New House ~ New Handgun ... any advice?

February 27, 2007 | Vanity

[Elle Bee]

I'm 90 miles from Cuba and I'm going to purchase a new handgun for a new house.

I'm thinking .45 ... Kimber

I'm open to all opinion and option.

I'm still holding out the thought of a revolver over an automatic for ease of maintenance in the subtropics

These threads are always informative and I would appreaciate your input before I make a final decision.

.

[Recon Dad]

You're a good sport and looking at the number of posts you hit on a very popular subject.

[Elle Bee]

What do you think of this?

As the best of both worlds ..... is a Taurus 'Judge' a nightstand consideration?

It's named because of the number of judges who supposedly carry them into the courtroom for their protection. It chambers both .410 2-1/2" shotshell and .45 Colt ammunition.

It's billed as a combo gun ideal for short distances or longer distances with the Colt .45 ammo. They claim to have tuned the rifling to spread the shot pattern at close quarters or to guide the .45 to target

MODEL 44 TEN .45/.410 (2.5" chamber) STAINLESS STEEL REVOLVER

.

[Elle Bee]

the information you can get here is like nowhere else

.

[JB in Whitefish]

Yeah...they're pretty unweildy....more of a "show off toy" than anything practical.

I DO, however have another Taurus "tracker" in .17 HMR with a fixed 4X scope on it.

[hee hee]

That "little" round is one zingy item, leaving the barrel at about the highest muzzle velocity you'll find in a "stock" hand gun. VERY accurate. Mine is SS with a 6 inch barrel.

Taurus rose to fame with their "raging bull" line.

I call this my RAGING CHIPMUNK.....!!!


[don't LAUGH until you've shot it at some 1/8 inch steel plate at about 20 yards]

At close range it could possibly penetrate a kevlar vest due to its high velocity.

[JB in Whitefish]

just compare the ballistics on the .45 LONG colt and the .357 magnum.

Then hoist one of your "judge" guns and the titanium .357....

[Elle Bee]

you don't think this 'Judge' would work as close quarters nightstand piece?

I was given a .50 desert eagle fitted with a scope and laser sight as a joke from an old Chicago friend.

Now that was a show-off toy

I took at least a two foot chunk out of a cement bulkhead in a dispute with an iguana ..... don't ask

.

[Elle Bee]

I just thought that a revolver (read: lawful sawed-off) that can chamber say two shot shells then maybe three .45s would make an interesting opening to any debate

But you think the shot gun shell would be too unwieldy?

As a positive, I thought it might be harder to be taken away from you at close quarters and a quicker ready response than a semi with a saftey or a pump

.

[Jim Noble]

A generic hunting shotgun and a conventional 38 or 357 pistol are far less likely to make you (the defendant) look like a kooky gun nut who was just looking for trouble.

There was an incident up here last year where a homeowner killed a guy who broke into his house, totally legit, but he had a bad time because of a stupid bumper sticker on his truck, something about shooting first and asking questions later (I wish I could remember exactly).

Mouthing off about killing perps is bad preparation for your trial, if you ever have to actually do it.

[angkor]

You might ask txroadhawg:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1791824/posts?page=94#94

[Jim Noble]

Turn off the lights. Put a broomstick in your hands. Walk downstairs (or room to room) with it ready to 'shoot'. Have someone bigger and stronger than you waiting somewhere in the house try to take the broomstick away.

Clearing the house is a job for professionals.

[Jim Noble]

Another benefit is, you always have the option of just racking it (using the fore grip on a pump to chamber a round) and/or putting a round in the floor. That's enough to clear most folks out without engaging them.

It also announces your presence, gives away your position and announces a deadly threat to the perp without disabling him. It may also announce that you are reluctant to kill.

For all the times I've seen this here, I still think it's bad advice.

[Elle Bee]

I agree .... If you house is invaded..... I want the first round off ... proceeded by silence

.

[Elle Bee]

I copied him @ 182 ...and had begun looking at his suggestion

.

[Elle Bee]

that's exactly why I was intrigued by the 'combo' revolver @ 182

.

[angkor]

In previous threads over the years, some have recommended fully decked-out tactical shotguns for home defense, but this is not something you want a jury to see on the evidence table if you're on trial:

Whereas this would be far less "intimidating" to a jury.

[saganite]

Some reviews below (mostly favorable). I won't comment one way or the other since I don't know anything about the gun but I generally shy away from compromises. I have had experience with a .410/.45 gun (this combo has been around forever in various incarnations). My father has a single shot ancient POS that he uses for a snake gun. You have to dig the case out with a knife after you fire it but it's effective for his purposes.


http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236851&highlight=taurus+judge

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237956&highlight=taurus+judge

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226281&highlight=4410

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224667&highlight=4410

[Smokin' Joe]

Not to be a party pooper, but if you need the weapon, you want to severely disable or kill the perp.

Shotshells do not have much more spread, (especially a 2 1/2 inch .410 at combat ranges) than a pistol round, but they will penetrate less and have much less impact overall than a 20 gauge or 12 gauge round and definitely less than the .45 long colt.

You are probably much better off going with one or the other: a pistol or a shotgun than a combination arm for defence.

A combo is a trade-off: Less shot with less impact force, a long pistol with a short barrel.

If you want shot, go with the tactical shotgun, shot on top, rifled slugs for a follow up. The shorter overall length is easier to work with in enclosed spaces. All you have to do is hit the target.

Loads of good pistol advice here, and just about anything from a .357 up will shut down a perp.

If you are in an area where you might get a perpetrators who are speeding (Meth) or on PCP, consider going for a weapon which will shut them down whether they realize it or not. In such cases you need to hit them hard.

Good advice here, too about warning noises--just don't. If you want to issue a verbal warning, or make sure of your target, that is up to you, but be tracking the target with your weapon and ready to fire.

Someone can close the distance from 20 ft. out and mortally wound you with a knife before you can get your gun up and say "freeze", so don't screw around.

[angkor]

Interesting discussion of the Taurus 410 over here:

http://www.packing.org/community/firearms/listview/13852

[trisham]

I'm not familiar with the Taurus "Judge", but two things come to mind.

1.I prefer a longer barrel, say four inches. I want to have a chance at an accurate shot before the intruder is too close to me.

2. I like a grip with more definition, more to hold on to. This looks more like something to conceal carry outside the home.

[kx9088]

Do you have a need for a .410? If you want bird shot as an option for defense then either just buy a shotgun or you can buy a revolver in .357/.38 and you can buy shotshells in that caliber.

Also, .45 Colt (or rather Long Colt) is some rather expensive ammo that you'll have a hard time finding at Wally World or Dick's Sporting Goods.

IMHO, you best option is to buy a pistol that uses ammo that can be bought almost anywhere or buy a shotgun.