the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

just came across this
i wonder what the recoil is like ?

http://www.torontosun.com/FrontPage/...4/4998711.html

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

......................

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

There's some vids of it on Youtube as well...

.410 sucks anyway...

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

I was over at a friend of mines (gunsmithing buddy who owns his own shop) and he had three calls in the hour plus I was there for people looking for 'The Judge'. Taurus apparently can't keep up with the demand.

Also, if you CAN find one, apparently dealers are putting a premium on them. Though my buddy did take one guys name and will sell it at the MSRP.

So, while this may or may not be a good defensive weapon, it's sure a good selling weapon.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

i found it curious that the Toronto Sun would put this on the front page

scare tactic ?

i wonder if there's gonna be a big push against gangs/guns this spring/summer ?

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

http://www.thunder5.com/T5.jpg
This one has been around awhile. 15 years?

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

This kind of journalism makes me want to puke.

I doubt any police officer is concerned about this gun. If anything this weapon is less lethal than many other handguns.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Pay no attention Just keeping buying that HP ammo... makes no diffrence what they(gubbermints) says or what laws are passed and when they make it illegal(firearms or non stamped ammo) what the hell do you care? POSSESION IS 9/10's THE LAW.

ONCE I HAVE .......IT'S UP TO YOU TO TAKE IT FROM ME .......IF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH!!!

THE DAY I WILLFULLY DISARM .......IS THE DAY I BECOME THE LIVING DEAD...I HAVE NO PLANS ON BEING A FRICKEN ZOMBIE

T

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

LOL!!!

You might want to re-think your position on that.

.45 Colt is a very deadly round, and the .410 shotshell is truly devastating at close range.

You've got to remember the Judge is meant to be a car pistol used for close range situations.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

I used to think the same thing till I held both in my hand. The Bersa is a lot bigger and heavier than the Judge.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

WOW! If that front page is not an anti-gun scare tactic, I dont know what is.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

i wouldn't be surprised if a gangbanger
is found with one of these after a shootout with the cops

not exactly an everyday " drop gun "
but it would serve it's purpose for the press/media

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

See the link to the Box 'O Truth above. Accuracy of the .45 is sub par, penetration of .410 shotshells is also sub par.

Good snake gun though.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

my house is flanked very closely on all sides with families of young children. overpenetration an issue, why I have to consider small shotgun rounds. how's this idea, stack a primary mag with 2 - 5 shotgun rounds then the rest with hollowpoints (this is a semi auto not a Judge). ?

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

For close range both of them do their jobs really well.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

This would make a mess out of your face or chest within 10 feet.
I love the Judge. I wish we could buy this baby in Canada...

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

I would rather have one of these...Ithaca Auto Burglar 20 gauge.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Croc Dundee says, "That's not a snake gun...(pulls out Ithaca) THIS is a snake gun!


:D

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

LOL!!!

I like the 20 ga. It has a good spread pattern and doesnt kick like a mule.

Of course, I dont know that mule kick coming out of a single shot pistol :D

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

-sigh-

Look like the obsession still burns.

Here's a link to a well-written (and positive) review:

http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus-Judge.htm



Here's a good youtube video:

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

I have been looking for one of these but have not seen any around for quite a while, last summer one of the LGS had a .45 .410 but it was not the taurus.
I wish I had picked it up, it was really reasonably priced.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

THAT IS AMAZING!!

I was thinking about getting a .357 revolver, but that thing is so much more awesome. I'll probably get one.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

I first bought a 2 1/2" chamber, 3" ss Judge about two years ago and like it a LOT, a very tight and well made gun. Remember the Taurus Tracker frame is used in common with .44 magnum caliber Tracker-framed guns. But the revolver is still pretty light, not too big.

I traded up to the 3" version about 6 months ago. With five Super-X 36 caliber balls in each round, all five deliver (25) holes in a target in maybe less than 3 seconds. That's roughly (3 x 3/4oz each) x 5 shots = 3 1/2oz of .36 lead balls in 2-3 seconds as you wish.

A double barrel 20 gauge can throw about (2 x 1oz) = 2 oz of lead and only in #3 buck as I recall. A standard 12 ga 2 3/4" carries only 8 #000 buck to the .410s five.

If I shoot Buffalo Bore 'heavy' (not +p) 200 grain HP Gold Dots or 255gr hardcast SWC I get 565-585 foot pounds energy with each hit. The extra freebore in each chamber adds about an inch to the 3" barrel for even more velocity. Taurus does not recommend the new super-hot .45 Long Colt +p loadings, because they rival .44mag power, yet I've never read of anyone yet blowing up a Judge with +p loads and I'm sure some idiot has tried by now.

