Judge: Public Defender

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Dimis

Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
1,558
Location
Delaware
I know the hype for the original judge has finaly died down a good deal and i know the general opinion is they are for a problem that doesnt exist

i still think the original judge is a fun gun to shoot and gets alot of attention at the range

i went into a few local shops yesterday and there were a few of the "snubby" models called "public defender" floating around in the cases

i kinda dig this little gun but then again i was fond of the original judge (thats why i bought it right?)

this thing is just cool to hold and i bet its awesome to shoot

anyone gonna try one of these or am i the only one?


(please lets not have another downfall of judge bashing if you dont want it or dont like it just say no dont get into the whole hate thread takeover ordeal)
 
Won't be me. I never really bought in to the hype. My Taurus 85UL carries a lot easier. It's all I need for a self defense revolver. Fits my pocket and carries 24/7. :D

If I wanna shoot .410 in a handgun, I do have my TC contender barrel. It's pretty fun on skeet and running rabbits, flying birds just goofing around. I mean, it don't take the place of a real shotgun, but it works out to about 25 yards on small game. That's about 23 yards farther than a Judge can be expected to pattern. And, it can shoot .45 loads that would severely stress the judge. I carry it a lot when I'm down on my place just goofing around. It's just fun to pop a starling or something now and then with, shoot a rattler for supper, maybe, or pop a rabbit you might jump out of the briers.

I consider the Judge an excellent choice for home defense or maybe car defense, but it's relatively narrow focused except just to have fun with, I guess. My carry is my car gun and I have choices at home from 20 gauge to .357 magnum to .38 etc.
 
Last edited:
I thought the idea was pretty cool when I first saw it. As to whether it would be sufficient to stop an attacker they say no. I still wouldn't want a face full of 410 lead, even if it is "insufficient". Seems like a good candidate for snake defense. Its not on my list of immediate fire arms to purchase. maybe down the road
 
Never bought into the hype either, but there are good reasons to have a Judge as a fun gun or one to shoot for defence. There are limitations though to what the gun can do realistically. There are sound reasons in the link as to what those limitations are.

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=23048.0

Please pay attention in particular to the reasoned arguments in the link. Also pay attention to what the buckshot and shot can really do as well.

There is the case in the NRA American Rifleman a few months back where a wife had a shot incapsulated rounds in her snub revolver. When crunch time came one night she emptied the 5 shot rounds into the violent attacker. This did not blind nor stop the attack. This did enrage the attacker. Hubby had to use his regular normal round loaded snubbie to end the conflict.

Do not bet your life on the fact of how the criminal is going to behave or that he/she wil be blinded.

Patterning of shot show gaps and holes in the patterns too frequently for that to be a sure thing.The Judge's shallow rifling has a major effect on the shot patterns. Has to do with the rifling contacting the shot and spinning it. That does not happen in smooth bored shotguns.

Since we cannot predict the conditions under which we will fight or the criminals state of mind, assuming how they will react is something that is impossible or near so.

I have revolvers that cover the defense mission overall better than the Judge. This is somewhat practical and a personal pick.

Other calibers will do as well in revolvers that can be CCW carried.

The Judge is a mission specific or fun gun. Nothing more and nothing less.

For you folks who have them,fine. That's all that matters is what you do with them for fun, outdoor use, or for protection.

They do have some limitations that cannot be ignored. That is true for any handgun. Use them within the practical means.
 
thanks for keeping it honest guys those are deffinatly good points

if i got my second judge (hard enough to justify the first one with the wife) it will be used for the same thing as the full size just for fun

its a bit funny because ever since i got the judge i havent seen a snake yet on my property to find out if it would work or not i think its a good luck charm now lol

as for home/car/self defence i have WAY better options usualy on my hip or in my pocket or hanging in my bedroom realisticly speaking i know that my .45ACP 1911, .45Colt ruger redhawk, .38SP+P LCR and 12Ga Mossberg will all be up for grabs before the judge but its still nice to own a fun gun once in a while
 
its a bit funny because ever since i got the judge i havent seen a snake yet on my property to find out if it would work or not i think its a good luck charm now lol
Click to expand...

Well, if it works that good, keep it in the car with 000 buck loads and you'll never get car jacked. :D I really don't think the charm affect would work on my place in the spring. LOL
 
You're a grownup, get what you want

A smaller judge could be as much fun and as far as hype, nothing is anymore effective than a 3'.410,000 at close range. I carry a bond arms c2k with .410/45lc and love it. One plus is barrel change on the bond. I have a .38/.357 barrel for it too. When in doubt think about how short life is. What else would you spend it on...food.a dry place to sleep?
 
Wish they made .410 flares, I'd own a judge.

I spend a lot of time on a dirtbike in relatively rough country, and have used snakeshot before and find it seriously lacking. Seems like the rattlers out here would need you to be significantly closer for snakeshot to work, than I am eager to get.
 
I'd say the Judge is the perfect gun for a specific market that I am rather familiar with, and surprisingly, NOBODY at Taurus is trying to target with their advertising.

The truth is, most people that own guns aren't people that have guns as a serious personal hobby.

The Taurus Judge would be a very practical, and versatile tool for someone living in Texas, like me. It's the only weapon that I am aware of, that can perform well as both a snake gun and a weapon for personal or home protection (with .45 long colt rounds for the latter roles of course) for someone that doesn't dedicate a large amount of their time to practicing weapons handling.

I can easily picture your average non-gun-enthusiast person living in snake territory, buying a Judge, loading two .410 shells and 3 .45LC rounds, putting the weapon in a drawer and just leaving it there until it's needed. It's a perfect weapon for that.
 
