Judge Penetration:Pics and Report

[thekinetic]

No I was using Branneke slugs, freaking expensive little bullets at $8 per five. They went in just fine but after they fired the cases expanded and cause them to become lodged in the cylinder which in turn made using the little ejector impossible.

The 4 buck is made by federal and I think they sell them at walmart for pretty cheap. Usually to fit in the cylinder the shells have to be 2 1/2 inches in length unless you have the 3 inch cylinder model which I've never seen.

[Remington]

This thread was really helpful for me. I finally climbed on board with a new Taurus Judge Public Defender ultra light stainless snubbie for a concealed carry option, mostly because my other carry-revolver options are "little ones." The deciding factor for me was the 45 colt capability. The novelty, cool, versatility, and wow factors just came along with the package. I fired fifty standard flat tip 45LC target ammo through it. It was unbelievably and effectively accurate out to the maximum 25 yards available at the indoor range. I am starting out with the Hornady LEVERevolution 225 grain flex tip expanding ammo for carry. A couple of friends that already have JPDs strongly recommended them. I shot 20 of the Hornady’s to familiarize with them. I really liked them and now I’m a newly converted and carrying believer in the Public Defender's ability to effectively and decisviely engage unfriendly targets with good 45 Colt ammo alone.

[Remington]

One of the down sides of trying to carry the Judge Public Defender as a concealed carry option is that it is kind of like trying to carry a three pound cannon ball on your belt while everyone is trying to politely not to notice... And the local indoor range operator has posted flyers all over the facility denouncing Judges (the firearm I think).

[dorminWS]

I use mine strictly to carry in the console of my ride. First round's a #4 shot .410. Next two are the .410 "personal protection rounds". Last 2 are .45 long Colt. And my Judge is pretty accurate with the .45LCs. For a pocket gun, I've been also keeping a Sig P238 in my console that I can slip into my pocket if and as circumstances warrant. But I recently was persuaded (by something ratherfish posted) to get a Taurus PT145. Just fired it yesterday. It's small enough to pocket, holds 10+1 .45ACP rounds, and is suprisingly easy to control despite it's short barrel. It did fail to feed two different times right in the middle of the magazine, but the mag spring was mighty stiff. Also I was using the PMC ammo I get so cheap - better ammo (which I will certainly load in a carry gun) usually works better in a gun that gags a little on the PMC.

But you're right about carrying the Judge. If you were going to try to pack that much gun around, you might as well carry the .50AE Desert eagle.

[Remington]

I use mine strictly to carry in the console of my ride. First round's a #4 shot .410. Next two are the .410 "personal protection rounds". Last 2 are .45 long Colt. And my Judge is pretty accurate with the .45LCs. For a pocket gun, I've been also keeping a Sig P238 in my console that I can slip into my pocket if and as circumstances warrant. But I recently was persuaded (by something ratherfish posted) to get a Taurus PT145. Just fired it yesterday. It's small enough to pocket, holds 10+1 .45ACP rounds, and is suprisingly easy to control despite it's short barrel. It did fail to feed two different times right in the middle of the magazine, but the mag spring was mighty stiff. Also I was using the PMC ammo I get so cheap - better ammo (which I will certainly load in a carry gun) usually works better in a gun that gags a little on the PMC.

But you're right about carrying the Judge. If you were going to try to pack that much gun around, you might as well carry the .50AE Desert eagle.

Mine's already found a riding place in the console. Thanks for the good info on 410 shotshell options for the Judge, Dormin. Our local indoor range operator doesn't allow judges. He might have had a bad experience. Mine only has the 2 1/2 inch casing length capability for shot shells. Have you experimented or researched 410 shot shells in the 2 1/2 inch length options enough to specifically recommend anything for carrying along with the 45 colts? I'd also love to hear more about what you think about your PT145 after you shoot it some more. Congratulations on your latest acquisition, by the way.

[ratherfish]

Shooting gallery did penetration studies on the judge with balistics gel. The best penetration by far was Federal Premium 00 buck. The disc ammo did not work out well for them either.

Want real penetration go 45LC. My Judge is actually quite accurate with it.

The judge is what it is. As far as I'm concerned it's the best thing I can carry in the Florida mangrove swamps. 1#4 buck, 2x00 buck for snakes at the oh sh!t distance and 2X45 LC for anything bigger.

[Remington]

Thanks, Ratherfish. I'm already sold on the 45 colts for efficiency and am happy with their accuracy and will stick with them. Now I'm interested in the PT145. I will probabaly need a bigger set of wheels if I keep putting guns in the console.

[dorminWS]

I’m using the 2.5 inch .410 rounds. The PPRs (the personal protection round with the 3 discs and 12 BBs) are slightly longer than the #4 shot rounds, but no more than 1/8”. Mine is not a 3" pistol. I patterned at something like 5, 12 & 20 yards with #4, PPRs and .45LC. Didn’t look at penetration. All I know is it went through a sheet of that corrugated plastic that they make store signs out of. Best I can remember, the #4 shot spread out 2-3 feet at 12 yards, so it would be pretty useless if you were shooting at someone who was 25 feet away and within 20 feet of anyone else - unless you WANTED to pepper the whole crowd. The PPRs held a fairly tight pattern. Seems like they were mostly inside a silhouette target at 20 yards. The .45LCs were pretty danged accurate at 40 yards. I’ve shot the PPRs at woods, pumpkins, etc, and I’d have to agree with other who have posted here. They do not penetrate well. But I think it all depends upon what it is you are trying to do. My own philosophy (with which I am aware many on this forum disagree vehemently) is that I DON’T WANT to kill anybody; I just want to keep them from hurting or killing me. So if the #4 shot or the PPR stops their attack, so much the better. If it doesn’t, chances are those .45LCs will. And the #4 and the PPRs will work admirably for snakes and other varmints, too.

[Remington]

It sure is what it is, isn't it? I will read and heed... Thanks!