ThomasT
Member
What planet are you from?
Taurus Judge opinions?
- Thread starter ErikO
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PcolaDawg
Member
I like mine. It's the one handgun I've gotten the most practical use out of. I wear it when I mow my four acres and l've been able to kill a few poisonous snakes with it that otherwise would've gotten away. Just point, click, and dead snake.
I'll also carry it under my seat on long road trips, full of buckshot. Occasionally, during the winter, I'll carry it in a conceal/carry jacket when I go to the movies or something.
And yeah, it's also a bit of a novelty gun. When people come over, they always want to shoot .410 shells out of the Judge.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
I'll also carry it under my seat on long road trips, full of buckshot. Occasionally, during the winter, I'll carry it in a conceal/carry jacket when I go to the movies or something.
And yeah, it's also a bit of a novelty gun. When people come over, they always want to shoot .410 shells out of the Judge.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
MCgunner
Member
I have a TC Contender 3" .410/.45 Colt barrel. It doesn't like lead, I think, because all that freebore allows hot gasses by the bullet before it reaches the rifling. It leads up terribly. 300 grain Hornady hot handloads, however, ain't too bad. With all that freebore, it will NEVER challenge my other Contender barrels for accuracy, though. Add a forcing cone to that formula and I doubt the Judge's accuracy would impress me.
Well, heard about is the key here. Yeah, there could be issues with any particular weapon, but then, Smith and Wesson is NOT immune to that now days, either. Smith and Wesson's reputation is rapidly going to the toilet now days. Key is to check out the gun before purchase. I prefer used, myself, but that isn't an option with the gubner, but then, I really don't want one.
Well, heard about is the key here. Yeah, there could be issues with any particular weapon, but then, Smith and Wesson is NOT immune to that now days, either. Smith and Wesson's reputation is rapidly going to the toilet now days. Key is to check out the gun before purchase. I prefer used, myself, but that isn't an option with the gubner, but then, I really don't want one.
benderx4
Member
Just a bit too "gimmicky" for me. Plus, its ugly.
Nushif
Member
People probably said that about the first cartridge rounds, the first semi auto, the first rifled shotgun slugs ...
I'm not going to sit here and say that the Judge is the best thing since sliced cheese and will revolutionize the gun industry, but I do propose that the idea of one gun shooting several cartridges *may* be kind of a good idea?
MtnSpur
Member
Owned the Judge w/ 2 1/2" cylinder and the 3" bbl in DAO (had the hidden hammer) and quite frankly just never did warm up to the trigger pull. I've shot my share of SA and DA revolvers and this particular weapon ended up on my short list so I ended up selling it and putting the $$ towards something else I'd had my eye on. Each to their own.
Bmac1949
Member
I had one of the early Judges. They're a heck of a lot of fun but extreamly limited and pricey for what they do. If you are more than 15' of your target shot density drops dramatically and mine couldn't shoot .45LC worth a darn. I ended up selling mine and buying a bunch of reloading equipment. As far as home protection I'm much more comfortable with the 870 Remington with 00 buck.
Rubbish. This isn't an advance like a reliable self-loading handgun, which is sturdier, over twice as fast to reload, and holds 2 more rounds than most revolvers. This is a gimmick. And a bad shotgun and a bad revolver don't equate to "more versatile".
The carbine/shotgun version, on the hand, might have some utility.
Guillermo
member
it is a lousy shotgun and a bad 45.
It is a toy...
nothing wrong with toys
It is a toy...
nothing wrong with toys
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Somehow I doubt it. Although we do know that Samuel Colt thought that metallic cartridges were silly. IMHO, a .410 revolver is not silly because it's new and different, it's silly because it's silly.
BCP, I was referring to the chamber size as 3". Mine has an externally threaded barrel over 9" long. One appliance is in effect a cylinder bore tube for shooting 45 LC or for rapid spread. The wadlock has 4 shallow lands (?) which grasp the wad halting the spin imparted by the rifling. This extends the useful range.
One of the most useful guns I own, if you work around the farm or ride a tractor alot it is the perfect gun for snakes and load a couple LC45's for the two legged snakes. These folks that don't have use for a workin gun like this aint gonna say nothing good about a Taurus gun anyway. I own Smiths, Rugers and a few Taurus guns too. The truth is the Judge has many uses and very versatile. Its the perfect trashin around the farm workin gun IMO...
PcolaDawg
Member
What this guy said ^^^^^^.
Gryffydd
Member
I'd argue that a heavy duty 45 Colt or even a 44Mag is even more versatile than the Judge. You can load them with very effective shot shells, they have way more top end power than the 45 Colt from the Judge, way more effective range due to dramatically better accuracy, and are more compact due to not having a giant cylinder. You want a good working gun for snakes & everything else? Get any ol' revolver and stick a few shotshells in it.
