A brand-new box of 3-inch was in his ammo kit. A 50-round box of.45 ACP and a 410 gauge in 000 buckshot Neither of these will be able to penetrate the Judge.
2 1/2-inch.410 shells will fit in the chambers. The 3-inch version protrudes beyond the cylinder’s end, making it impossible to close.
The.45 Automatic Colt Pistol is a rimless cartridge developed for use in semi-automatic pistols. The.45 ACP is a great man-stopper, but it lacks the strength of the.45 Colt, and it has no rim to keep it from falling completely into the chamber. So it went off to the store to get the right bullets and shells.
I started shooting and testing the Taurus “Judge” after we figured out the ammo issues.
The extended cylinder of this revolver/shotgun accepts five rounds of ammo and is available in blue or stainless steel. The barrel length is 3 or 6 inches, and the front sight is outstanding fiber-optic. The grips are rubber with a unique rib pattern that absorbs recoil. Campbell’s vision was blurry, so he delegated the shooting to me.
We didn’t think that was a fair approximation, so I could have pulled the targets up to approximately 4 feet and created some really stunning holes in the paper.
Instead, we positioned the shotshell targets at around 8 feet, and the buckshot and.45 Colt targets at 10 feet. We also shot a test pattern of No. 4 shot at an 18-foot man-sized target to evaluate what kind of dispersion we received. The design, which I didn’t picture, essentially covered the entire abdomen area of a man-sized silhouette target. At such range and dispersion, I’m not sure the No. 4 shot would penetrate enough to kill, but I wouldn’t want to be the test case.
The No. 4 shot completely entered a turtle’s shell at 35 feet, thus it covered our goal well. I know because I used that shot weight to clear the scoundrels from my pond.
If I were to keep one of these guns for home defense, there is little doubt what I would put in it (and my wife has expressed an interest in one now, so this may well be the case). I’d load it with three 000 buckshot rounds and two No. 4 rounds.
The photographs themselves explain the story. Buckshot effortlessly placed three.36-caliber balls in a circle the size of a man’s head when fired at 10-foot Shoot ‘n C targets with 8- and 10-inch diameters. The No. 4 shot, when tested at 6 and 8 feet, produced such an equally scattered pattern that a shot to a house invader’s head would send a pellet inside every inch of his face, blinding and incapacitating him, if not killing him instantaneously, which is the more likely scenario.
The avowed objective of most people in the deep South is to kill snakes. They’re missing the point, in my opinion: this is a fantastic two-legged snake charmer.
And with this one, all your little girl has to do is point it down the corridor and squeeze the trigger. A miss is quite unlikely.
I liked the Taurus Judge so much that I decided to add it to my personal collection. I am convinced that it is the best gun selection for home defense that I have seen.
And, loaded with a combination of.410 slugs and buckshot, it’d make a great bear hunting partner.
The Southeastern Outdoor Press Association recently named it a book of the year.
In This Article...
Is it possible to carry a Taurus Judge?
Some consumers simply want a.410 revolver, which leads them to choose the Taurus Judge vs Governor by S&W. Some people ask if you can obtain the same pistol, just better, by not getting the Taurus because Smith and Wesson is such a long-lasting and trusted brand.
The solution? To be honest, it all depends on which one you choose. Regardless of which brand you choose, the pistol will last. Tanks make up the frame and cylinders.
There aren’t enough differences in characteristics to make one plainly superior to the other, so you’ll have to determine which is the best concealed carry revolver for you.
Taurus Judge
For starters, you have a greater variety of options. You can choose between a blue steel or stainless steel base model. The Judge Public Defender is a tiny model with a 2.5-inch barrel instead of the usual 3-inch barrel and a half-inch shaved off the grip for easy concealment.
The Judge Magnum series has a longer cylinder to accommodate 3-inch shells if you want something a little bigger.
There’s also the Raging Judge if nothing short of a genuine hand cannon will do. Because the gun is made for.454 Casull rather than.45 Colt, the Raging Judge beefs up every piece of the gun that can be beefed up. After all, for some folks, even.44 Magnum isn’t enough. The Raging Judge, with its 3-inch barrel, weighs 60 ounces, so you’ll need a big gun belt.
The Taurus Judge’s base dimensions are 9.5 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, and 5.1 inches tall. It weights 29 ounces and can hold 5 2-1/2″ shots. 410 gauge shells or.45 Colt, if desired. A red fiber optic front sight is worn by all models. The Raging Judge features a raised rear sight (part of the frame), while the Public Defender has low-profile rear sights.
Because this is a double-action revolver, trigger pull will be an issue for all you plastic amazing fans. You’ll have to tactical cowboy up as well, because the double-action pull will be between 8 and 10 pounds (depending on the gun) and the single-action pull will be around 4 pounds.
The Judge or Magnum Judge starts at $589, the Public Defender at $509, and the Raging Judge at $1,089 MSRP.
