410 Judge
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Mainsail
Member
I have a friend with one and I wasn't impressed. He patterned it with some buck shot; it seemed very effective inside of ten feet, but outside of that it was hard to get even one pellet on the target. I know it can shoot 45 Long Colt as well, but it's an awful big gun for that. I think there are a lot of better guns for the money.
dirtykid
Member
Just 1-thought and that is dont buy it ,!! I had my judge for about 4-months and only posessed it for 1/2 that time as the rest of time it spent in florida getting "fixed" for cylinder-timing issues ?? after some shots either 45-colt or .410 (it didnt matter) cylinder would "freeze" ,, had to smack it with rubber-mallet to open it !! maybe they have fixed this problem but that alone was enough to make me leary of trusting it for self-defense.....
Lord Palmerston
Member
I do not see the point of the Judge nor the advantages of such a huge handgun vs. a much smaller and manageable 3" .357 Magnum.
Nushif
Member
I tore up some pumpkins when I got my paws on one of 'em. Great fun.
NavyLCDR
member
It's good for a novelty... not much else.
It is a good platform if you want to launch multiple round ball projectiles at short range (e.g. home defense where you want to minimize potential penetration into neighboring houses, or to have a gun with you for rat/snake/rabbit at short range). There are only a few good factory loads for it, or you'll need to load your own. The 4 pellet Federal 000 buck is good, and Remington has a 4 00 pellet load but I don't know how hard their shot is or if it is buffered. Winchester has a duplex load of BB and pancakes. I'm not sure how well that one will penetrate.
The classic 3 ball buck from every manufacturer seems to use too soft of lead and it comes out the barrel like pancakes -- not enough penetration.
I'm not sold on the anti carjacker use. Could work. But it is kind of a big gun for carry and I don't like leaving a gun in the car all the time.
The classic 3 ball buck from every manufacturer seems to use too soft of lead and it comes out the barrel like pancakes -- not enough penetration.
I'm not sold on the anti carjacker use. Could work. But it is kind of a big gun for carry and I don't like leaving a gun in the car all the time.
Buck Snort
Member
Out here in the PRC we don't have water moccosins and on top of that CA calls it a "short barrelled shotgun", I call it a worthless turd.
Pacsd said:
As to your original question, if you have trouble with a Ruger Blackhawk, you'll have trouble with the Judge. The Judge might have just a tad bigger grip but not by much.
And as other have said, the Judge is just a fun gun to shoot. I don't think I'd trust it for home defense except for the .45 Colt part and there are others that will fill that bill. But just for fun, the Judge will leave you smiling ear to ear with the .410 part.
I have a Taurus Judge with the 6 1/2 " bbl.
I load it with the Federal Handgun 000 Buckshot.
At 8 yards it just leaves one big ugly hole.
It doesn't show the 4 shot pattern until 10 yards.
It doesn't start to fall apart until 18 yards.
Penetration at 5 yards is through (3) 1 gallon
jugs of water lined up in a row.What that means in
flesh and bone?I don't think the B/G really wants
to know.I love "my" Judge.
I load it with the Federal Handgun 000 Buckshot.
At 8 yards it just leaves one big ugly hole.
It doesn't show the 4 shot pattern until 10 yards.
It doesn't start to fall apart until 18 yards.
Penetration at 5 yards is through (3) 1 gallon
jugs of water lined up in a row.What that means in
flesh and bone?I don't think the B/G really wants
to know.I love "my" Judge.
I don't own one however I have shot the judge a couple times. Great gun. It seems to me it would make a good survival/backpacking revolver. Small game with different shotshells and 45 colt slugs have been giving cowboys a good nights sleep on the trails for a long time.
I just bought one of the Sports South Exclusive 'Magnum Judge" revolvers with a 3" chamber and 3" barrel in polished stainless. I thought it would be a fun play toy. I like the idea of being able to use the 3" 410 rounds with 5 balls in the 000 buck ammo at 1135 fps from Winchester. I am anxious to try it, the reviews I've read say it works well in the Judge.
I ordered a couple hundred rounds of ammo today and I should have the gun by next week.
I ordered a couple hundred rounds of ammo today and I should have the gun by next week.
steven58
Member
The Judge is a silly pistol that impresses in inverse proportion to ones level of firearms knowledge.
