Got to shoot a Rossi Circuit Judge...

[griff383]

My father in law picked up the rifled version of the Taurus Circuit Judge on Thanksgiving day for a pretty nice price. He has had a picture of this next to his home computer since they first announced it. He has a 6" revolver and his wife has a light weight 3" and they both love them.

This rifle is very light and easy to maneuver, which makes my wife want one. I think it would fare well on small game and make a great camping / hiking / survival rifle.

It was in the single digits with wind so we didnt get to shoot it a whole lot but did run it through the paces. It comes with a scope base already mounted which I thought was a nice feature and has fiber optic rifle sights which were pretty well sighted in for the 25-30 yard distance we were shooting at with 45LC hunting handloads.

It came with a "thread protector" for bullets (smooth with no rifling or restriction) and a straight rifle choke for shotgun shells. We shot #6, #4, and 000 Buckshot with both chokes. The straight rifle choke did a great job of keeping a nice tight pattern at 15-20 yards, it worked so well that he is now wanting a straight rifle choke for his turkey gun. Without the rifled choke the shot was everywhere, still hit the 16"x16" piece of cardboard we were shooting at but just barely.

I really liked it and will probably pick one up next time I see one for a fair price. Not sure what I will use it for but will definitley have fun whatever I do with it.

 

[Sam1911]

After some pruning...

I am one that sees no reason to own a 'judge'

Then why post in the thread?

Indeed. It doesn't appear that the OP asked for anyone else's opinions on the gun itself or his experiences with it.

So, let's not clutter up his thread with OT arguments over whether there is a point to the concept or not.

If you have a question for the OP about the gun, or the results he was able to achieve with it, fine. If you just want to point out flaws in the concept -- go start your own thread.

Mmmmm-k?

 

[KodiakBeer]

It would be interesting to see how this does at 100 yards with the .45 Colt.

 

[rozziboy18]

100 yrd 45lc

i agree, id like to see some accuracy pics. you know 25,50,100 with the old 45lc.

as you all my know i had a hickup with a ruger vaquero 45lc and i no longer have it. i have 50 rounds o ammo and a pp rounds i would devote to the cause.

a word to the mod.

sam im going to have to get you some waders and a shop vac to help ya! good cleaning up! i for one dont aprove of thoughless comments.

see being a mod is not such a thankless job

 

[BrocLuno]

Toys are for fun

Thanks for sharing

 

[Clifford]

I don't see a real point to the gun either....but I still kinda want one! As another poster said get some accuracy results at 25-50-75-100 and show us what you got.

Did I understand you correctly? The rifle is just a smooth bore with a rifled choke tube?

 

[Sam1911]

Did I understand you correctly? The rifle is just a smooth bore with a rifled choke tube?

No. It is a rifled barrel (just like the revolvers) but there is a "choke tube" you can install that has straight rifling to stop a shot pattern from spinning.

You use the straight rifled tube for shotshells. You remove it for shooting .45 Colt.

 

[griff383]

They offer both rifled and smooth bore models, and he had the rifled one. One choke is smooth and labled "thread protector" and the other is the straight rifled one that tightens up the shot pattern from being spun by the rifling. They are both about 2" in legnth IIRC. From what I have gathered the smooth bore is 410 only but would guess that at close range a 45LC would be effective on smaller game.

He is coming to visit around christmas time and would probably love to check accuracy at various distances as some of you have suggested. Ill get a hold of him today and maybe can pursuede him to get out in the single digit weather to check accuracy.

 

[Skylerbone]

My problem would be two-fold: deciding which version to buy and the price of ammo for either. I'm now curious as to whether the options will be expanded and what you guys think about long term accuracy with putting shot through the rifled barrel.

They do look fun, I think my dad would be lovin one of those.

 

[1KPerDay]

They offer both rifled and smooth bore models,

You mean the pistol itself? I thought it had to have rifling to avoid being classified as an AOW by the BATFE? Am I mistaken?

 

[G27RR]

I want one of those, just because I like the way they look and I have enough rifles for specific purposes.

 

[Sam1911]

You mean the pistol itself? I thought it had to have rifling to avoid being classified as an AOW by the BATFE? Am I mistaken?

