S&W making a .410 revolver

[Markcuda]

 

[k0ua]

I guess I will weigh in on my "opinion only" of the Taurus Judge and this new S&W clone. I am of the opinion that a handgun that tries to do several things well, probably doesn't do any of them all that well. I reference the "Box of truth #41" test. shown here:
The Box O' Truth #41 - The Taurus Judge Vs. The Box O' Truth - Page 1

I believe it can be pretty effective with .45 Colt loads like some Buffalo Bore or some Corbon for self defense. Now I would not go picking a fight with a big Grizzly, but any bear that can digest 5 of these 300 grain solids at about 1300 fps has earned his place at the table, and can even deal the cards if he wants:laughing: But then you have all that extra weight and bulk to carry around in the form of that extra long cylinder, and that cylinder "jump" before the bullet hits the rifleing has got to hurt accuracy. As far as the .410 slug, goes, what a dissapointment at 96 grains, even going about 1800 fps. that is lighter than a typical 9mm loading of 115 grains. And the 3 buckshot projectiles that flattened in the cylinder and very light to begin with, not much of a bigtime stopper there either. So we are left with a .45 Colt revolver that is overweight and bulky that will shoot snakes at 20 feet. Far be it from me to run down anyone's chosen blaster, but it is not my cup of tea. But it must have some cool factor and some good sales because if S&W is copying Taurus's success, that says volumes about its popularity.
Just my thoughts

James K0UA

 

[ropinghorns]

Well, I have a 6 inch Judge. What a great home defense gun and snake getter. I love it for what it is. Fits well under the seat of my truck.

 

[Markcuda]

What a great home defense gun

Really?
Post some ballistic information on the .410s stopping power verses other big calibers.
Like .357, .45ACP, .40, .44 Mag. and even .9mm

 

[DelSc]

American Rifleman did a review of the Judge a while back and concluded that it would be a good short range defensive gun with the 3" 000 loads.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1526&cid=26

 

[k0ua]

Well looks my suspicions about the accuracy potential are born out by the review:
"The shallow rifling in the Judge痴 barrel will stabilize typical .45 Colt bullets, but not to the degree possible with other Taurus .45 Colt guns. You can stay on a Bianchi Cup silhouette at 25 yds., but the group is not tight."

Staying on a Bianchi Cup silhouette at 25 yards,? wow.. and anything over 10 yards with the buckshot.. and cannot keep em all on the target? Well it is about what I expected. But as an across the room blaster, I guess it would do the job. Different strokes for different folks. They sure seem popular.

James K0UA

 

[adjusterr]

I have a Taurus "Judge" and love it. It will shoot .45 Long Colt and .410, 2 1/2" shot or slug shells. Anyone who mistakenly thinks the .410 won't put a hurtin' on something should see the demo tapes on U-Tube using the new PDX 1 .410 rounds made by Winchester. The PDX 1 .410 shells are made specifically for the "Judge" and contain 3 plated discs plus 12 BB's. A "Judge" loaded alternately with .45 long colt and PDX 1 .410 shells is a formidable weapon.

 

[JB4310]

Thats why God made the 625

My brother has the Ruger (9 mm) and loves it.

Another giant WHY??? IMO

Well, I have a 6 inch Judge. What a great home defense gun and snake getter. I love it for what it is. Fits well under the seat of my truck.

At least with the longer barrel you get more benifit from a shot shell

American Rifleman did a review of the Judge a while back and concluded that it would be a good short range defensive gun with the 3" 000 loads.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1526&cid=26

But how much 000 buck could fit in a .410? 3-4?

The PDX 1 .410 shells are made specifically for the "Judge" and contain 3 plated discs plus 12 BB's. A "Judge" loaded alternately with .45 long colt and PDX 1 .410 shells is a formidable weapon.

That PDX1 sounds like it might get it done across the room, Don't know if I'd mix them with the .45's though.

JB

 

[Sigarms]

American Rifleman did a review of the Judge a while back and concluded that it would be a good short range defensive gun with the 3" 000 loads.

I've come to the conclusion that any gun review in most gun magazines is somewhat biased due to two things

1. The amount of advertising space taken up by the manufacturer of the gun in the review.
2. The amount of "free crap" the writer gets from the manufacturer.

The American Rifleman is run by the NRA, and considering the fact that I dumped them (NRA) due to their persistence of phone calls looking for money AFTER the fact that I had given them money and I told them to stop calling me or I'd dump them, well, I figure they wouldn't say bad word about anyone who paid advertising space.

I still support my local grass roots organization for gun rights due to the fact that they take my money each year and don't hound me.

That said, don't think the Judge is a bad gun, just always looked at it as a novelty item.

 

[reichebrown]

My brother has the Ruger (.45 acp) and loves it.

Another giant WHY??? IMO

I shoot IDPA and there is a division called ESR that calls for revolvers reloaded by full moon clips. Plus the only two calibers I shoot are 9mm and 45 and when you shoot 10K+ rounds a year economy of caliber is a good thing. It is one fine revolver.