point is ridiculous. I will stand by my Vepr 12, which I thought was already pushing the obnoxious pricing threshold, though recently my brother purchased for under $1k
“The idea was to make a rifle and shotgun combination for Law Enforcement use” at $5000 that is a way to go out of business for a specific market. LE will buy it on the taxpayer backs. Law enforcement is nothing compared to the civilian market for firearms anyone that jumps on the bandwagon for “LE” only is sure to have a “fail” product.
The shotgun idea is great one and it looks awesome but the pricing point as I stated above is horrible for the consumer market. I can have a MKA 1919, Saiga 12 or a Vepr 12 for less than half the price of the $2800 or the horrific $5000 for the shotgun lower. Nice product but “Bad Bad” free market area to sell it with the competitive price point at $5K.
Mark, you’re spot on. LE will buy it (maybe) on the taxpayers backs. However, cops are taxpayers too and the “flavor of the month” firearms (at least within our agency) are scrutinized and tested before any purchase and only then if it meets budget guidelines. With a $5000 price tag for an interchangeable system, it isn’t financially nor operationally practical to consider for inventory. We could buy an M4, AR10 and a shotgun all day long for under $5000. As much as the shotgun platform has merit (and I wouldn’t mind having one) I’m failing to see the combination necessity and the $$$ is way out there.
Way to much money !
I have the br99 shotgun and it shoots both low and high brass no problem it has a self adjusting gas system and it only costs 569
Looks like I “SHOT” my mouth off without checking my facts first. AFTER I wrote the previous I looked into it. Sorry to say MY assessment of the situation is WRONG. There appear to be a MYRIAD of engineering considerations for a rimless 12ga. Looks like the way they approached it by concentrating on the Mag was the right way to do it. Red-Face. However the price is STILL RiDICKulous.
$2800.00 and $5000.00. Ha Ha Ha. RiDICKulous! On a LIGHTER note, with ALL the stupid “New” and “Latest” and “Better” calibers that come to the market, what the HECK is the Big Problem for an ammo manufacturer to come out with a Rimless 12Ga shell? Then maybe someone could design a gun for it that wouldn’t take going over “the BIGGEST HURDLES for Arms makers to overcome” and wouldn’t end up costing US and ARM and a FREAKIN’ LEG. K.I.S.S.
You know Nick, you hit the nail on the head! Many firearms and ammo manufacturers have worked together on projects in the past. Some recent ones are the .45 GAP, .327 , .460 just to name a few, and those are just handgun rounds. I’m sure if someone wanted to develop a system like that it could be done. And yes, I did see your second post. I have been in the manufacturing/engineering business all of my life, and while there might be serious challenges, I believe it’s possible. Even if an all new 12 Ga round had to be developed, it could possibly start a completely new line of firearms from many manufacturers. With all the technology we have, and all the capabilities the people of this country have, I just can’t believe it’s not possible, the right person just has to want to do it.
It shouldn’t be that hard to make a rimless 12ga shotgun shell. The REALLY high-pressure 12ga guys have been using 50BMG brass to make extended length 12ga shells for some time. Turning the rim section down and adding a rimmed piece to give it a traditional rim. Just use the 50BMG rim diameter and go from there.
How often does the situation arise in law enforcement, where the threat goes from shotgun range to so far away that a .308 is required to hit the target? I am NOT being critical. I am not a policeman, so I don’t know. Just asking if this happens enough to make the weapon a valuable asset and a big seller.
Great question and right on target. As a cop, the frequency of necessity as you question just isn’t there. Keep it simple, dependable, functional and affordable. You’d better have the right tools with you when the crisis happens.
Glad to see someone pushing the envelope of design. I however do not see one of these in my future, even if they get everything running correctly.
Hopefully there are enough people out there willing to part with $2,800 to justify commercial production. But I’m not one of those guys.
In my quest for what is right for me I have come back full circle to the Remington 870 shotgun platform. A 64 year old design that is as relevant and useful today as it was then.
