Taurus Judge for a little lady?

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Stonestacker

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OK, my wife has agreed to taking a concealed carry class and getting a permit. She does not have a lot of experience with firearms.
The choice of sidearm will be hers, but I am suggesting a .38 or.327 mag. snubby for the simplicity and ease of use.
However, the Taurus Judge caught my eye for the ability to fire .410 shotgun shells, which could be an advantage for somebody with a limited amount of range time.
Whatever she chooses, I want her to be comfortable with it. She is 5'2" and has two of the smallest hands I've ever seen on an adult. The Judge is a good sized piece.
I would appreciate any advice, as right now she only carries pepper spray and very tiny fists for defence. Scares the crap out of me.
 
I'm not saying buy it because it caught my eye, I'm asking if the size and recoil is to much for an inexperienced small woman. Sorry if I wasn't clear in the original post.
I've never fired one, so I cannot advise her on it. I can say that she shot my 6" barrel .357 mag and didn't like it at all, so if the recoil is similar the Judge is probably out as an option.
 
she might be able to handle a judge but not with magnum slugs in it. an old k frame smith absorbs .38 pretty well, you dont want to scare her away. but whatever you choose, try to keep the bullet grain weight down. 130gr .38 special vs. 158 grain
 
My wife at 120 lbs , shot hot handloads in her .357, but thought the 1911 auto with hardball was more pleasant , better pointing and just right as to recoil manageability.
Ya never know....
dick
 
I own a Judge Ultralite with 4" barrel, 2.5" chamber.

It's a good house/car gun, but hardly a "carry" gun. Just too big. It also has rather large grips (that -I- like) that might give a person with little hands issues. The recoil in .410 is plenty stout as well.

A single stack 9mm might be more to her liking, size wise. But, as far as the CCW course goes, most of those you can shoot with -any- gun. A nice 22 revolver makes for a GREAT trainer to get the basics down. Once she does that, then you can take her shopping for a "real" gun she will be happy with.
 
Recoil is different to everyone. My 70+ year old mom fired my Ruger 22 autoloader, S&W 940 (9mm revolver), a 45 Colt titanium revolver, a glock 45, and the Judge.

She liked the Ruger best -- no recoil and quiet.
Hated the 940 -- too loud and whippy
The 45 Colt was OK
The glock was OK
She liked the judge, shot multiple cylinders through it.

The Judge was one of the heavier guns, but the recoil is longer an slower than the 9mm. He biggest problem was cocking the hammer. The 940 has a concealed hammer, so she didn't have a J frame size thing to cock. But I think it was more inexperience and awkwardness keeping her back. She was getting good with the Judge.

So best to let someone try it first before buying. The Judge should also be handloaded or use the new Federal loads intended for it. Regular 410 loads are too slow and the shot too small (except for the OOO buck loads, but I don't know how fast those are).
 
My wife has carried a Lady Smith 38 snub for years. I've loaded it with Speer Gold Dot. Personally, for a woman, I think its the perfect size/power/convienence compromise. I own a Judge. It would be tough to carry it, and it does you no good to have it if you leave it at home.

be
 
suemarkp said:
Regular 410 loads are too slow and the shot too small (except for the OOO buck loads, but I don't know how fast those are).
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Winchester makes both a 000 and a #4 shot load, in both 2 1/2 and 3", that work just find and dandy in the Judge.

Of course there aren't any to be had anywhere ... but thats another story. I've purchased some of the Federal 000 loads (you get 4 balls to the 3 in the Winchester for 2.5"), but I haven't had a chance to fire any of them yet.
 
ive attempted to CCW my judge here at the house just for SnGs and i couldnt get it anywhere that was comfortable
id suggest a 38-357 like others and get her to practice

as for the recoil my 70 year old mother has shot 3 inch 000 buck from mine and all she had was a smile on her face when she was done
 
Thanks for the replies, you all pretty much confirm my thoughts. I've suggested a snubby .38, I'll just have to talk her into regular practice. It's taken some work to get her to agree to the class and permit.
One good thing: she doesn't want a pink one!
 
