Taurus Judge question

[Crusader103]

My father is looking at purchasing a Taurus Judge revolver. He lives several states away from me so I can't personally help him out with the selection. A couple of questions came up, one of which raised an eyebrow.

The local dealer suggested that upon purchase my father have the barrel "reamed out" to remove/lessen the effect of the rifling, particularly in the first half inch or so of the barrel. Apparently, this would allow the .410 shot shell to open all the way up and reduce any negative effect from the shot spinning in the barrel, inhibiting the pattern.

Anyone have any information to confirm, deny, or elaborate on this?

Secondly, he is trying to decide on the 2 1/2", 3", and various finishes, etc. He lives in Nebraska, would be carrying the firearm around the property, and it's use would be primarily to dispatch snakes (mostly the kind that crawl on the ground but the two legged kind if needed). That is why he is not really concerned about the rifling issue for the .45 LC, since he will mainly be utilizing the .410.

So any suggestions on barrel length, finish, etc would be most helpful as well.

 

[NOLAEMT]

the "reaming" sounds at best a waste of money, and at worst a felony. if they remove all or enough of the rifling they will be creating a AOW. which requires a $200 tax stamp and prior approval from the ATF.

If he's not going to conceal it, (even with the short barrel, i don't know how he would?) go with the longer barrel. I would go with stainless because it is easy maintenance

If he just wants to have something to kill snakes, has he thought of getting a 357 magnum revolver instead? they make shotshells that are very effective against snakes in 38 and 357, and then he would also have the option of very effective 38 special or 357 magnum self defense rounds. In my opinion the judge is kind of a gimmick, and you would be better off with a normal revolver.

just a thought?

 

[Crusader103]

the "reaming" sounds at best a waste of money, and at worst a felony. if they remove all or enough of the rifling they will be creating a AOW.

I immediately thought of that as well and asked him what he was told. It was relayed to him that it would not remove so much of the rifiling as to constitute the violation but yes, that was a concern of mine as well. I had not heard of this modification before and considering how busy I have been with students lately and the popularity of the Judge, I was a bit surprised. He was told (again by the dealer who likely has an interest in the money for the modification) that it is very common.

He does currently have a S&W 637 .38 revolver that he carries but has recently shown interest in this particular revolver. That will ultimately be his decision. I too have leaned toward the belief in the revolver as a gimmick, but my mind is open.

If he's not going to conceal it...

No, he's got enough land to shoot on to make any of us jealous so open carry is the plan.

 

[W.E.G.]

The local dealer suggested that upon purchase my father have the barrel "reamed out" to remove/lessen the effect of the rifling, particularly in the first half inch or so of the barrel. Apparently, this would allow the .410 shot shell to open all the way up and reduce any negative effect from the shot spinning in the barrel, inhibiting the pattern.

That has to be one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard.

I can only hope the dealer did not actually say that.

If your dad wants to hunt snakes, a REAL .410 shotgun weighs very little and will be vastly more effective.

The "Judge" is an answer in search of a question.
I will give it credit though for being an extremely popular gimmick.

At its best, the Judge is an overly-large snubnose revolver.

 

[NOLAEMT]

ask him if he knows about shotshells for his 38special? many people don't know they are made. if not buy him a box of these

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=757831

My father was also looking at a judge at one point, he even went to the gun shop to buy one and the dealer refused to order one. said that he had so many returns for Taurus in general and for the judge that he wouldn't order them anymore.

He was looking to keep it in his Polaris ranger for pests around his land. but instead he keeps a 22lr revolver with a mix of shotshells and cci stingers. it seems to work for him.

 

[Crusader103]

If your dad wants to hunt snakes, a REAL .410 shotgun weighs very little and will be vastly more effective.

I would agree. He is not short on guns, and shotguns in particular though. This all came about because my folks walk their property regularly, tend to the garden, etc. Rattlesnakes are not uncommon on the property so an effective firearm that my dad, or mom, could carry while doing chores is the idea. It's just not reasonable (for them) to carry a long gun around all the time.