You are not mistaken. The "Circuit Judge" is a rifle, however. I did look on Rossi's website and didn't see any mention of a smooth-bore version being available, though.

 

[griff383]

I asked my in law if he had a chance to look at the smoothbore version and he said they had them in stock but he was only interested in the rifled version. I wish he would have looked at it so he would have seen the differences between the two. After shooting it he questioned if the smooth bore would have been a better choice since he will mostly be using 410. I would guess that repeated use of 410 in a rifled barrel would wear down the rifling over time, but if 45LC is only used seldomly it may not be a concern depending on user preference and application since that straight rifled choke really tightened up the pattern. It would be nice to compare the pattern of the smoothbore vs the straight rifled choke.

IIRC the 410 slug has ballistics very similar to a 357? So depending on the restricition / choke option of the smooth bore one may not even need the rifled version if a rifled 410 slug will perform the task(s) desired.

Found this regarding smooth bore option

http://www.rossiusa.com/news-detail.cfm?newsID=25

 

[1KPerDay]

You are not mistaken. The "Circuit Judge" is a rifle, however.

Duh... maybe I should actually look up the gun in question before opening my big mouth, huh?

Thanks

 

[MrOldLude]

Truthfully, this seems like a better application of a Judge chassis than the pistol. Of course, I don't hate the Judge pistol. It's a little silly, but I like it because it's sort of unique.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I would guess that repeated use of 410 in a rifled barrel would wear down the rifling over time

I don't think so. The problem will be leading building up in the rifling. He's going to have to work to keep it clean.

 

[Coal Dragger]

So what in the heck is this firearm really good for? It makes a rather sorry excuse for a rifle, or carbine given the fact it can't take a +P .45 LC, and it makes a rather poor shotgun given the anemic .410 chamber and ammo selection for shotgun uses.

 

[2GunsWest]

So what in the heck is this firearm really good for? It makes a rather sorry excuse for a rifle, or carbine given the fact it can't take a +P .45 LC, and it makes a rather poor shotgun given the anemic .410 chamber and ammo selection for shotgun uses.

I'd imagine it'd be a pretty trick Dove and quail gun?

Or, it could just be a fun way to shoot some .410 bore ammunition.

 

[Coal Dragger]

If you're a serious bird hunter I am thinking you will be wanting to use a shotgun that comes to shoulder and points where you are looking more naturally.

Now could this little gun be a lot of fun? Sure, but I just don't see a really practical use. Not that there has to be a practical use.

 

[2GunsWest]

I agree there are FAR better bird hunting shotguns out there, but this might offer a challenge that the others don't?

I'm reaching for reasons to own one here. I'm trying to be diplomatic. lol.

 

[Coal Dragger]

The only reason one needs to own one is that they want it, and they can afford it. Anything beyond that is pretty theoretical given the firearm in question, but that is all the reason needed and I won't criticize a person for buying one. I might criticize the firearm itself though.

 

[griff383]

Quote:
I would guess that repeated use of 410 in a rifled barrel would wear down the rifling over time

I don't think so. The problem will be leading building up in the rifling. He's going to have to work to keep it clean.

I didnt even think about the lead shot leading up the rifling, you think a bore snake would help keep the leading down or just gum up the snake?

 

[fireman 9731]

I was interested in them too until I saw one in person. Horrible fit and finish on the wood and metal... My Heritage Rough Rider 22 revolver has a better metal finish and the wood looked like it was just stained, not finished, soft as pine, and just waiting to get marred up.

As far as shot fouling up the rifling.... it probably wont be to much of an issue seeing that the shot is in a plastic shot cup or wad. Plastic fouling is a possibility but very easily cleaned.

Even with all that they still look cool.

 

[CoastieShep]

I'm thinking with the .410 loaded, it would be a pretty decent little squirrel/snake gun. Probably make a pretty nice little backpack gun with the LC loaded.

 

[zxcvbob]

How about using .444 Marlin brass to load your own .410's with heavy slugs? (300 grain cast .452 bullets)

In a pistol configuration, the Judge looks like it might be a good "car gun" but that's it. As a carbine, it looks a lot more interesting. I kind of want one, but I don't really know what for. I haven't seen one in person yet.