Taurus Judge vs. Thunder 5

[19-3Ben]

Like them or not, the Taurus Judge has been around long enough now, and has sold enough units that I think it solidly qualifies as being a major commercial success. Years after their introduction, they are still selling well, Taurus has seen fit to expand the product line to 3" chambered models, a carbine model, polymer frame models, and versions with different barrel lengths. There are ammo companies that have started lines of ammo specifically for the .410 handgun market that the Judge pretty much created.

My question is, Taurus was not the first one to come up with a .410 revolver. The Thunder 5 predated the Judge by what, 10-15 years? Now i know next to nothing about the Thunder 5 except that they seemed to be a commercial flop. So why did the Judge succeed where the Thunder 5 failed?

Oh, and if we can avoid it, please let's keep this on topic to the question. Whether or not you think the Judge is gimmicky, or useful is not germane. I hope this doesn't turn into a Judge-bashing thread.

 

[MCgunner]

I think it's marketing by a major gun company. The Thunder Five existed in the background. Taurus marketed the Judge with the weight of advertising that a major gun company can put behind it.

Just my theory, really. Taurus also offers the gun in some pretty compact, if a .410 revolver can be called that, and somewhat light versions one can even concealed carry, the Poly Public Defender.

I'm not praising anything, don't own nor do I ever want a Judge, Governor, or Thunder Five. Closest thing I have to one is my .410/.45 Colt barrel for my Contender. I just think having a major company behind the product marketing it is a major advantage in this case. They convinced enough neophytes that they couldn't live without the thing, shotgun in a handgun, clear the room with one shot, and all that. I've seen these folks oogling them at Bass Pro heaping praise on the concept.

 

[goon]

It's gotta be marketing... because it sure isn't performance.

 

[chicharrones]

Marketing is one point. The other point is quantity.

I only saw Thunder 5s in magazines back in the day. Never in a gun shop. Taurus Judges are everywhere.

Plus, the Thunder 5 has a manual safety. Ugh.

 

[suzukibruce]

I had a Thunder five back in 1997, it was heavy, inaccurate and extremely unrefined. Wish i would have kept it though. I worked as an armed security guard and we were permitted to supply our own sidearm, i paid like $400 for it but sold it. The NRA museum has one on display in VA. There is also one in the movie "three kings". Neet gun, way ahead of it's time. The judge is much more refined, smoother and weighs less plus with the 3" mag version it has a much larger range of ammo available.

People talk trash about the judge, but use it for what it was intended for, close personal defense of life and home, and there is no better weapon. Unless you want to talk about the governor at twice the price for one more round (like if 5 rounds of 3" 000 buck at 1100fps wont solve your problem, one more will?) load it with either the hornady critical defense .410 or winchester 3" 000 super X and live safely.

 

[highlander 5]

Ages ago a shop in NH had a Thunder 5 and IIRC it was 45/70. Don't remember what the price was.

 

[MCgunner]

I don't particularly feel unarmed with a .357 magnum for close range defense, myself, but that's just me I guess. At 20 ounces, it's easier to tote and more compact.

 

[Girodin]

So why did the Judge succeed where the Thunder 5 failed?

I'm not familiar with the thunder 5 but I'd guess the difference is marketing.

Why did the XD become a big commercial success where the intrac imported HS2000 was not?

Timing might play part of it as well. I don't know when the thunder five was pushed but surely the judge benefited from being sold at a time when there were a lot of buyers of defensive pistols (irrespective of whether the judge is well suited for that or not.)

 

[Waveski]

The Thunder 5 was really , really ugly. That probably did not help.

 

[MCgunner]

The sights on the T5 sucked, too. I have handled one in a gun shop. It was an ungainly thing to say the least. At least Taurus offers a couple of models that are light and handy for CCW if they're your thing. The Poly PD or the UL are quite light, under 30 ounces I believe.

Everyone says it's the cat's meow as an outdoor gun. Well, with all that freebore, accuracy suffers a little. And, I don't need no stinkin' shot shell to shoot a snake. If you can't hit a snake with a .22 or a .38 round from typical snake shooting ranges, you don't need shot, you need practice.

 

[TomJones]

Never owned, seen or heard of T5

But I do own both a Taurus Public Defender 410/45 and a Taurus Raging Judge Magnum 454/45/410. I like them both. As far as the 410, it was a side note for me. I got the Raging Judge because I wanted something in one of the Large Pistol Calibers. Its fun to shoot and interesting when you take it to the range and fire 454. It gets everyone's attention. The PD i bought for Concealed Carry. It ended up being a safe queen at the moment. I was lucky and someone gave me an XDS in 45ACP and that is my carry piece.

As far as marketing. Many companies, not necessarily gun makers, have had fantastic products. They died in obscurity due to their lack of a good marketing strategy. I am not sure about Taurus marketing but it seems to be working. I like and own several of their guns. They fit the market place for someone like me. I need a better price point for my toys than Smith & Wesson is willing to provide. JMTCW