I just got a Taurus Judge. It’s a revolver that fires 410 shotgun rounds. It’s my first firearm, and I’m servous about semi-automatics. A revolver is a simpler device, and shotgun rounds are less likely to miss, and less likely to pass through someone and hit someone else than anything buyt hollow point, from the info that I’ve been able to gather.
I got some advice from people who preferred other weapons. I’m taking it to the range this weekend. We’ll see.
Just some friendly advice from someone who has seen this. Especially if your judge shoots 45 LC. If the weapon is very light weight, the type of ammo you use is important.
In my Governor (S&W) for instance which has a Scandium frame and steel insert barrel and steel cylinder, they caution to try a test run for 45 LC.
Load the ammo, shoot 5 rounds and examine the 6th. If the shell appears to have slug retention separation, choose different ammo. This wasn’t as easy as it sounds. I had some WM Winchester generic 45LC that did this, even some premium Hornady FTX 225Gr ammo....I finally asked Hornady...they finally told me the 185 FTX Personal Protection ammo would not unseat. They were correct.
FWIW, and as a serious comment ...
You don’t need much range time with a Judge with .410 loads, or handgun/pistol ‘bullets’. But you need a lot of ‘handling the firearm’ time . IMHO ...
Why? The Judge with those loads is useful and appropriate to MAYBE 25 feet. The Judge is a good firearm for the true self-defense scenario of “I am under attack, personally and up close”. In other words, your intended targets, when rightfully engaged, would be so close that you ‘can’t miss’ ... if you practice just a little. No need to push that target out to 50 feet or the end of the range, unless you are just curious.
I think if you get a zombie target(s) and practice two-shot groups, center mass, you’ll be good. Get a feel for what it’s like to fire twice. Use a paper plate and draw roughly 12” circles on the zombie target and practice getting two shots within the circles.
I recommend also you buy ‘snap caps’ (fake aluminum rounds) and get a lot of practice holding, producing/drawing, aiming, squeezing the trigger, and such. Get a GOOD feel for the trigger. Get to where you can (QUICKLY) aim well enough at a 10-15 foot away target —that you can acquire and hit it without trying to squint down the short barrel and aim.
MY opinion is that the Judge is a fine weapon for true OH MY GOD self defense scenarios, but ya gotta practice getting it out of wherever you keep it and putting a good sight picture on your target.
I have enough time with my .45 that I am confident I can hit what I intend to hit, 10-15 feet (or less) in front of me without ‘aiming’. I encourage you to do the same with your Judge.
Other opinions on FR WILL vary. ;-)
“...shotgun rounds are less likely to miss, and less likely to pass through someone and hit someone else...”
Pattern your Judge at the range at 7, 10, and 15 yards with a standard silhouette target.
Good hunting!