Regardless of what she is going to carry, she has to practice. One gun isn't going to require more or less practice than another. People need to realize that protecting themselves requires more than just a gun in their purse or pocket.

Practice, practice and practice......buy more ammo and repeat. ;)
 
Owning a Judge myself, I wouldn't recommend it for a carry piece. It is great for home/car defense. My wife carries a Taurus PT-111 and my small framed sister-in-law carries a Kahr CW-9. My son's future wife carries a Taurus 85 .38spl. None of these women are large and each shoots her own pistol well.

Let her try a few different pistols and see which one SHE preferrs.
 
Read my original post jfrey, I have no intention of picking one for her, just suggestions as I am much more experienced (just not with the Judge). As far as carrying the piece, It will be in her purse, so the size of the piece is not as important as recoil and handling.
I agree completely with the importance of practice, I want her to be able to handle her gun safely. Just thought maybe the judge would help make up for a lack of accuracy.
 
There is probably a worse choice for a neophyte shooter, but I would have to think on it a while to come up with one.

Stonestacker- Were you serious in asking if a huge, heavy, ungainly, hard-kicking revolver was a good choice for a woman learning how to shoot?
 
Just thought maybe the judge would help make up for a lack of accuracy.
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At self defense ranges, no shotgun is going to make up for a lack of accuracy, as the pattern will not open up much, at all.

Even if the shot does hit, it's coming out of a 3" barrel instead of a 20" one. A quick trip to the Box of Truth will demonstrate how poor a choice the Judge would be for self defense against anything bigger than a snake or chipmunk:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm

My wife likes her S&W J-frame with38+P. An SP101 would also be a good choice.
 
It will be in her purse...
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Poor place for a lady to carry a firearm. A purse is often the target of a surprise attack, and very few women are always in control of their handbag.

I own two Judges, though one would have been a-plenty. I think they would make an awful CCW. It's a snake-gun.

Les

p.s. Please only kill pisinous snakes wit yo Judge
 
However, the Taurus Judge caught my eye for the ability to fire .410 shotgun shells, which could be an advantage for somebody with a limited amount of range time.
Click to expand...

If she refuses to practice, the type of ammunition is not going to give her any advantage in a fight.

You and she would both do well to spend some time browsing around www.corneredcat.com. Might as well go through this process once and come out happy, rather than risk ruining firearms for a new shooter.
 
Whatever she chooses, I want her to be comfortable with it.
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Want her comfortable, let HER make the choice for what SHE will carry. She doesn't pick your, don't pick hers. Secondly, a big part of her being comfortable is getting her practice, instruction and range time. Get her, and yourself, instruction above and beyond that limited amount required for the permit. TOO many go minimal and stop thinking it's enough - far from the truth.
 
Thanks for the responses.
Yes, I was serious, that's why I was asking. I made it clear that I haven't used one and want to know how it is to handle. Now I know.
As for the purse carry, I have been working for a long time to get her to realize that some form of protection is needed. Being realistic, I know she will not agree to carry on her person. The purse may not be a good place to carry, but better than not carrying at all.
She does not refuse to practice, but it will not be possible for her to practice enough to be a true expert. Again, just being realistic, I want her to become safe and proficient, not a Green Beret.
BlkHawk73, read the first post. The choice is her's, I have no intention of telling her what to get, just some suggestions.
Again, thanks for the replies that were on topic.
 
Although I am a Taurus fan and have owned several of their revolvers over the years (still own 3 and one of them is my most frequently carried gun), I am not a big fan of the Judge. No particular reason...I just have no interest in owning one.

I've read a lot of posts on THR and other forums that denigrate the Judge and use of .410 shotgun shells.
However, for a true self defense situation, the Judge is probably a good choice. The result of a self defense situation is the assailant is stopped...that's all. And, at a range considered within the realm of self defense (less then 10 feet), those .410's would give an assailant persuasion to stop and leave (if he's not incapacitated).
 
if u like the judge cause she aint got alot of shootin experience get her some pepper spray. unless your gona load it with 45LC it is not a good defensive weapon.

or get her a .38 and teach her to shoot.
 
Thanks, everybody.
The Judge is out for our purposes. I'm going to suggest that she try a snubby .38 and go from there.
 
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