I shot the Judge[pics]

[Mad Dog]

I picked up a new Judge back in Feb.  It's blued, 3" cyl., with a 3" barrel.  Finally got a chance, about a week ago to get out and spend some time with it.  Here is what I took to shoot thru it.

Win. 3"  000 buck
Win. 3"  rifled slugs
Win. 3"  #6 shot
Golden Bear #4 buck
Magtech .45LC

Everything functioned through the gun, flawlessly, except for one.  The Golden Bears, while accurate, stuck hard in the cyl. after firing.  Also, 2 rounds FTF in dbl. action mode.  The patterns were decent, but didn't care for the reliability.  These are the metal cased .410s.  The rifled slugs were ho-hum, and the #6 shot had too wide a pattern.  However, I was very impressed with the 000 buck, and the 45LC.  I'm not the greatest handgun shot[left handed/right eye dominant].  Here are some pics:



The Judge



Golden Bear #4's  Decent pattern, unreliable ammo.



45LC.  Free hand at about 10 yds.  The gun is more accurate than I am.



Win. 000 buck shot dbl action at about 10 yds.

Overall, I'm pleased with the Judge.  It's an "in your face" home defense gun, and maybe a truck gun.  I'm going to try some #9 shot, one of these days to see if it patterns better tha #6's.  Also, want to do a penetration test on waterjugs, with the 000 buck.  In the meantime, it is on my nitestand loaded with 000 buck.

Mad Dog

[Kal52]

good to see some results, I just picked up the "night court judge" last week and have yet to shoot it.

I really didnt expect much, but my friend at the store said he has had nothing but rave reviews, but he did say its a niche gun, and has a limited purpose and not to expect anything but what its meant for.

My use for it is a pest control gun around the hunting shack. not much in the way of snakes, but skunks and a few smaller critters, and just for a fun hack around gun.

looks like that 4 buck may be an okay rabbit gun at 15yds or so,  since cottontails dont run far if not chased I think itd do the trick.

Keep us updated on any more tests. 

I cant wait to shoot mine, but since the city is surrounded by water atm, itll be awhile before I can get out and play.

THanks for the report

Dave

[JayAK]

I picked up a "night court" about a year ago.... I love it!

[JayAK]

Cabelas sells this stuff for 13.99 per box of 25
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/buckshot.aspx?id=848

[PASingleshot]

I'm glad your judge shoots so well.  Mine is inaccurate as heck, even at the 10 yards you were shooting at.  No matter what (slugs, buck shot or 45lc when I can find some) or who (I must have had 6 or 7 different people that I know are good shots) shoots it.  I love the feel of the gun and I like the action.  I am just really disappointed that unless you're standing right at the target, you may as well run and hide because you're going to get hurt.  Oh, I have the 2 1/2" chambering with the 3" barrel.

[huntswithdogs]

I don't know if it'll matter as much with a 3''  barrel, but my 410 shotgun shoots the 2.5'' shells much better than 3'' ones. May give it a try!

HWD

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   This is my first post with this group! Here in California, Those Wiser Than We have classed this revolver as a Short Shotgun, making it 'verboten'. Nonetheless, I've been fascinated by the Taurus Judge since it made its appearance.
   On a .410 Group that I follow, one fellow wrote in stating that the shot "pattern" left him cold, and what he did to cure it. I'm sure you all know that the biggest problem with these Shot-Revolvers is that to keep things legally simple, the bore of the barrel needs to be rifled, to prevent it from being classified as a Smooth Bored Pistol / Shot Pistol / Short Barrelled Shotgun, and falling into a heavily regulated classification. Cutting the chamber to also take the .45 Colt would probably also help keep it 'non threatening', I suppose. Problems begin when you send a shot wad down a rifled barrel: it spins, and a spinning shot cup is going to really scatter shot.
   This one fellow that I refer to, sent his Taurus Judge to a gunsmith, instructing him to thread the muzzle for a Thompson - Center Contender .45/.410 Choke Tube. The T/C .45/.410 Barrel has the same rifling issue, and they solved it by designing a choke tube with straight rifling, to stop the shot column from spinning. This fellow reported that the T/C Choke worked so well, that he was able to achieve small game-killing patterns to 15 yards! That, my fellows, is a Woodsman/Desert Rat sidearm!

   Be Well!

                M.T.Marfield

[Skunk]

Wasn't there a song that went something like this:

I shot the Judge,
But I did not shoot his law clerk...

[Kal52]

finally got around to shooting mine not too long ago, all I have to say Its going to find a new home.

With the colt, at 15yds could get it anywhere near where i was aiming, I didnt really shoot much close because whatst the point, should hit at 7yds I hope.

with the buckshot, dismal as well, usually got one on paper at roughly 10yds, 10" target.

