250 gr. .45LC should do the job.

CB

 

Eh.. I generally love Taurus wheel guns but the judge is something that I am a bit reluctant about. I have read some seriously iffy first hand reviews from owners. If you currently own one and it runs well for you then I don't see why it wouldn't be a good choice.

 

I'd use a Judge if I didnt own any other firearms and no sharp sticks were available

 

So you think .45 LC only or alternate?

I do own the mentioned gun and currently debating on keeping it as the bump in the night gun. Has always shot well for me. I like the idea of the .410 when I took it on trade just questioning on whether to change it up before it proves un productive in its assigned role. I feel strongly that over penetration will not be an issue with .410 PDX1's but want to feel sure it will get the job done. I truly feel 5 rounds of either .410 or .45 LC should get the job done, just want to know how other gun people feel.

I do own several other pistols semi's in 9mm, .40, .45 1911, .22. all are reliable and good guns that I would trust my life with. Also a smith revolver in .357 6inch barrel. Judge is the only one with a laser grip and I personally want that on a nightstand pistol. Makes sense to me and is a must for my gun in this role.

 

I'd use a Judge if I didnt own any other firearms and no sharp sticks were available

Could you share why you feel its a poor choice?

Thanks, Larry

 

Could you share why you feel its a poor choice?

Thanks, Larry

1. It's made by Taurus which isn't known for high levels of quality

2. 410 and 45 LC tend to lead to slower follow up shots

3. The Judge is slower to reload

4. The double action trigger is typically slower for people versus most semi-autos due to the distance that needs to be traveled by the trigger to permit additional shots to be fired

5. Most people struggle with heavy, DA trigger pulls which leads to missed shots

 

Why do you feel the need for the laser?

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Laser is pure personal preferance. While I've never had to have one I want one if it will help my situation. I do practice shooting a good bit and don't practice or depend on laser aiming. Plus my wife OS not a shooter bit surely she could aim with help from the laser if needed.

 

I own a Judge and it sits on my nightstand. I understand some might not like it, but for me, it's a great gun. Mine is accurate and reliable - enough said. It;s loaded with two rounds of Winchester PDX-1 shotshells (the one with the "Defense Disks") and three rounds of Corbon DPX 225 gr. HPs. If that doesn't work, it'll slow the guy down enough to let me get to my 5 shot "Pardner Protector" shotgun loaded with 00 buck. Understand that my nightstand gun is not my first line of defense, but the last. It's an "I'm cornered and will fight back" type of weapon. If some degenerate gets into my bedroom, then my alarm, deadbolts, and 6 dogs didn't do their job.

 

I own a Judge and it sits on my nightstand. I understand some might not like it, but for me, it's a great gun. Mine is accurate and reliable - enough said. It;s loaded with two rounds of Winchester PDX-1 shotshells (the one with the "Defense Disks") and three rounds of Corbon DPX 225 gr. HPs. If that doesn't work, it'll slow the guy down enough to let me get to my 5 shot "Pardner Protector" shotgun loaded with 00 buck. Understand that my nightstand gun is not my first line of defense, but the last. It's an "I'm cornered and will fight back" type of weapon. If some degenerate gets into my bedroom, then my alarm, deadbolts, and 6 dogs didn't do their job.

I don't own one and with no kids in the house anymore can keep my 12 gauge pump net to the bed ...but honestly believe that unless hes a hyped up crack head these first 2 shot shell rounds is gonna make him unass the house as quickly as possible ( most likely they will only be from 5 feet or so away ) if he is hyped up the next 3 will likely do the trick ...my only concern would be ur wife who init a shooter like mine, she would probably only get 1 shot off and it semi aimed even with the laser...thats why I like my pump with the first round being #7, at that distance no matter who or what he will stop...if anything short of a bazoka will stop him

 

I own a Judge and it sits on my nightstand. I understand some might not like it, but for me, it's a great gun. Mine is accurate and reliable - enough said. It;s loaded with two rounds of Winchester PDX-1 shotshells (the one with the "Defense Disks") and three rounds of Corbon DPX 225 gr. HPs. If that doesn't work, it'll slow the guy down enough to let me get to my 5 shot "Pardner Protector" shotgun loaded with 00 buck. Understand that my nightstand gun is not my first line of defense, but the last. It's an "I'm cornered and will fight back" type of weapon. If some degenerate gets into my bedroom, then my alarm, deadbolts, and 6 dogs didn't do their job.

