Taurus Judge any good for self defense against Grizzly Bears?

[Prosser]

http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=712&category=Revolver&breadcrumbseries=&search=Judge

a 26 0z 45 Colt? I guess with LFN bullets, at maybe 260 grains, and 1100 fps
would perhaps with really lucky shot placement do in a bruin.

I did get to watch my gunsmith pull three of these apart for a retailer:

http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=Revolver&toggle=tr&breadcrumbseries=41

Two worked, and he did a quick trigger job, checking specs. The third was so far out of spec the cylinder didn't rotate(all three were new in box, being checked for retail, because the retailer didn't want to sell something that hurt his reputation).
Took him over an hour to get the stupid gun to work.

My overall impression was the quality of the components and gun design merited a price of about 150 dollars retail.

That said, I think the gun has great potential against grizzly. First soak the gun over night in salmon oil, or anything else grizzly are known to love to eat. At the first site of a bear that's hungry, throw the gun as far as you can(and, at 29 oz, that should be pretty far, compared to a REAL gun) and, that should distract the bear long enough for you to escape. Also, considering how soft and junky the material is in this gun, I don't even think he'd chip a tooth consuming it, though it might give his stomach a slight bit of indigestion, and he might come looking for you after it passed.

Seriously: Get a REAL gun.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

In a word: No.

 

[ForumSurfer]

The Judge as a bear defense gun?
It will work just fine.

All you need to do is shoot your father-in-law in the leg with it.
Then you can easily out-run him!

I think that one about sums it up.

 

[CMC]

Grizzly bear can be killed with a 45 ACP
Read on http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_...ali-National-Park?instance=home_most_popular5


The incident was first reported Saturday in Daily News-Miner columnist Kris Capps' blog. Fister confirmed Sunday that two backpackers came across signs of the bear while hiking along the edge of Tattler Creek. The lead hiker then drew a .45-caliber pistol and, when the bear emerged and charged the second hiker, a woman, fired roughly nine shots in its direction.



Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Grizzly bear shot killed in Denali National Park

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

Well, they escaped a Bear Mauling, now comes violation by piss ant bureaucrats.

Hardball works, hope his lawyer does. Legal to carry/illegal to discharge, someone should be slapped soundly. It takes 3 or 4 generations to breed that kind of stupid.

And cause I'm that kind of guy, Told ya so! post 14

 

[Prosser]

I kind of wonder about that.

News reports are always wrong. That said, why, after nearly 90 years did these folks have to shoot the bear? Probably because prior, alternative methods of bear protection were used, like pepper spray, and being smart.

 

[Cosmoline]

That part of Denali isn't wild at all. It's more akin to one of those open zoos you drive around in. The bears are badly habituated and will get a lot closer to people than they do elsewhere. NPS policy is to blame for this.

 

[vellocet]

Bear-annoyance

This guy did some penetration tests with a Judge using the longest barrel and cylinder available and they were not very impressive with slug or shot.

 

[dagger dog]

I think the Judge and bear spray is a perfect combo, spray yourself , that way you can't see what's about to happen

Then use the Judge for the coup de gras.

Bear and handgun threads you gotta love 'em!

 

[Mr. T]

Wow - I couldn't believe the response on this one! I personally told them both that they needed heavier weapons to effectively deter and or defend themselves from Grizzly Bears. I recommended shotguns for anything larger than a .44 Mag. I hope that they can both get new guns before they go and get to the range to practice with them. I appreciate all the comments even the "wise-acre" ones. I will not be making the trip with them other wise I would be carrying a shotgun with slugs. My brother-in-law has been out west hiking many times and is pretty knowledgable regarding bear avoidance techniques. They will also be carrying bear spray and hornet spray; I don't really trust either of the spray options, but I do feel pretty confident in my B-I-L's ability to avoid the bears. Again thank you for all of the input.

 

[IMTHDUKE]

Taurus Judge any good for self defense against Grizzly Bears?

You're kidding, right? Please tell me you're kidding.

 

[Meeteetse]

Let me put it this way. I grew up in Griz country, hunting, fishing and generally enjoying the great outdoors and I would not feel comfortable with the Judge even with heavy .45 Colt loads. I don't think the gun can handle them, but if that is what you have, go for it. I would practice with some heavy .45 Colt loads to make sure the gun functions well with them, and you know how and where they shoot.

I have carried a Blackhawk .45 in bear country with 300 gr. loads and a SBH .44 mag, both with solids, but I also carry Bear spray. Bear spray works on a lot of critters, both 2 and 4 legged, and anyone in the family can use it. Might not be true with the gun.

 

[Nushif]

I'll chime in here with the chorus saying that handguns are generally weak against bears. 8)
I wouldn't feel unsafe with a nice and hot .45 Colt .... But I'd rather have ... 30 .50 belts when dealing with a bear. 8)

 

[Apple a Day]

Well, if you ever wondered what thread starter questioon would get you the most smug, sarky, a-hole responses I think you have your answer.
Seriously, people. Hi Road?

 

[sixgunner455]

Well, those Taurus Judge revolvers are pretty popular, it seems, so it was inevitable that someone would ask about using one for grizzly protection.

I have, at last count, 3 friends and 2 more acquaintances who own at least one each, including people who should know better. One was asking me for advice on getting a new gun, and then announced at a later date that he'd bought one of these abominations.

It was hard to be polite, honestly. Hard not to say, "oh, you just bought the most overhyped revolver ever, dude. Congrats!" But I was polite. I am, after all, a High Roader.

