Taurus Judge

[suemarkp]

I wonder how long it will be before someone accidentally drops a 454 casual or a 460 S&W in the cylinder and blows the gun to pieces.

You can't do it. There is a ridge in the cylinder at the end of a 45 Colt case. A 454 or 460 won't chamber. A 444 Marlin will, but hopefully it wouldn't develop a lot of pressure as the .429 bullet goes down the .451 chamber and barrel.

 

[Stainz]

I shot a public range visitor's longer barrel blued 'Judge' last summer. He had #6 .410 and some MagTech cowboy .45 Colt loads. I was shooting my older .45 Colt 625 Mountain Gun - with my loads. The sparsely populated swirls caused by the birdshot wasn't impressive - a family of snakes could have survived. It was shot at standard silhouette size targets at 7-12yd. I had trouble hitting the body with his gun & .45 loads, but could choose an eye with my warmer (255gr LSWC @ 820 fps) loads. The birdshot made swirl galaxy-like patterns - like wind bands radiating out from a hurricane's eye. Local suppliers don't stock much .410 - certainly not the 3" cases - so the Thunder Five, or infamous 3" Judge, which was originally promised for last fall, wouldn't have a chance of the 000 buck shot. The .45 Colt Cowboy loads - and Speer's 250gr Gold Dot, bearing their excellent low-speed #4484 bullet - would be better self-defender loads, anyway.

The trigger was horrid - the spongey grip is an acquired taste. If it works long enough to break-in, the trigger will get better. Taurus' parts problems have been well documented. There won't be one in my future. Additionally, I had a 5.5" RH in .45 Colt - there won't be a 4"-er, either. Of course, I do have two 625MGs in .45 Colt - those 4"-ers are keepers! If you want a great 4" SS .45 Colt, get a true classic - a S&W 625MG. You should find one in the $500 range used in decent shape.

Stainz

PS My 625MGs in .45 Colt - with a .45 Schoffield cartridge, too:

 

[TonyB]

eastwood44mag:I've had less problems w/ Taurus than Smith and wessons.They may not be as pretty as a smith,but I never had to send one back to the factory...OTOH,smith knows my address quite well.maybe I just got lucky.

 

[Soybomb]

Many people find this revolver interesting. I am not one of them. But it is a hot ticket with Taurus. Maybe I just don't "get it."

I'd actually say you're one of the people that gets it. I think alot of the people that think it would be great don't realize how poor the .410 from such a short barrel is for defense.

 

[gruesomenewsom]

all my handguns are rugers with one colt and one s&w. I've never liked taurus at all. but i am considering buying this gun. it just seems like it would be a hoot to carry walking through the woods. not for defense, not for hunting, just walking the trails and occasionally blasting off a round or two at random objects.

 

[Mot45acp]

The "Judge" is the most common firearm (including long guns) returned to my LGS due to failures.

I wanted one just for snake duty, and the owner of the shop talked me out of one.

 

[Markbo]

I'd actually say you're one of the people that gets it. I think alot of the people that think it would be great don't realize how poor the .410 from such a short barrel is for defense.

They just see that add with all those holes in that H-Viz silhouette target and get all excited... pure marketing doing it's job.

 

[tblt]

Don't waist your money on it.
Buy a shotgun and a pistol instead.
You will be sorry if you buy it.

 

[Bill2e]

Thank you all, I all most bought one at teh gunshow, but wanted to wait untill I try a friends first.

I'm glad I did, by your responses I think I would have regreted the purchase.

However I am looking forward to trying to break some clays with my friend at our next trap shoot.

 

[SgtKnuckles]

"The Box O' Truth" REBUT...
I own "The Judge" ~ Like "The Judge" ~ And Never Tried To Get Anybody To Buy "The Judge"

I don't expect you to believe what I have to SAY... Soooooo, I always Backup with Reputable LINKS & VIDEO CLIPS from Web Sites of People you all Trust...

I'm dumping more food for thought on you than the Old Fart did... The right Bullet for your Guns is always about what you plan on using it for...

