Why do people carry this gun? Taurus Judge performance.
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The Taurus Judge Public Defender is one of those handguns I've never fully understood the perceived utility of. The Taurus Judge is a .410 shotgun first, and a .45 LC pistol second. How does the Judge perform with various .410 shotgun loads? We find out!
#taurus #judge #revolver
I love how when this came out they marketed it as a pest gun, but the market was like "sElF DEfeNse gUn!!" And Taurus was like "yes... It's for self defense..."
Yeah my friend carries it on his property for snakes but not self defense lol
@@fronthole_guacamole plus one for creativity lol
@@andrewTaylorCodes Creativity my ass. It sounds like this man is describing my neighbor.
Well, the story goes that it's named "The Judge" because judges in Miami carried them in court or something. Is it true? Who knows.
Well his video did prove it was capable of performing both rolls better than other pistols. However as with any multi purpose tool, its not quite not as good the single purpose tool at a single task.
Federal actually makes specific ammo for 410 handguns that keep the pellets within a reasonable spread. (I used to have a site with all this data but apparently I forgot how to find it.) It was about 1" of spread for each 10 ft.
With the copper coated pellets and fast burning powder? When I was looking up ballistics gel testing for .410 shells that was the one that could actually penetrate 12" of 10% gel. Everything else came up short.
It's what I keep in my .45/.410 derringer. Partly because of that and because a quarter inch of rifling isn't enough to hit anything with a .45 cartridge.
Hornady makes a .410 shell specifically for pistols. I use the Critical Defense shells. A .41 caliber slug and (2) .35 caliber pellets.
@@ik7578the slug doesn't expand. Better off using 4 or 5 pellet 000 or 0000 buck.
@@Kinetic.44 doesn't matter if you are shooting multiple projectiles per trigger pull
@robcop2269 yeah that's why more projectiles is better... 4 or 5 is better than 3
I can even finish this video. Why would anyone use the Judge without using ACTUAL defensive shotshells designed for the judge rifled barrel? You're ragging out on it about "spread" meanwhile GunSam did a test months ago and got a 5 inch spread at 25 yards! All buckshot hit in small area with individual wound paths per 1 trigger pull. You're either intentionally making the gun look bad by running shotshells that are known to jam and underperform or you're just uninformed. If you're taking about energy levels, there are several 45 colts near the 500lbs of force level out of a 2.5 inch barrel that run reliability. The gun will shoot hundreds of different combinations of very different loads, might as well do research and run KNOWN reliable loads that perform before making a video. I understand the merit of 9mm etc and I have dozens of them, but the judge is simply underrated because of uninformed videos like this, limited ammo choice or not. This video is essentially like running 9mm CCI rounds for defense and calling the 9mm "bad."
The problem is there are so many different loads that reviewers aren't willing to research the best ones, so you end up with videos like this.
Well said. The Judge and Governor are both fantastic for their intended purpose - and reliable.
Gun only works at 25 yards? Cringe
@@manilikefirearms7499 Average self-defense encounter is under 7, but they use actual data so there's that. I think over 3x the average is pretty safe.
@@manilikefirearms7499far enough so that it can’t be taken away from you ! It does the job ad long as you know how to handle a weapon. Maybe you want a 338 Lapua w scope ?
the longer barrel might be a better option. and i usually shoot slugs and long colt through mine, but i agree with Tim on this pistol. great video . 😎
I have never had 1 issue with the Stainless Judge. Also, if a certain shell didn't work in the gun, I would just not use it.
Exactly
I would just get a better gun.
Never had issue with mine either.
I’ve never had a single problem with my Public Defender except the stingy recoil of a .45 Long Colt!
Never once have I had one problem with mine
The Pachmayer grip makes this gun feel 100% better. I shoot Hornaday 225gr LeverEvolution 45 Colt and it has always functioned and had decent groups at 10yds or less. I like it because it's light and handy.
That grip works wonders. Makes shooting mine a thousand times better.
If you are running 45LC, a revolver dedicated to that cartridge would be much more accurate.
@@chris.3711 It is the grip Taraus should ship on this gun. That short one is worthless.
@@Kyle-sr6jm True, but this is light and cheap.
@@Kyle-sr6jm Dedicated .45LC revolvers tend to be MUCH more expensive. Also most of those are single-action revolvers. So that's not a viable alternative to the Taurus Judge.
I got one in my truck. Around my ranch I see a lot of rattlers and .410 is great at dispatching snakes. Also, .410 is easier to find than .38 or .357 snake shot and I like being able to shoot 45 LC ammo. However, its not my first choice for self or home defense. Just a neat tool for a unique purpose
I always thought it would make a good lawn mower gun
I concur with this comment. It's a niche caliber and gun for a niche purpose.
@@fathead8933 I love the “lawn mower gun” concept haha!