I can only hope the dealer did not actually say that.

Oh, I'm sure he did and apparently has recommended this to others with success.

 

[Brian Williams]

Reaming the barrel smooth is looking for an FFL to lose his license and spend some time in Jail.

 

[oldgoat46]

I owned two of the Judge pistols one 4" and a 6" barrel. I found them to be inaccurate with the 45LC and the pattern they threw with the 410 not good for anything beyond 10 ft. Combine that with the fact they were both extremely poorly made, loose and problematic and I cannot reccomend them to anyone. I will admit I sold them both within the first hour on GB.

 

[IlikeSA]

Why not get a 4 or 6 inch barreled DA revolver in 38/357, that way it can be a fun range gun, shoot the shotshells, and take care of any other varmit that came his way on the plains?

I had no clue that reaming a barrel would make it illegal. I guess you learn something new everyday. What would happen if you shot it enough to wear the rifling off (a lot of shots, I know). Or how about the legality of the LeMat revolver with it's shotgun in the center?

 

[peptoe]

What kind of snakes in Nebraska require being shot? Just Curious.

 

[ljnowell]

What kind of snakes in Nebraska require being shot? Just Curious.

The kind that kill you when they bite you. Lets not turn this thread into the anti-snake violence thread like most become.

 

[Wadero]

I found my father a 6" Judge with a 2.5" chamber. If he had to do it over again I think he would try to find a 3" chamber to make it easier on finding .410 shells. I kind of talked him into the 6" because there is no reason to conceal it so I saw no advantage of a shorter barrel. He also went with a stainless finish.

It is a novelty gun but can be a lot of fun. Now that Taurus has a long gun modeled after it, my father wants that too.

For the purpose of carrying it for snakes while doing some outside chores, it should work just fine.

 

[Invent4fun]

I bought a 3" Mag Judge a month ago and it was very poorly made. I had it one day and it could not fire all 5 rounds without jamming up. I returned it to Taurus and there it sits. 3 weeks now. I called them the other day and they said they haven't even repaired all the March returns yet and it would be at least 3 more weeks before they even look at my gun. I told them that kind of poor turn around was unsat for a brand new gun. They were very rude and said "Well thats the way it is" I will NEVER buy a Taurus again!!!!!!!!!!

 

[touro1979]

I am glad I am not the only one who doesnt understand the Judge. If you want to kill snakes, u can use a .357/38spcl with shot. If you want a self defense gun, than again what is wrong with .357 magnum? I would trust that more than .410 buckshot. I have friends and realtives that talk like this gun is the most revolutionary thing to come out since sliced bread, i dont get it.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Either the barrel is smooth and the dealer is an idiot suggesting your father commit a federal offense or, it isn't reamed out smooth and the shot column will spin. Removing part of the rifling with partial polishing means the gun will suck at launching .45 Colt rounds.

I like The Judge as a curiosity that shoots .45 Colt which is a round that I enjoy so I am thinking of getting The Judge as an oddity. I am told by several folks who have fired The Judge, even with the reduced velocity shotshells that some folks recommend, that The Judge is NOT comfortable to shoot with .410's.

.38/.357, .45 ACP, or .45 Colt, shotshells are very adequate snake rounds, and the handguns that fire them are easier to resell should your father decide he wants to own something else.

My grandfather before he passed away couldn't fire his old .38, or any .38 as the recoil bothered his hands, so I got him a serviceable S&W Handejector in .32. Not a very good SD round for the home, but I thought it better than a .22, and grandpa could still shoot very well, but recoil was a problem. IF he had owned a Judge, and had to downgrade, we might have had trouble selling it, no?

The cost of a good used handgun that you can shoot shotshells from is probably a couple a hundred less than a new Judge too.

LD

 

[Guillermo]

I do not know what purpose the Judge serves

It is not good at anything

It is a lousy shotgun and a poor 45.

Add me to the "convince him to carry a 4 inch 38/357" crowd

snake shot works well, or just aim low if you are close