The 3" gun points to me like a nice natural steady point, almost like my old Ruger Super BlackHawk single action, not at all like a normal 3" barrel and I feel it's PLENTY enough accurate for defense, besides it's about $1.00 - $1.50 a shot with premium .45 bullets, not my choice as a target gun. I put on Hogue gripes that are much nicer than factory and only $18 and the HKS model 444 speedloader works fine with (5) .45 Long Colts. Midway is sold out of a nice DeSantis molded leather hi-rise holster that fits the Judge like a bug in a rug, but its nice enough to carry concealed.

It's too big for me now to carry concealed (the Desantis holster is molded for the 2 1/2" cylinder only) but it's fine for carrying in the car or by the bedside, a very good choice for hasty use. They say about 80% of gun altercations are in low light. Many if not most police interviewed after gunfights say they can't recall seeing their sights at any time. And powerwise, I can handle any animal east of the Mississippi with this Judge.

Consider that a typical American Civil War soldier considered himself capably armed with a .36 caliber black powder paper ball cartridge gun. It was single action and weighed 42 ounces, generated 850-1000fps, was veeery sloooow to reload, could carry only 5 of 6 chambers loaded ... and with all 5 shots, reasonably about like ONE 3" Super-X 000 buckshot load!

:confused_ma:This is your brain in the Civil War:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Model_1861.JPG
.36 caliber Colt Navy Model 1861,
:biggrin:You dumb-bunny soldiers back then in 1861 didn't KNOW you had an ineffective puny weapon you'd be better off throwing at him - you THOUGHT it would work but it is useless as we now know today. :sarc:

Some would say the 3" judge with about 5X the output potential of the .36 cal 1861 Navy at an even faster rate of fire is also useless.

There was a Taurus video that I posted on GIM a couple of weeks ago, a 30-second spot now gone, she blew up watermelons. It's missing on Youtube now. So consider a Mark Wahlberg movie called Max Payne ... I KNOW it's Hollywood, but thats our reality now, NOT like in the Civil War! Consider how useless and feeble this gun must be:

Yeah I know he fires 6 shots, not 5 ... but he can't really remember.

Can you see that little rattler in the sagebrush beside the tip of my hiking stick? It's the one that doesn't warn you you got to shoot quick! Otherwise you're just a cold hearted snake assassin and could use a pellet gun. snakes often need to be shot FAST ... nobody here thinks about that ... if you have time to aim at a snake you could just step away ... I been around real snakes plenty of times. Sometimes you got to draw and shoot now ... as in a shotgun pistol like the Taurus Judge. :bear_thumb: (and in my opinion, 'snakes' is a bit of a politically correct euphamism for 'bad guys')

The Judge is about POINT AND SHOOT to quickly neutralize target threats up close ... avoid penetrating interior walls ... let fly a deady .45 that can knock his socks off at 50yds ... maybe kill an unlicky quail, rabbit or grouse at 25 feet with 3/4oz of #6s ... or just have FUN with tossed objects and birdshot!

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

The Box of Truth #41 tested the Judge

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Thanks Bogie :coolbeer: I say to myself ... but consider ... In my opinion something is wrong with this assumption on page 2 of the boxoftruth Judge review with his cut-down 3" 5-ball shells made into 2 1/2" 3-ball loads ...
:confused_ma: how fkn goofy is that? See how he explains a mystery:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/images2/41-9.jpg

The shot were flattened completely, but not from hitting the water jugs.
(... How does he KNOW?)

I believe it is a result of the three pellets being forced down the barrel and smashing each other flat.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/images2/41-10.jpg

(... and yet the holes in the blue denim look to be about like only normal round .36 ball holes to me, no keyholes. If they smash so flat in a Judge, WHY don't they smash so flat in my Stevens .410 single shot .410 with a 26" full choke barrel? Initial G-force acceleration is the same in BOTH - right? Those balls are so flat I think they are over .45" bore size. Do they show the big riflings of a .45 bore? He did not say. I WONDER ABOUT THE TRUTH and will test myself one day somehow and tell my own TRUTH)

"The man who knows nothing is better off than the man who thinks he knows what is false" ... paraphrase of Jefferson maybe I think

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

My friend has one of these.

He had a problem geting the cylinder to rotate because the shell caseing of the 410 expanded past the front of the cylinde and very slightly down the barrle===1/64" Maybe. But he couldn't turn the cylender with the trigger without huge effort.