My old man wants one for the same reason but he absolutely hates snakes and doesn’t want to get close to them. How far away is it actually effective on a skinny snake?
@@countrygirl7656 There is no need to shoot snakes.
Use shovel instead. One stab from pointy end and throw pieces away.
Edit: Much less noise from operation and less screaming when your mother happens
to found it from flower field.
I fully agree that .410 bird shot may not be the most lethal choice for self defense. That being said, self defense doesnt mean kill your attacker. It means defend, to create a means of escape, to stop the current situation. Id be willing to bet that nobody would take a load or 2 in the face and not be phased. under pressure, spray and pray.
Ah, a humanitarian! See and they say gun owners want to kill people its not true
Never, ever say that in front of a prosecutor or judge. If you say that you used a lethal weapon in a situation wherein you didn't feel you actually needed lethal force...you're going to prison for a long time.
@Charles Eye I agree with you, however I think you miss understood me. Im most def not saying to use a lethal weapon in a non life threatening event. Im saying you dont need to turn your attacker into pink mist to become safe and escape the attack. Hope that clears it up.
If somewants to kill you you dont give them a second chance
I heard a rumor they were a way to get around Brazilian gun laws for civilians, they would actually want it for the 45 colt cartridge but it having the ability to shoot .410 makes it a non military caliber for civilians
Brazilian govt still thinks it's the 1800s to consider 45lc a military caliber lol
.45LC is a military cartridge in Brazil good lord what is this 1880?
I have friends in Brazil. I'm going to ask them cause now I'm curious.
@@David-cj8wv Tyranny has always been popular, just as much today as then.
Revolt! 😊
Taurus is trash, here in brazil they sent a letter to the (criminal communist) government that is trying its best to ban firearms, saying that it was best to ban the import of firearms, if the internal market had an equivalent product (they own every other brand on the country). And seeing as they own the market here, they would have no competition.
They lost many contracts on the previous (right wing pro gun) government. Glock took many govt contracts and even SIG, that previously did not exist in brazil, did.
They are garbage company that puts lives in danger with their cheap and badly made products.
In my city, a few years ago, one of the police battalion had acquired a number of their CTT .40 S&W and the whole stock had problems and were waiting for recall for 3 years.
A problem that the heavily armed criminal element doesn't have.
Taurus is trash anti freedom, communist government dick rider scum... Please, don't subsidize them over there.
I have one of these.. I like to shoot the Hornady critical defense rounds. The rounds that’s are specifically designed for pistols tend to run just fine. I’ve had issues with birdshot and the primers falling out binding up the the cylinder.. self defense maybe. But it’s a handful compared to even a single stack 9. I definitely agree with the novelty gun aspect
I own one just like that and as long as you buy ammo that fits it, it doesn’t jam. Reading instructions is important. Had you read them you’d know that it’s not for 3” shells.
Do you have the steel or polymer? Could the polymer version be the problem too?
There are a number of Judge models that take 3" shells.
I've had a Judge Poly and a Governor and the Poly is picky about what it's loaded with. The Gov however with PDX1 was quite impressive. While I do agree that these are niche guns, they do have their place, in a car or in a small apartment in an urban center, this could be a good option. BTW, I should say that I also had a Circult Judge and the accuracy with 45LC was horrible, even with a red dot, I could't hit anything. I believe this is due to the 45LC having to travel a ways before it hits rifleing.
Finally some one that know what there talking about well said bud
Why does this have so many likes? He shows what he uses. They are all 2 1/2"
Many years ago, when the Taurus Judge craze was at its peak, we asked our local gun sales guy about it. He said "We sell more Taurus Judges than just about any other gun! We also get more Taurus Judges coming back for a multitude of problems than any other gun. I don't recommend them". All these years later and nothing has changed.
Bullshit. They don't get them back anymore. Rock solid. I carry one in the woods and shoot it daily
I'm glad yours are good but others have problems.
Better customer service than S&W, less expensive and good quality and finish.
My EDC is a 605 Poly. I've carried several compact 9mm and always find the mag release tripped. They are nothing but a single shot then
@@ranchodeluxe1 I carry a 605 Poly as well. That's a fantastic snubbie. It's probably the most comfortable revolver I've ever shot .38 special rounds in. .357 magnum rounds are a bit stingy but definitely doable. However .38 Special +P rounds are fantastic in it. I also have an RIA M200 .38 special revolver and even regular .38 Special 158 grain rounds are not comfortable to shoot despite its heavier weight and longer barrel. But in the 605 Poly they are a pleasure to shoot. My only criticism of the 605 Poly is that it's not the most accurate revolver in the world, or at least mine isn't. I enjoy shooting it so much though, that I may have a gun smith take a look at it to see if he can improve the lockup and timing as mine could be a little bit tighter. But for close in-defense, it's pretty solid. It's also my only pistol of any type that I can carry comfortably in the appendix position using an Azula leather holster (I love Azula holsters).