I read "The Box O' Truth" web site all the time... and finding the same Disturbing thing in most tests... Not a vary good analysis of the Physics of what's happening in the test... I'm not disputing any of the data that was accumulated during the test... But, the data is just dumped in a pile, for the reader to make his own assumptions...<:-((
The testing is weak, and the analysis sucks as usual...

1) Penetration. the FBI's 12" Gel FPE rule is used to reference a rounds ability to penetrate windshields, and car doors in Gun fights, stopping the BadGuy... (me and you would normally come up against Shirts & Jackets in Self Defence situations) If it was all about penetration, we would all be using FMJ's...
The Experts Say ~ Read the Info in this PDF file: http://www.firearmstactical.com/hwfe.htm
Also Read this: Here is two pages of Bullet Basics http://tinyurl.com/23huab

2) Now in this Link you will see that to shoot a BadGuy the Cops use Special Soft Hollow Points when shooting the BadGuy so as to get 100% of the Bullets energy into the BadGuy (a shoot through is wasted energy)... http://tinyurl.com/yv9sjp

3) The Test: 45LC... 14 1/2" Nice... But, it traveled 2 1/2" beyond the FBI 12" rule (a shootthrough Shot) 20% energy lost because there was to much penetration... The BadGuy did not absorb 100% of the Bullets energy... ( the old fart did say that it was a bad Bullet. What he meant, was that the bullet didn't slow down enough to stop by the Sacred 12"... Now lets expand on this a little. As seen in the GEL test in this Link: Gel testing the .32 ACP http://tinyurl.com/yel7nu A little .32 can get 15" penetration...!!!

4) The Test: OOO BuckShot... Lets clear up some more bad info & analysis... First off a OOO Buck ball is .360 not the .340 that was stated, check this Link: http://tinyurl.com/35z6nz and the next info that had No analysis was as follows... That "little .410" round in OOO Buckshot (3 balls) is roughly equivalent to Three rounds of 9mm - simultaneously delivered... The 9mm pistol may be criticized for a lack of stopping power, but there's no doubt that three .360 caliber balls delivered simultaneously packs a serious wallop...<) Now lets talk about the 4 1/2" of penetration of that Buck Ball, X 3 = 13 1/2" of penetration, and expanded to 45cal or more as seen in the test, and 100% of the energy absorbed by the BadGuy... Now how about that 4 1/2"... Put your finger on your chest, and think 4 1/2" deep... 4 1/2" puts 1 ball in each Lung, and 1 in the Heart using the Spacing, and Depth that was shown in the Test... I agree that I would like to see at least 2" more penetration, just for good measure... Yup, Dead soft lead balls...<:-(( This is a problem that was reveiled in the test... I must check my OOO Buck Winchesters to see if they use Chilled Hardened Lead Balls...???

5) The Test: .410 Slug... why would you... The gun shoots 45LC's out to a 100 yards, D'oh... My range test says all you need to know...

6) The Test: #6 bird shot... Don't get hit in the Face with it at 5 feet... BadGuy would die almost instantly from a brain shot through the eye sockets...

7) My own Range test below gives some general AMMO info... I actually tested a Full range of AMMO for the Judge... You can Buy every Size .410 Shot shells on the web... I did...!!!

8) Lets answer another Question: +P But Not +P+
This is from page 4 of the Taurus catalog: +P RATED FOR DUTY USE®
All Taurus handguns are engineered to accept a steadydiet of factory-new Plus-P (+P) ammunition built to SAAMI specifications. This includes the Ultra-Lite hammer forged aluminum alloys, Titanium, blue steel and stainless steel models. Rest assured, your Taurus will be ready, especially when you’re counting on it.

Why is it that every time I go to "The Box O' Truth" web site I think of this LINK...???
http://tinyurl.com/ynweu5

~Will the Judge Shoot out through a closed car window if need be is the Question~
Well you Know "The Number "ONE" Rule of Gun Self-Defense"~If you have to use your Gun in a Fight or DIE situation, and you have decided to "Protect and Defend", You always take "TWO" quick Shots... NOT just one test shot...!!! Now you re-adjust your aim, and empty your Gun if needed... Make's the Window situation a Moot Point, (no window on second split second shot)...