I can easily picture your average non-gun-enthusiast person living in snake territory, buying a Judge, loading two .410 shells and 3 .45LC rounds, putting the weapon in a drawer and just leaving it there until it's needed. It's a perfect weapon for that.
Click to expand...
Why not buy an H+R 410 shotgun and a S&W model 10 in 38 spec.
Both would do the job better and they would be less expensive than the Judge. The .410 as a real shotgun would be better at pointing at a snake or other bad animal and a 38 would do just about as well and have less recoil than 45 Colt.
 
i agree with you brian except the fact that i walked out the door with my judge for 400 bux i cant touch a S&W anything anymore for less than that so getting a S&W 38 and a 410 shotgun for less than the judge is gonna be hard unless you get used (read abused)

still havent seen a snake yet this year but as soon as i do ill show him 3 inch bird shot

if it doesnt work ill use a real shotgun

again i got the judge as more of a novelty and fun gun than ever taking it into defencive roles
 
i stand corrected sir lol

whish i could find a model 10 with the heavy barrel for that much right now
 
Once again, bird shot is for birds... and snakes.

Buck, BB, or maybe #4 for larger critters. Or, .45 or slugs...
 
We have sold many, many Taurus "Judges" since they became availible, still have a hard time keeping some models in stock..they are not the "brute" everyone thinks, I carry mine as a truck gun, have shot lots of 410 bore and 45's thru it..it is a "pussy cat" but is a "Tiger" if someone sticks their head in my truck..The "Public Defender" has not caught on yet..Some of our customers, particularly Judges, and Prosecuting attorneys did not like the inscription "Judge" on the barrel but did get over it..."Try it you will like it"
 
The reason for the Judge is obvious. Ease of carry and yet have a limited general purpose gun instead of carrying two guns.

If the Judge is used within it's limits then there is no reason not to have one.

There are those who own one just as a fun gun. That's reason enough. That's true for anyone who buys a gun if they use it right and are safe.

Many gun owners buy because of want and not out of need. Or because a real need does exist.

Since the 45 Thunderer failed something else that was more portable and user friendly was likely to come along.

There is a proclivity lately of many arms makers to have at least one .45 Colt/ .410 gun in their stable. Unless that trend changes there is no apparent reason not make them or procur them.

Holsters are made by an ever increasing number of holster companies. So carry can be done in the vehicle,on it, or on the person.

This is kind of the Colt hogleg of yesteryear in a new skin and in a new package.

Shot will kill snakes and where it is legal to hunt birds close up. Usually partridge,grouse, and other small game birds have been known to sit close to hunters and do so frequently enough that these birds can be taken cleanly at very close range.

The Judge is not a jack of all trades gun. Few are. It does the job well within it's set limits.

If a person needs a shotgun and revolver for carry then they could accompany the shotgun with a new Taurus revolver,Ruger, or other revolver.

If budget is a big thing then one gun alone makes sense. Same is true for two budget well made guns. New ones have some advantages over older models that have been around awhile. Not always overall advantages. Just some.

So go either way with new or old. What ever floats your boat.

As long as the Judge is used appropriately then there should be no problems.

There is a case for two guns or just one. What you choose is good for you, but not always good for everyone else. Case by case basis,folks.
 
I think it is a neat concept, but I have to admit that it is not high on my list of priorities. However, I can see why it might appeal to some folks. Seems like a decent little survival/outdoors/hiking gun with a good bit of versatility.
 
I can't afford one, but would love to have a Judge. .45 for self defense, bird shot for popping snakes in the woods. :)
 
I have a model 10 I paid $200 for and I could get a used 410 for about $125...
Click to expand...
How do you look with that .410 hanging out of your back pocket? I think the concept of carrying a pistol and a shotgun into the woods when hunting isnt even on your list of to do's to be particularly cumbersome and inefficient.

This argument will rage forever just like the glock vs 1911 and the birdshot argument. Seems almost everyone that says that a load of 000 buck from a judge would be insufficient is a city boy that never learned what a load like that can do. Also, Brian, I am not calling you an ignorant city boy, so lets not go that way, its just an observation.
 
...floating around in the cases
Click to expand...

:confused:

I'll buy a gun that sinks, not swims.:D

But seriously, like you said, "the hype for the judge has finally died down".
I'm no longer interested. Not that my interest lasted very long.
 
No one ever will say the Judge is for everybody. For example I have a goodly number of revolvers in .357 magnum or .38 Special and see no need to get one. It's practical and a personal choice.

There are many here who have bigger caliber revolvers that fill their needs and do not need a Judge.

There's two sides of the coin. Don't need one, fine.

Do need one.Why not?
 
How do you look with that .410 hanging out of your back pocket? I think the concept of carrying a pistol and a shotgun into the woods when hunting isnt even on your list of to do's to be particularly cumbersome and inefficient.
Click to expand...
It is called using a sling, and I would prefer a 20ga H&R youth model to go with my Custom S&W 65 with a 4" standard barrel in a nice holster.
I live in the city, but I have spent much time in the woods and I know what a load of 000 buck from a 410 can do and it still does not impress me. Give me a load of 28 gauge or better still 20 gauge #4s for the woods.

Also I would not be caught with any centerfire pistol or rifle ammo in the woods during some of the hunting seasons of PA.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

TTv2
I have some Taurus Judge questions
Replies
19
Views
511
drobs
drobs
the Black Spot
  • Locked
•••Taurus public defender...?•••
2
Replies
41
Views
2K
Penoe Hunter
P
D
  • Locked
How Many Judges?
Replies
2
Views
443
Brian Williams
Brian Williams
O
  • Locked
Taurus Public Defender
Replies
3
Views
3K
earlthegoat2
earlthegoat2
G
  • Locked
Judge Public Defender Holster
Replies
4
Views
532
rayban
R
Back
Top