Regards,
Rob
Keltec KSG for a grand. Maybe it doesnt have the same range but it only weighs 8lbs loaded.
Interesting concept and I am wondering if the 12 GA version would be legally saleable in CT, where the AR10 is prohibited. I still haven’t sorted through the new legislation completely.
For the price, I will take SRM1216 instead and still a few hundred dollars cheaper and better.
I would think that one of the new “bull pup” that are on the market would be a better choice for the money.. These are dropping in price as we speak.. A new design in a tactical 12GA is probably not needed.. I would much rather see someone like Ithaca with their bottom eject system build a bull pup on their years of dependability build a dedicated bull pup.
They have a proven action should not be too much of an engineering feat to make that work.. PLEASE ITHICA !!
Big bucks, sure, most new items are. Buy a first year model, I don’t think so. Let someone else work out the bugs. Problems with operations between the two? Well the article did say manufacturers were having trouble making it work until now. One gun instead of two? There are a lot of rifles and pistols that convert to different calibers. Why would anyone want too? Simple, feels the same in your hands. Muscle memory works better when the equipment is all the same. The news always makes a big deal over how many firearms and ammunition someone was arrested with. One legal gun, hard to call you a gun crazy lunatic.
I like the idea, but that price is excessive to say the least. At that price I could buy an LWRC and have enough left over for a Mossberg 500 or something. Bring the price down to something reasonable, for the complete firearm or for just the upper and magazine, and I’d buy one.
Also, the lack of a brass deflector and forward assist bothers me.
I agree with a lot of the comments on here, the prices on these guns are way too high for a manufacturer that has minimal experience with these rifles. Keep in mind the budgetary constraints of most police departments. It seems rhino arms is trying to muscle into the realm of the big name companies, something that you have to earn through reputation, not just throwing a product into the ring and expecting people to jump on it.
I’m pretty sure I was told about this gun many months ago by a friend who was working on it. I think it looks great. Might be in it’s first stages, who knows but so far I think you got a winner. You go! Girl. Bob
Ok, it’s cool alright, but not likely to be a big seller. I’ve tried going the economical route, using one lower for multiple uppers, but it soon gives way to the ability to readily pick up a complete firearm and go shoot. It’s difficult to safely store those detached uppers, which usually have optics attached, in anything except hard cases. And that too is inconvenient when compared to all of the other long guns that I can just lean into a gun rack.
This rifle/shotgun combination has the added difficulty of two highly contrasting uppers hoping to cooperate with the trigger pull of a single lower. That’s a touchy subject in the best of conditions and one that I’d be very leery about in this case. These two uppers are worlds apart and would need completely different triggers to operate reliably and safely. The adjustable gas block might mitigate some of the problem but it’s still going to be very difficult to find a happy medium that’s acceptable to either world.
Lastly, given the price tag, these are clearly targeted toward law enforcement and/or military customers. Both of those organizations are taxpayer-funded and less likely to elevate frugality over effectiveness. They seldom have the luxury of excess time to spend switching from one upper to the other for the purpose of saving a few dollars. They would likely buy the shotgun version as a dedicated compliment to their existing arsenal of M4’s and not worry about swapping at all.
just don’t see the practicability of a $$2800.00 dollar part time shot gun ,,,for the masses ,,
I want one,i only hope its more reliable than the Siaga was-is,it came close but no cigar.
When a particular shotgun is restricted from competing in 3 gun comps due to unfair advantage it is not a sign it is a poor design.
Than again no sane person leaves their S-12 stock.
Two comments:
Let the buyer beware. ….. Do your homework BEFORE buying a new concept, don’t bitch about it after the fact to those of us who take time to study the facts and figures of shooting. Cry babies will come out of the woodwork before long if this concept has too many “bugs” that haven’t been worked out as gun history has shown time and time again.
