Circuit Judge for home defense

[Roger Laird]

My better half just bought a circuit judge for home defense. and she loves it.She is not a gun person and this is her first gun purchase.These are her first targets.Was wondering what other owners of this fire arm thought about this neat little gun.

 

[mdauben]

With proper bullets the .45LC can be a very effective self-defense round. My understanding is there is some uncertainty about how effective various .410 ga shells are in that role, though.

 

[dogtown tom]

I am not a fan of .410 shotshells through a revolver barrel due to their severe inability to penetrate.
.45 colt, yes

 

[Roger Laird]

fun gun to shoot lol these are a couple of my targets

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Better than nothing, not better than other options, using .45 LC loads like winchesters pdx1 or a comparable loading you have a formidable weapon, save the .410 gimmick for the range its only useful in snake removal and for fun, it takes a slug in that configuration before it even gets some what decent, by then you can just used .45 LC and be done with it.

 

[RPZ]

I would not be very confident in .410 buckshot loads for two legged predators. I would try out .410 Brenneke slugs and see if they will group close enough for practical use. Offhand I think they run about 300 grains and have a nice flattish Wadcutter type profile. Otherwise I would stick with good .45LC loads.

 

[scaatylobo]

Shot one just to see the big deal = still think it would make a great anchor for a small boat.

Those "groups" were pitiful,unless fired from at least 10 yards ?.

I would happily buy the lighter version,IF they would make it with a cylinder to ONLY fire .45Colt rounds.[ it would shorten the cylinder a great deal ]

That would be THE best snubby and primary or BUG ever.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Shot one just to see the big deal = still think it would make a great anchor for a small boat.

Those "groups" were pitiful,unless fired from at least 10 yards ?.

I would happily buy the lighter version,IF they would make it with a cylinder to ONLY fire .45Colt rounds.[ it would shorten the cylinder a great deal ]

That would be THE best snubby and primary or BUG ever.

I would tend to agree, A revolving firearm is a great choice to be used as an HD firearm or SD or whatever you want to use with itm but if you cannot accurately handle it you either need more time with it or need to choose something else, its a known issue the shallow grooves in the judge series does not stabilize Long Colt rounds as good as a dedicated .45 caliber weapon is. You and your spouse need more time behind that weapon to be effective with it.

 

[labnoti]

It's always a good thing to find something you love. I wouldn't dis the gun, but I wouldn't settle on it without trying some alternatives. Some good alternatives, in this case, would be a .44 Special revolver, a .44 magnum carbine, or a 20 gauge pump. I think a Model 69, Redhawk, or 629 shooting .44 Specials could be a better alternative to a .45/.410 handgun. In the carbine configuration, a lever action .44 magnum is worthy of consideration. On the other hand, if you want to shoot buckshot, a 20 or 12 ga.

 

[Paladin7]

If she likes the gun and it is her first, then it's all good. Personally, I don't like the concept and believe there are much better choices for HD.

A standard S&W K frame revolver for a new shooter is an excellent choice. Answer the door at night and have the revolver in a waistband and no need to fear if there is a cop on the other side of the door. Answer the door with a carbine and you have a potentially dangerous situation on your hands if there is a cop on the other side of the door.

As to carbines, they are ok if there are no issues with over penetration. If that is the case, then I'd go AR15.

I don't trust the .410 Personal Defense Loads for serious business and don't like the reload speed on a revolving carbine.

YMMV...

 

[Roger Laird]

Shot one just to see the big deal = still think it would make a great anchor for a small boat.

Those "groups" were pitiful,unless fired from at least 10 yards ?.

I would happily buy the lighter version,IF they would make it with a cylinder to ONLY fire .45Colt rounds.[ it would shorten the cylinder a great deal ]

That would be THE best snubby and primary or BUG ever.

Those groups were at 8 yards by a first time shooter.My groups were at 25 yards.

 

[Roger Laird]

Guys this woman is 5 foot 1" and weighs 104 pounds not Dirty Harry lol. My home defense gun is a different story.

 

[RedlegRick]

Hey, if she liked it enough to buy it and keeps everything inside a 6 inch circle at zero to fifty feet, it's all good in my book.

I'd be afraid to show my GF a Judge, lest I find myself getting her one. She has a thing for oddball things and the Judge fits right in there.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

They do make a standard .45 Colt revolver without the freakishly long cylinder and frame of the.410/.45LC version.

 

[Roger Laird]

They do make a standard .45 Colt revolver without the freakishly long cylinder and frame of the.410/.45LC version.

This is the carbine not the revolver

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You confused people by putting it in the handgun section.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I shoulda remembered Circuit Judge was the carbine.

 

[RPZ]

Yep, confused me too. Still, try the Brenneke slugs.

 

[JohnKSa]

Moving to Rifles. (It would fit under shotguns as well, but I flipped a coin and Rifles won.)

 

[Roger Laird]

I am not a fan of .410 shotshells through a revolver barrel due to their severe inability to penetrate.
.45 colt, yes

 

[Goosey]

There's always "something better", but as long as you don't use .410 birdshot it will probably work fine. And it would probably suffice most of the time with the birdshot, too.

This is .410 buckshot from a short-barreled Taurus Judge. Out of that little barrel it makes just over 700 fps.

 

[ThomasT]

Next time you take a picture of your feet in sandals you ought to at least paint your toenails.

 

[RPZ]

There's always "something better", but as long as you don't use .410 birdshot it will probably work fine. And it would probably suffice most of the time with the birdshot, too.

This is .410 buckshot from a short-barreled Taurus Judge. Out of that little barrel it makes just over 700 fps.

Out of a carbine barrel it should have a little more oomph. I'd still prefer the one and only Brenneke slug. Wish someone would gel test one or two of those.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Funny how a 38 special or 9mm is adequate, but 45 Colt isn't.
That is about as far from my choice of home defense as I can get, but it is far better than no weapon.

 

[jeepnik]

.45 colt in the original LRN BP load was designed to stop horses. Pretty much any modern load, including “cowboy loads” should suffice.

Re: .410 loads, slugs and buck are sufficient