Smith and Wesson Governor
Smith and Wesson’s version of the Judge is the Governor. Why should S&W, which is undoubtedly the gold standard by which other revolvers are measured (forgive the pun), not produce their own version?
The Smith and Wesson Governor, on the other hand, has far fewer possibilities. There are two options: scandium alloy with a black PVD finish (with or without Crimson Trace grips) or stainless steel. The stainless type has a black ramp, while the scandium frame models include a tritium night sight at the front. The top strap on all models has a notch for the back sight.
There is no magnum version because all versions have a 2.5-inch barrel and only chamber 2-1/2″ shotshells. This gun doesn’t have any S&W magnums. Certain specifications are consistent across all models. The gun’s dimensions are 8.5 inches long, 5.5 inches tall, and 1.75 inches wide. The scandium variants are under 30 ounces, whereas the stainless steel model is 30.3.
The trigger pull weights are almost the same in both double and single action, about 10 pounds in double action and 4 pounds in single action.
The Governor, on the other hand, has a party piece. Smith & Wesson, being the intelligent folks that they are, machined a 0.025-inch recess into the cylinder. What for? Moon video clips You can use.45 ACP,.45 Colt, and.410 gauge shells in this gun. Because of the larger cylinder, you’ll get six rounds instead of five.
The Governor, on the other hand, is not cheap. The stainless model costs $809, the scandium model costs $869, and the Crimson Trace model costs $1,119.
Taurus Judge vs Governor. Which Is Better?
What’s the difference between Smith and Wesson’s Taurus Judge and Governor? Which is the better option? That depends on a few factors.
The Governor pays a little more attention to the finer points. Though the Taurus has a lighter single-action pull, the trigger will be smoother and will get smoother with experience in double action (it is, after all, a Smith and Wesson). Instead of five shots, you get six. Because not everyone likes the rubber radiator handles on Taurus revolvers, the grips will probably be a little nicer.
Let’s face it, too. The moon clip recessed cylinder is a brilliant idea. Because.410 and.45 Colt aren’t inexpensive, this allows you to do a lot more shooting. Although neither is cheap in comparison to 9mm or.22 LR, it is affordable in comparison to any other.45 caliber round.
The Public Defender model is lighter and easier to carry on a daily basis, at only 27 ounces unloaded. By no means a lightweight, but not dissimilar to many compact pistols. It is, however, still massive; it is roughly the size of a Sig P226 but only stores 5 rounds.
As a result, the Judge has lost some weight. The Judge or Public Defender by Taurus is also a little smaller overall, so carrying it will be a little simpler. That is, if you intend to carry it; for most people, the Judge or Governor is primarily a home defense weapon.
You’ll have to make your own decision in the end. Handle them both, shoot them both, and discover which one you like. That is the one to obtain.
Is the Taurus Public Defender a reliable firearm?
Speaking of home protection, one of my favorite aspects of the Taurus Public Defender revolver is its general safety. When a revolver is empty, most revolvers are simple to secure, but Taurus has taken safety engagement to the next level with the Taurus safety lock. The safety is activated by turning a key beneath the barrel. Nobody will be in danger if they accidentally flick a button or slip while tucked in a waistline or bouncing about in a bag or handbag.
The Taurus Public Defender will not fire unless the safety is disengaged with the key. This is an excellent safety feature, especially for beginning concealed carry shooters. Another safety feature is the 12 pound double-action trigger pull weight, which prevents accidental discharge when bouncing around in a bag with other loose items.
The Taurus Public Defender is perfect for concealed carry. You won’t be taken off guard with this fantastic revolver by its impressive stopping power and smart and safe construction.
Richard Douglas is an experienced shooter, outdoorsman, and technologist. Scopes Field is his creation and he is the editor. Columnist for publications such as The National Interest, Cheaper Than Dirt, Daily Caller, and others.
Is the Taurus Judge a formidable opponent?
The Taurus Judge could be an intruder’s worst nightmare as a home defense solution. The five-shot revolver, designed and manufactured by Brazilian Taurus International and released in 2006, is chambered for.410 bore shotshells as well as the.45 Colt cartridge. While its recoil with.410 rounds is notorious, making it unsuitable for beginners, it will undoubtedly offer the necessary stopping power when it counts.
What makes a Taurus judge different from a Taurus public defender?
The Judge revolvers have a rifled barrel to maximize the spread of the shot, whereas the Public Defender’s barrel design offers an excellent defensive shot pattern.
Is the Taurus Judge capable of firing 3 inch shells?
The Taurus Judge is a five-shot.45 Colt revolver with an extended cylinder that can chamber 21/2-inch or 3-inch cartridges. shotgun shells, 410 gauge (depending on the particular model). The Judge is not a sawed-off shotgun or “dangerous ordnance” under federal law because the barrel is rifled.
