MedWheeler
Member
The Judge makes a pretty formidable weapon... against humans. But I agree that it's far from among the best .45 caliber choice as a "woods gun" in the environment being considered. I, too, would prefer a "regular" revolver.
.45 LC question
- Thread starter mcmurry
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Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
It is to bad that Taurus cut the 450 in 45LC. It was a great K frame sized gun with 5 shots of 45 LC or ACP.
Vern Humphrey
Member
The .45 Colt is a formidable weapon. I don't see what we gain by adding the .410 shotshell to the mix.
ssyoumans
Member
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- 709
45 Colt out of a Ruger Blackhawk / Redhawk / Super Redhawk can be loaded to 44 Mag levels, not that you need that much.
Great all around load is 9.5-10gr of Unique and a 250gr hard cast bullet.
I have (2) 44 Mags and (2) 45 Colts, either will get the job done. A 6" in either one and you'll be set. I concur with others, I'd avoid the Judge. Too many better options out there.
Great all around load is 9.5-10gr of Unique and a 250gr hard cast bullet.
I have (2) 44 Mags and (2) 45 Colts, either will get the job done. A 6" in either one and you'll be set. I concur with others, I'd avoid the Judge. Too many better options out there.
RealGun
Member
The Judge and the Smith version have been dissed so many times, you'd think it would be a sticky by now.
Crowman
Member
I never bought into that Judge / Governor scene. Too gimmicky for my taste. Combines the worst attributes of guns with an identity crisis. But that's just me...
You would be better off with a dedicated .45 Colt revolver like the S&W model 625 Mountain Gun, if you are lucky enough to find one. They've been out of production for sometime, but occasionally show up. I've had mine 18 years. They handle Well, and are reasonably light weight. The Smiths tend to have better triggers and smoother actions than my Super RedHawks. I've got two Rugers in .454 Casull, one full size with a scope for hunting, and the other is an Alaskan that I dubbed "The Brute". Now Rugers are built brick outhouse tough, will handle super heavy loads, and are also rather heavy to carry (but will still be around when the only living things left are cockroaches). My Mountain Gun is faster on the draw and does shoot rings around both of my Super Redhawks.
You do not need to load the venerable .45 Colt cartridge to Elmer Keith's gun bustin' standards to kill game. More a factor of proper Bullet construction and shot placement. Remember that the original black powder cartridge was designed around an Army requirement to drop a horse and some of those balloon-head cases loaded with black powder pushed 250 grain lead bullets at around +/-1000 fps. Because of different pressure spikes with modern smokeless propellants vs. black powder, modern loads are downgraded to keep from damaging guns.
Hard cast 255 grain SWC's rock in the 45 Colt cartridge and are super accurate. I also shoot 200 grain RNFP bullets loaded in .45 Schofield cases in my Mountain Gun as a reduced target cartridge. Smaller case dimensions, better light powder charge distribution, etc. CCI/Speer shot shells are not hard to find around here...our hardware store has them. I've also sourced them on line, and they will effectively take out snakes or vermin.
You would be better off with a dedicated .45 Colt revolver like the S&W model 625 Mountain Gun, if you are lucky enough to find one. They've been out of production for sometime, but occasionally show up. I've had mine 18 years. They handle Well, and are reasonably light weight. The Smiths tend to have better triggers and smoother actions than my Super RedHawks. I've got two Rugers in .454 Casull, one full size with a scope for hunting, and the other is an Alaskan that I dubbed "The Brute". Now Rugers are built brick outhouse tough, will handle super heavy loads, and are also rather heavy to carry (but will still be around when the only living things left are cockroaches). My Mountain Gun is faster on the draw and does shoot rings around both of my Super Redhawks.
You do not need to load the venerable .45 Colt cartridge to Elmer Keith's gun bustin' standards to kill game. More a factor of proper Bullet construction and shot placement. Remember that the original black powder cartridge was designed around an Army requirement to drop a horse and some of those balloon-head cases loaded with black powder pushed 250 grain lead bullets at around +/-1000 fps. Because of different pressure spikes with modern smokeless propellants vs. black powder, modern loads are downgraded to keep from damaging guns.
Hard cast 255 grain SWC's rock in the 45 Colt cartridge and are super accurate. I also shoot 200 grain RNFP bullets loaded in .45 Schofield cases in my Mountain Gun as a reduced target cartridge. Smaller case dimensions, better light powder charge distribution, etc. CCI/Speer shot shells are not hard to find around here...our hardware store has them. I've also sourced them on line, and they will effectively take out snakes or vermin.
vba
Member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2008
- Messages
- 345
Agree with others. Skip the Judge/Governor and go with a nice SA or DA revolver of your choice. Mine are the Ruger New Vaquero 5.5" and Ruger Redhawk 4.2".
The .45 Colt does not need to be loaded up to magnum levels to take large game. I like something along the lines of 1000 fps with a hard cast 255 large megplat bullet.
The .45 Colt does not need to be loaded up to magnum levels to take large game. I like something along the lines of 1000 fps with a hard cast 255 large megplat bullet.
MaxP, fair enough. Guess I was thinking more like hog or black bear and not that great big Water Buffalo you have in your avatar
Even big hogs (particularly mature boars with a significant gristle plate) and bigger black bears can benefit from the more powerful +P loadings. They certainly leave a bigger impression on game -- not that the lower velocity/lighter bullet loads don't work.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Hondo 60
Member
IMHO the Judge & Governor are fun platforms, not especially effective in SD/HD situations.
A 410 shotgun would be more effective, as would a dedicated 45 Colt or a 45 acp in the case of the S&W Governor.
Maybe one of these days I'll get a Judge or Governor, but again, it'd be for fun, not for protection.
I'd like to see the difference of the 2 or 3 calibers on a target.
A 410 shotgun would be more effective, as would a dedicated 45 Colt or a 45 acp in the case of the S&W Governor.
Maybe one of these days I'll get a Judge or Governor, but again, it'd be for fun, not for protection.
I'd like to see the difference of the 2 or 3 calibers on a target.
doubleh
Member
I would just go with a Blackhawk if bears and big hogs are involved or maybe one of the Colt clones if not. I've only handled a couple of judges to prove a point to myself, that they are large, heavy, and ungainly.
I'm not one to kill snakes. They serve a useful place in nature and I've found that if you leave them alone they are very content to leave you alone. I'm not being judgemental, just stating something I've learned over the years. If killing snakes is what you feel you need to do have at it.
I'm not one to kill snakes. They serve a useful place in nature and I've found that if you leave them alone they are very content to leave you alone. I'm not being judgemental, just stating something I've learned over the years. If killing snakes is what you feel you need to do have at it.
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Sorry, I didn't intend to stir trouble, I only saw the conversation going back and forth, and wanted to point out you were BOTH right. Didn't mean to offend, and will remove the post, sorry again!Why in the world would you want to stir up trouble where there is none. We already worked this out like gentlemen, what you are doing us very Troll-like. There is no reason for this and its not very high-road.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
If no harm was intended then no offense is taken. I also deleted my post since I quoted you. Thank you Sir...
These work great for snakes up close, and if the snakes are farther away than the capsules are effective, they are not a danger. The .45 Colt will kill anything you are likely to encounter in Arkansas. I have used a .44 Spl many times for the same purpose, and caliber wise the .45 Colt is even better. Part of it depends on how big a revolver you want to carry. Since it would be carried a great deal more than shot, my 3" 21 ounce CA Bulldog in .44 Spl was the choice. I shoot it well, not sure about a Judge.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
How about some .410 000 buckshot.
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/410-gauge-buckshot
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/410-gauge-buckshot
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