New Magnum Taurus Judge

[alwaltr817]

Will move out to Nevada in next several years. The new Judge would seem to be a great desert carry gun to fend off snakes, coyotes, etc. Would probably stay with 3" barrel as there are no (real) rear sight. Think this is the way to go?

 

[PaulD]

I haven't heard many good reviews of that gun.

I've heard of people out there carrying .357 or .44 mag revolvers loaded with shot shells for the first 2 or 3 and normal rounds for the rest. If they encounter a snake, they use the shot shells. If they encounter something bigger, they pull the trigger more. I don't know how effective that is though.

You might as well just wait until you've moved to worry about it.

 

[jpattersonnh]

I carried a 9 shot .22lr revolver and a shotgun in the desert. You are talking major overkill. If a snake is close, 8ft, the muzzle blast from a .22 is more than enough to deter them, that is if you miss! I would suggest a good pair of Kevlar chap style pants. They cover the front to your waist and up to your knees' in back. Great for the nasty brush in the desert. There are worse things than snakes in the desert!!

 

[Rockrivr1]

I haven't heard many good reviews of that gun.

I've heard of people out there carrying .357 or .44 mag revolvers loaded with shot shells for the first 2 or 3 and normal rounds for the rest. If they encounter a snake, they use the shot shells. If they encounter something bigger, they pull the trigger more. I don't know how effective that is though.

You might as well just wait until you've moved to worry about it.

+1 Handgun Review gave this handgun a very negative review. They indicated that with the short bbl, the 410 with buckshot was useless and the buckshot went everywhere and very few pellets actually hit the target. Using slugs and 45lc gave marginally better results but still poor accuracy for what this handgun is intended for. Not to mention 45lc is expensive as hell.

Sounds like you'd be better off with something else.

 

[Tater]

for curiosity sake are there any handguns legal in ma that will fire a 410 shot shell. It seems to be a great round for being inside of a car fending off a carjacker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl-ZIo-Wztc

 

[alwaltr817]

Magnum Judge

Thanks for the input everyone. Maybe a 4" barrel 357 or 44 Mag. is the way to go....Plan to carry while riding a dirt bike (my other expensive hobby)...Best...

 

[vellnueve]

for curiosity sake are there any handguns legal in ma that will fire a 410 shot shell. It seems to be a great round for being inside of a car fending off a carjacker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl-ZIo-Wztc

Not nearly as effective as a solid round.

 

[Zappa]

+1 Handgun Review gave this handgun a very negative review. They indicated that with the short bbl, the 410 with buckshot was useless and the buckshot went everywhere and very few pellets actually hit the target. Using slugs and 45lc gave marginally better results but still poor accuracy for what this handgun is intended for.

The reviews sound pretty much the same as the old "Thunder Five" (aka Chunder 5) of years ago. For those unfamiliar, that was basically the same thing as the Judge. A 5 shot .410 Revolver, but the finish quality was horrendous in comparison to the Taurus. It was big, unwieldy, and Butt-Ugly to boot, but it did have a manual safety which is very unusual for a revolver. They cost about $600 when new, so they didn't sell many. It didn't do anything well, .45LC accuracy was all over the map and shotshell patterns were even less predictable. A bad idea then and a bad idea now.

 

[LORD of WAR]

The judge is wicked fun to shoot...the buckshot kicks a lot more than the slugs...didn't shoot any 45lc through ours yet...wish the grip was a little longer...the recoil kept jamming the trigger guard into my finger...but its a hoot! Get one for shits and giggles...that's what I did

 

[drgrant]

I haven't heard many good reviews of that gun.

I've heard of people out there carrying .357 or .44 mag revolvers loaded with shot shells for the first 2 or 3 and normal rounds for the rest. If they encounter a snake, they use the shot shells. If they encounter something bigger, they pull the trigger more. I don't know how effective that is though.

You might as well just wait until you've moved to worry about it.

+1.. Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, but the Judge is not even near the bottom of my "guns to buy" list.

-Mike