I have a Judge pistol it is the metal frame. I have never had any problems with it hanging up or being inaccurate. It has always hit at center mass with slugs or 45 LC. Buckshot does scatter bit a rifled barrel you can count on that to happen. Shot shells are for close and personal defense. Most for varmints.
My father in law got one with the long barrel thinking he could use it with .410's for shooting grouse, then load it with .45's for bear defense in Alaska. The rifling in the barrel scatters the bird shot all to hell, and it's unwieldy for a bear gun. Pretty poor choice for both.
You should have tried the critical defense 410 ammo made for the judge.
jam issue did not finish one box. One, two shots then froze cylinder. Might be high pressure deform shell. Need rubber mallet next range day.
Win PDX1 had about a 10” spread @21 ft with 4 disc impacts from a range rental Judge. Home defense? Sure thing. I wouldn’t wear it out the door though. Also, per the FBI’s report related to .40S&W, I’m more interested in wound channels than foot pounds of energy.
Those rounds are about max what the gun can handle in my opinion. What I carry in mine (first 2 rounds) then some 250 grain .45 last 3 rounds. Never had an issue it with in 5 years. Got the Poly one as well.
I like the Remington Defender three hardened copper disks and shot behind it. Lotta hurt for one trigger pull- ya got five
@@chrisbrowning977 those are good too. I prefer not to have the extra shot behind it. I use my extra of those as a camping round now.
I have the standard Judge with steel construction. No problem other than the fiber optic in the sign falling out and getting lost. Absolutely wrecks stuff. And I like the versatility. Good for home defense in my opinion.
I’m thinking the polymer might have been the problem with the seizing
Pay more than you would for a 12 gauge AND do far less damage
@@darthvader6533 but is a different beast. Pistol vs Rifle platform unless it’s a sawed off variety 😂
@@cripplers8 yes
However
When almost every firearm well exceeds the defender in almost every capacity, perhaps its time to rethink its name haha.
Heck, even a 20 gauge does vastly more damage. 12s are difficult to control without practice, but absolutely devastating. The tactical varieties are not that much bigger than the Taurus.
410 is a very small round, comparatively. I just knocked a 15 inch railroad tie and 12 pound AR plate 5 inches backwards with a 12 gauge slug about 3 hours ago. Can you do that with a 410? In fact, could you reliably kill anything with a 410? Theres a reason, again, that it isnt used for things other than snake killing.
45 long colt is a fine round, but big bore revolvers take a tremendous amount of training to use well. And even then youre only left with 6 rounds. I strongly doubt it can tolerate the hot rounds that Blackhawks can. The taurus is basically a small rifle, so that will definitely negate a lot of the recoil, but youre still dealing with a double action revolver, and that introduces a lot of trigger sway that needs to be trained away.
Contrast that to a 9mm. 18 rounds on a standard magazine, low recoil, super sonic rounds, with modern ammunition absolutely lethal. Theres a reason police departments stopped using revolvers en mass.
Seriously, in what home invasion would a 12 gauge with a back up 9mm be worse than a home defender?(when you _could_ get them for the same price)
You can absolutely use it for home defense, but its not GOOD for home defense. It works, just like a sword would work. But it is far surpassed by most other firearms. I would never solely rely on my peacemaker to protect my home. I COULD, but when it comes to the safety of my family, ill take all the edge i can get.
Im gonna buy a home defender, but just to play around with. If my home is invaded, it will be defended with 00 buckshot, not bb haha.
I bought one to potentially deal with snakes in west Texas. I have come to learn that sticks not only work just as well, but are much lighter. Now we just bust this out with some birdshot if we need to handicap someone while skeet/trap shooting.
Snakes are good to have on your property. They keep mice, rats, moles and larger insects away.
Gettin some Cheney vibes from your last sentence 😂
@@RicArmstrong I'd rather have vermin than demon serpents hiding in the grass waiting to kill children
@@ds6872
Demon serpants? Lol
They're snakes, not Klaus Shuab
@@RicArmstrong the venomous snakes tend to dominate habitats and keep non venomous snakes out. I suggest getting feral cats or donkeys to dissuade snakes.
I bought a governor when the hype was big. The added advantage of 45 acp in moon clips was nice.
The Judge runs 45 acp also via thinner moon clips.
I own one and I’ve been happy with it ever since. Just one or many tools I’ve acquired
i remember that Winchester pdx1 load that had like 3 disks in in and some buck shot and they claimed it to be the best self-defense load you could get.
I bought some for my governor when they came out. I still have a couple boxes lying around. I think I also have a couple boxes that include 45LC and 410 shells in the same box
3 disks and BIRD shot.
The birdshot makes it look impressive on paper.
