Newbie here,  Lurking for information.   I have a 44  6" SS and a 44 Rhino 6" hard chrome finished, both Monson manufacture.   

The 44 has seen a lot of holster time backpacking in AK. Only had to brandish it once at a bruin, but with 240 grainers I was feeling quite inadequate.

The 44 Rhino started out in life as a 357 Max . With 300 grainers I'm safely getting 1500ftlbs ME.

The Rhino was debuted in Guns & Ammo January 1988, born from the desire of Ray Carver to develop the big bore potential of the 357 Max.

Carver had Gunsmith  Charlie Clemens at  North Valley Guns in Chico, CA. do the alterations.

I had my 357 Max converted by Charlie (#76) and within the same year DW came out with the factory 445 SM. 

Case length for the 44 Rhino is 1.750" vs. the 445 which is 1.610".

Cases for the Rhino are made expanding and fire forming  .30-.40 Krag rifle brass.  I've used .303 British cases and have not experienced any problems.

Pros:  44 Rhino gain of ~ 150fps for both the 240gr and 300gr over the 445

Cons: I would recommend lengthening the chamber to an existing 445, not for a 357 Max.  The 445 uses the same barrels as the 44 mag and the threads in the frame are the same. On a 357 Max, the threads were cut different from the factory so interchanging barrels between calibers would be impossible.  For a replacement barrel I have to have a 8" 44 barrel cut, threaded and forcing cone reamed. PITH

My 357 Max before being converted was the most accurate handgun I have ever fired with the factory Remington loads. The jury is still out on the 44 Rhino as it is still a work in progress.

Don   

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