Taurus Judge.45/.410 REVOLVER!!!

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Question for those of you in snake country...What do you keep loaded in your first cylinder? Is it the birdshot, or something solid? I mean, is the normal assumption that in snake country there are no cougars or bears?
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Mostly have shot snakes with a .22 HV hollowpoint and I don't recall ever missing one from 10 feet. We have a LOT of snakes down here, but I don't worry that much about it. I guess, if I did and couldn't hit a snakes head from 10 feet with an accurate .22, I have a .410 contender.

I DID shoot one once with a 12 gauge out duck hunting. It's warm down here early duck season and my buddy almost stepped right in the middle of a cottonmouth. I pulled him back by the neck as he was stepping, pushed him aside, and shot the snake's head off. I remember shotgunning one on the back acre when I was a kid, too. Other than that, a .22LR has done the job.
 
So we have a fuzzy idea of what we are talking about,
the Taurus Judge above, and the old Thunder Five
(anyone remeber the movie Three Kings?)
attachment.php

I guess Taurus thought they could make a nicer looking
embodiment of the basic idea of a shot pistol snake gun.
 

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I think a .410 is pretty good snake medicine. I am deathly terrified of snakes though, so I think a 155mm shell is good snake medicine too.

The Judge seems to be marketed more as a self defense weapon. There is a video of Dick Metcalf demonstrating the handiness of the judge as a car gun on that Taurus website. Needless to say, 5 .410 shells shot in rapid succession at a carjacker looks like a pretty effective system. I happen to like Taurus guns, but I am going to pass on this one, as there are literally about 15 guns that I would like to purchase before the Judge would even be a blip on my radar.
 
I am deathly terrified of snakes though,
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You don't need to go down to my place then. They'd have to haul you off in a straight jacket...ROFLMAO! I've seen five snakes walking about 300 yards out there before. Place is a snake heaven in the spring. I don't worry about 'em much when the cold air comes, but I wear my snake gaitors anyway.

When I come across a large rattler, I'll shoot it and skin it. Good eating deep fried.
 
Wasn't the Thunder 5 around before "The Judge"?

Yeah, it was featured in the movie "Three Kings" 1999,
a fictional movie about the First Gulf War 1991.
I saw Thunder 5s at Top Notch Guns in the early
1990s. The factory that makes them is out in Piney Flats
Tennessee.

As I said I guess Taurus thought they could make a nicer looking
embodiment of the basic idea of a shot pistol snake gun
The Thunder 5 is visually impairing (hard on the eyes).
 
For what it is worth, the Taurus .45LC/.410 was
previously marketed as The Tracker before it
was called the Judge. Theoretically the Tracker
became popular with Brazilian judges. Sounds
like marketing material to me.
 
For what it is worth, the Taurus .45LC/.410 was
previously marketed as The Tracker
Click to expand...

I think some clarification is in order here... From what I can tell, there is still a .45LC/410 Tracker in addition to the Judge. The difference would appear to be that the Tracker has a longer barrel and is offered in blued steel....
 
clarification is needed, but is backordered apparently

taurususa.com lists Taurus Tracker as a whole family
of revolvers in .17 HMR, .22 lr, .357 Mag, .41 Mag, .44 Mag, ,45LC/.410
in barrel lengths from 2.5 to 6.5 inches. The "small" calibers are 7 shot.
the "large" .41+ are five shot.

The Taurus Tracker "Model 45 Ten" .45/.410 is listed with 2.5" barrel
in blue and stainless, and with six and half inch barrel in blue and
stainless. My local dealer showed me some boxes that list a
long model number that includes codes for 45 and 410
and the barrel length, blue or stainless, grip style and sights
(the model number is longer than the serial number). "Tracker"
is not on the box though.

Now a product search on taurususa.com for "Judge" gives
not found. Apparently the short barrel "Model 45 Ten" is
being called the Judge in advertising only.

Also apparent but not fer shur is that Tracker refers to the
frame size (but different lengths of frame).
 
Model 45 Ten Info From The Taurus Website

There are 5 Model 45 Tens shown on the Taurus website: http://www.taurususa.com/whatsnew/revolvers.cfm

1) Model 4510TKR-3B. 3" barrel, 2.5" cylinder, Blue.

2) Model 4510TKR-3SS. 3" barrel, 2.5" cylinder, Stainless.

3) Model 4510TrackerB. 6.5" barrel, 2.5" cylinder, Blue.

4) Model 4510TrackerSS. 6.5" barrel, 2.5" ccylinder, Stainless.

5) Model 4510TKR, a stainless "Magnum" version with 3" cylinder shown at the top of the page.

The text doesn't state the Magnum's barrel length, but the photo makes it look like the barrel is shorter than the non-magnum 45 Tens ... maybe a 2" or 2.5" barrel ? ? ?
 
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Now they bring out a 3" version;
why couldn't they have their second thoughts first?
It does appear the barrel is shortened enough to
keep the overall length of the gun same as the non-magnum.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, I load .38 shotshells for my
.38 Rossi and .357 Ruger, and .45 shotshells for my Webley
and am trying to resist the temptation of the 45 Ten.
 
5) Model 4510TKR, a stainless "Magnum" version with 3" cylinder shown at the top of the page.

The text doesn't state the Magnum's barrel length, but the photo makes it look like the barrel is shorter than the non-magnum 45 Tens ... maybe a 2" or 2.5" barrel ? ? ?
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Is this one officially out? Has anyone handled one? I've held off on these because I wanted a 3" chamber and a shorter barrel - like the Thunder 5.
 