Just bought a 12ga load that has a slug with 3 00 buck shot in it
I have the public defender and I really like to load it with the PDX1 rounds. I think they are the best general purpose self-defense rounds someone can use in such firearms.
not this version, but the judge was the first gun i ever owned, i loved it
they make a great snake gun for woods walking or fishing. I've killed several snakes and dozens of big rats with one.
That's awesome. It was my first pistol after my 10/22 and 870 shotgun.
@Archduke Bacon Von Cheeseburger couldn't most guns fill the same role?
@@FoulPet to an extent they could, it's more about ammo availability and the prohibitive cost of the specialty ammo for most other guns.
@Archduke Bacon Von Cheeseburger 45 colt and 410 aren't as popular from my perspective. Could load a 357 with snake shot or just carry a 22lr. I can easily tag a snake in the head with any of my 22 pistols. Maybe as a boat gun, it would be ok, but in most every situation I can think up, I'd rather have something other than this.
Good video and appreciate your opinion. I've owned the Public Defender poly version for 5 years and it's been flawless so far. Yes, some do say it's a novelty, but I disagree, which is why I decided to purchase. Winchester PDX Defender, Federal 410 Handgun buckshot and other similar loads are devastating rounds at typical self-defense distances. Also, changing to a larger grip makes this gun feel entirely different and much more comfortable to shoot.
I had one many years ago and had a lot of issues with it. So, I got rid of it and never bought another Taurus. I couldn't be happier.
I had a new Colt Trooper MkIII When I started on the PD, I had only put a box of .38 special through her, took her to the police academy in South Dakota back in the 70's and during qualification, the trigger broke, locked the gun up on a loaded cylinder, and I finished the academy with a loaner form the school Model 10 Smith which served me well while I sent the Colt off to be fixed. Colt fixed it for me and sent her back with a sweet trigger that lasted till I sold her ten years later. Even new revolvers can and do fail.
I just recently bought that same revolver but in black. Why did I get it? Well it was in my long bucket list. It did interest me as it shoots shotgun shells and 45 LC. 410 and 45 LC was very hard to find during the ammo shortage. I have been buying some 410 and 45 LC even if I didn't have a Judge lol. It's light and Taurus revolvers have been growing on me. Wish I bought it a year ago for mid $300's as I purchased at $459 at my LGS. Haven't shot it yet but will do very soon. Hopefully no issues and I won't need a rubber mallet!
Remember .45 Colt is also used in some Winchester 92s and some modern production Henry rifles/Uberti clones. And a lot of Colt SAAs and clones use .45 colt. Definitely not only for the judge. I definitely recommend handloading if you want to shoot much .45 colt, and if you want to shoot black powder or +P(Do NOT shoot +P in a normal judge, and if you shoot black powder be ready to do some cleaning) it's pretty much required to handload.
As a judge owner, the cylinder lockup is a you problem. I almost exclusively fire 410 (slugs, 00 buck, and bird) and I've never had an issue.
Ive had a S&W Governor for 8 years. Its actually really fun gun, and the federal 000 buck handgun ammo is my go-to defensive load.
Only issues ive had in terms of reliability were with short brass 410 birdshot. It doesnt like to eject those.
Everything else runs great. Ive even managed to get lucky and hit a couple skeet in flight with it.
I “HAD” a judge years ago, had being the operative word. The whole point of a gun is to hit something at a distance. The Judge is highly lacking in this area of performance. Second as a carry pistol it wasn’t much smaller or lighter than a 44mag Ruger Super RedHawk with a 7 1/2” barrel. The main difference between these two is the Ruger can drop a dear at 100 yards compared to the Judge 3 yards.
I do want to point out that the Ruger Super RedHawk with a 7 1/2 inch barrel is entirely impractical Carry Pistol and yet somehow people find a way to justify calling the Judge a Carry Pistol 🤷🏻♂️
I had a steel framed Judge with a 7 inch barrel. It was my favorite revolver. I prefer autoloaders for home defense regardless of caliber.
Only judge I’ve ever seen in person was carried by a guy who ended up having a felony warrant, and was already a felon. The judge is the quintessential “don’t know anything about guns but I’m buying one” gun
I remember buying into the hype when these hit the market. I decided to go the S&W Governor route because it had 6 rounds instead of 5 and the ability to chamber 45 ACP using moon clips. It had a nice trigger; especially when cocked in single action. But with its tiny barrel you have a snub nose that is huge. I ended up selling it because it was just a range toy and never became a serious consideration for EDC.
LOL because it has never been an EDC gun. You chose a gun based on being able to shoot 45 ACP when every other ACP gun shoots better with less bulk and weight? That's on you, guy. Don't blame the gun because you didn't buy the right one for your application
While looking up the history of the LeMat revolver, a dual caliber firearm, I was reminded of Taurus' "The Judge". I knew of only one person that carried this particular handgun for personal protection: he was actually a real Judge and showed me his gun in his office/chambers.
