chiappa Info please

[Kal52]

Hi all,

New here, been lurking for a bit and figured I better sign up, great site!

So Ive been itching to get another .357 lever action, had a rossi about 5-6 years ago, nice rifle but wanted something different at the time.

So that brings me to ask

1. How are the newer chiappa rifles, They seem very to be very nicely fininshed, and do not have a safety, but they also come at a higher price.

2. excluding Price, how do they hold up compared to the rossi, My old on was great, not one problem, though fit and finish was just ok, nothing wrong but not a pretty gun, but the few ive seen on the shelves lately seem to be hit or miss. More concerned with function atm.
but nice looking rifles are never a bad thing.

3. Im looking for an octogon barrelled gun, little more weight but way more style.

4. leaning chiappa since they do have a 16" octogon model. but cant decide between the 20 or 16.

its mostly going to be my walking around rifle, and imo be a dandly little defensive carbine out at the hunting shack, not that ill need it, but there is a jackrabbit out there that has been giving me the stink eye, and im sure he is up to no good.

with the hysteria going on, im more than likely going to get rid of my evil rifles and get some realy beauties, down to just my marlin 45-70cb and cant have just the one anymore.

thanks

[QCI Winchesters]

I was wondering about them, too. Don't they have an '86, as well?

[olyinaz]

The search function is your friend:

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... it=chiappa

[Kal52]

actually I did find that using the search function and thought I had cancelled out my post, but I quess it went through anyhow.

Wondering now what the reverse engineering design flaws are now?

anybody know?

Thanks again

[olyinaz]

I don't know that we've ever gotten a good description of what issues one of our gunsmiths had with the design, but it could be moot since I also seem to remember something about Chiappa addressing the issues.

One warning re. Chiappa: warranty work is dreadfully slow (slow boat to the Old World). Make sure you get a good one or it comes with a return guarantee.

Oly

[cas]

I played with a bunch of Chiappas at the Shot Show, leverguns, shotguns, pistols. Some of them were beautiful, well made and tight. Others fairly awful wobbly… dare I say junk. ?

The 86's looked nice, action was tight… as were the 1887 shotguns, but as I was playing with them I couldn't help but wonder how long they'd stay that way.

[Mossyoak1957]

I got a Chiappa 1886 in 45-70 early last year and the gun was beautiful,went to fire it for the first time and it would not feed any brand ammo I tried to feed it,took it back to where I bought it from he sent it back to Chiappa in Ohio and I never saw it again,it was there for 6 months they never did work on it... I got my money back.

Maybe I just got a bad apple.
But they are sweet looking.

[Kal52]

one of the main reasons im thinking of getting one is they do look well made.

Ive yet to see one in person, Ive handled rossi and owned one from emf hartford.
Just the finish on the few rossi rifles Ive seen latley have been a bit junky looking.
How much gap is there between the barrel and the magazine tube on the octagon rossi 357s, there arent any locally for me to look at
if someone has a pic id appreciate it.

There seems to be little or no gap on the chiappa, probably not important, but for some reason to me it is.
thanks for all the replies so far.

Gives me lots to think about.

[olyinaz]

one of the main reasons im thinking of getting one is they do look well made.

Ive yet to see one in person, Ive handled rossi and owned one from emf hartford.
Just the finish on the few rossi rifles Ive seen latley have been a bit junky looking.
How much gap is there between the barrel and the magazine tube on the octagon rossi 357s, there arent any locally for me to look at
if someone has a pic id appreciate it.

There seems to be little or no gap on the chiappa, probably not important, but for some reason to me it is.
thanks for all the replies so far.

Gives me lots to think about.

The gap looks pretty normal to me. Rossi .357 octagonal:

[Kal52]

wow, that was fast!,

was going to edit and say I found a bunch of close up pics as to what i was looking for.
But thanks.

The gap looks normal, but the chiappa seems to have less of one, just an appearance thing for me,
I have alot of +/- things going on atm.
I tend to obsess alot before I buy, especially on something Id have to order without seeing or handling.

Thanks again.

Dave