Anyone own/ shoot a Taurus "Judge"?

[Babyhauler]

I just got one from a friend since I wear snake boots to work many times a week and I am also around condemned properties with really nice citizens. I have not even fired it yet. I like it so far since it is lighter than my Security Six. I am sure it will be a handful to shoot with a load of #4 or buckshot. I am not going to try to fire a 45 round out of this 2" barrel. I am ready to go to the range.

Who has one and fired different rounds through it?

Other than having only 5 rounds, why would you not carry a weapon that should easily hit its target within 2 car lengths or in a room in your house without collateral damage through several neighbors houses? The .410 pellets would not make it to my kids rooms. Nervous and shaky, we are all a better shot with a shotgun vs a rifle. . How many shootout videos have you seen where a mini-shotgun would have ended it from the beginning. It would be tough to conceal carry a Judge though.

There are probably many websites and forums with information about them for me to investigate.

Later.

[sourdough44]

I would start off with some 'cowboy-action', 45 Scholfield loads. It's the same priciple as shooting 38's in a 357 mag gun.

 

You could also get cowboy type loads in 45 Colt, lower recoil and controllable.

[1time]

Buckshot will open up so fast in a rifled barrel as to be right next to useless and tends to leave a hole in the center of the pattern. Birdshot for close snakes works. 45 Colt is not a bad recoiling round with most of the standard loads. Buffalo Bore and maybe Corbon makes some high horsepower rounds but most of the run of the mill 45 Colt ammo is about the same as 45ACP.

 

For my taste it is too big for a 5 round short barreled revolver. If that doesn't bother you, it is a decent revolver. Personally, I feel it is no more than a neat range toy.

 

If you are determined to use it in a defense role with shotgun ammo please check the pattern at various distances to see what you are dealing with. .410 isn't a great round out of a 28" shotgun. Out of a 2" rifled barrel I don't think it is what you are expecting.