Nope, we just know there are better, cheaper, and more versatile guns out there--including Taurus' line of standard revolvers.
Lord Teapot
Member
i considered buying one, but did a lot of research on the .410 and taurus themselves and neither made me feel confident in making a purchase. .410=adequate personal defense round, but not my choice. although i suppose i carry a 9mm, some would say that is not a good personal defense round, but imo if 9mm fmj is good enough for the united states military it is good enough for me.
oldfool
Member
silly gimmick gun, yes
a watermelon gun, o wow
cheapo single shot shotguns are cheaper, more reliable, and far better suited to function with shotshells
yo, I own some few silly guns too (25 acp, 22LR derringer, etc.), but at least mine are cute
watermelon hunting just ain't my thing
a watermelon gun, o wow
cheapo single shot shotguns are cheaper, more reliable, and far better suited to function with shotshells
yo, I own some few silly guns too (25 acp, 22LR derringer, etc.), but at least mine are cute
watermelon hunting just ain't my thing
Joining JShirley: The 9mm choice was driven by NATO standardization issues, the FMJ by the Laws of Land Warfare, the "wonder nine" by the fad of the day.
We who lived through that period were largely not fans of the choice or the conduct of the trials. Admittedly our WWII era M1911A1's were long past servicable in the mid-1980's. We would have much prefered new 1911's.
We who lived through that period were largely not fans of the choice or the conduct of the trials. Admittedly our WWII era M1911A1's were long past servicable in the mid-1980's. We would have much prefered new 1911's.
Walking Dead
Member
If Smith&Wesson came out with the Govenor first we wouldn't have this thread now would we.
Gryffydd
Member
Of course we would. It's a silly idea no matter who makes it. And in case you hadn't noticed, people on this board are very ready to criticize S&W.
Taurus; good, bad, ugly; who cares?
I want to see the "Taurus KaB00M" site. If there is one. I'm fixin' to work up some hand-loads expressly for the 3" chamber. Not shot-shells, but various packs of discs and ball. Maybe some swaged-together LC wad-cutters. L1S1
I want to see the "Taurus KaB00M" site. If there is one. I'm fixin' to work up some hand-loads expressly for the 3" chamber. Not shot-shells, but various packs of discs and ball. Maybe some swaged-together LC wad-cutters. L1S1
ssyoumans
Member
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- Jan 15, 2010
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I see no redeeming value in the Judge. I'm still amazing when I see someone buying one, I want to tell them NO!
Box of truth did some basic testing. 410 shotshells are for snakes not self defense.
The 000 loads and 96gr slugs lacked penetration. The 45 LC is a solid round, but you don't need this oversized gun to shoot 45 LC. and other ones will shoot it more accurately.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm
Personally, I'd opt for a 3" SP101 or 4" GP100. Then you can still load an effective snake shot and have 100's of choices of loads in 38 special or 357 Mag in a gun that isn't supersized. My $.02. I'm sure I own guns though that other people say the same about.
Box of truth did some basic testing. 410 shotshells are for snakes not self defense.
The 000 loads and 96gr slugs lacked penetration. The 45 LC is a solid round, but you don't need this oversized gun to shoot 45 LC. and other ones will shoot it more accurately.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm
Personally, I'd opt for a 3" SP101 or 4" GP100. Then you can still load an effective snake shot and have 100's of choices of loads in 38 special or 357 Mag in a gun that isn't supersized. My $.02. I'm sure I own guns though that other people say the same about.
orionengnr
Member
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I know two people who bought them. Neither individual is a very, ummm... accomplished handgunner. Years, yes. Hours/rounds, no. Not to put too fine a point on it.
One has shot his once, and the other, last I knew, still has yet to fire his...and it's been probably two years.
That seems to be the target audience Taurus has in mind, and they have hit the bullseye.
One has shot his once, and the other, last I knew, still has yet to fire his...and it's been probably two years.
That seems to be the target audience Taurus has in mind, and they have hit the bullseye.
Between this post, and the fact that about 50% of your total post count is within this one tread, you are doing a lot to establish your credibilty. Not.
Guillermo said:
^^^^^
This.
PcolaDawg said:
^^^^^
...And this too...
OK see... You have to figure it out. It's a "fun" gun or a "farm" gun. Definitely not a HD gun, IMO. I used to own two, now I own one, and have had it for at least three years. It's an Ultralite and I've had no mechanical problems with either. When it comes to shooting a copperhead, a #4 or #6 .410 shell makes quicker work of it than those .38 shotshell loads, but either works, so I tend to carry a 4" bbl. .38 or a .357 around the farm mostly now (and a couple .38 shotshell loads in my pocket), because .38/.357 revolvers are more accurate for larger vermin at a little distance, and just plain more fun to plink with. For me.
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