Cutting down Cucuit Judge

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Shienhausser

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Ever since I visited the Weitzenhoffer Gallery of Fine American Firearms at the National Cowboy Museum, I have fallen even further in love with revolving rifles.

I noticed that Taurus/Rossi makes a modern one called the Curcuit Judge and I got to thinking that it would be just the perfect Home gun, loaded with .410.

I also got to thinking, it has an 18" barrel, as long as you kept the overall length 26" could you cut the stock down to almost a sawed off configuration? That would be even better for HD IMO. "why dont you just buy the judge?" I dont just want the judge. I want a longer barrel for better spread control and accuracy. In fact I'd usually never consider even buying a Rossi/Taurus, but this thing is too cool.

Anyone know how much that would actually cut the overall length down? I couldn't find the guns factory stock length or overall.

I know, most would feel this would ruin the look/value of the gun but I don't care, I think it would be great.

I also just want it fun factor.
 
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Since it's a carbine pistol/rifle and shotgun, I didnt know where to put this thread. What does the ATF even classify this as?
 
I'm no expert, but I believe that if it has a stock on it, designed to be mounted to the shoulder, the minimum barrel length is 16".
 
As it has a shoulder stock, it is -- and will always be -- a rifle, according to the BATFE.

If you want to cut the barrel shorter than 16" you will have to first register it as an NFA Title II "Short-Barreled Rifle."
 
Right, but if I kept the barrel stock length and just cut the stock, would it be ok as long as it was 26" overall? The barrel is 18" and would stay that way.
 
It's a rifle. The barrel is rifled its whole length Personal observation). Not sure why they went with 18.5--worried about state laws? Therefore it should be modifiable to a 16+ inch barrel. If you shorten the stock enough that it no longer can be fired from the shoulder, perhaps (on analogy with pistol-grip-only shotguns) it stops being a rifle, but becomes "pistol grip firearm"--without being a SBR or a "weapon made from a rifle"?

IANAL.
 
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Right, but if I kept the barrel stock length and just cut the stock, would it be ok as long as it was 26" overall? The barrel is 18" and would stay that way.
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Ok, then, yes -- you would be fine.

Probably would lose about 2/3rds of its effectiveness (or your speed and accuracy with it) but legally you'd be in fine shape.
 
yeah, it would affect the shooting of the gun BUT it would be something extremely maneuverable that I could keep in my bedroom. I have my 686 for HD but I REALLY don't want to fire a .357 or really even a pistol for that matter indoors.

Plus when all of those watermelons attack me in my sleep, I'll show em!
 
I have my 686 for HD but I REALLY don't want to fire a .357 or really even a pistol for that matter indoors.
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Because of muzzle blast?

Remember the cylinder gap. The noise from this gun will not be the same as a .45 Colt or .410 from an 18 in barrel; a lot of noise will come from the cylinder gap as well. Are you sure it's going to be quieter that most pistols?
 
Not so much muzzle blast. I know the gap will still be a source of loud noise.

I think in reality I'm just trying to justify my desire to own a sawed off revolving rifle/shotgun. haha.

I'm not stuck on just the Circuit Judge either, does anyone know of other Mfg.s that make these?
 
Get a 12 gauge pump for home defense. I'm not sure if a 410 with a buck load would put down a BG in one shot. I guess it would depend on the load you use. As far as noise.... any gun is going do be damn loud inside your house. I would rather take hearing loss to protect myself and my family than use a "quieter" gun and end up dead.

Mossy 500 - bedside.
357 Mag - kitchen
Glock 36 - Garage
 
I have a 12ga. pump. I have revolvers, I have both compact and full size pistols.

This thing really wouldn't be my go to gun for HD, it would just be handy. As I said, however I can justify buying another gun.

I shot a Anschutz .22 Exemplar with an added suppressor on it and really like the whole pistol grip barrel length combo. To have this combo in a revolver/shotgun would be something I would want.
 
From what I read, the Circuit Judge has a screw-in muzzle adapter that converts between rifle and shotgun modes. I'm not sure how long they are, but they are close to the 2 1/2 inches you want to lop off, so it may affect the project in some way.

More to the point, the shotgun "choke" has straight, not spiral, grooves. The idea is to stop the shot from spinning before it exits the barrel. Spinning shot means a very wide spread. If you look a the regular Judge tests on the web, you can see it's very bad shotgun out past a few yards. So, I think if you just saw off a Circuit Judge, you won't be happy with the result.

I suppose you could shorten the barrel from the receiver end. I suppose that would be possible with a machine shop and gunsmith skills. But what do I know?
 
I didnt know it came with an adapter for the muzzle.

I think what I will do is just cut the stock and then reshape it. The overall length is 38" so that gives me a foot to lop off. Not too worried about barrel length.

People seem to get better patterns from the circuit than the judge pistol.

Again, im not target shooting, this is more of a fun toy/keep next to the crapper gun hehe.
 
Circuit Judge has a screw-in muzzle adapter that converts between rifle and shotgun modes.
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No.

No such feature is listed at the Rossi website. The one I inspected had rifling through the entire barrel, and no "adapter." So unless they have an uncatalogued "special version"... :scrutiny:
this is more of a fun toy
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I personally thiink you have exactly the right attitude, and I think you will enjoy the gun; it looked good. Please let us know what you think if you decide to buy it.

Oh, just in case: "It is great. It is absolutely the right gun to buy." Now you can say "I checked it out extensively on the internet, and found out it's great, absolutely the right gun to buy." :D
 
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"I personally thiink you have exactly the right attitude, and I think you will enjoy the gun; it looked good." Nice, good to hear.

I would LOVE for them to come out with a .454/28ga. model though.
 
Yeah, they do have a .44mag but the .357mag would be perfect since thats 99% of what I shoot.
 
Wow, this is a really interesting "Warning" .pdf from Rossi on the fact that certain parts and versions aren't importable into the US. I'm not sure I understand exactly why, but it seems they're concerned that a smooth-bore revolving shotgun (NOT rifled) would be classed as a Title II Destructive Device or otherwise be illegal in some jurisdictions.

http://www.rossiusa.com/pdf/warning_notice_circuit_judge.pdf
 
I would LOVE for them to come out with a .454/28ga. model though.
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http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details.cfm?id=214&category=15&toggle=&breadcrumbseries=

Not sure if any have been or will be imported. I'm guessing not, considering the above linked .pdf.


It really couldn't be a .454 as well, though. The bore is totally wrong. You're going from .452" all the way up to .550". Or pushing a .550" shot charge or slug down a .452 bore which would be ... just too exciting, albeit briefly. :what: :D
 
Shienhausser:...I noticed that Taurus/Rossi makes a modern one called the Curcuit Judge and I got to thinking that it would be just the perfect Home gun, loaded with .410....
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Only if you need an eight year old to defend your home.:uhoh:

Seriously, a 12ga Rem 870 or Mossberg 500 is far and away a better choice for home defense than a .410 shotgun........and cheaper.
 
The Rossi Circuit Judge has a rifled barrel and it also uses screw in choke adaptors.
One choke adaptor for .45LC rounds & .410 slugs and another choke adaptor for .410 shot.

The warning not to shoot .45LC rounds/.410 slugs with the .410 shot choke adaptor installed, is there due to possible kaboom issues if you do it.

3745b470.jpg
 
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