Has anyone had experance with "The Judge"?

[sar]

I had one with a 6 inch barrel and sold it. It's a fun gun, but mostly impractical for any need I had. Even with the six inch barrel, the spread was pretty dramatic. However, with the heavier shotgun loads it was pretty devastating at close range. Of course, 2 or 3 big pellets are all you get, as opposed to more smaller pellets.
in the end though, it was too heavy to comfortably carry, not terribly accurate and had no one particular feature that redeemed it. (other than being FUN). I've got no problem with the gun, but would pick others over it depending on my intended purpose.

[sar]

I agree that if I were to use it for defense, I'd likely opt for the 000. At 9-12 feet it would be pretty damaging I think. your shot placement wont be as good as a single round, but at very close range it shouldn't matter.

[my04heritage]

Ok I have one and I will tell ya what I have learned about it. I bought the judge 3" bbl about 6 months ago. I got it for in the house protection. The reason at the time was that the shotgun pellets would not be to much of a problem going through the walls into the other rooms. Go figure?? Now that I have it here is my two cents worth. At about 30feet it will put a .45lc fmj through a 2x4 like slicing butter. When using shotgun shells I have found a few things. The shot rapidly dispurses, I mean rapidly! First I tried #8 shot and found that after firing a round or two you could not get the spent shell out of the chamber unless you pried it out. Ok, next I tried a #7.5 I think.It worked and fired like a champ each time. Next went to #4shot and again no problems.Next tried 000 buck shot. again no problems. For home protection I keep 000 buck shot chambered in it and it is not my main tool. That would be my trusty 1911. But it is fun to shoot and makes one hellllllllo of a bang when using the shotgun shells. Plug you ears!! Got a good kick also, but I can handle it. Just my thoughts, not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. Be careful shoot safe.

Wow--I can't believe anyone steped up and ADMITED owning one--LOL Thanks My04! Did you buy the model that shoots the 3 inch 410 shells? Would you recmend the 3 inch or the 6 inch barrel? Could you tell me what kind of place you bought yours from? What would you say the penitration would be at 10 foot with that 000 buck? I don't understand why the #8 shells would not eject, was it the shells or a problem with the Judge? O and one more thing, do you wish you hadn't bought it?

Thank You,

Galveston Redneck

Ya I own it. Lock stock and shotgun shell!!! Mine has a 2 1/2 in chamber. Since you can not really conceal carry it. I guess in the winter time you could cover it up. I would go with the six inch. I do not know how well the 6in. would work except what the other poster said that owned one. I bought it from a gun dealer in Huntsville Tx. They sell like hot cakes. He can not keep them in stock. He only get's 1 or 2 at a time and has to wait for them. As soon as he get's them they are already sold. I think the reason the #8 spent shells stick is that they expand after being fired. When you drop down a size in like #7.5 the shell is a bit smaller and fit's the chamber better. When fired the plastic may expand but the spent shells still slide out nice and easy and do not have to be pushed hard to eject. I called Tarus who makes it and the customer service lady told me that alot of people had called in having the same problem. She suggested to use the smaller size shell. That is what I did and no problems with it. Do I wish I had bought it, hind site-no. Not that I don't like it but just don't have a real use for it. It is a fun gun, but to each their own. It is a fine gun just don't have any real use for it. I did read an article that said at close range using #000 buck shot that the 3 fired pellets would amount to about the same as shooting 3: 9mm rounds. I do not know if it is true, but that is what the article said. These are just my thoughts, I am not a lawyer and do not use this as legal advice.Have fun shoot safe.

[QB]

I'll admit I have one also It's the brushed stainless model with 3" barrel, 2 1/2" shell. I shoot a Winchester 9410 Packer (lever action that uses 2 1/2" .410 shells) rifle and thought the Judge would be a fun gun to shoot at the range when shooting my Packer. It is also one of two handguns I keep in a quick access safe by my bed. I've shot size 4, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, and 9 through my Judge and haven't had any issues. The ammo I use is:

Winchester Super X HS High Brass Game Loads
Winchester AA HS Super Sport Sporting Clays
Fiocchi 410GT9
Estate Super Sport Competition Target Load

I prefer Winchester and/or Fiocchi because they have smooth hulls which seem to fit the Judge better than the ammo with ribbed hulls (the Estate ammo).

I haven't personally tested the "spread" of the different size ammo. The distance from the side of my bed to my bedroom door is about 12-15 feet so I do plan to test the ammo to see what the differece is in the spread at no more than 15 feet.