Price according to what the “traffic will bear”. ….. Pricing is a matter of opinion, to one person, it can be reasonable if the product lives up to its potential. To another, it has to be bargain basement pricing before it is “just right” no matter the fit and finish or how it functions on a regular basis.
Both will work themselves out in due time one way or another.
$2,800 for a 12ga, $3,015 for a 308, $2,675, for 300 BLK, $2,405 for 5.56?
These new kids on the block are trying to compete with the likes of Noveske and Larue AND charge more for their products… Wow…
“We guarantee a ½” MOA at 100 yards when using high quality match grade ammunition and when shooting without the muzzle brake.”
Does this mean the 1/2 moa isn’t guaranteed when I’m using the muzzle break that they include?
“LIMITED WARRANTY
This Rhino Arms rifle is warranted to the original retail purchaser for a period of one year from the purchase date against defects in material and workmanship.”
Both Noveske and Larue products are warranted for life… Armalite will do warranty work on any rifle with the “white stamp” regardless of rifle age or owner…
At this point I’m thinking “Buyer Beware”.
For the price on that 12ga you could
buy 5 MKA-1919s and extra mags
better yet a few Firebird TAC-12s
These guys have priced themselves outside the “sane” market for AR style shotguns.
Really? If you think R&D is cheap then you go and make something work that other people are wanting that has yet to hit the market because no one has made it work. That R&D needs to be repaid. They are in business, which by definition means they intend on making money. They have brought to market something that no other business has…and good for them. They made the idea/concept work and they deserve to reap the rewards. If you don’t want to buy it then don’t. I’m sure many people will.
I am a small business owner too and I see people like you complain about price. “Everyone wants everything to be cheap”. It doesn’t work that way especially when it’s probably people like you that want to be paid way more than you are worth. Labor, and all costs involving labor, costs the most of all in manufacturing. These rifles/shotguns will be quality made, I hope, and if you’d rather have cheap guns then go buy a competitor’s product. However it doesn’t seem you’ll be buying anything since Rhino has the only product like it.
Stop complaining unless you provide an alternative product. My guess is you can’t and won’t.
Sounds like you’ve got a chip on your shoulder. I too was in business (gun store) and while there certainly are those who want inexpensive items, most want high quality firearms but know what they’re worth and won’t overpay for them. In my opinion, this firearm IS overpriced. Most manufacturers know it sometimes takes years to break even on a new product, just part of development. If you paid attention to the story though, you might have noticed this gun/combo is going to be marketed to police departments (Government) where purchase prices are notoriously high and manufacturers often try to make up much of their initial costs up front. I feel the way most others do, I’ll take two separate guns of other makes, have $$$$ left and probably have better guns. I don’t get the benefit of one less registered receiver anyway, unless they’re hinting at the fact most police departments have trouble keeping track of their weapons….
Let’s remember also that those high dollar expenditures that law enforcement makes comes out of our pockets, so this company is banking on tax dollars for their success and selling to the WRONG people. And as far as the R&D for this weapon, it doesn’t take much imagination to modify an existing weapon, just some money for patenting. I’d be a little more impressed if this weapon was “built from the ground up” and totally revolutionary.
The only market for this is LE, where they have an essentially unlimited budget. When they decide they need a new toy for their SWAT boys, they get it.
But no sane buyer will spend that kind of money on something with a near-worthless warranty, compared to quality firearms.
I am thinking 3 Gunners. Sure, you can buy a Saiga for less but most of the time,but, I believe, they need work to make them run. Just my two cents.
Sorry, I got distracted and couldn’t find the “edit” button. Should read “I am thinking 3 Gunners. Sure, you can buy a Saiga for less but, most of the time,I believe, they need work to make them run. Just my two cents.” For sure I won’t be buying one. I saw a DPMS AR-10 for under $900 (Optics ready..NOT a misprint). Not sure I need a magazine fed autoloading shotgun, since I don’t participate in 3 Gun.