NOTE: The Judge is a Meat Grinder Plain and Simple... You can empty the Gun in just under Two Seconds (1 1/2) That would put 15 000 Buck on target (same as 15 9mm's) and really mess up a BG's day...!!! Point and Shoot Babe~Point and Shoot Babe... Theres no place for a BG to hide from an instant Barrage like that...!!!

Range Report... "THE JUDGE"

This Gun has a Medium Frame ~ It's just a Puppy ~ hehehe...<)

Ahhhhhh, the Smell of Black Powder Burning in the Morning... "S W E E T" ...<) See Pics...

I said that I would get to the Range, and shoot all the listed AMMO...
Well I did, and I will tell you what I liked...

1) Black Dawge's Black Powder~Most Fun you can have at the Range shooting Double Action as fast as you can empty that Wheel... Just like a Cannon... A column of Smoke rolls out there about 10 feet, and a foot in Diameter... hehehe Cool...<)

2) SilverTip Hollow Points~These were most accurate... I think the Jacket took the rifling the Best...<) It's a Killer... You know I will have two of these in Hole #4 & #5 of that Wheel...<)

3) 7 1/2 & 6's Shot Winchester Super X HS~Snakes aren't going to like these...!!!...<)

4) 4 Shot Winchester Super X HS~Bad Guy won't like these...!!! Good Pattern & Damn near went through a 2x4...Maybe some did...!!! OUCH...!!!...<)

5) OOO BuckShot (.360)(3 Balls) ~ These are down right Killers, for Home Defense... Just Point and Shoot... not Aim and Shoot...<) I feel a little tingle Knowing what these Babe's will do...<)

6) Rifled SLUG Hollow Points~Absolutely useless in this gun... The Gun don't shoot them... It Spits them... Hyper Fast~97Gr.~Don't touch the Rifling~some of them Key-Holing...

7) Nickel John Wayne's~Nice Big Bang... 250Gr. ... You know it's Deadly...

8) RNFP ULTRAMAX~Nice light shooter... You could shoot this all day at targets, and the Lady's Like this one the Best...

9) A-MERC~Good general Round... It will Kill anything you Hit With It...<)

AMMO List:

45 Colt 250 Gr. LFN Winchester Nickel John Wayne's
45 Colt 200 Gr. RNFP ULTRAMAX
45 Colt 250 Gr. RNL A-MERC
45 Colt 235 Gr. RNFP GEOX Black Dawge's Black Powder
45 Colt 225 Gr. Winchester SilverTip Hollow Points +P Super X

.410 HighBrass 7 1/2 Shot Winchester Super X HS
.410 HighBrass 6 Shot Winchester Super X HS
.410 HighBrass 4 Shot Winchester Super X HS
.410 HighBrass OOO BuckShot (3 Balls) Winchester Super X HS
.410 HighBrass Rifled SLUG Hollow Points Winchester Super X HS

~RangePics~
http://members.aol.com/normtrudeau/1Range.jpg
http://members.aol.com/normtrudeau/2Range.jpg
http://members.aol.com/normtrudeau/3Range.jpg

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The Taurus Judge is a bad idea, poorly executed.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Now, I own several .45s, including Rugers and a Colt New Service. The .45 Colt will do anything you need to do with a handgun -- a cast bullet at 900 fps will shoot clean through an elk, and I can get that from both my Rugers and my Colt.

If I need a shot cartridge, a pinch of Bullseye with a gas check seated down on it, the case filled with shot, and another gas check crimped in the mouth does the trick.

 

[Hawk]

Sarge:

Just as a constructive suggestion, you can link to a previous single post by clicking on the post number then "copy / pasting" the address bar thusly:

The Box 'O Truth Rebut

Please disregard if you intended to repeat the entire thing from 6/30. I only came across that functionality recently myself.

 

[SgtKnuckles]

Interesting concept~A one Caliber Hand Gun World...

Hawk,... Thanks for that Info...<;-))