Here's a Box O' Truth on the Judge. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm
Other than as a designated snake pistol and a toy for goofing around at the range, I don't really see the point of this revolver.
The barrel length severely hampers the .410's performance as a defensive load against anything with legs. Not that the .410 out of even a shotgun barrel was ever a "go-to" 1st choice for SD. Also, that the long cylinder is going to hamper any kind of decent accuracy with the .45 LC.
Best of all, you get this superb melange of mediocrity in a bulky oversize pistol that handles more like a calzone than a handgun.
For the money, buy a 4" .45 LC or .44 Mag. and some shot shells.
P.S. The S&W version is probably just as silly.
Here's a Box O' Truth on the Judge. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm
Other than as a designated snake pistol and a toy for goofing around at the range, I don't really see the point of this revolver.
The barrel length severely hampers the .410's performance as a defensive load against anything with legs. Not that the .410 out of even a shotgun barrel was ever a "go-to" 1st choice for SD. Also, that the long cylinder is going to hamper any kind of decent accuracy with the .45 LC.
Best of all, you get this superb melange of mediocrity in a bulky oversize pistol that handles more like a calzone than a handgun.
For the money, buy a 4" .45 LC or .44 Mag. and some shot shells.
P.S. The S&W version is probably just as silly.
cobblestone
Member
Just because smith and wesson copied it doesnt make it a good idea.
steven58
Member
True dat!
Gun manufacturers are in the business of selling guns. Any development of the state of the art or quality is in support of that ultimate goal.
That's what's so great about capitalism. If the market wants high quality arms and innovative new cartridges the companies will provide them. If, on the other hand, there is a perceived demand for .32 pinfire single action top break revolvers (or "Judge" type arms) they will slap a laser on and it will be on the next cover of Guns and Ammo SWAT edition.
To me the most amusing thing about these guns is that they will sell a whole bunch of them.
The next step for either manufacturer would be to have it as the protagonist's main weapon in a TV action show or a John Woo film
Cant you just see Jason Statham (or some other underwear model) in a business suit wearing 2 in drop holsters with a bandoleer of .410 speedloaders?
Gun manufacturers are in the business of selling guns. Any development of the state of the art or quality is in support of that ultimate goal.
That's what's so great about capitalism. If the market wants high quality arms and innovative new cartridges the companies will provide them. If, on the other hand, there is a perceived demand for .32 pinfire single action top break revolvers (or "Judge" type arms) they will slap a laser on and it will be on the next cover of Guns and Ammo SWAT edition.
To me the most amusing thing about these guns is that they will sell a whole bunch of them.
The next step for either manufacturer would be to have it as the protagonist's main weapon in a TV action show or a John Woo film
Cant you just see Jason Statham (or some other underwear model) in a business suit wearing 2 in drop holsters with a bandoleer of .410 speedloaders?
lobo9er
Member
$ really? to make money, they dont care if its effective or not. People are buying them.
lizziedog1
Member
You are not allowed to own them in the Golden State?
VentureUser
Member
why not go BIGGER?
Had a cool link up but as it was from another site
Look up the Taurus Raging Judge it will put the desert eagle .50 to shame in shear "tie a rope around it and use it as an anchor" size
Had a cool link up but as it was from another site
Look up the Taurus Raging Judge it will put the desert eagle .50 to shame in shear "tie a rope around it and use it as an anchor" size
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Best load so far that I've found is the Winchester load with three copper discs and twelve BBs.....Seven yards and the "pattern/group" ate up a standard 50 yard target..five shots, fifteen 45 cal slugs/60 bbs.
Agree, it is a gimmick but it is one of the best selling guns in years. Too bad there are no good 3" handgun loads for it yet with shot.
They are coming in regularly with cyllinders properly sized in the throat area for the 45 colt...earlier ones had throats as large as .465" and were plagued with heavy leading from shooting the Colt loads.
Agree, it is a gimmick but it is one of the best selling guns in years. Too bad there are no good 3" handgun loads for it yet with shot.
They are coming in regularly with cyllinders properly sized in the throat area for the 45 colt...earlier ones had throats as large as .465" and were plagued with heavy leading from shooting the Colt loads.
