Judge Opinions

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So over 10 feet, we agree .357 is better.
Under 10 feet, it's your opinion that .357 is better. Understandable, and we probably never will agree on which is better. But at least we agree that it would do its job.
 
So over 10 feet, we agree .357 is better.
Under 10 feet, it's your opinion that .357 is better. Understandable, and we probably never will agree on which is better. But at least we agree that it would do its job.
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Yes, certainly. Actually, at short range, I would prefer .45 Colt, even in the Judge. But as an overall self-defense weapon other than the Judge, a regular .45 Colt revolver or smaller .357 would, in my opinion be a better choice.

We all have our preferences, and it all depends on circumstances.. Personally, I don't carry a weapon. If I did, it would most likely be a Glock; but that's for another thread..
 
Just another piece of info, with 00 Buckshot out of a shotgun, each individual pellet equals .32 ACP. Thats with the long barrel to really get the shot moving. Now you have the Judge with a barrel thats alittle over an inch long trying to propel 000 with much less powder, so what exactly does that equal?
 
Like I said, 527, there is 1 load that meets the FBI requirements:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot53_2.htm

To make the FBI 12 inch penetration standard, it will need to fully penetrate through 4 water jugs, for 24 inches of water.

(...)

The 5 000 buck penetrated into the 4th jug, for 9 to 12 inches penetration.

Notice how they were flattened as they went down the barrel.
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The PWC created should be the same as 5x .380s.
 
Still seems pretty spotty, although some loads did meet penetration, but actually dangerous considering how if you don't aim center mass literally, you can easily have some pellets traveling off in some direction causing a dangerous situation. I still stand where I do about the Judge as something that isn't good for SD.
 
Still seems pretty spotty, although some loads did meet penetration, but actually dangerous considering how if you don't aim center mass literally, you can easily have some pellets traveling off in some direction causing a dangerous situation
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Pretty sure that is how all guns work.
 
Pretty sure that is how all guns work.
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Your gun would still be pointed at the guy, just at his lung instead of his heart and WHOOPS! There goes 3 pellets to stop God knows where.

Handgun rounds have worse overpenetration after going through a wall, because they don't reliably expand and thus retain their energy better. I'd be less worried about a 000 pellet going stray. (Still worried, just less worried).
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At home I just use a full size shotgun, I'm thinking about outside such as in your car.
 
Once again, I'm talking about a situation where you're in a car as you talked about.
 
The Judge is a decent pistol as far as fit and finish in my opinion. There are few pistols better suited to dispatching snakes and other small pests than the Judge is at fairly close range. With ammo designed for personal defense I also think it is probably effective enough that I would rely on it. The PDX-1 ammo would be alright for this purpose I'd imagine...though somebody with more knowledge on the matter may come along and recommend a better ammo type.
 
You do realize that you can easily get shotshells for nearly any revolver and even autoloaders to kill snakes right?
 
FIVETWOSEVEN said:
You do realize that you can easily get shotshells for nearly any revolver and even autoloaders to kill snakes right?
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Yeah I know but you can't get those little blue plastic tipped rounds nearly as cheap as you can get a box of .410 ammo. Plus you can load it with PDX-1 shotshells and that will give you a decent defensive pistol as well or if you prefer a single solid round you can load it with the .45 Long Colt.

I'll admit that most people probably buy the Judge on the idea that .410 is some super powerful round that is superior to most other handguns because it usually comes out of a shotgun but they're not bad guns and are easily adaptable to many situations too.
 
i want to try the 6" raging judge magnum. Its barrel is alot longer possibly providing better ballistics, and its got the bonus of firing the .454 casull.

at $600-700 i wouldnt buy it on a whim, but it might increase accuarcy and perform alot better at the cost being much larger and unconcilable
 
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I own a Judge and have shot a wide range of ammo thru it. I suggest that most on here have never as much as held one in their hand let alone actually shot one. As others have said, don't like them, then don't own one. On the other hand, IMHO serves a very good purpose for someone [like my wife] who is not a regular shooter with a lot of rounds down range. She shoots a pretty handsome pattern at 15' and less. Loaded with 2 PDX and a 45LCHP and then 1 more of each, you have a very effective PD weapon for walking to your car or a breakdown on the hwy. Have found [thru actual experience, not what I've read from like so many wantabe experts] it to be realiable and lethal for the purposes it was intended for.
 