I looked at a 3" model last weekend that had "Judge" or "The Judge" (can't remember that little detail.) inscribed on the barrel. It was a stainless version. I handled both the 6.5" and the 3". The store apparently is selling quite a few of them. If the number of 2.5" 410 hulls are an indication at one shooting range, seems like they are selling and being shot.
 
If you search gunbroker you find some 5" barrel versions as well.

I own a 3" barrel 2.5" cylinder version in SS. It is a fun gun that could be billed as a survival/self defense gun since it can take small game easily, dispatch snakes, not penetrate when used in home self defense, and not carry dangerous effect far past an assailant outdoors or in a carjacking situation.

There is an article by Jeff Quinn on it at his gun review website: http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus-Judge.htm

It is also featured in August issue of American Rifleman with the following info (velocity at 12'):
832 fps Winchester AA Sporting Clays (No.8)
760 fps Winchester Super-X (No.7.5)
792 fps Remington (No.6)
779 fps Winchester Super-X (No.4)
777 fps Winchester Buckshot (000, three pellets)
1125 fps Federal 1/4oz Rifled Slug
778 fps Remington 225gr LSWC .45 Colt
775 fps Pro Load 250gr RNFP .45 Colt

The 000 buckshot load spread to 5" pattern at 5ft.
 
We have the 6.5" Blue version in our shop. They are marked "The Judge" $425 out the door.
 
Taurus does, or did make a nice 45 Colt snubby, the 450, I have one and it is a really nice wheelgun, 5 shots of reasonably hot 45 Colt stuff. I bought only one other Taurus, the 9 shot 17Mach snubby, kind of like it, 9 shots of really big bang and flash, with a marginal bullet. Although I can pretty much promise that anyone shot with 6-9 of those little speedsters is going to stop whatever he was doing, or at least be very distracted.
 
I just looked - the Taurus site has, listed under .45/.410 revolvers, just the usual four - short & long in both blued & SS - no 3" chamber, yet. I shot a short barrel blued one at the range a few weeks back - and let the "Judge" owner shoot my older 625MG in .45 Colt. My 255gr LSWC loads enabled my 625MG, with Dymondwood combat grips, to ping a 12" plate at 100yd from a standing freehand hold - two times out of six, anyway. The "Judge" owner couldn't hit the bp steel plates at 12yd with either my 625MG or his "Judge" with some Magtech cowboy loads. I couldn't hit it with is either - the four rounds I shot circled the plate with ~a 1-1.5 ft circle! The one .410 #6 shot round made a swirl pattern - with ~4-6" between holes... a squad of copperheads could have escaped unscathed. The recoil wasn't bad - the 'weird' feel of the 'ribber' grip helped. Still, I felt my 625MG's are a quantum step up, albeit at a bit of a monetary cost (The blued "Judge" is $379 & the SS is $419 - maybe $10 more now - locally.), as 625MGs run from $350-$550 used. Still, I would feel better armed with my 255gr LSWC and Speer #4484 250 gr Gold Dots - both at 825-840 fps from that 4" 625MG barrel. If I need shot, I can load a few .45 Colt capsules with some... There, done... no "Judge" for me!

Saturday before last, dejected because my bounty from Father's Day and my birthday was minimal, I went to the pusher's - to buy said short barrel SS "Judge" - got there in time to see a guy buy it! Sour grapes... just something intrigues me about that 'thing'! I wonder if they got another one yet...

Oh, the US made 'Thunder Five' is reportedly somewhat crude. The other US made .45/.410 is the Magnum Research 7.5" barrel, I think, big frame (Same as the .45-70!) BFR - $1k list - and over 4 lb!

Stainz
 
Did you actually think you'd hit anything with the .45 Colt loads at 100 yards the way that barrel is setup in the Taurus?:uhoh:

The ".45 Colt" part of the gun is just there to satisfy the ATF. It's a short shotgun and that's the appeal, not some magical do all gun. It's a gimmick, not a serious self defense gun. It's pretty much useless. Yet, I'm getting one, because it's a pretty cool fun plinker.
 
I think everyone is missing the concept here I own one yes it has limitaions but i have a 4 inch this barrel length is not even listed with shot mine throw a good pattern at 15 yards with winchester 6's well enough for small game it shoots slugs magnificently i can hit a milk jug all day at 40 yards with them and with 45 lc it will shoot 3 inch groups from a rest at 50 yards. Try a load os 3 pellet buckshot and you will be really amazed. Yes you can get shot for a 45 colt but can you get #6 in the 45 shotshell no unless u load them yourself. My buddy has the 6 inch and it does not shoot nearly as good as mine. for a gun that is for special purposes i think it is very good. I always carry mine when i back pack with a 25 round belt of a mix of shells and shotshells. I may have just gotten a good one but i would let any one shoot mine that is a none believer in them deffently dont count them out. as a self defense weapon you cant beat it mine is loaded by my bed with the first load being shot round 2 and 3 bering 3 pellet buckshot and the last 2 45 colt corbon hollow points
 
Halvey,

Reread my post. I can hit said plate at 100yd - with my 625MG. I couldn't hit the 12yd plates with the Taurus.

Stainz
 
Jack2427 commented:
Taurus does, or did make a nice 45 Colt snubby, the 450, I have one and it is a really nice wheelgun, 5 shots of reasonably hot 45 Colt stuff.
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Yes, I have one also in Total Titanium. The below photo shows it with some of my handloaded 200 grain wadcutters over 10.0 grains of Unique. (They look kinda cool, but they're nothing particularly special.) I also have a small supply of the factory-loaded CCI shot loads that I keep around "just in case".

My point is that I'm not certain the The Judge offers me a whole lot more than my 450 (below) to make it practical.

Colt45-Pics010.jpg
 
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