Taurus Judge opinions?

I've gotten to shoot several varieties of the Judge before and if I had the loose cash I'd get one in a heartbeat.

It's snappy, but not anymore so than my .45 Colt. ... but when properly applied ... (ie a pumpkin, close range steel item or piece of food) it makes FUN happen!

The Judge, to me, is a novelty gun. I have shot my friend's and didn't see the benefit of ever owning one other than saying I have one.

-Robb

I've shot two. The first gun put lead .45 slugs into the target sideways. Wasn't impressed.

The second Judge shot jacketed .45 REALLY well. I think the difference was the jacketed bullet engaging the shallow rifling better. That same gun was very inpressive with buckshot loads also, keeping the pellets within 2.5 inches at 25 feet. I could bust hand thrown (tossed without a plastic "flinger") clays with bird shot very easily, so it probably is great on snakes.

Unfortunately, I am not impressed with Taurus' manufacturing. Seen lots of their revolvers need work right out of the box. Several that wont even index all chambers. Very crudely machined.

Good for close work from what i see at the range. Funny looking copper disk , like a camera battery in the Winchester Supreme Elite Self Defense Ammunition 410 Bore 2-1/2" 3 Disks over 1/4 oz BB Bonded PDX1.

Erik, I agve my then 78 yo dad a 2.5" chambered one for HD and as a South Mississippi field companion. With the new Federal 4 pellet cartridge I would not want to be in his bedroom with it. Ditto a cottonmouth in similar distance with #9,s. I shot a serviceable group with cowboy load. Between arthritis and other age related factors I felt it a good choice for him.

However, for a non-HD kick-around companion I far prefer my 3" Comanche single shot with the wad lock installed. It extends the range about 50%

Wonderful sectional density on that load. Should be a great penetrator. Good thing it's got some bird shot thrown in--another great penetrating projectile.

I have a 10in Super Commanche, just for fun 45/410, single shot, just for fun, cost me less than $200, accurate with buck/bird, pathetic with 45lc.

-Waid, I hadn't seen a 3" Commanche do we have the same gun? What's a wad lock?

Any gun that's chambered for more than one cartridge generally isn't going to do either very well.
That's why guns like the Ruger Blackhawk convertibles have more than one cylinder.
Each can be optimized for it's own cartridge.

While I haven't held or shot S&W's Governor, I'd be will to bet it doesn't shoot as well as a dedicated gun either.
I'd bet a Model 25 shoots 45 Colt a lot more accurately than a Governor.

Of course there are exceptions, but you don't know if your gun is one of those until you buy & shoot it.

only problem now is the ammo manufacturers are making the 410's with shot that will show rifleing.have to hunt the gunshows for the old stuff

Never did understand the fascination with the Judge. Great marketing hype. The 410 is pretty snappy in it but is a dismal defense round even with the new fangled "special ammo" Not saying I would want to be hit in the face with it but why bother, just get a 45 Colt or ACP.

Taurus reliability is well Taurus.

If you need to shoot someone with it Why not the the 45 Colt with 250 grains of lead??

At least the SW version will be able to shoot 45 ACP also.

Mine has a 2 1/2 cylinder.Should have bought the 3" perhaps.That way you could shoot any kind of 410.
Rob said he didn't see the benefit.????It is a perfect truck gun,home protection and snake gun, as well as being able to stop most any kind of threat to your person. I switch from 410 to 45 l c on occasion.If traveling i feel i need to penetrate something i go with 45 l c metal jacket.home defense i rotate between 410 and hollow points or self defense loads.Sometimes rotating 410,45,410.
If a skunk or varmint is keeping the dogs barking the 410 is nice.
The judge is heavy enough to balance the recoil.The grips make it nearly impossible to drop or be kicked out of the hand whether sweaty or maybe bloody.
Sometimes i wish i'd bought a 45 acp,but all in all you can't beat a revolver as far as dependability.my opinion.

Could you explain wad lock?Thanks.

A silly gimmick at best.

Best all around ranch truck handgun I've ever owned by a long shot. Please note: All my shot are well well within 50 yards. The variety of loads available and the ability to stagger them in a 6 cylinder I appreciate. Added cT laser grips and I don't know how I managed before. I own the public defender version, a bit smaller and lighter with a bob tailed hammer - also it costs a bit less. I've taken snake and 200 lb wild hog alike with one shot one kills multiple impacts!!!!

I haven't heard about technical or other problems with Taurus pistols.I've has Taurus pistols for over 2 decades and have found them to be as good an any.i got rid of most of my expensive guns like s&w and Ruger because i could use the money for ammo,etc....
I'm sure there are lemons in Taurus as well as all the rest.The worst i ever had was a Glock 19. The hi point i had was by far a more accurate,dependable weapon. Sig has them beat as far as price and dependability. I don't care for Glock but my friend has one in every caliber.
Like cars or trucks there are good in all of them.Just because i don't like them doesn't make them bad.

I think that distance is many folks problem.They feel a 45 l c will kill at 100 yds. much like the 1911 in 45,they are "trench" or defense guns.Something to keep people off you.
Reminds me of a video i saw on youtube where a guy said he could hit dead center at 300 yds with his AK47 continuously.I don't like to be called a liar and don't call people liars.He was close.Ha.My Ak is pretty good at 30-100yds period.That's what i have it for.Fun to shoot and keep a perimiter..

Do you include 357/38 in that call?What you say has merit but cannot be used against any and all guns.

If you need to shoot snakes or rats just get some CCI shot shells in most revolver and some semi auto calibers.

The only legitimate use I see for this, is for the farm owner who frequently encounters vermin or snakes at close range. That's it.

Click to expand...

That's about it and we already have very effective shotshells for .44's and .45's. So???

A friend shot some of that penetrator ammo.Said it was deadly.A disc about wast high,center of the chest and solar plexus,along with pellets making a mess.Phwew!
I shot some buckshot out of my judge.Nasty results.
Buckshot,slugs,birdshot,45lc????Extremely impressive.
I looked at a Commanche.there were some guys rabbit hunting in thick brush.As the beagles ran a rabbit by this guy popped it.I handled a few at gun shows but they seemed a bit weak to me.Not as sturdy as a Judge.I'm sure they'd do the job !