taurus JUDGE

I own a Judge and for what I bought it for, it is great.

It sits on the night stand on the side of the bed my wife sleeps on and is loaded with alternating OOO Buck Shot and .45 Long Colt Hollow Points.

She can shoot it well and has practiced with it at the range.

The recoil does not bother her at all, but she's been shooting other guns for years.

It's not for target shooting, but it make a hell of a close up and personal gun.

Most say they hate it, but I believe they are not understanding it's purpose - close work.

The Judge is selling like hot cakes and you can hardly find one to buy a few months ago - they increased production and they are easier to find now.

Of my shooting buddies four of them (including me) have bought the Judge and each of use like it for what it's meant to do.

I don't own the judge but I have put several hundred rounds threw my buddies. My thoughts are for extreme close range it is deadly with the 410 loads. I did not find the 45 long colts to shoot very consistent with my self behind the gun but I'm not an ace marksman. For his intended purpose for his wife as a night stand gun for close personal defense when he is out of town I think it is perfect. Is it the gun for me no, but I have plenty of weapons better suited for my needs. If you’re looking for a nice close quarters self defense gun and are not very familiar with shooting hand guns I think it would be perfect. Remember a lot of people will tell you it is junk and have no first hand knowledge of the weapon. My advice try and go shoot one with both the colts and 410 shells and make your own decision.

+1 Gmounce

Originally Posted by gmounce

I don't own the judge but...[at] extreme close range it is deadly with the 410 loads...

Oh?
What did you kill with it?
How do you know that it's "deadly"?
Please tell us.

I own one and while theres nothing wrong with the gun, its novelty has worn off. I never carry it, and it only really comes out to play when I bring a noob to the range. They always get a kick out of it.

I think if I were to ever get rid of any of my guns, that would be the one.

I am moved to point out that the person who stated that the Judge with .410 shotshells was a "deadly" combination has not seen fit to answer my question.
I wonder why.

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

I am moved to point out that the person who stated that the Judge with .410 shotshells was a "deadly" combination has not seen fit to answer my question.

I'm far from an expert, but isn't any gun loaded with ammo a deadlycombination.

Originally Posted by Todd

I'm far from an expert, but isn't any gun loaded with ammo a deadlycombination.

Well, it kinda depends.
Generally speaking, I say "No."
Think Kolibri. Think .22 BB, CB, or Short.
To be deadly, some guns need to be pointed at the recipient's medulla oblongata from no more than an inch or two away. Other guns need to be so carefully aimed from any further distance at a specific sensitive spot, that they are not "deadly" in any normal person's hands.

But you're merely begging the question, not asking seriously.

The problem to which I refer is the naive, uncritical neophyte who believes the advertising he reads.
That's the sort of person, I think, who posted his opinion that the Judge loaded with some sort of .410 shotshell was "deadly."

You can't merely aver something and then walk away. If you intend to present a fact, you have to be ready and able to back it up with meaningful, repeatable experimental data.

Todd, you know as well as I do that people come to this forum for advice, direction, and help. What kind of advice, direction, or help are we offering, if we do not question and debunk foolish and ill-thought-out, seemingly-definitive statements made by people who obviously don't really know what they are writing about?

Steve all I've shot with it has been a few gallons of water at 10 feet. I will not debate this issue with you since your an expert I guess. Your one of the reasons why most people don't post on these type forums.

And one question for the expert do you want to get shot at close range with 000 buck threw the judge????

Originally Posted by gmounce

Steve all I've shot with it has been a few gallons of water at 10 feet...

Ah, so now we know that the Judge is deadly against...water.
OK.

Originally Posted by gmounce

I will not debate this issue with you since your an expert I guess...

Far from it.
But I do have somewhat more experience than you do, and that counts for something.
I also do not take advertisements at face value.
I suggest that you take a look at The Box o' Truth website, and see what they say about the Judge.

Originally Posted by gmounce

Your one of the reasons why most people don't post on these type forums...

The only thing that keeps people from posting on these forums, when they are confronted by unwelcome truth, is an uncritical belief in advertising and the miraculous, and a need to adhere to their own opinions in the face of real facts.
If you don't want answers to your questions, or useful information, or debate upon your cherished (if misguided) beliefs, then you would be right not to post.

Originally Posted by gmounce

And one question for the expert do you want to get shot at close range with 000 buck threw the judge????

I'd rather not get shot at any range by anything.
But I am pretty sure that, even at age 72 and arthritic, I could survive triple-ought buckshot out of a Judge, at least long enough to clean my opponent's clock.

The question, however, is not my preference in being hit by which cartridge from what platform, but rather which cartridges from what platforms will most effectively stop a fight the most quickly.
I respectfully submit that the Judge firing .410 buckshot does not fit the category in question.

Ok Steve I will just disagree with you on this one.

I'm now finished with this and you have a good day.

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

But you're merely begging the question, not asking seriously.

The problem to which I refer is the naive, uncritical neophyte who believes the advertising he reads.
That's the sort of person, I think, who posted his opinion that the Judge loaded with some sort of .410 shotshell was "deadly."

You can't merely aver something and then walk away. If you intend to present a fact, you have to be ready and able to back it up with meaningful, repeatable experimental data.

Yeah, my comment was definitely a tongue-in-cheek comment aimed at anyone who mindlessly regurgitates marketing hype.

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

Todd, you know as well as I do that people come to this forum for advice, direction, and help. What kind of advice, direction, or help are we offering, if we do not question and debunk foolish and ill-thought-out, seemingly-definitive statements made by people who obviously don't really know what they are writing about?

I'm with you 100%. Debunk and question away, I've got no issue with it.

Originally Posted by gmounce

Your one of the reasons why most people don't post on these type forums.

Seems to me if we had more people like Steve, who expect people to back up their opinions with facts instead of just following blindly with what is told to them, we'd be better off. Just look at the mess we're in now by stupid people following the word "Change" without demanding any facts or proof to back it.

If people like Steve are one of the reasons why people don't post here, fine with me.

I have shot a Judge but have not attempted to kill anything with it. I am not a professional but from my experience with this gun and a .410 000 buck it could be very deadly. I don't know how close you would have to be but I would be confident in it protecting me from a BG 10-15 feet away. I don't think it take a dumb ass or a smart ass to figure it out.

Could a Judge from 10 ft be deadly with 000 Buck? Of course it could!

Is the Judge, loaded with 5 rounds of 000 Buck, the most effective manstopper around for the money, the size, the weight, etc. I submit there are a few hundred better solutions to the problem.

It's a cool novelty gun. I'd submit, unrivaled for snake defense, carried on a belt, out hiking, where legal.

VS a two-legged adversary? I'll take one of 50 other common defensive guns first.

If you want a shotgun, buy a shotgun. If you want a defensive revolver, buy one that isn't 2 feet long...

My 2 cents.

PS.... I like Steve's responses!

JeffWard

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

Oh?
What did you kill with it?
How do you know that it's "deadly"?
Please tell us.

well ill back him up and say it is, i own one, at 10 feet the .410 will take down any man infront of it, and yes i have used it , shot a fisher cat at 20ft, nothing left of the fisher..........although im not saying its the best revolver around for self defense, but if i were faced with an attacker, and there was a Judge laying there......i would have no problems with trusting that if indeed aimed correctly and not at ones self, or appendange.........that it would effectively and i think quite painfully........get the job done lol, but then again a jennings .25 with a round in the chamber aimed carefully to the temple or eye socket will do the same thing.......to his or her own i guess

Originally Posted by jay7

well ill back him up and say it is, i own one, at 10 feet the .410 will take down any man infront of it, and yes i have used it , shot a fisher cat at 20ft, nothing left of the fisher..........although im not saying its the best revolver around for self defense, but if i were faced with an attacker, and there was a Judge laying there......i would have no problems with trusting that if indeed aimed correctly and not at ones self, or appendange.........that it would effectively and i think quite painfully........get the job done lol, but then again a jennings .25 with a round in the chamber aimed carefully to the temple or eye socket will do the same thing.......to his or her own i guess

I don't believe you.

First off, a cat is not a man, and a .410 shotgun will not disintegrate a cat at 25 yards, though it may kill it, when fired from a real shotgun.

I think Steve's remarks are closer to the reality.

I own one & have shot it quite a bit - it shoots very well for what it is, The .45 LC is very accurate at 30 yards (if the shooter is).

And I believe that .45 Long Colt have killed lots of things.

The 410 with 00 or 000 shot's gotta be a bitch to be shot with - heck the 7 1/2 shot would have to slow someone down unless they are on crack (Then you'd need a .45, opps it's got a .45 LC)

I wouldn't want to be shot by it.

Originally Posted by Bisley

I don't believe you.

Me neither.

I was just checking this site out, http://www.huntingblades.com/410gacoisith.html , that what shooting the .410 out of a TC with a 10 inch barrel. Long story short, at 25 yards, only 14 pellets (9%) hit the target. Far from the ability obliterate anything.

So, I'm going to have to hit the button.

lol your not from round here are ya, not a CAT a fisher.....aka fisher cat, cause it has a tail that resembles the cat, and in all literacy i did not mean the fisher was completely gone, aka vanished into think air, i mean "there was nothing left of it" the term one usualy uses when they are trying to describe a visual of something that once looked a certain way, that now looks like its torso has gone through a wood chipper.

i posted that because i belive, that if a MAN were to take a .410 round , close quarters *wich is what the judge was designed for in the 1st place* to the chestplate........the next two sounds one would hear would be him hitting the ground then what is called a death rasp, the sound that comes from a humans lungs when they expell the remaining air in their lungs.

with that said, i think my statements are quite true. and anyone who honestly thinks that the judge would not be deadly close range, and truely honestly thinks that with every fiber in their being.......aim it at their beloved family pet, and squeeze one off..........if its not deadly, spot should be just fine



remember im not saying hes not right, im just saying, yeah its deadly lol

I've got to jump in here. I am a big fan of the .410 shotgun and I own two of them. Both are single shots, but I intend to get a pump when I find one at a reasonable price. I also own 5 12s and 2 20s. The .410, with less noise and less lethality at " neighbor's house" range, has no equal as a "yard gun" for small pests . Also it is a great tool for teaching "little folks" how to shoot.

That said, with my fondness for the .410 bore, I would not consider it a handgun cartridge. To me the Judge is a "neither/nor", neither a shotgun nor a handgun, and a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

There are many fine small, light .410 shotguns out there for the yeoman duty of pest gun. For self defense, anything less than a 20 gauge is not the real manstopper you need. I have two HD shotguns and both are 12 gauge.

As far being able to kill, you can kill a man with a .22 if you place the bullet right. In self defense you are trying to stop the BG and that takes a bit more lead, especially when he is moving, in the dark, and not showing his "best side" for you to target.

There are also far better .45LC revolvers out there, some even from Taurus, if that is the cartridge you are going to use.

It is a cute "toy" but my guns aren't toys, they are tools and each has a very delineated working niche.

I love mine

IMHO to many people still believe the street sweeper myth about shotguns and have attached it to The Judge. It just doesn't work that way. I have hunted and missed enough birds to know you have to point a shotgun in the proper direction if you intend to hit a particular target. That type pointing is also referred to as aiming whether you see the sights or not. I have also found the shorter the barrel the less effective they are.

If close enough for the Judge to work any other revolver with personal defense rated cartridges will work as well. If your target happens to be 10 feet or more away the standard revolver or SA pistols will be more effective. The objective in a self defense scenario is to stop the agressor not give him/her freckles.

The Judge was an excellent marketing move on the part of Taurus. The hype and novelty has generated a lot of business for them. I for one will stick to the more traditional point and click devices for protection duty.

If you like The Judge however, enjoy carrying it.