Where does the Taurus Judge break the law?
Because the Judge has a rifled barrel and was meant to fire shotgun ammunition, it has only come into legal issues in the state of California. Even though it is not considered a “short-barreled shotgun” under federal law, it was ruled to be one under state law. This is because California law is significantly more explicit about shotguns and includes a firearm that is built or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell and because the barrel length is less than eighteen inches, the Judge has been deemed to be a short-barreled shotgun.
In other words, any firearm that can fire a fixed shotgun shell qualifies as a shotgun under California’s definition. It is now unlawful to own or possess marijuana in California, and residents will be unable to appeal the decision.
Is the Taurus Judge AJ a good choice?
The Taurus is well-known among shooters “For years, “Judge” has been on the market. In addition to the original model, various other versions have been created over time, with the PD being one of the most recent.
The Public Defender is the model under consideration. The PD uses 45 Colt rounds as well as 2.5 inch.410 shells. The Judge series includes models that shoot 3-inch rounds. These are larger than the Public Defender’s office. In actuality, this model is about the same size as a “J” frame except for the cylinder size, which significantly increases the overall size.
It’s a useful handgun for self-defense as well as a suitable revolver for trail walking or hunting. Of course, utilizing 2.5-inch birdshot shells will take care of any snakes or other small varmints that cross your path.
The Public Defender is a stainless steel revolver with a 2 inch barrel and a cylinder chambered for 2.5 shotgun shells as well as most (but not all) 45 Colt loads (see disclaimer below). The grip is tiny, making it ideal for people with small to medium hands. The total weight is 26 ounces. The cylinder holds a significant portion of this weight.
The smooth double action trigger pull on my sample is 10.5 pounds. With time, this will most likely reduce. There is no creep in the single action. It’s easy to get on target with the red fiber optic front sight. Of course, the hammer is equipped with the typical trigger lock.
Given the PD’s size, it’s clear that it was designed primarily for personal protection.
Because of the Judge series, numerous ammunition manufacturers have expanded their.410 ammo line. The Winchester PDX1 personal defense ammunition is one of the better defense loads. This is a 750 fps combination load with three buckshot disks and 12 pellets. A 1/2 ounce standard slug and a 000 buck are also available from Federal. A simple Internet search will turn up a large number of cargoes that will meet your requirements.
When it comes to 45 Colt bullets, common sense is required. The majority of loads will function well and be safe to fire, but some companies produce exceptionally hot cartridges for use in larger framed revolvers. Buffalo Bore 45 Colt ammunition and any with similar ballistics should be avoided at all costs. With this load, you will both detonate the rifle and yourself! For defense, anything like to the Winchester Silvertip might suffice. The Silvertip’s ballistics propel a 225 grain bullet downrange at 900 feet per second. In the Public Defender, that’s more than enough for personal safety.
Because this revolver can fire so many various loads, I used a greater selection of ammo for this evaluation.
I utilized the Winchester PDX1, Federal 000 buck, Federal 1/2 inch slugs, and Federal 6 1/2 birdshot on the range. I used Winchester Silvertips for the 45 Colt ammunition, which were probably 15 years old, but they all functioned! I also used 7.5 grain Power Pistol handloads under a 250-grain lead round nose bullet.
Starting with the 45 colt loads, I found them to be accurate out to 20 yards with a 2 inch barrel. The average group size at 10 yards was 1 1/4 inch. Standing unaided at a distance of up to 20 yards with Silvertips, groups averaged just over 2 inches.
The 410 loads were very intriguing. At 10 yards, conventional birdshot spreads out to 9 inches. Taurus claims they developed the barrel to spread the shot out further. At that distance, they succeeded a little more than I prefer. At 15 yards, the 000 buck stayed within 6 inches. The Winchester PDX1 produced the best results by a long shot. The group spread ranged between 4 and 5 inches at 15 yards. This is what I would consider excellent for personal defense ammunition. I did shoot a few at 10 yards, and the groups were just under and slightly under 4 inches.
Also, the ribbed grips do an excellent job of controlling recoil, which isn’t awful at all.
With 45 Colt Silvertips and the PDX1’s, I shot some milk bottles of water. In summary, the PDX1 load wreaked more havoc than the Silvertips, which surprised me.
With loads designed for that purpose, the Public Defender proved to be a viable option for personal defense. The Winchester Silvertip 45 Colt and Winchester Supreme Elite PDX1 in.410 are two examples.
When I initially went to the range, I wasn’t convinced that the Taurus was a good defensive weapon. I now consider it more than competent for defense and certainly for varmint management, based on its performance.
What kind of defense would I employ? I’d probably combine the five rounds with three Silvertips and two PDX1s, or three PDX1s and two Silvertips. I’d be happy with either combination.
Is it a good defensive weapon? Not particularly, but for those on a budget, this tiny revolver is a solid all-around option.