I enjoy shooting the Judge and am glad I purchased one. Of course, I have handguns in several other calibers and wasn't purchasing this gun for a specific purpose. It was one of my "just because" purchases

[galvestonredneck]

Thank You QB and My04! The information sure helps. I think I will buy the SS model with the 6 inch barrel. I will do some "tests" with some water jugs at the range and post the results along with pics. I will invite Jim along if he will come and we will do the "Redneck Review"--LOL. I think I can have one in my hot little hands by this time next month--LOL

I really do thank you both, there is nothing like REAL experance to learn from. I do love the internet and watching the vidio's of people shooting... But you guys KNOW what it will and will not do. Thanks

Galveston Redneck

[my04heritage]

Glad to help out. Have fun and let us hear the range report..

[seamusTX]

Thank You QB and My04! The information sure helps. I think I will buy the SS model with the 6 inch barrel. I will do some "tests" with some water jugs at the range and post the results along with pics. I will invite Jim along if he will come and we will do the "Redneck Review"--LOL.

Thanks. I always like to see something new.

- Jim

[dihappy]

ha, as if 4.5" of penetration isnt going to hurt.

Oh, it would hurt.

It's also unlikely to effectively, quickly, stop an attacker.

Why is it "unlikely"? Does a bullet have to go through someone to kill them?

How far past the normal mans chest does his heart/arteries lay?

Im willing to bet that most attackers WOULD in fact be stopped if anything penetrated 4.5" into their chest.

[KBCraig]

It's also unlikely to effectively, quickly, stop an attacker.

Im willing to bet that most attackers WOULD in fact be stopped if anything penetrated 4.5" into their chest.

Eventually, yes. But please note the part I highlighted: in a defensive gun use, the aim is to effectively, quickly, stop the attacker. Him bleeding to death some time later is not the goal, stopping him right there, right now is.

[Xander]

Im willing to bet that most attackers WOULD in fact be stopped if anything penetrated 4.5" into their chest.

According to the FBI ballistic standards, 4.5" of penetration is only superficial, and would be woefully inadequate for defensive purposes. They require 12"-18" of penetration to consider a defensive load adequate. I've heard arguments that as little as 8" may be enough, but 4.5" is clearly too anemic to rely on it to do any more than make an attacker angry.

[quidni]

Here's an online review of The Judge:

Here Comes the Judge! Taurus .45/410 Revolver

I recently picked up a purdy blued one with the longer bbl. Pre-owned, but LNIB. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Just got back from Tyler/Troup yesterday.

Next range trip.

[lawrnk]

If you're willing to go through the hassle of a Class III app, and to pay the $5 for the AOW stamp, this would likely be a much more effective alternative:



http://www.serbu.com/top/superShorty.php

Keep in mind that you would need to keep a copy of your Class III stamp paperwork with it at all times, but I'm sure you could laminate it and fold it up in your pocket if you wanted.

There was a thread about this shotgun here:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 87&t=16460

http://www.summitgunbroker.com has them. Awesome guy as well

[Greybeard]

Quote: "Him bleeding to death some time later is not the goal, stopping him right there, right now is."

Traditional 45 Long Colt rounds (not faddish sissy "Cowboy loads") are known for being excellent penetrators, generally quite sufficient to puch through bones if necessary to make it to the central nervous system for a much higher probability of a "right now" stop than any size buckshot.

I played with one several months ago when a member requested special permission to test one in our little indoor range. We patterned a few rounds on some B-27 targets out to 7 yards and pretty much came to the conclusion that the birdshot and buckshot capability would be a much better "fit" for a woods or backpacking gun than for personal protection against 2-legged critters.

At the time, I had some serious 45 Long Colt hunting loads by Double Tap for my SRH, but also had serious reservations about trying any of them in the Judge without getting input from Taurus first.

[dihappy]

Im willing to bet that most attackers WOULD in fact be stopped if anything penetrated 4.5" into their chest.

According to the FBI ballistic standards, 4.5" of penetration is only superficial, and would be woefully inadequate for defensive purposes. They require 12"-18" of penetration to consider a defensive load adequate. I've heard arguments that as little as 8" may be enough, but 4.5" is clearly too anemic to rely on it to do any more than make an attacker angry.

I do agree with KB that 4.5 may not stop someone "instantly" however most of us know that even complete passthroughs do not stop some aggressors.

I have seen video of persons think they were about to die from less than 4.5" of penetration.

Heres a popular video of The Judge on youtube. I dont think id want to get hit by this little .410 :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H5GepjBRsM

[QB]

galvestonredneck: they also come in 4" (a little harder to find) and polished stainless. Here's a picture of mine in the brushed stainless and one in polished stainless: