Question on Judge Ammo Mix

[reliquary]

****CAUTION***THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE ANOTHER "IS THE JUDGE GOOD FOR CCW?" DISCUSSION.
 
So, a guy I know came by the house to show me his new 3"-chambered Judge and his new tailored-inner-pocket NRA carry jacket.  As he unloaded it, he was extolling the idea of his first round being a 3" slug, the next two being 3" 000 Buck, and the next two being hot .45C HP. 
 
So, I asked him, "Why not just carry all 5 .45C HP loads?" 
 
He says, "This way I can tailor the load I shoot to the circumstances."
 
So, I asked him, "Have you ever been in a shooting situation?"  Of course, the answer was "No" and after I explained to him that he would probably not have time to think about it and rotate the cylinder to the proper load, he got all  bent out of shape.
 
Any thoughts on this?  And, before you ask...yes,I have been in a couple on the street and in RVN. 

[Brett]

I agree with you 100%.  When it comes to SD weaponry I believe in the KISS principal.  Most of the time I carry striker fired semi-autos sans any form of manual safety devices and one in the tube.

If I ever find my self in a SHTF situation I don't want any chance of experiencing a brain fart and forget to rack a slide or snick off a thumb safety.  Those milliseconds lost could mean the difference between life and death.

That said, if your buddy was using his Judge as a woods tramping gun where he might encounter a range of potentially nasty critters from snakes to coyotes then there may be some validity to using different loads in the cylinder.

[wganz]

Having BTDT one time in a SD situation, I'm not an expert on the topic just a survivor of one. 
You don't have time for those machinations. I had time to get to center mass and start pulling the trigger. Others may not be so lucky.

[Mike in Virginia]

I'm sorry, but you can't announce that this is not a "is the judge good for ccw discussion," and not expect a response along those lines.  I won't, but someon will.  Once someone posts regarding the silly gun, you have to know the Internet world is full of people who do not agree with carrying or even using one. 
Uh-oh. I think I might have expressed an opinion I said I wouldn't.  Disregard the word "silly," but know it fits. 

[mcwoodduck]

OK so we assume that the Judge is the Perfect CCW as it will shoot diferent ammo.
Personally I would load 3 Colt HP loads and two of the buck shot loads.
here is why.
The Colt rounds are good for CCW and are powerful to stop an assailant.
the rounds are not overly powerful so the sight alignment and recovery after shootingthe first round will allow fast follow up shots.  I would carry the last two as the buck loads as last ditch Multiple projectile hits that will break bone, and cause blood loss that stops attackers.
The question to aske him is if he were to carry a 357 mag.  Would he carry a cylinder with 2- 125 JHP grain mags, 2- 158 grain JSP mag loads, then a single snake shot load and a 38 Special FMJ.  Clearly the 125 JHP is the #1 man stopper, the 158's are penetrating and the snake shot, well it is what it is and the 38 Special can take dogs and such that are attacking. 
Would he spin the cyulinder to what is needed or would he pull, piont and squeeze no matter  what is loaded.
I also can see a lawyer attacking him for carrying different ammo in the cylinder and saying he was out to maim or kill and the different mix of ammo proves it.  I remember reading an article years ago about staggering a mag of JHP and FMJ to get the best of both worlds in expansion and penetration and double tap.  I see it as a legal nightmare if you are unfortunate enough to be in a shooting. 

[reliquary]

Thanks, mcwoodduck.  I will use the example of the .357 next time I see him, if he is still speaking to me. 
I've had surprise encounters with feral hogs a few times while hiking in the woods, and I never would have had the time to choose from among "designer rounds". 
Once, as a city cop, I was approaching the passenger side of a vehicle we'd pulled over, while my partner approached the driver's side. The passenger opened the door with  a revolver in one hand...I drew on him before he got completely out of the car and yelled at him to drop it; he did.  He claimed he was just trying to show it to me so I would know there was one in the car.  Oddly enough, we thought he was telling the truth and didn't press charges.  But there wasn't any spare time in that incident, either.
 
Anyone who wants to post on the efficacy of the pistol itself...go see if that other thread is still around.   

[kennyd]

Are you at home?  2 birdshot, 3 HP.  The salesman I overheard told a customer the shot was good to 30 yards, then you could use the bullets for the long range stuff.  I bit my tongue.

[Redhawk1]

Just load it with 5 of the 45 Colts and be done with it for daily carry. If hiking in snake country, put 2 or 3 410 shot shells followed by some 45 Colts.

[dakotashooter2]

The question  is a very valid one. The idea of different loads is to optimize the results by using a specific load for specific conditions seems ideal, however we have no way of anticipating what our self defence scenario will be. One may be forced to shoot the shot loads in a less than ideal situation.  While good in theory the practicality of various rounds in one gun really has yet to be proven. I have tried this with a .38 caliber revolver for small game and found that mix and match ammo wasn't as practical as having a single load.  This is no testament to as if a Judge is a good or bad choice for a SD weapon but I do believe that it is "oversold" by it proponents and gives some people a false sense of security.

[mcwoodduck]

Thanks, mcwoodduck.  I will use the example of the .357 next time I see him, if he is still speaking to me. 
I've had surprise encounters with feral hogs a few times while hiking in the woods, and I never would have had the time to choose from among "designer rounds". 
Once, as a city cop, I was approaching the passenger side of a vehicle we'd pulled over, while my partner approached the driver's side. The passenger opened the door with  a revolver in one hand...I drew on him before he got completely out of the car and yelled at him to drop it; he did.  He claimed he was just trying to show it to me so I would know there was one in the car.  Oddly enough, we thought he was telling the truth and didn't press charges.  But there wasn't any spare time in that incident, either.
 
Anyone who wants to post on the efficacy of the pistol itself...go see if that other thread is still around.   

And somethings are just not talked about.
I think religion, Politics and now ammo choices should not be talked about. 
I have a friend that is similar.  Only he likes to buy ammo and rifles and box them up in case of an emergency (riot, flood, fire, collapse of society, terrorist attack, Russina invasion... ) you get the idea.  My arguement with him is two fold.  Does the ammo work in the guns, is it sighted in?  And then how are you going to use it in case of an emergency if you do not practice with it on a regular basis.  When ever he tells me I should do the same thing.  And he usually gets upset as he knows I am right but will not admit it. 

[dakotashooter2]

Or one could spin the cylinder in the face of the bad guy and as "do you feel lucky?"............................

[mcwoodduck]

Or one could spin the cylinder in the face of the bad guy and as "do you feel lucky?"............................

A reverse russian Roulette?

[shaggybull]

I  carry the 2 1/2 cylinder judge in titanium as everyday carry. It's loaded with 5 45 colt xtp rounds.  I haven't been in a situation to need it but would rather have the knockdown power of the 45 instead of relying on 000 buck load.  I feel if you don't get it done and hit the target with the 1st shot you may not have time to waste.  I like the versatility of being able to load a shot charge for small game and varmints.  I farm and it works good with shot load for varmints.  The 000 buck load is legal in my state for deer with shot load for grouse.  No hogs here....we've just started having issues with wolves.

[coyotejoe]

I  carry the 2 1/2 cylinder judge in titanium as everyday carry. It's loaded with 5 45 colt xtp rounds.  I haven't been in a situation to need it but would rather have the knockdown power of the 45 instead of relying on 000 buck load.  I feel if you don't get it done and hit the target with the 1st shot you may not have time to waste.  I like the versatility of being able to load a shot charge for small game and varmints.  I farm and it works good with shot load for varmints.  The 000 buck load is legal in my state for deer with shot load for grouse.  No hogs here....we've just started having issues with wolves.

I hope your mention that 000 buck is legal for deer as just an incidental fact and you are not actully considering shooting at deer with that toy, at least not more than 15-20 feet away. I don't find much actual chronograped data for shotshells from the Judge, understandable because the pattern spreads fast and people don't want to blow away there chrono screens. What little I have found seems to indicate muzzle velocities down around 800 fps.  I have the Super Comanchee single shot with a 10" barrel and .410 shotloads run about 950 fps so for a shorter barrel with a cylinder gap I think 800 would be about tops. That muzzle velocity is about the same as a long gun at 75 yards, which is way beyond recommended range for 12 gauge 000 buck.