The LeMat is an awesome gun man!!
Judge: “I declare the defendant… *guilty.”*
* pulls out Taurus Judge *
* MISSES *
I get similar results with my Bond Arms derringer. I have a 3.5" barrel for .410/.45LC...I only could find 3" 000 shells, so there's only 1/2" of usable barrel length (yeah, 2.5" shells and/or longer barrel may help). I fired the first 2 rounds at 10 ft and got surprisingly good results...then everything else was barely hitting the outboard edges of the silhouette. Moved the target to about 3-4 ft away and results were still crap, no center of mass hits. And please don't say "it's a get off me/touching distance gun"...why bother with something that only holds 2 rounds, can't be used past a few feet, and isn't significantly smaller than the current crop of micro-9mm pistols. It's a novelty gun, like the Judge...but at least I can change calibers and barrel lengths easily. That's about the only thing it has going for it. As always, good review and let the data do the talking.
You shouldn’t see any better performance out of the shorter shells, since it’s not going to be constricted in the bore yet. In other words, that extra length in the cylinder (when using a shorter shell) isn’t helpful.
in 1846 it was a GREAT option for your wife.
@@jackjohnson291 No cylinder...I was referring to the Bond.
@@undercoverhustler37 😆Yep!
I love my judge. Works well for me as a truck gun or backup to my pistol
I have one of the bigger guns with steel frame and I can say its surprisingly accurate in .45colt. These should be marketed as a .45colt revolver for self defense use, that can also use .410 in a pinch for niche utility applications, instead of the other way around. Would also like to see a gun in .45colt ONLY with shorter cylinder.
That would be the 455 tracker
You should check out Hi aliyah maximum expansion in 45Lc. They are made for these guns. There are a few TH-cam videos on it. Very impressive rounds.
@@anthonyaubuchon765 and also very finicky not to mention that cant be loaded to +p speeds because the judge/governer arent rater for 45 colt +p
I just purchased my first Taurus, ever it was the 45TH and I am now having buyers remorse. I am having so many issues with this thing I have since since it back to Taurus, and they are going to let me know what they are going to do as far as warranting Either giving me a new one or trying to repair it. I would much rather have a newer one since it is only 30 days old with one full magazine process through it. I paid $475 for this Taurus, TH 45. Wish me luck. Thank you.
“Because they’re cool”
That’s about the only reason anyone needs for anything.
I have a Judge. Only bought it for moles. Has worked both times I’ve used it so far. Does not upset, or surprise, me with your video.
Runout has it, this is Paul Harrell’s favorite pistol 😅
Majestic images in my mind of Paul shooting Poptarts with the Judge out of the air. Where a man belongs.
I realize the above is a joke, but I think Paul's favorite pistols are his 1911 in .38 Super and his Beretta 92F.
@@KoshN really? I highly doubt Paul likes his Beretta 92. Where did you get that idea?
@@identifiesas65.wheresmyche95 In his videos, he seems to favor it.
Runout
I like how you say your opinion is your opinion and we shouldn’t buy or sell based off of you necessarily. This video had good information and I appreciated how you presented it in a way not belittling people that might want a judge. Thumbs up from me
I use PDX1 when I shoot this gun. I also have the PKMYR grip which helps.
I’ve never carried this gun just wanted one.
I have a Ruger black Hawk 357/38. If you put steel ammo in it and shoot then its cylinder will freeze. Only one of the holes are functional the rest will cease to rotate. I have marked the functional one for steel ammo for target practice. So, it depends on the ammo.Seeing this you totally changed my mind for buying a 410. Thank you.
I really got into the Judge pistols , bought three of them . The lightweight 4 inch barrel has some kick it . I first shot the three buckshot rounds which had a triangle pattern . The 4 shot loads were better hitting like this
.... across the chest area isn't bad . I like the Public Defender Judge the best . I think the S&W one would be good with that extra round . I never bought one due to the price .
Lehigh Defense Maximum Expansion round has turned this into a very good self defense gun
Boom. I'm glad someone made the Judge do something that any 45 Colt can't do better.
@@olysean92 Professor. You can't shoot 220 grain loads in " any" Colt 45
My cousin had a polymer frame Taurus in .357 Mag about 12 years ago. Cheap gun, I think he paid about $350 for it. The polymer frame started to come apart after he shot it roughly 100 times. I told him to get rid of it and he did. That's my one and ONLY experience with a Taurus polymer frame! That one experience swayed me away from Taurus for good.
Thanks for sharing this, Tim. My cousin bought one of these years back. We loaded it with the buck, bird and 45 colt. Also some disc/buck loads that in theory were pretty cool. From 15 yards away, shooting at a "door-sized" piece of drywall, the only shot I was able to hit the door with was the 45 colt. And it was about 4ft off from where I was trying to hit. Took my edc out and reassured myself it wasn't me. I'm not an exceptional shot. That gun is not serious for protecting your life. I would recommend everything else.
