The Verdict Is In

[Gatorjet]

Enough of a break in the weather to give my new pistol a trial run. This is the first Polymer framed Taurus Judge I have seen. Picked it up at a gun show in St. Louis last Saturday.

Being the Public Defender Model, with a 2" barrel, it isn't much larger than a common concealed carry gun like a Springfield Armory XD40 Subcompact.

With the 2" barrel I was surprised at the accuracy. Especially when shooting 45 Long Colt from it.

5 shots @ 7 yds, single action (L) 5 shots rapid fire double action @ 7 yds ®

1 rnd Winchester PDX1 410 defense load. 3 Defensive discs (buckshot) & 12 BB shot (L) 3 rnds double action rapid fire ® Both @ 7 yds (Neck & shoulder shots were my bad shooting)

And 3 rnds Federal 000 buck @ 7 yds double action rapid fire to prove that I could do it! ( large holes lower left are from the plastic wads)

At right #4 shot load at 10' just for grins.

All in all, fun little gun. Could be used for self defense, but I'll just stick with the XD. Recoil was very snappy with the buckshot loads, but quite comfortable with the 45 LC, and fun to shoot. Going to try some 7 1/2 or 8 shot to fill in the pattern for snakes though.

Glad I bought it. Gonna be fun!

[jdmidwest]

I'd like to see the patterns on 410 shot shell in 6 and see how it patterns. I have shot 357 and 38 shot loads with 9's and the pattern is weak, not enough power to kill a snake. 148 gr hollow base wadcutter loaded reverse is my favorite load, accurate and does not ricochet too much.

[Gatorjet]

I have a handful of 7 1/2s the owner of the range I shoot at gave me. I'm going to try them next time I'm out. I still don't expect much out of a 2" barreled Public Defender.

The longer barreled Judge models might do better.

[flyfshn]

Try the personal defense .410 shells. My son has the judge and bought some of the pd .410 shells.....if I owned one, that is all I would load in it! It shoots 3 discs (look like small watch batteries)and then buckshot.

[jdmidwest]

Try the personal defense .410 shells. My son has the judge and bought some of the pd .410 shells.....if I owned one, that is all I would load in it! It shoots 3 discs (look like small watch batteries)and then buckshot.

I think he did, it is the second target, PDX load.

[Gatorjet]

Yep. Winchester PDX1. 3 defense discs, and 12 size BB shot. Personally I don't see the need for the BB shot. Would rather have a forth disc if the weight was the same as the shot.

Also tried Federal Handgun 000 buck shells. Patterning was good, but I experienced some cylinder binding with the Federals. Both the Buckshot, and the #4 loads.

If it ends up in my nightstand as a home defense gun I'll probably load the first three up with the PDX1 shells followed by 2 45 Long Colt hollow points.