Maybe a 3" cylender and a shorter 2 3/4" shell would take care of this---Maybe a different brand of shells.

Test it first before your life depends on it.

E-A

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

E-A, I agree to test fire before relying on any ammo for defense, maybe even with Winchester Super-X 3" buckshot which gets 100% 5-star ratings both at Midway and Cheaperthandirt:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=170759
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/11082-5.html#Reviews

I don't have a caliper but using a very good ruler my 3" chamber is right at 3 1/16" long. The case rim is about 1/32" the other way, so an honest 3" long shell when fired, according to specs should allow a comfy margin of 3/32" before it could rub the forcing cone face. The UNFIRED 3" Super-X is just 2 11/16" long overall.

I sold my 2 1/2" Judge to a freind the week I bought the 3" replacement. Both are nice but different really. The 2 1/2" is more like a standard .45 with a shotgun option. The 3" is more like a 3" buckshot 5-round bomber with a .45 option. The 3" Judge is for me a niche gun that has filled a vacant spot I never knew I had before. It's a nice compliment to the 16oz .38 Taurus 85SSUL snubbie, now I've 2 sizes in handy revolvers, with same Hogue grips.

The 3" kicks like a standard police issue 4" .357mag maybe, less than a .44mag for sure, and nothing unpleasant to me but I KNOW by feel I sent some weight downrange. It's probably very intimidating with the big silver holes filled with red plastic shells staring at a man.

Sorry to hog the thread, but since I'm an owner of 2 now, I figured why not tell what I've learned. Thanks for rapping. I'm still learning about guns in general, wish I could shoot more, talk less. :bear_thumb:

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

I had a similar problem with the first 50 or so rounds of birdshot. The cylinder and trigger would sometimes stick solidly. Smooth functioning and no problems since then, so I'd attribute this to a breaking-in period.

Recoil with the birdshot was comparable to .357 Mag out of another Taurus (a 2" snubbie).

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

A .410! Shot spreads fast = low impact, I recall pheasant huntin with my cuz, he with a pump .410 me with my singleshot lever ithaca 20guage. We jumped a flock of pheasant, I got 1st cock, he second hen, me 2nd cock, he another hen; rest hens let go. I never forgot my lever was just as fast and thicker patern than his .410. Lesson: 20 guage puts out same but not as thick pattern as 12guage and better than a .410. Same goes for killing snakes; I'd preffer almost anything shot per a pistol shot against a "belly slider - son of Satan" anyday
My $.02!
Tanker

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

I think the supposed "cool factor" of the Judge is the story of its success not the practicality of the weapon. 410 shells are nearly worthless out of something like that unless you are at very close range.

The surprising part to me is that everyone wants one. The Judge is the new mythical beast everyone wants to see at the gun store. All of the sudden they are seldom seen.

I wouldn't turn one down if it landed close to me, but a gun has never really landed close to me. Actually I have never seen one land so I imagine I will not own "The One Eyed Judge".

And whoever the guy thinking of going with a Judge instead of a .357.... please think hard about what you are doing. You are buying a what has become a Mythical Beast. You are paying for the Purple People Eater.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Agree with everything you're saying here. There are many other handguns with more value/utility than da Judge, IMO.
Get the .357 mag first. It is an essential in the toolbox of personal defense. Awesome doesn't count in defense.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

+1

just win, baby http://img.fannation.com/upload/user...mb/raiders.bmp

it doesn't have to be pretty

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Exactly.

I consider mine a .45 with a 410 shell option. Very hard to rotate after shooting a shell. I need to try some other brand shells in it. 45 no probs, 410 is a one shot deal so far for me with the Judge.

I do think the shells I used may have been a part of the issue. They were, shall we say, sub-par. I won't rule anything out at this point. I just want to say that I have personally had this same experience with mine.

