[7mmbrowningman]

Well, all of a sudden I have this urge to buy a pistol! lol I am intersted in the Taurus Judge (or maybe the Public Defender). Who all out there has one? Do you like it? And about how much do they run? I just tried to go on the Taurus site - but it must be down currently as all I seem to get is a blank screen that says "done" down in my status bar:banghead

Oh yeah, and what are the major differences in the Judge and the Public Defender...this would be why I was trying to get on the Taurus site - but it seems like I remember some fellow PFF'ers talking about these...so I turn to you guys to absorb your wealth of knowledge!!! :letsdrink

 

[JCW]

A budy of mine I hunt with picked one up at Academy last year....not sure about the price, but I know he shopped around and they had the best price at the time. He carried it with 410 buck shot this summer and I personally saw him explode 1 of 3 large rattle snakes he killed in one work weekend with the pistol. It was quite impressive!

 

[Wild Injun]

A friend of my dads has a judge he could only get the 410 shells to go in 2 cylinders so he took it back Taurus sent him a new stainless one. The one he sent back was blued it would only take 410 shells in 3 cylinders found out Taurus made them to accept 1 particular brand of shells. Don't know if they fixed that problem or if it was true but that is the story he told me.

 

[bone collector]

I bought my Judge a couple of years ago. At the time It was hard to find one. I drove from Pensacola to Panama City to buy my stainless, 3 & 1/16 inch barreled Judge and also paid dearly for it. In my opinion Its not a competition shooter nor an excellent hunting firearm, but is superb for self defense in that it can shoot .410 shotshells. It, of course, also shoots .45 long Colt cartrideges for longer range shooting. I chronographed mine vs a six inch barreled one and the latter shot 200 fps faster. I'm not familiar with the Public Defender but I,ll take the new quality of the taurus over most others. I plan to keep it for life.

 

[no woryz]

I have the 3" barrel --2 1/2" judge in stainless and I will own it forever as well....I have a mix of 2 #4's and 3 000 buckshot loads.... I have the LC as well but its a home defense weapon for sure... I am a pretty good shot with pistol but my wife is not...The .410 option gives her a real chance to stop a invader..my understanding is that the PD is a smaller/lighter judge and at one time sold for $399 @ Academy.....good luck...

 

[gbspark]

I have the 6" mod. in blue... as everyone says great defence weapon... I use # 6 410 shells...give about 50

hits in +/- 18 " at a range of +/- 20 '.

Also fairly accurate with the 45 long colt about 6" groupes at 20 yards free hand.

GREAT SNAKE GUN.

I will own mine forever too.

I think one of the differences is the judge shoots standard 410 and the defender will take the magnums

but I am not shure.

 

[HisName]

I have 2 of them and can give you the straight scoop as I see it.

Both of mine have the long barrel. the 410 needs a long barrel to get the power out a Shell designed for an 18" barrel.

I have had all the 410 hand guns with shorter barrels , and just try shooting buck shot at a washing machine and you will see only dents. the fireball of unburnt powder is very impressive however it willtemporarily blind you if you shoot it at night. slow burning powder , meant for a long barrel.try if you may - try to find a Magnum Judge with a long barrel anywhere. they are rare , but it is the most powerful judge.</DIV> the 3" cylinder with a 6 1/2" barrel is a fine gun. I wear mine in a western holster on my hobby farm / Hunting land.</DIV>

Naomi - at Ubers Lock and gun was able to get me what i wanted. Gun Broker , Guns America , etc didn't offer such a beast. I am not Dis -ing the 3" barrel Magnums. I will say they my other Judge that only shoots the 2 1/2 inch Shell will still penetrate more because the long barrel is needed to harness the powder charge. JMHO

however if your only going to shoot 45 colt , the short barrel will not be as inferior.

hopes this helps.

 

[wetaline]

The Judge is lame....

Would you hunt deer with a .410??? I wouldn't.

I would hunt squirrels or little birds with a .410.

Why would you try and kill a 150+ pound male attacker with a round you would only hunt squirrels with???

If you want to shoot a .45, then buy a .45.

The Judge is lame, unless you only plan on shooting snakes with it.