“It will offer a standalone shotgun that will run an estimated $2,800 ”
Umm, I’ll take the Saiga-12, thank you. Or, the Remington 870, even.
I agree with you totally! That is way too much! Guys like us can’t afford them. I’ll stick with the shotguns I already have also.
Yeah, too bad . But the idea is great! A good reliable complete drop on 12 gauge upper for an AR-10 would, indeed, be a holy grail of tactical bean shooters. Especially if good 20 round drum mags could be complimented.
But it can’t be for gouging prices! Come on somebody out there here in America can do it for the price of a standard aftermarket AR-15 upper? They’d sell a lot of them! Just think how that will also piss off the anti 2nd Amendment morons, by allowing people to enhance and expand their effective firepower base without needing to technically do the fascist ‘paperwork’ purchase a new firearm?
Gee, Muhjesdouche, when did you add the “e” to the end of your name? Are you still pretending to be a lethal special forces operator/tactical swat leader/instructor trainer? Or are you finally being honest about the fact that all you do is design folding stairs for puddle jumpers? Please be careful our there or one of these days when you’re visiting your daughter in Milwaukee somebody might give you a nice punch in the nose.
His real name is “Dan.” Call him “Dan.”
Sadly, he’s not as smart or articulate as Lt. Dan, and his knowledge is as much fantasy as the fictional character from Forrest Gump. Yet, his name is Dan. Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan, DAN.
Nice, very nice, but, I think that is tacticool to far. It would take to long to pull the pins and switch to the long range 308 vrs just having 2 separate firearms. A pump shotgun and a 308 riffle.
Are you kidding…? You could make that change in less than a minute.. Changing uppers is a simple task.
While yes changing uppers is easy, I cant stand this mentality of using it in a practical sense or even in a tactical enviornment. Your going to have to change the bolt head as well or carry a different BCG, once again no big deal right? Do you think the same recoil spring is going to function for 12ga and .308…maybe and thats a stretch. But this idea that your going to switch from one caliber to another in a timely manner to engage two different targets is really starting to annoy the crap out of me. In a hunters case he’s not going to be carrying both systems on him, more then likely one day he hunts with one and another day he hunts with another, you need two completely different types of equipment and locations to hunt different game. But im sure somewhere somebody could have made use of this system, but its not a common occurance. Now for my fellow veterans who have been thinking this is something cool (or something simliar) do you really think while your patrolling in the city with your carbine, that as you walk out that everyone stops and switchs over to their long range platforms? Or even as some guys argue take cover during contact and switch it out so you can better engage your target? If so I seriously doubt youve ever taken contact or returned fire. This and all other ideas like it will either be used at a range for fun or used individually as the tool it is made to be. While I enjoy versatitlity the cost is too high and there are too many better options that will cost significantly less.
I think this would be most practical in a hunting sense, especially if it had a barrel to accept chokes. would make this a nice all around long gun no matter the hunt. Pheasant, deer, elk, moose boar or bear, would do it all and very nicely.
Armalite AR10 $1914
Remington 870 Tactical $580
—————————————-= $2494 total
Buy 2 Armalites and 2 Remington 870’s for the price of 1 Rhino receiver with 2 uppers
Solution in search of a problem. 4 guns are better than 1
Hey….It’s all good. You stick with your minivan and I’ll drive a Corvette. It’s what makes America great. But I’ll bet you didn’t see Pig-man hunt Porky Gone-Wild from a helicopter with one of these shotguns. After seeing him and Uncle Ted go all medieval on Mr and Mrs. Macon D. Bacon, you’d want to start driven a vette. But hey…It’s all good.
Okay even I have fantasized of a 12 ga upper on an ar platform. you can’t argue the practicality of it. At 5 grand, that’s way to rich for my blood, might as well get a Barret 50 Cal for that money. But God I hope they are able to start mass producing these uppers along with maybe some high capacity drums to be more affordable/realistic.