Why do you mix the loads?

 

Why do you mix the loads?

My dad mixes loads in a HD revolver too. I kind of think it's kooky, check out the list in order (.357 mag revolver);

He loads these in order of what comes out first.

.357 shotshell (weird, I know)
.357 FMJ flat nose
.357 FMJ flat nose
.357 Semi jacketed wadcutter
.357 jacketed hollow point
.357 jacketed hollow point

I'll let you guys figure out the rationale behind that, I don't want to hijack the thread. If you think about it, it kind of makes a twisted sort of sense because he doesn't want to kill anyone (else) unless he has to.

 

I'm not a huge fan of these .45/.410 combo revolvers. That said, I love your gun for you as long as you practice regularly with it. I would load it with .45LC something (PDX is as good as any). As many rounds as it will hold. I'm pretty sure the .410 is best suited for small games and snakes, not stopping large game/humans.

 

Why do you mix the loads?

The first two shotshell loads are for super-quick, not-aimed, half-asleep, in semi-darkness defense. The next three are powerful, aimed stopping rounds. Some will say there's danger in shooting under these conditions, my wife or I may hit the wrong person. We live by ourselves - there is no wrong person. Anyone in our house shouldn't be there.

 

The Box 'O Truth is a fun and informative read. They did two separate reviews on the Judge a while back ...

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot53.htm

 

Here's a video that Hickok45 did on the judge. Good video.

 

What's not to like? You get a handgun that is twice as big and only marginally more effective (.45 LC) than a +P .38

.410 is anemic for human size targets. Great for the tackle box for snakes and such. I suppose there are worse choices than the Judge for self defense.

 

I used to own two 3"bbl Judges, now just one. The only use it gets is to loan out to friends who are considering buying one.
Once the "gee-whiz" factor wears off (takes an hour or two), most decide against it.

The shotshell pattern is poor and weak (OK for snakes at 10' or less, but so is a .38 revolver with a CCI shotload).

The accuracy with .45 is fair at best. The DA pull is stiff, the trigger is not very good.

It's a novelty. One would be better served with a 4"bbl police-trade S&W M64, and have a far better and more useful revolver for half the money.

IMHO.

 

With the Judge Taurus pulled off one of the best marketing campaigns in the last 20yrs...LOL!

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Not enough rounds and too slow to reload, nuff said.

 

I picked up one to give to my grandpa for a woods gun. He's 80 years old and if he runs up on a snake or coyote a quick point and shoot with .410 buck would be better than the .38 he carried around. Plus he was carrying a S&W 36 built in 1955 that barely has a turn ring on it. I told him it was time for it to be put up with no chance of being lost in a thicket somewhere. The one I got is DAO and was surprised at how good the trigger felt, just as good as my SP101 after I did a trigger job on it. I think the judges best place is just that. Hiking camping fishing hunting, if you round the corner of a tree and there sits a snake or coyote, draw, point, pull trigger.

 

Call me different, but I think its a fine home defense weapon. If you do need to use it, you will probably be well short of the 7 yard distance and with the numerous self defense rounds available? Thats got to put someone back or down, enough to allow to move closer and finish them off if you think you need to do so.This is so much better then poking a small, less then 1/2 inch hole in a body hoping for a heart or brain hit that will shut the body down using a revolver or an auto.
Hes gonna bleed out well before the bambulance gets there.

 

I'd take a hi cap 9mm, 40, or 45acp over a Judge everytime

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With the Judge Taurus pulled off one of the best marketing campaigns in the last 20yrs...LOL!

Truth

PT Barnum was right

 

my take

I have the judge, I think it is a great gun. Would be my first or second choice but i feel with the current 410 ammo selection it would a good personal protection handgun. I personally want more than 5 rounds of any caliber for home defense. Except 12 gauge maybe