ExMachina
Member
Probably not worth dumping more hate on a gun that pleanty of folks seem to like, but I was witness to some poor guy in a local gun store trying to make heads or tails of the Judge--he obviously just wanted a defensive pistol and couldn't get a straight answer from anybody who worked at the shop as to whether or not the Judge really IS a good defensive gun.
I don't comment on a gun shop's stock or its pricing while I'm in the store so I stayed quiet. But the Judge is such an obvious marketing ploy--it's so clearly NOT a serious defensive gun but if your a gun novice, I can easily understand how a "shotgun-revolver" would seem like it should be.
Let's all hope that no poor soul's life ever hinges on the Judge delivering the goods.
I don't comment on a gun shop's stock or its pricing while I'm in the store so I stayed quiet. But the Judge is such an obvious marketing ploy--it's so clearly NOT a serious defensive gun but if your a gun novice, I can easily understand how a "shotgun-revolver" would seem like it should be.
Let's all hope that no poor soul's life ever hinges on the Judge delivering the goods.
I agree it is not the best HD gun. I have read 1 instance where the Judge was used in self defense at close range and the person on the recieving end got away. This can happen with any gun and a lot depends on ammo, range and shot placement but I think anything less than a slug or 000 buck is stacking the odds against you and asking for a less than desireable outcome. The one intersting thing about this is the bad guy wanted nothing more to do with the woman and her judge.
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13797200
My plans for the one I bought are keeping it as a snake gun at the ranch and a play toy at the range. I have much better suited HD weapons.
Since I'm one of those dummies with a judge I thought I would chime in; I bought a judge not long after they come out and I've been shooting guns all my life have many handguns to choose from. What I can't understand from reading some of these post is what kinda dummy thinks the judge is incapable of killing anything. I wear this gun on the farm all the time especially while on the tractor I haul it in my truck and wear it in stores and gas stations. I have killed quite a few snakes and Im sure It will handle 2 legged snakes. I would not want to be on the recieving end of this gun with a shot to the face. The judge for SD up close and I say up close cause thats where the action will be when you need an SD gun most of the time. Makes me wander about the gun knowledge of people who are trashin the judge and the people who own one. Anybody that believes a couple 45LC mixed in with a couple 4-10 shell want kill is absolutely crazy. Also I have know trouble hitting what I want with the 45 loads out of the judge. I guess you really do need to be able to shoot to start with.
I also owned a Judge, my impression was it was a fun gun to shoot and could be a decent vermin gun around the farm/hunting shack, that is the purpose I got mine.
That being said, most of the ammo used in these guns are the plain ol 410 buckshot/birdshot that is no good.
You buy the handgun plated buckshot and its a completely different animal, penetration is very good at 15-20 yards, half the time the wad would go through my plywood at 15. If its not plated it will flatten and be worthless. Also the handgun ammo is cheaper most of the time.
The winchester stuff is pretty good as well, didnt shoot too much but enough to keep the pigeon population down.
The 4 shot ammo is OK, again patterns opened up at longer distance but under 10yds youd be fine.
the 45 colt, well it is what it is, at defensive ranges, no issues.
as far as slugs go, in mine they were VERY VERY accurate.
I ended up trading mine for something id use more, I liked it just fine but didnt need it as much as whatever I thought i needed at the time lol.
Basically most folks that badmouth them, have not shot them enough to see what they are capable of, you they havent shot them at all. Are they my first choice in PD, nope, but i wouldnt feel undergunned with one.
Good luck
That being said, most of the ammo used in these guns are the plain ol 410 buckshot/birdshot that is no good.
You buy the handgun plated buckshot and its a completely different animal, penetration is very good at 15-20 yards, half the time the wad would go through my plywood at 15. If its not plated it will flatten and be worthless. Also the handgun ammo is cheaper most of the time.
The winchester stuff is pretty good as well, didnt shoot too much but enough to keep the pigeon population down.
The 4 shot ammo is OK, again patterns opened up at longer distance but under 10yds youd be fine.
the 45 colt, well it is what it is, at defensive ranges, no issues.
as far as slugs go, in mine they were VERY VERY accurate.
I ended up trading mine for something id use more, I liked it just fine but didnt need it as much as whatever I thought i needed at the time lol.
Basically most folks that badmouth them, have not shot them enough to see what they are capable of, you they havent shot them at all. Are they my first choice in PD, nope, but i wouldnt feel undergunned with one.
Good luck
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