Yeah I know but you can't get those little blue plastic tipped rounds nearly as cheap as you can get a box of .410 ammo. Plus you can load it with PDX-1 shotshells and that will give you a decent defensive pistol as well or if you prefer a single solid round you can load it with the .45 Long Colt.

I'll admit that most people probably buy the Judge on the idea that .410 is some super powerful round that is superior to most other handguns because it usually comes out of a shotgun but they're not bad guns and are easily adaptable to many situations too.
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So in other words, if I already own a .357 Magnum revolver, I have a snake gun and a self defense gun already plus something that is more accurate with handgun ammo. What advantage does the Judge have then? The ability to fire shotshells that are limited to 10 feet effective range?
 
What advantage does the Judge have then? The ability to fire shotshells that are limited to 10 feet effective range?
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Yep. That's basically it as far as I can tell. If you're only planning on using it at up to 10 feet, then that limitation isn't a problem.

Even though I'm defending it, it's far back on my wish list. I want at least a couple long guns and semi-autos before I get a Judge/Governor.
 
Judge Opinions... well let's see...

First of all, I tend to think of it as a .45 LC revolver that just happens to be able to handle .410 shotshells too. As a defensive firearm, I'd never use any of the .410 shells (barring being completely out of .45 LC ammunition), but it does seem to me that being ABLE to fire .410 shells out of one is a pretty nifty feature.

Yeah, a regular .45LC revolver is going to be more accurate, and a regular .410 shotgun patterns better. I'm still pretty sure I'd rather pack a Judge when out in the sticks rather than both a revolver and a shotgun, hiking packs can get pretty heavy after a while!

And now they've got the Raging Judge Magnum, 6-shot in .454/.410. I'm more than a little bit eager to try that out, since it seems to be pretty suited for Alaska.
 
Over in the Taurus forum, when polled, most judge owners carry a combo of the Federal 000 load and 45 colts. Typically 2 buckshot loads and 3 45 colts.

I can't say thay they are badly armed. Heck, a lot of people carry a 380 auto.

So I don't talk down the Judge. It's actually been good for the industry and certainly for 45 colt and 410 owners because of all the new loads that have come out.
 
Yep. That's basically it as far as I can tell. If you're only planning on using it at up to 10 feet, then that limitation isn't a problem.
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Planning to use a gun within 10 feet is not smart IMO, you should plan for 21 feet at least.
 
Planning to use a gun within 10 feet is not smart IMO, you should plan for 21 feet at least.
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My new place, longest distance I expect to use it would be 12 feet, but then you factor with my arm extended and the person not being flush with the wall it's more likely 7-8.
 
You choose whats best for you, my opinion on the Judge being a over hyped, snake-killing, toy won't change.
 
FIVETWOSEVEN said:
So in other words, if I already own a .357 Magnum revolver, I have a snake gun and a self defense gun already plus something that is more accurate with handgun ammo. What advantage does the Judge have then? The ability to fire shotshells that are limited to 10 feet effective range?
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Yeah I'm not going to argue about effectiveness of caliber (being an owner of a .357 and .38 myself on top of various other weapons) because it doesn't matter too much when loaded with shotshells as opposed to regular defensive ammo...I'm a strong advocate of shot placement above all else when it comes to that. My main point here is that .410 bulk ammo is cheaper than a box of pretty much any other shotshell manufactured for a handgun and even contains more rounds.

I was just arguing that the Taurus Judge isn't bad for what it is, an expensive handheld shotgun that alot of people enjoy. For snakes at very close range, I feel that the .410 is better because it has tons of pellets and would more than likely destroy a snake. Will your revolver loaded with shotshells be more effective or as effective at longer range? Maybe but I never made a statement to the contrary or if I did, didn't do it intentionally.

I'm not trying to push you into one, haven't been hostile, and haven't been disrespectful in any way as far as I can tell so please don't take my comments as such. I personally don't even own a Judge but after firing a .410 derringer I can say that I would like to one but won't shell out the price they want for them...maybe if I can find a cheap used one but otherwise I won't be getting a Judge anytime soon.
 
My main point here is that .410 bulk ammo is cheaper than a box of pretty much any other shotshell manufactured for a handgun and even contains more rounds.
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Do you really kill that many snakes?
 
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