Thanks, I think they are fine for snakes, range but basically a safe queen, especially the raging judge magnum with the long barrel looks loony tunes😂
You bought a gun intended for a specific application and got upset that it didn't do something totally different? LOL it patterns just great on that snake coiled up hissing at your livestock 10-15 ft away
@@evocati6523 Maybe you should read posts twice before commenting lol. I didn't buy it nor did I expect it to do something it wasn't built for. Simply sharing my experience. I sell guns for a living so I'm familiar with capabilities. From my experience, I'd rather have 22 birdshot for snakes especially nowadays when 410 is over a dollar a shell.
Now, while that BBB load was completely unusable in this particular judge, I feel like in something like a shockwave .410 it would be terrifically effective.
I highly recommend the Judge to anyone with failing vision. Until I had my cataract surgery the Judge kept me safe with the.410; now the .45 long Colt and my new eyes are getting along just fine! By the way I’m 75 with years in law enforcement. The polymer frame and one inch barrel were your first two mistakes. The 3” steel Judge is a totally different weapon, I’ve never had a problem one.
I recently bought the all steel 3" version and it seems to be a solid gun and so far I've had no issues at all. This video has me questioning my purchase a little, but the polymer version he is using is not the same gun as the all steel.
I absolutely love my raging judge magnum. I only shoot 454 and 3inch 410 but still it's been an amazing revolver
Mine runs great. Federal .410 handgun puts all 4 pellets of 000 Buck the size of my fist at 7 yards all day. I love it
I take the governor as kind of a hiking/fishing revolver. Its good enough for that. I like mine it's fun to ay with. I keep dragons breath rounds with it also. They are fun in the dark and may quite possibly scare off a black bear or unsavoury character. Still always carry.357 or 44 when out and about jic.
Older people love this gun for whatever reason, it must be because they buy into the marketing hype of a "shotgun round in a handgun" but don't know how to use the internet to actually do some research on how gimmicky it is. They think it's like having a 12 gauge in a revolver - that's not how physics works. My 90 year old uncle carries one of these. Absolute kudos to him for carrying a gun in the first place, he is already well ahead of 99% of people out there... but I just wish it was a better gun.
Maybe you should ask him why he carries it rather than make baseless assumptions......you might learn something
@@mcameron6031 he carries it for self defense, same reason I carry a gun... he chose that thinking the 410 coming out of that snub-nose barrel will have the same devastating effect as a full size shotgun, and that he won't have to be as precise with his aim. I'm not sure what I can "learn" from that, other than what I already know... that being, he doesn't really understand what makes a good, effective sidearm choice.
@@BertieW0osteryou can learn a hell of a lot from a 90 year old.
Could the problem with the rounds sticking in the weapon be because of the polymer frame? I know someone who has a steel framed Taurus Judge and they've never had any problems
It's because he deliberately sandbagged the test by using the cheapest ammo he could find......cheap 410 sticks in even high end shotguns.......quality stuff like federal and Winchester do not
Bond Arms Snake Slayer would make more sense for snakes in the brush (lighter, smaller, more portable). Maybe as I nightstand gun used at room distance with ammo that will not penatrate sheet rock. Maybe for anti car jacking? But it is seemingly a niche gun unless it can chamber 454 casull....then it becomes a bear gun too.
I have kinda always wished Taurus would make a 45 colt version of the judge with a shorter cylinder, though I think taurus did make a 45 colt snubby years ago
They used to make a.45 Colt on their Tracker frame same as the Judge, the Judge sold 10x as many per unit so they dropped it. Used to have one, it was accurate, shot tighter groups at range over the Judge, but both guns were employed in similar distances overall for myself and others and it was in turn sold for the latter.
They used to have the model 450 which was a 5 shot 45 Colt.
The first vid i saw of the Judge was it being marketed for automotive defense against carjackings, and that was it. All shots were fired from the driver's seat and all the targets were right up against the passenger door.
my revolver failure...a spurless Taurus 605 with Cor-Bon 125gr 357 magnum; 3rd shot...the primer pushed out & almost cold welded itself to the breech face; took it back to where I bought it & they beat the cylinder open; sold the gun shortly afterward to a coworker...he traded it on a Ruger SP101; he stated the timing was a bit off and got some spit back with magnum rounds; offered him a partial refund to cover part of the $$$ put towards his Ruger...it was refused but our 'gun life' relationship fell off (avoided me at the range outside of work...oh well); the year was 2001...
onto the Judge concept...fully steel variants make more sense as added mass & weight might mitigate the possibility of primer pull
Thank you for reviewing the Judge. I was curious about it and had considered possibly getting one. I think I'll pass on the Judge and save the .410 cartridges for my Henry. If I want something shorter than the rifle, I'll get the Axe.
