"The Judge" Thoughts?

I tried doing a search, but the results were overwhelming and mostly had nothing to do with the actual gun. So, any thoughts on this (for me)? I know, I know I need to go shoot it for myself, but until I do (Hubby's buddy has one and says the handgrip absorbs a lot of the impact of firing), thoughts?

http://www.taurus-handguns.com/item/68812_Taurus_Hand_Guns_Pistols_TAU_2441041T______M410_45.aspx

 

it looks amazing

 

i love it and will own 1 one day! what an awsome idea to be able to pull out something that can fit in your pocket and launch a shotgun shell at a perp. ingenious i tell ya.

 

I thought you had a Pontiac GTO Judge. Disappointment.

jk, that thing is beast!

 

I have one for my GF. I would load the slugs or 45long colts. As on some sites about the gun the reccomend #4 shot. That doesn't work for shit. I don't find it kicks much at all, but my girl hasn't shot it yet. Maybe tomorrow. To be perfectly honest I think maybe just getting her a 9mm would have been just as good, she is shoots mine just fine with no issues, plus she has 16 chances. But this thing looks cool.

 

i have shot one and i like it i say go for it.you have to ask youself why you shouldn't get it.ya there are no reason's not to

 

It's pretty awesome.

 

I will say this and offer some first hand experience with Taurus. My brother bought a cheap revolver when her was in grad school and him and I have shared it ever since. We have put thousands of .38 spec rounds through it. 3 years later the gun shoots way up and way left.

I know we got a cheap one just for fun so I am confident that it is not representative of the company as whole, but just figure I would let you know. Last thing you want is to carry a weapon that isn't consistant

 

Thanks guys! Hubby wanted me to have a revolver "so it won't jam when I need it," and showed me this one. He also knows how much I love my shotgun. I love the look of it, and that it'll fire 45/410, but we'll have to see how I feel when I fire one. If its not comfortable, or doesn't feel right, it doesn't matter what it looks like or what it fires. I'll look into reviews dgerm--thank you for the info! I don't want something that won't be in it for the long haul either.

 

Good luck with it! Like I said, I doubt that is representative of their entire line, since we knowingly and willingly bought the cheapest one possible haha

 

LOL! I'll let ya know what I find!

 

The gun is great. My old man bought one and we had a little family outing with our pistols. Consensus: Excellent gun, even my mom (50), liked shooting it and had no trouble putting it on target. Mind you she isn't a gun woman and doesn't hunt. So since you have more experience than her you'll be fine and very impressed. Good Luck

 

back in the Civil war, there was a navy colt revolver that had a special barrel for buck shot under the regular barel of a revolver

 

Cool info! Must've looked interesting too!

 

i believe the name was the Le mat revolver. popular with CSA cavalry. it had 9 available shots and one buck shot barrel or shell available

 

Thank you! I'm gonna google that and see what I find!

 

I'm a bit new to TW; but talking about, using, selling, and training people with guns is the job that funded my new Tacoma. That said, take everything I say as my opinion and $.02 only.

First off, I have to give Taurus a big round of applause for their hugely successful advertisements behind the Judge. That said, .410cal fails out of a 2.5" barrel. Slugs are no more potent that a .38SPL+P would be; although .45 Colt outperforms the .410 slugs.

Buckshot in a revolver is a neat idea, but the revolver is limited to 2 1/2" shells. 2 1/2" .410 = 3 pellets. If they're not very well placed three pellets is not the impressive man stopper that "buckshot" is made out to be. Birdshot is lower recoil, and it would make this revolver an excellent "snake gun" for hiking/camping trips. However, birdshot is not even close to lethal when speaking about mid size game you may encounter, let alone for carry/defenseive use.

I know Marky Mark blasted through bathroom stall doors with it in "Max Payne" but in reality .410 birdshot wouldn't penetrate the average stall door, and .410 buckshot is not likely to perform well or be lethal once on the other side.

I don't like to rag on any manufacturer, but I've seen lots more Taurus handguns sent back for repair than I have seen S&W or Rugers. Granted, Taurus has a lifetime warranty, and they stand behind their product, but if it was me I'd rather not have to send it back in the first place.

On the whole, I'd say the Judge is a neat revolver, fun to shoot, a good hiking gun. It's a novelty more so than a defensive gun though. If you're looking for a good personal defense gun, your husband has the right idea that a revolver is a simple, worry free option; this just isn't the one I'd recommend. Perhaps look into a S&W 642, 642LS, 637, 60, or a Ruger SP101. Taurus has similar revolvers that are based on the S&W design, you could consider them as well. I believe they're the Model 85 series.

.38SPL (or .357 if you go with the heavier steel framed model 60) is an outstanding defensive cartridge, time tested, with good ballistics, lower recoil than the .410, and is a much more readily available cartridge.

Some interesting "backyard" testing of the Judge.

 

Maybe Im confused. I just read through the suggested article above and was quite suprised at the conclusions reached. 4.5" of pentration not enough for home defense.

Now Im not claiming to be an expert but 4.5" of penetration center mass, would do enough to almost anyone.

Maybe the guy needs to review his anatomy and physiology because half a foot of pentration is more than enough to hit any viable organ in the human body on the average human.

12" of pentration for a defensive load? Wow thats through a human body and perhaps through the wall into your kids room.

 

well for a home defense gun you have to take into account several factors. clos quarters, dark, as well as scary in an actual HD situation. so granted yes, the judge may not have the ability to blow a hole in a stall, but at close quaters 5 or so rounds will definitely be enough to kill an intruder. probley more like 2 to 3 rounds. but in any case. yes it may not be as conventional as a shotgun or a handgun. but this combies the best of both worlds. the ability to take the gun high towards your chest in around corners and yet have the similar effect as a shotgun. but if it concerns you that it still may not be enough power. go buy a .357 with hollow points.

 

FBI's Ballistic Testing Procedures

One could say 12" might be high; I've heard the real experts advocate anywhere from 8-14". However, 4.5" is certainly inadequate.

Anyway, I just thought I'd offer my thoughts to the discussion, I'm by no means trying to tell anyone what to purchase or carry. Personally, I don't feel that the Judge would be a more effective defensive weapon than other readily available options. I didn't mean to say it shouldn't be used. It is a neat revolver in any case.