Here’s the gun that I want to buy next. The Taurus Judge is a handgun capable of chambering both a .45 Colt cartridge and .410 shotshell, which is the smallest caliber of shotgun shell available. The Taurus Judge is pretty.
@Lois Winters I have one. Don't let the looks fool you. It has a tremendous recoil. Use two hands and keep you elbows locked the first time you fire one, until you have felt the recoil. Otherwise, the barrel may wind up against your forehead. I suggest you start with a 2 1/2 inch game load and work up to the 3 inch magnum self defense loads. Be sure to wear ear protection. Happy shooting.
So I'm looking to add a new piece to the family arsenal. For some reason I want one of the revolvers that chamber a .410 shotgun shell. I understand that they also chamber a .45 cartridge. The owner of a local gunshop tried to talk my husband out of the purchase, proclaiming The Judge to be "a junk gun." (In other words, he was out of stock and wanted to sell something else I suppose.) Do any of you own The Judge or a similar model? Do you recommend it? I want it for home protection, because I think I could hit something with a shotgun spray. Maybe.
S & W makes a six shot called the "Governor" : More expensive 45 Long Colt, 45 acp (w/ moon clip). and 410. The Tarus "Judge" works just fine. Has a healthy kick though, be careful it doesn't come back and hit you in the forehead. Chambers 45 Long Colt (not 45 acp.) also 2.5 in or 3.0 in 410. Depends on model.
Do you own either of them, @Jerry Adams ? My son and a brother-in-law own models of The Judge and they both like them, I think as a novelty item. Both are extreme gun enthusiasts and say stuff like, "it's OK for what it is." I didn't realize until recently that there are different models, even a single-shot. I want a revolver, though.
When cruising every country would ask if you had weapons and some would confiscate them until you left. So most cruisers hid them or had some other form of protection. It was quite legal to have a flare pistol and the average flare gun was a twelve gauge but it was plastic and was dangerous to use a shot gun shell in them. There was also a 25 MM that was available and it was made of metal which were also legal to carry on board I had a tool maker at Ford where I worked make me two inserts for my gun one was to take a twelve gauge and another to take a 410 shell. Thank goodness I never needed them but they were there if I did.
I have been considering one myself considering the times we are in. I'm not a gun expert but I don't believe there would be much of a "spray" at close range.
I see two things, at least, which I believe should discourage "Judge" pistol ownership by any except the well-versed firearms owner. First, is the enormous recoil inherent in shotshells in lightweight arms. Second is the fact that number of possible responses ("shots") is limited to five. An intruder in your home, for example, will move suddenly and erratically; if he is armed and desperate, you will likely miss at first if you fire at him. 5 shots, and you are potentially unarmed, maybe dead, maybe seriously injured, certainly wishing more "firepower" had been available to you. This is the direst, most serious response considered in home invasion, of course. Many career burglars are fully aware that their being armed automatically carries much stiffer penalties if convicted of breaking and entering; thus, they choose to use stealth, use of homeowner's weapons (kitchen knives, etc .) when appropriate, and plan to desert and run like hell if detected. One of course cannot count on the qualities of maggot encountered in one's home under subversive conditions. The intruder also carries with him, usually, the element of surprise......a most significant advantage over a sleeping homeowner. So, IMO, the Judge type of revolver would surely offer a lot of fun shooting for other than self defensive purposes. I, too, have thought about owning one, but considered them over-priced. Frank EDIT: I see 6 and 7-shot models have been introduced since I evaluated the concept years ago. 7 sounds much better........
Here's an article about patterning the shot, Ed. I figure it's got to be better than a normal pistol, giving me a better chance of hitting something. https://www.gun-tests.com/shortshots/patterning-the-taurus-judge-2/
We are fairly well versed firearms owners, Frank. My husband has a concealed carry license and goes to the shooting range every couple of months. I'm more familiar with rifles and shotguns since I grew up on a farm with a family of hunters, but I have no qualms about shooting a gun. We have a couple of pistols and a number of rifles in the house. I'm pretty sure any intruder would take to the hills after hearing only ONE gunshot; likely would not hang around to count how many shots I take. Hopefully I will never have to find out.
You suggest a revolver is limited by the amount of rounds it carries, so the alternative would be an auto which might jam unless it's attended to regularly. Again, no expert here.
From the article, the "spray" seems adequate inside a room where a confrontation would occur. I guess I was thinking "choke" from long shotguns. Perhaps a choke isn't possible with a barrel that shoots a .45 as well.