This pistol is meant to be used within a specific range. Typically thats from within about 30 feet to putting it right up against their belly. We’re not looking to snipe somebody from across the grocery store here. If you want to have some actual statistics then according to the FBI 7 yards the average distance of lethal confrontations across decades of study.
When the chamber is longer than the barrel, you know you’re going to be wasting powder. Hey, that would be a better name-the Tarus Propellant Waster.
My Public Defender Poly is actually one of my favorite pistols. However, I did not purchase with the intent to use it for self-defense. It is a purely funzies firearm for me. I haven't experienced any problems, but I also haven't put a huge variety of loads through it. Mostly PDX1 .410 and 45LC.
Early on (after all the articles that sang it's praise) there was one article I read that basically said "it's not a great shotgun, or a great 45 lc" after all the new and shiny wore off, that seems to be a pretty accurate assessment. I'll hang on to 7 rounds of .357 mag until that doesn't do it for me as far as handguns go. And home defense, I'd much rather shoulder a 12 ga with a full barrel than handle a super sawed off 410
I have the Poly Judge and like others have mention, switching to the Pachmayer full-sized grip makes a huge difference. I bought it knowing it was more of a fun gun, but I do keep it bedside loaded with various increasing to fatal rounds. If I was able to open carry, it would be the Judge as an intimidation factor, iykyk or iydkyd. Okay, that sounds silly because there are much bigger guns, but those much bigger guns can be unwieldy, the Poly Judge is not. Given all that, I'm also carrying a SA 9mm deep concealed as the alternate primary weapon.
The Taurus is fantastic. We had a blast (no pun) with one back when they were first released.
Great range gun for snakes and pretty damn good at self defense I’m sure. 45 LC is a fun old cartridge and 410 will mess someone’s day up if they get smacked by it.
Haven’t tried the SW yet.
Btw we used handload 410 with rock salt, metal shavings and tiny nails sealed with crayola wax. Worked great.
I bought the crayons just for that purpose.
@Fou
It’s safe and it’s an old practice when making varmint loads. Basic wax usually but Crayons work just as well. Bought the 72 count from 1980’s with the built in sharpener. I use only the best crayons ;)
When your primary is a Judge, your secondary is a rubber mallet 🤣
Obviously it’s for when me and the boys need to take down a shield while the thermal drill is going.
Unfair to use the Taurus Judge as your example to disprove the “revolvers never fail”. It has always been a dumpster fire and it’s bad even by Taurus standards. Revolvers have to be kept clean to be reliable, but given remotely reasonable care the good revolvers are extremely reliable. I own several revolvers that I have had since the 1980’s and they have never failed a single time. S&W and Ruger.
So are you saying "Revolvers never fail" ?
@@stefanmolnapor910 of course not. Using the Taurus judge to disprove the idea that revolvers are reliable is no different than using first generation Sig P365 pistols to disprove the reliability of autoloaders. There are really good and really bad examples of each type of firearm. I can say without hesitation that none of my revolvers have ever failed, with the exception of my old Model 10 competition revolver which simply wore out. I bought it used and fired around 300k rounds without issue til it started having issues due to wear. I also have autoloaders that have never failed me. But I have seen some low quality examples of each type that fail regularly.
The Judge was never on my radar for carry. I knew a couple people that did carry it. One of them came out at my invitation to plink and switched that day to carrying a Glock 17.
I carry a .38 ultra light snubby when wearing light clothing, but at all other times my companion is a G17. It’s just as reliable as my snubby, but much more accurate at ranges greater than 7 yards and more thumpy.
Never had a cylinder issue with the two ive owned, both metal framed though. Like most have stated its a ranch/snake gun.
Always being curious about the Judge, this video answer all the questions, thank you for the video.
Just this last week a guy (young but not a gun guy) came into my shop to look at this exact gun. Apparently one of his buddies said it was the best gun possible for self defense. Usually at this point I just nod and smile, since no one is gonna take my word over bubba back home’s word but he asked if I agreed. “Honestly, man I don’t.” He asked which gun I would recommend and I just waved at the entire counter and said, literally pick one.
A funny piece of work that revolver. Thanks for the lesson, Mr. Jim Carrey.
They tried to bring out a big brother in 28 Gauge but it didn't get off the ground.i think that a 20 Gauge one would be interesting and that's just the size and the recoil!
I bought one, basically because i was getting older, never had a .45lc, and wanted it. Exactly same reason i bought a 10mm auto decades ago. Didn't have, heard of it, wanted it, bought it! I'm a recoil junkie anyway!
That weird cylinder lock up is common among every Taurus ply gun I have ever fired.
What I remember them saying it was for up close like from inside a car because the rifling causes the pellets to rapidly spread
If I recall. According to Barry and arik at moss pawn and guns, and the Taurus Judge manual. It's recommended to use American made .410 shells. Remington, Winchester, Federal, Hornady. The European shells have a thinner walls. And will expand more and create reliability problems.