I'll report back once I try the other shells. Need to go to the skeet range to do it. The indoor range frowns on shotshells.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Well, as we all can see, this is my first post with GIM. I joined your group because I like what I've been reading for month or so, while waiting to join.
I can't help but to join in this "JUDGE" discussion. I am a JUDGE owner & I just thought I would throw my 2 cents worth in. I tried to attach a photo, I hope it shows up. If not, could someone please help this old man? I have the 7" barrel & I reload my 2 1/2" 410's with .177 dia. lead bb's, about 18 of them. That being said, I feel the judge is an excellent close range/in home defense pistol (under 35 ft.). I have been to the "box of truth" site & feel he did an OK job, but he did not give a complete analysis, mostly because he only used the short barrel version. I have put about 30 rounds of 410 (bird shot, 000 buck- 3 pellets & my home loaded .177 lead balls) & 20 rounds of 45 long colt 250 grain thru it & found it to be beyond satisfactory for close range defense. I load my cylinder so that 3 each 410's are dispensed first then 2 rounds of 45. If ya can't stop'em with that, get a gernade !! The main advantage of the judge is you don't have to take time to aim, just point & click. I feel that an in home situation will be intense & you won't have time to take good aim. The only issue I had with the judge is the grip pushed the knuckle of my middle finger against the back of the trigger guard & it really bit me when I fired it. That's why you see a homemade custom grip. I feel a whole bunch of flying lead is better than a single projectile, paticularily in the middle of the night, dark, half asleep & a bit nervous !
Your a great bunch of survivors. :15_1_70v:
Taezzar
Attachment 64573

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Taezzar, great post, welcome to GIM! :coolbeer:

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

I like the custom grip. Do you make custom grips for sale? :)

I need a new grip for my Ruger Mark III. I don't like the stock grips at all. Yours looks good, stylish, not pimp and not cheap either. Good work.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Hello Blorp,
Thanks for the kind words. I used Cocobolo wood from So. America. I'm a long time hobbiest in R.C. airplanes & figured I could make my own grips. I molded bondo around a wooden peice, had my hand in a plastic bag. It took about 3 days from start to finish, so I doubt that they would be cheap, besides that I live pretty much off grid, so I'd be difficult to get to. But if you want to try to make your own, I'm happy to help by answering questions or suggesting methods.
Taezzar

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Hello Ag_man,
Thanks for the warm welcome, I think I found "home", you guys are OK !
Taezzar

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Thanks for sharing and joining in TAEZZAR, no need to reply since I'm greeting you late in this. :15_1_70v:

Your Judge is very nice and I bet it points and aims very steadily, has more velocity with the shotshells too. I think grips are very important and yours look most custom and comfy.

I thought I'd share that I'm always a fan of heavy slugs with a big frontal diameter ...

FRONTAL AREA OF PROJECTILE(S)

.357 ball or bullet 0.100 or 0.1”
:biggrin::biggrin:
.45 bullet ......... 0.159 or 0.16”
:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

000 Buckshot .410
(3) x 0.1 = 0.3
:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
:biggrin:

(5) x 0.1 = 0.5”
:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Birdshot 11/16oz 3" .410 #5 = 117 .12cal balls ..... total frontal area = (117) x 0.0113 = 1.323” = (a 1.28 caliber bullet)
The forum allows only 40 emoticon grins in a post ... the #5 birdshot gets 26 grins alone on this graph, pushing me way over my total limit of expression here.

Shown below
ON LEFT: A speedloader of .38 +p 135 grain Speer Gold Dot, and a speedloader of .45 Long Colt 200 grain Gold Dot by Buffalo Bore @1100fps Also shown is a Super-X 3" 000 buck
ON RIGHT: A pair of yen/yang Taurus revolvers (Judge 3" and 85ULss) that I enjoy when I can, shown with various ammunition in .410 for general comparison. Both wear aftermarket Hogue soft rubber grips.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Hello Koyaanisqatsi,
Heck it's never too late to say "Hi" or "Thanks".
With the new grips, it's very steady & accurate. BTW, I like your "social" bullets.
Someone was mentioning their 3" judge didn't have a holster, a friend made this one for me, it's a bit cowboy, but it fits the judge well.
From all your frontal data it looks like you know the old rule -
pie r square,
frontal area r round ! ehhh, sorry, couldn't help it !! :signs14:

Taezzar

Attachment 64603

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Hmm.....

Good idea there.

Re: the JUDGE - shotgun handgun
 

Looks like you are interested in making a set of grips. I researched wood a bit & settled on the Cocobolo, it has natural wax in it & therefore does not require a finish. My grips have no finish on them - at all. next make a set of "blanks" that include the thickness of the frame. Now is when you make up some Bondo, put your hand in a plastics bag, & wrap your hand around the Blank. After that sets up, you have a crude mold of your hand. With various sizes of dowels & various grits of sand paper, you can clean up the mold to where it is the fit & feel that you like. Now bring out the good wood & think about how you will index it to the frame for stability - this real important. Also pay attention to the grain so it looks nice when you are done. Go slow on working the wood, 'cause it's pretty hard to undo a screw-up.
I don't know what tools you have available, but, a table saw & a hand drill with dowels adapted to fit the chuck & various grits of sand paper glued on, are bare minimum & will get ya by.
This should get ya going.
TAEZZAR