Taurus Judge

[GrillKing]

the disadvantage/handicap of the .410 is NOT velocity (it propels shot at about the same vel. as other shotshells (12/20/16 ga.), the handicap is shot string density (fewer pellets).

I did not ever think of that (string density). I always thought of shot density (pattern), but if I understand correctly, there is more to it than just 2-D 'pattern'. It's a 3-D scenario. Thanks.

[flintknapper]

the disadvantage/handicap of the .410 is NOT velocity (it propels shot at about the same vel. as other shotshells (12/20/16 ga.), the handicap is shot string density (fewer pellets).

I did not ever think of that (string density). I always thought of shot density (pattern), but if I understand correctly, there is more to it than just 2-D 'pattern'. It's a 3-D scenario. Thanks.

Absolutely 3D.

Ever fired a shotgun at body of water at a shallow angle? Notice the long stretched out pattern?

Here is a (not so good) illustration of a "shot string".

http://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/th ... -Page1.htm

Out of certain shotguns...some patterns might be in excess of 10-12 feet long.

You always want the shortest possible shot string.

[Greybeard]

Quote: "I just want to see someone test muzzle velocity from this gun. That's all the data we need."

Possibly forthcoming one of these days ... With solids maybe. I think more of my chronograph than to try it with any type of shot shell. And from experience with j-frames, getting the unit too close, muzzle blast causes "no reading" errors ...

I had a 21 year old college kid show up at range a week or so ago wanting to shoot a brand new one from Cabellas. The only ammo he had for it was #6 shot. And he thought that the "6" on the box meant six pellets in each shell! And he had left instruction manual at home ... I had some various .45 Colt personal loads in the warehouse that I briefly considered letting him shoot, but decided, in accordance with our range policy, that he needed to take a "novice" class first.

With regular bullets, I don't see anything with The Judge that would cause a great deal of variation from "standard" velocities. Guessing that the short barrel would likely put fps with "cowboy" loads down around 700.

I've got some Double Tap +P 255 grainers that run almost 1400 out of 7 1/2" SRH. After looking at the thin cylinder walls on The Judge, I'd don't think I'd want to be the first one to be ahold of the thing with something like that keyed up. Anybuddy seen Taurus' "warnings" regarding such? Even more scary though is the possibility of someone dropping a .454 round into one of those things. Can we spell g-r-e-n-a-d-e ?

[Dragonfighter]

Great analysis of the shot pattern issue. I would think that a shot shell as first up round followed by the solids would be a good.

As an aside:

I had a friend in INS that said, when he was feeling squirrelly, he would carry his .45 long colt. He actually had me carry it to the deer lease one year as my side arm. It was huge and heavy, though short barreled. When he was showing it to me, he chambered a short .410 (2 1/2") in it. That left me with the impression that a .45 long colt revolver could handle .410 shells as a matter of course. Is this not true?

[Mike1951]

I can't recall a regular .45 colt revolver with a cylinder long enough.

Even my Redhawk cylinder, although longer than my Blackhawk cylinder, wouldn't accommodate a 2 1/2" shell.

[flintknapper]

I can't recall a regular .45 colt revolver with a cylinder long enough.

Even my Redhawk cylinder, although longer than my Blackhawk cylinder, wouldn't accommodate a 2 1/2" shell.

Oh, it will probably accept the first 2 or 3 of them, but you'll never close the cylinder.

[dukalmighty]

I believe you can shoot a 45LC out of a .410 shotgun it's just not gonna be real accurate ,If i'm wrong put me in timeout

[Mike1951]

Possibly.

Even though the .45 Colt is a comparatively low pressure round, circa 20,000psi, most shotgun barrels are thin enough that I wouldn't be comfortable doing it.

[KBCraig]

Full length brass .410 cartridges are still available; they don't need any extra expansion room like crimped plastic rounds do. I'm thinking the current 2-1/2" Judge would accept full 3" brass rounds.

[flintknapper]

Full length brass .410 cartridges are still available; they don't need any extra expansion room like crimped plastic rounds do. I'm thinking the current 2-1/2" Judge would accept full 3" brass rounds.

Most likely true and a good observation.

I have read that some "Russian" full brass .410 shells are reported to expand in the chamber...making extraction very difficult. This was experienced by a customer using them in a "Thunder 5" though.

Other brand shells may be perfectly acceptable. Some cowboy action shooters use the brass hulled shells, so they must work pretty well. The Russian shells a possible exception.

The brass shells look cool too.