[Lurker]

For defense, I have trouble seeing how you can beat it

At the risk of disagreeing with almost every other poster on the thread, I think this is about the worst choice one could make for a self defense pistol.

The barrel is too short to make effective use of the .45LC cartridge, finding ANY .410 ammunition that's suitable for the purpose is very, very difficult, and in the .410 load the barrel is waaaay to short to obtain any decent velocity from a slug.

Nearly all of the powder in those cartridges is burned outside the barrel, robbing velocity.

One would be FAR better off IMO to purchase a small frame .38 caliber revolver and use that.

This thing is nothing more than a gun company marketing gimmick designed to separate suckers from their money.

L

[mnehring]

My original thought was the use of the 410 in a quick reaction situation where aiming may be impaired. Seeing the test in post #12 does make me re-think that, however.

[yarddog]

I generally like your posts but you are all wet on this one. The judge comes in 3 and 6 inch barrels plus the extra length of the chamber would effectively add velocity. A 3 inch barrel .45 is entirely enough to be effective especially since the .45 LC doesn't depend on velocity anyway, instead using the heavy weight and large diameter bullet.

In the test I read the velocity of the 000buck out of the Judge was close to a thousand fps. That is five .36 caliber balls @ more velocity that the typical .38 special load. That will not penetrate well but would be devastating up close.

[chuckles]

I agree with #19. You would be better off with a .45LC or a .44 with a 4” bbl than trying to get something to fire a shotshell. It's just a gimmick. The length of the total gun would be shorter than the combo gun with the elongated cylinder.