Now with slugs...shot like a laser, didnt matter what brand at 15yds almost all were in the center, super good with those, I had remington and winchesters.
I didnt go back any further due to the price of the ammo, why waste it at that point.

shot...basically I put a pop bottle out at 8 paces, about as close to a snake as I want to get, and figured be about as far as it would kill a rabbit.
took 2 shots to knock the bottle over LOL, my father was out with me that weekend and laughed at me when I had to shot it twice 

Its too bad, i like the feel of the gun, I love the idea of the gun, just dont like the performance of the gun. Though I didnt expect award winning accuracy I did expect some,
I hope others have better luck .

on a possitive note, its fun to shoot, more fun if you hit your target, but fun, and it really has managable recoil, not as much as you may think.

Dave

[mcwoodduck]

Wasn't there a song that went something like this:

I shot the Judge,
But I did not shoot his law clerk...

Stop smoking the ganga.
It was Bob marley and the walers
I shot the sherrif.
covered by Eric Clapton.
Bob stabbed a DJ in Jamaca for playing Eric Clapton Version and not his.
Guess the DJ could have used a judge. 

[Skunk]

Wasn't there a song that went something like this:

I shot the Judge,
But I did not shoot his law clerk...

Stop smoking the ganga.
It was Bob marley and the walers
I shot the sherrif.
covered by Eric Clapton.
Bob stabbed a DJ in Jamaca for playing Eric Clapton Version and not his.
Guess the DJ could have used a judge.

LOL mcwooddduck So that's the song I was thinking of...

[mcwoodduck]

LOL.
 
Sorry my wise acer side took over.

[cybin]

   Greetings!

   This is my first post with this group! Here in California, Those Wiser Than We have classed this revolver as a Short Shotgun, making it 'verboten'. Nonetheless, I've been fascinated by the Taurus Judge since it made its appearance.
   On a .410 Group that I follow, one fellow wrote in stating that the shot "pattern" left him cold, and what he did to cure it. I'm sure you all know that the biggest problem with these Shot-Revolvers is that to keep things legally simple, the bore of the barrel needs to be rifled, to prevent it from being classified as a Smooth Bored Pistol / Shot Pistol / Short Barrelled Shotgun, and falling into a heavily regulated classification. Cutting the chamber to also take the .45 Colt would probably also help keep it 'non threatening', I suppose. Problems begin when you send a shot wad down a rifled barrel: it spins, and a spinning shot cup is going to really scatter shot.
   This one fellow that I refer to, sent his Taurus Judge to a gunsmith, instructing him to thread the muzzle for a Thompson - Center Contender .45/.410 Choke Tube. The T/C .45/.410 Barrel has the same rifling issue, and they solved it by designing a choke tube with straight rifling, to stop the shot column from spinning. This fellow reported that the T/C Choke worked so well, that he was able to achieve small game-killing patterns to 15 yards! That, my fellows, is a Woodsman/Desert Rat sidearm!

   Be Well!

                M.T.Marfield

What length barrel did he have the T/C choke tube put on? the 3" or the 6"?

cybin

[Oldshooter]

Check out this site for penetration results and a little more info on the "Judge"


http://www.theboxotruth.com/

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings, cybin!

   This fellow had the 3" Bbl, with the 2-1/2" Chamber. Really, for the role that I see this revolver fulfilling, i.e.: a "Backwoodsman's" sidearm that will serve for defense, and, with the choke, a small game taker, it screams out for a "T/C-Type" choke for shot.
   I would love to see/hear more about this modification; I believe that the "straight-rifled choke" makes it viable in that role. Careful, experienced handloaders can also improve the power/effectiveness of the .410 shotshells at safe pressure levels; see "Ballistic Products" website.

                 Be Well!

                                 M.T.Marfield

[Old Fart]

Check out this site for penetration results and a little more info on the "Judge"


http://www.theboxotruth.com/

Here's a direct link to the article to save everyone from searching.  http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm
As Oldshooter said the results are there and quite interesting.
Appears the 3" version might be more appropriate for self defense when using shotshells as the 2 1/5" was a little weak.

[Oldshooter]

Check out this site for penetration results and a little more info on the "Judge"


http://www.theboxotruth.com/

Here's a direct link to the article to save everyone from searching.  http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm
As Oldshooter said the results are there and quite interesting.
Appears the 3" version might be more appropriate for self defense when using shotshells as the 2 1/5" was a little weak.

Thanks you Old Fart  I only have dial up here at home so when i get on at home sometimes I dont go through all the steps to really be helpfull!  I appreciate the effort!