Ruger Forum

Tracer · July 14th, 2012, 01:19 PM

I purchased a Turaus 3 inch JUDGE a year ago for the use on snakes in the backyard and fields. I NEVER thought this pistol was a "self-defense" pistol at first. Not until they came out with new ammo. Those .410 shotgun shells loaded up with 3 & 4 pieces of copper discs (button like) and backed up with 16 BB's inside the 3 inch shell.

I went ahead and ordered 2 packs of that self-defense ammo from Cabela's made by Winchester ok. Now I placed a regular plastic 55 gal barrel at 10 ft from the muzzle of my Judge pistol. All shots were fired into the bottom cemter of that barrel.

The first shot (3 inch shell) placed 4 of the copper discs into a very tight group, center of the barrel bottom at 750fps. NONE of those disc's penetrated the less than 1/4 inch thick plastic. Not even the BB's penetrated through the plastic. They ended up stuck about half-way into the plastic about 3/32 of an inch penetration. I did this little range test, just to see how things were going to actually be. NOT GOOD! The trigger on the JUDGE is rough to say the least! I only use it with #7.5 shot & #6 shot in the pistol for snakes only, NOT FOR SELF DEFENSE!!!

Marine Division Two · July 14th, 2012, 01:25 PM

The Judge is as formidable as the Charter Arms Bulldog 44 special when they first came out. congrats on your new shooter.

moakes58 · July 14th, 2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracer

I purchased a Turaus 3 inch JUDGE a year ago for the use on snakes in the backyard and fields. I NEVER thought this pistol was a "self-defense" pistol at first. Not until they came out with new ammo. Those .410 shotgun shells loaded up with 3 & 4 pieces of copper discs (button like) and backed up with 16 BB's inside the 3 inch shell.

I went ahead and ordered 2 packs of that self-defense ammo from Cabela's made by Winchester ok. Now I placed a regular plastic 55 gal barrel at 10 ft from the muzzle of my Judge pistol. All shots were fired into the bottom cemter of that barrel.

The first shot (3 inch shell) placed 4 of the copper discs into a very tight group, center of the barrel bottom at 750fps. NONE of those disc's penetrated the less than 1/4 inch thick plastic. Not even the BB's penetrated through the plastic. They ended up stuck about half-way into the plastic about 3/32 of an inch penetration. I did this little range test, just to see how things were going to actually be. NOT GOOD! The trigger on the JUDGE is rough to say the least! I only use it with #7.5 shot & #6 shot in the pistol for snakes only, NOT FOR SELF DEFENSE!!!

Do you really think those hard dense plastic barrels compare to human flesh?
I do not believe they do, but I could be wrong.

fungun · July 14th, 2012, 03:31 PM

Wish I could buy one of these but in Cali it's considered a sawed off shotgun lol

JimB120 · July 14th, 2012, 04:04 PM

Geez I hope no intruders breech my door wearing plastic barrels!

jdavis · July 14th, 2012, 04:19 PM

Human flesh will react differently than your plastic barrels. The Win PDX1 will expend it's energy within your target leaving an ugly wound. Load a some 45LC defensive rounds in every other chamber and you will have a devastating weapon that will stop most any threat.

moakes58 · July 15th, 2012, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdavis

Human flesh will react differently than your plastic barrels. The Win PDX1 will expend it's energy within your target leaving an ugly wound. Load a some 45LC defensive rounds in every other chamber and you will have a devastating weapon that will stop most any threat.

+1 to that!

BudmanOH · July 15th, 2012, 09:30 AM

I have the Public Defender loaded with 00 buckshot and two .45LC to finish it off. I feel pretty confident it will stop an intruder.

Tracer · July 17th, 2012, 05:04 AM

Like I stated "Flat-Top" I use this JUDGE for snakes only! My CCW tool is a pair of 10mm GLOCKS~!!!

Now the thickness on those plastic barrels is less than 1/4 of an inch and my .38spl (Colt Snub Nose) loaded with wadcutters has NO problem punching holes in those barrel bottoms.

Rivers2k · July 17th, 2012, 05:34 AM

A .22LR will penetrate a plastic 55 gallon barell those bb's really should have. This just confirms my thoughts on the Judge.

I admit it had the initial wow cool factor for me also but after careful consideration I came to the following conclusion;

While trying to make a gun that has multiple functions they came up with one that does several things soso and not 1 of them extremely well. If I had a snake problem I would just load snake shot in my .357

TomP5 · July 17th, 2012, 06:29 AM

Hmm, I don't know about some of this. Have any of you guys been over at the Box O' Truth website? He tested the Taurus Judge with different rounds. He doesn't test it with the copper disk .410 round. But go have a look. Click here.

But now here, in a later episode, he does test the copper disk .410 rounds. Have a look here, too.

Danger · July 17th, 2012, 07:06 AM

Look at it this way, It's easier than trying to shoot 16 BB guns at someone!

Tracer · July 29th, 2012, 08:57 PM

Once again I will convey, that my reason for purchasing the 3-inch JUDGE was strictly for snakes period. This pistol is heavy, cumbersome and is not a shotgun when loaded up with ammo of"4- Disc's & BB's" doing 700 to 750 fps at the muzzle.

Now it may work for someone behind the wheel of a vehicle and a Perp sticks their head down by the window (less than 8 ft) but I can think of several far better pistols to have in that situation, starting with my GLOCK model 29 in 10mm mag caliber. I have never shot any of the .45ammo through this pistol and don't intend to.