[BIGDAVE54]

I carry my fnp .45 ACP in an Uncle Mikes shoulder rig and have a  Charter Arms 5 shot revolver in my pants pocket for a bug. I load 2 of the blue plastic snake shot rounds in it and 3 +P+ soft lead rounds that we had to carry when I worked as an armed guard here for about a decade. They were designed by the Kansas City PD a few decades back. The reason I carry  2 snake shot rds.is because I have twice been attacked by dog packs. I also believe  get your opponent in pain as quickly as possible. I might end ,blinding someone, but if they are trying to  kill me. I am just getting some training DVDs in from the NRA that discusses different tactics for surviving deadly force conflicts.I will be 60 soon and have type 2 diabetes. My reflexes have slowed some. I agree with those folks that you have to come out of these things alive by delivering fast and accurate first.

[Oldshooter]

Don't have any killing experience with humans, hope I never do! Punched a couple in the nose when I was younger.... but those girls deserved it!   
 
 
I own a S&W Governor. I like the gun and carry it in the truck at times and in the field., with 2 shotshells, and some 45 acp's or long colts. ITS NOT a Self defense gun for me. Its for offense, snakes and varmits. Out To 15 yards you wouldn't wanna face it, be you snake or whatever. with 45's (either variety) its deadly to 25 yds(distance I have used it) It is accurate to 50 yds from my experience. As I get older and loose my vision I may carry it loaded with all buck shot, The wife can put all four pellets in the chest and neck holding center mass on paper men at 20 ft.
 
For Self Defence I agree with Brett (I'm sure that makes him feel better)
 

I carry striker fired semi-autos sans any form of manual safety devices and one in the tube.

[reliquary]

Out of sheer boredom one day a couple of weeks ago, I bought a couple of boxes of .410 Winchester Super-X 2 1/2" 000 at the local W-M.  It's listed at 1300 fps, and if nothing else, it makes a heckuva racket out of my Governor.  It printed all three pellets on a sheet of typing paper at 10', which should be a pretty good self-defense load for across-the-room shots. 
 
Having said that, I still like something else as my bedside life-support-system.

[temmi]

.....
 
....

So, I asked him, "Have you ever been in a shooting situation?"  Of course, the answer was "No" and after I explained to him that he would probably not have time to think about it and rotate the cylinder to the proper load, he got all  bent out of shape.
 
Any thoughts on this?  And, before you ask...yes,I have been in a couple on the street and in RVN.

People have cracy thoughts and don't like logic
 
Snake

[petemi]

Two of my friends have Judges.  Personally, I think they're no more than a promotional sales stunt.  You can't get a good shot pattern out of a rifled barrel, especially from a handgun and that same barrel isn't going to be wonderful for shotgun slugs, buckshot or jacketed bullets.  I don't know if it is the owners or the revolvers, but I haven't seen either one produce anything that resembles a group at 25 yards with the .45LC.  I think the whole concept is a fad.  I'm not saying I'd be happy to face one at ten feet, but my .357 Blackhawk full of hot loaded 158 gr. XTPs hangs next to my bed and my Compact Pardner Pump 20 stands alongside loaded with 3 inch #3 buck.  It wears a light that will shine beyond the range of the buckshot.  Should I need more, there are four loaded rifles from .223 to .45-70 in easy reach.  For home defense, I'll stick with the tried and true.  I'm looking at the S&W hammerless .357 light weight for a carry weapon.  Again, a matter of opinion...I just don't trust automatics.  My Son is looking at a .40S&W,  To be honest, were I in the market for an auto, I'd look at the .40 also.

A point nobody has brought up, is that under stress, how are you going to know which cylinder is in line.  Good guess.  I think the entire premise is dumbassed.  I'm happy with the same load in all cylinders, knowing they'll go exactly where I point them when I squeeze the trigger.  If the bad guy is in your house, 8 -25 ft.from you, does it really matter what you smack him with.  At that distance, #6 shot could kill him, as could a .22..everything else would certainly ruin his day. 

When the bad guys show up here, I'll give ya a full report.

Pete