Now that’s what I like to call a bad design on Taurus.
I think keeping a 22mag revolver with snake shot is probably a much better option if snakes are your concern.
In addition my understanding of the ATI .410 ammo is that it is meant for magazine feed .410 AR uppers. It patterns terribly from rifled barrels because it is not designed for them.
.410 ammo is so diverse that manufacturers really should list what platforms the specific ammo is intended for.
I love my public defender Judge. It’s a lot of fun and I’ve only had to use my tactical mallet a couple times in gun fights. Tbh this is my wife’s favorite gun to shoot, I can’t figure out why for the life of me, but she legit loves it and she’s pretty damn good with the .45 LC. To each their own, but for home defense I’ve got a smorgasbord of various uber reliable firearms.
I use a judge to dispatch home pigs. I use two handloaded 230gr hp’s followed by 3 pdxi. I’ve never needed the second shot. I’ve got two backups just incase
I own 3 Judges. None are the poly version. Most of the reviews on the Poly Public Defender are negative. I haven't had any issues. I also use the 410 ammo that was made for self defense. My question is, did you choose the Poly version because you knew there were issues?
Love how so many people think Taurus started this whole .410 .45 LC pistol line up. I still have my Thunder 5 the one that started it all. However the performance is about the same. Mine just has more weight.
I have a decent gun collection. I probably have 10+ Taurus. Love them all. I had a Judge PD for a long time and I shot hundreds of rounds through it. During Covid I let a close relative borrow it. I felt better knowing she had something to use in case of pandemonium. Maybe I’m just lucky but Taurus has done me right.
I've had an Ultra Light Judge DAO with color case hardened trigger and bobbed hammer. It has a rail attached with a Crimson Trace pistol light attached. The only ammo used is 4 pellet Federal 000. It has about an 8 inch spread the length of my hallway. It is super fun to shoot but kicks like a mule with it being so light. But my wife can shoot it. It works in my situation. Out in the country with no neighbors. Of course if more is needed, an AR and a 500 20 gage is grabbed instead. I don't use a screwdriver to hammer nails (mostly lol). Right tool for the job. It's not my primary, just another tool in the toolbox. Use what you want but train on whatever you choose.
who carries that piece of s***?🤣🤣🤑
People who live in snake country
@@jaredbickmore2474 if there's a snake close enough to be a danger I don't need a 410 to hit it
You literally got the cheapest model. Get the upgraded versions and try again. Also the slug rounds on this is awesome
I own a judge I don't carry it for a defense gun.. but is a fun gun to shoot.. because of its versatility.. as I get older I come to realize that not every gun has to be a defense gun... but most of my guns are just fun to shoot...
Okay buddy.
If it's not tacti-cool then it's useless.
@@susanissajoke Lol..tacti-cool...I like that...
@@dmmjq2 I actually got that phrase from Hickok45, when he was making the same joke in a video
A friend bought one of these after I talked him into getting a revolver.. he quickly turned it in in favor of a gp100. He only has glocks for handguns now. I keep my collection slim by choice these days but always have at least one revolver, and of course it's the judge! JK.. It's a S&W 60-15, I Love the 38/357 combo and I can still get little shotshells if I want em.
Any idiot who says revolvers don't malfunction has never had a bullet jump crimp, as I've had with my S&W 329 PD with Winchester White Box (anemic) .44 mag factory loads. Took a screwdriver to get it working again.
Edit-I have a BFR .45/.410 with a 6" barrel and its buckshot patterns are BARELY passable. I killed a grey fox at 10 yards and had to shoot it twice.
Sounds like crap ammo
I wonder if the clearance issues are specific to the polymer judge. My metal frame one has never had a problem rotating the cylinder with different loads.
I know it's a stupid gun but it's pretty fun to run random stuff through into soda cans in the woods.
I have had the same jamming issues with mine
Everyone calls it a "410 pistol"... No, it's a 45 Colt revolver that is capable of shooting 410 Bore shotshells. 45 Colt as a cartridge has proven its worth for 150 years...
This is like a deep discussion of Coors Light or PBR.
Moral of the story when shooting pellets through a pistol with rifled barrel. Aim for the groin so some shots hit up in torso, then follow up with throwing the pistol at the head.
You can tell what Tim thinks of it as he just lays it in the water 😂
You have it backwards, it's a .45 long colt that Also chambers .410.
I love my governor. Use it for hiking a lot of coyotes, bears, bobcats, and wolves(thanks DEC) in the area. I have Hornady triple defense, buckshot, and high power loaded 45colt. I also have snake load as well.
Perhaps the gun that started the incorrect belief that every .410 shotgun is happy/safe to shoot .45 Colt through
My first carry gun was a Taurus 44 spl, and the thing just locked up, and had to turn it in for repair