I have no real problem with people buying them, actually, because they are getting out there and spending money in our economy, for one, and they are exercising their 2nd amendment rights, when they otherwise might not do so.

Says something about how popular they are when it is almost impossible to find .45 Colt to shoot in our single actions.

OP, I am glad that you recommended something more suitable to the problem to your relatives. Bear spray, avoidance, and a .44 magnum would be my choices.

 

[RETG]

basically your allowed to carry but not allowed to shoot if that makes any sense

Actually, that is like almost any city, town, etc., I have ever heard of. You can carry but you cannot shoot, unless it is in self-defense or at a range.
What the national park is doing is stressing the point that they are not the BLM which permits shooting on the Federal lands they manage. If they didn’t note that, then I can see people setting up targets in Arches, Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands National parks or other NPs and having shooting practice. This happens on BLM land and it is ok there.
So, yes it makes great sense.

Back to the original question, you can carry into Yellowstone so long as your permit is recognized by the state you are in, and as someone else mentioned, there are three states involved; WY, ID and MT. And, even if I consider my .44 mag, loaded with 320 gr HC Cor-Bons ok for black bears, I would not even consider it for a grizzly. For that reason, I have a .454 Rugar Alaskan. And even then, I would try the spray first to get time to exit the area as fast as possible, and the gun as a final defense.

A good bear spray does work. I know some of the Rangers up there in Yellowstone and in Glacier and they have had to use it, and it does work.

 

[Hunt480]

I have come to the defense of the Judge on several ocassions on THR but it should go without sayin that Grizz country has no place for the Judge. I would'nt take a 45 myself but as far as 45 it is obviously Ruger only loads and that would be a 454. If you gonna be in Grizz country with a handgun take the obvious choice a 500 S&W and hope you see it coming and don't miss the head shot. If Grizz wants you he's got a 50/50 shot at gettin you even with a 500 IMO...

 

[PowerG]

Go to the nearest zoo that has a large grizzly, and get up as close as they'll let you, and you'll know the answer to the question.

 

[Prosser]

Watching this video asks me WHY anyone would even think about carrying anything smaller then .475 Linebaugh, and for that matter, .458 Lott:

Timothy Tredwell's undeniable contribution to wild life filming:
Small add at the start

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44supsrT9qU&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pd7yTRnYzg&feature=related

There was a brown bear black bear encounter in Alaska a few folks near the beach saw. The brown bear took the black bears' head off with one paw swipe...

Just for perspective:

 

[daorhgih]

rcmodel, @ 16:

"heavy-duty 'Ruger-Only' .45 Colts will be much more powerful than any common .410 shot shell or slug. "Not sure if the Taurus can really handle them." It most certainly cannot! Don't even think about trying it." Are you saying that the Judge/Defender et al .410 bore/.45Colts are not safe to fire THAT particular round from, or all +p+ type loads will also break the cylinder? Can the .410/.45C cylinder accept the .454 Casull cartridge? Last: can a reloader work up a hotter .45C, say like a "+P.45C" for the Judge since the parent case for the .45C was the .454?? Thanks. EBG

 

[SAA]

From the article: "Grizzly bear shot killed in Denali National Park the first such incident within the park's original borders in decades and also the first since a February change in federal laws allowed licensed visitors to carry loaded guns in national parks...."

That said, why, after nearly 90 years did these folks have to shoot the bear? Probably because prior, alternative methods of bear protection were used, like pepper spray, and being smart.

Weeeellll, maybe. It might also be they shot because they could. Perhaps in the decades past the bears just had their way with the defenseless humans. Surprise, surprise, Smokey and Yogi! The report may be accurate, but in a deceptive way.

 

[suemarkp]

The 454 will not chamber in the Judge, nor will the 460 S&W. I would be very hesitant to shoot Ruger only loads in a judge. The factory says not +P rated. Will it blow up with a Ruger load, probably not. But it is going to batter the thing. The only advantantage this gun has for loading hot is the long cylinder. You can load to a very longer overall length which will reduce pressure, especially with a long heavy bullet.

I'd like to see the Judge chambered in 444 Marlin. Will give 44 Mag performance, has enough capacity to do what a 410 shell does, and you can still use the blue shot capsules (perhaps even two end to end) to help the pattern.

 

[twomack2010]

Interesting about the bear in Denali. Someone killed a black bear near the old home place in Georgia by crashing a car into it. Something tells me as the liberals continue to move into Georgia they'll soon want 'Grizzlies' imported so I'll soon have to thickin' the trucks bumper. Lol.

I truly would not mind the grizzlies. They most likely will eat a few defenseless liberals.

 

[daorhgih]

How long will it take ...

... for some manufacturer to make a "Ruger only / +p+" cylinder for the Judge? There are already at least 2 ammo-makers stoking 3" mag .410-bores for this so-called "POS". Vaguely reminiscent of the prior "Glock Flame Wars."

 

[Zoogster]

A guy was killed in Yellowstone by a grizzly yesterday.



twomack2010 said:

Something tells me as the liberals continue to move into Georgia they'll soon want 'Grizzlies' imported so I'll soon have to thickin' the trucks bumper. Lol.

I truly would not mind the grizzlies. They most likely will eat a few defenseless liberals.

In California we need the Grizzly back! It is the primary thing on our state flag after all.
(Or is that a Russian brown bear along with a Communist red star?)
They need to reintroduce the wolf, and grizzly to their former range throughout most of the state.

Nothing leads to support of gun ownership like predators walking around that can eat you!
California would have much better gun laws, and freedom in general if such predators reminded people they need to provide for their own defense and lose the nanny state mentality.