pony_express1973 183 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 Thinking about telling the wife to get me a judge for christmas but not sure about them. I mean are they just a novelty like something I will get and never pull out of the safe or a gun you can take to the range and have some fun with. I already have a 20 and S-12 if needed for home defense so do i really need a pistol that can shoot 410? Any one shoot one of these I would like to hear your impression of them Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jwl019 8 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 I like mine, use it when I walk thru the woods in the hot times of the year to take care of snakes and other unwanted critters. It shoots good with the .410 and .45 ammo even though I mainly use .410. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigj480 203 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 From what I gather, the ballistics of most 410 rounds out of that short barrel leave something to be desired. I do not have small pests to shoot so I would have no use for a gun that shoots 410 at less than ideal velocity. Seems like an okay range toy if that's your thing, but I would personally choose something else. If you get one, get the longest barrel you can. There are some kind of neat .410/45LC revolver rifles offered by Rossi as well. they also have a 28 gauge but I'm not sure about ammo price/availability. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 On Nov 12, I tried my new 3" Judge @ 16yds into my 30 gal. burning barrel. I was able to keep most of the 2-3/4" Federal Personal Defense buckshot on the barrel shooting double action! Not bad for a little scattergun! The average steel drum is 18ga carbon steel. I was expecting deep dents and some bounce back, but they screamed right THROUGH BOTH SIDES of the barrel, tearing nice, round holes. Spread was 15 pellets in ~27" at the widest point. 5 pellets unaccounted for. 1 hole is a definite double strike, and 1 more MIGHT be a double hit. 75-80% hit rate at 48 feet is pretty good on a roughly torso-sized target. Minute of bad guy and gobs of penetration. Recoil was a bit snappy, but not uncomfortable. I was shooting an inch or two to the left at that distance, so the sights are pretty good. It's not a target pistol. I'd feel comfortable shooting groundhogs off the back porch with it. The groundhogs? Not so much. Who would have though that a shotgun with a barrel that short would still have that much power? Recoil was about like shooting 45 ACP factory loads out of my 1911. This is definitely NASTY. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ronin38 2,117 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 75-80% hit rate at 48 feet is pretty good on a roughly torso-sized target. See, this scares the crap out of me... YOU are responsible for EVERY pellet that leaves that barrel, and you have 20% or so pellets unaccounted for? Personally, I've always felt these things were just a "gimmick" gun. Too big, too inaccurate, ineffective with shotshells (check out BoxoTruth). I'd save my money and get something that works like it should in all aspects, not just "comes close" in everything. Again, just my opinion, but I really do NOT like these things, and I DO like Taurus pistols. I have a 24/7 long slide in .45 ACP which is GREAT! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 I love my Judge. Like already stated, it makes an excellent pack/trail gun. Despite what some say, it's very accurate with .45 colt ammo. I usually carry it with the first two chamber loaded with .45 colt, the next three with Winchester 3"mag five pellet 000 Buckshot. This is a 7 yard double tap with the Winchester 000 Buck.... Here is 10 yard shooting for accuracy with .45 colt ammo..... Here's the TripleK I carry it in on the trails... And with this IWB Quest, I can carry it very concealed without tucking in a shirt or with a jacket... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 How about the governor? I think both should be looked at, and having 6 shots in a smaller package is something to consider. Most of the deficiencies of .410 ammo have been addressed since the judge came out with better ammo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dieb4iwake 60 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 unless you want the public defender for carry purposes get a S&W Governor. I own a Governor and it is superior to my father in law's judge in every possible way ; especially the trigger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 I don't think whatever you shoot at will know the difference. Save your money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
termite 463 Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 You do know that Taurus has come out with another Judge, It shoots the 3" 410, 45LC and 454 Casull. The 454 has some serious punch to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 That one- the raging judge model is way more expensive, and a lot bigger. I think I would rather have a model suitable for carrying on trails. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pony_express1973 183 Posted December 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 trying to decide between the 2 imch or 3 inch barrel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 (edited) trying to decide between the 2 imch or 3 inch barrel The 3" barreled 3"cylinder model (like mine) is 1/2" longer than a .38 spl S&W model 10, with a 4" bull barrel. It's not a very large gun. The "Public Defender" model with the 2" barrel will only take 2 3/4" shotshells (NO 3" magnum) and .45 Colt ammo. Edited December 14, 2012 by Yeoldetool 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 I have the same one. Nice piece. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dieb4iwake 60 Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I will repeat. If you want one for carrying on a trail, get the public defender. If not, get a S&W Governor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Photoguy 202 Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I have two Judges. One full-length SS, and one 3" Two-tone, the latter I carry regularly. I love them both. They are my "Get the fuck out of my house" alternatives. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
getitat 609 Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Hello Aside from all the practicality arguments, my 3" chambered Judge is one of the most fun guns to take to the range. Especially with gun virgins, when they realize they can safely and comfortably shoot #8 shot 3" shells from "that monster" and pretty much pepper the target at 15 yards they love it. Puts more smiles on more faces than anything I own except maybe S-17, S-12's. YMMV, -guido 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 It's great fun making confetti out of old phone books with the Judge, especially if there's a light breeze. It never fails to put smiles on the faces of young and old alike. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted November 30, 2017 Report Share Posted November 30, 2017 Looks like I am being JUDGED by the wife!!! The Old Hippie Witch is getting me a 2 1/2" snubbie for my birthday next month! Damn I LOVE that woman! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
faststang90 18 Posted December 4, 2017 Report Share Posted December 4, 2017 (edited) I have the poly one and it came with a short hand grip I had to put a longer one on it to fit my hand. I just use it at the range I don't carry it every day Edited December 4, 2017 by faststang90 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 Happy (early) Birthday 2 ME! From my wife. (Thank you, Old Hippie Witch!) Just brought home a polly "public Defender" 2 1/2"cyl and 2" barrel. Got a box of Federal .410 000 buck 4 pellet "Personal Defense". Got a box of Estate .410 1/2 oz. #9 Competition target load. Got a box of HSM .45 200 gr. round nose flat point Cowboy Action cartridges. I see a GOOD TIME coming in the very near future !!!!!! Just have to add----all shot shells are2 1/2" I am OLD but not STUPID! You know that if I did not add that..................... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted December 6, 2017 Report Share Posted December 6, 2017 ...now you need some melons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 I am impressed with the Judge. Fugly piece of plastic and steel, but it shoots well. Nice trigger in both single and double action. .45lc shoots low at anything over 30', but that is expected with a 2" barrel, and the shot pattern is MOS (moment of snake!), #9 Estate spreads about 6"-7" at 5', about what I wanted. Maybe tomorrow my neighbor and I will go down to his range and compare this and his new Bisley! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Yep. It's well made. Limited purpose, but no one can call it badly built who has handled one. Taurus hate to my mind feels like this scene: They are just a few decades behind on their info.Where remington = 1970s chrysler, and mitsubishi = taurus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 (edited) I just ran 14.5gr H110 and 4 000 buck through my Judge. (3" load) Patterns well, similar to factory. Noise level similar to factory Federal. Recoil not bad, easy extraction. Doesn't beat up the cases. Hodgdon Manual. ....and MUCH cheaper than factory for practice use. eta: No, I don't have a chrono. I have groundhogs and other feral critters. I'll measure on one of them when I get the chance. Something tells me they'll think it's fast enough. My burning barrel does. Clean through both sides. Edited December 22, 2017 by patriot 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted December 23, 2017 Report Share Posted December 23, 2017 The 2 1/2 federal 000 4 pellet buck is awesome! Snappier recoil than .45 cowboy action 225g loads. Hits like a freight train! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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