Taurus Judge
| Taurus Judge | |
|---|---|
Taurus International | |
| Produced | 2006–present |
| Variants | 4410, 4510, 513 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 29 oz (820 g) |
| Length | 7.5 in (190 mm) |
| Barrel length | 3 in (76 mm) |
| Width | 1.531 in (38.9 mm) |
| Height | 5.394 in (137.0 mm) |
| Caliber | .410 bore .454 Casull (Raging Judge only) .45 Colt .45 Schofield |
| Action | Double-action revolver |
| Feed system | 5, 6, or 7 round cylinder |
| Sights | Fixed |
The Taurus Judge is a five shot revolver designed and produced by
History
There have been two model number designations for this firearm, the 4410 (no longer produced) and the 4510 (current). Both model numbers are essentially the same revolver, and any 4410 or 4510 will yield basically the same performance. It got its name "The Judge" in 2006 when Bob Morrison, Executive Vice President, learned that judges in high-crime areas of
The rifling is shallower than normal, giving single-projectile loads less stabilization than they would receive in other handguns while reducing the rapid dispersion of the shot from shotshells.[2] Taurus developed the shallow rifling after numerous experiments to find rifling that worked well with both types of ammunition.[3]
Though Taurus deliberately designed the Judge to fire shotshells, the Judge does not qualify as a "short-barreled shotgun" under the
Models
The Judge, a derivative of the Taurus Tracker, comes in three barrel lengths (3", 4" and 6.5" - Tracker), two cylinder lengths (2.5" and 3"), and two finishes (blued and stainless steel). The 3" barrel model also comes in two weight classes, the standard steel construction (29 oz currently, 36 oz previously) and alloy-based "Ultra-Lite" (22 oz currently, 24 oz previously). Felt recoil can be significant with the Ultra-Lite series, due to its light weight, especially with .45 Colt rounds. As of December 2008, spur-less hammers remain available with all short-barrel lengths of The Judge. [5]
At the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show in January 2009, Taurus introduced several new models of the Judge. These have been labeled the Public Defender series and are based on the Taurus Model 85 frame. As with the original Judge, these shoot five rounds of either .45 Colt or .410 shot. Taurus is positioning the Public Defender series as a concealed carry piece. Taurus also introduced the tactical R Ported. The Taurus 4510TKR-3SSR (stainless steel) and 4510TKR-3BR (blued) offer a 3″ ported barrel with a Picatinny rail.[6]
In 2010 Taurus introduced the Raging Judge which is chambered for .454 Casull as well .45 Colt and 3" .410 shot shells.[6]
In 2011 at
However, rumors began to quickly circulate during the show that the US' Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seized the prototype guns due to an initial finding that the guns were actually short-barreled shotguns, and therefore illegal.[7] However, American Rifleman reported that Taurus invited the ATF to a meeting to discuss the revolver, and no ATF determination was made at that time.[8]
On March 27, 2011, Taurus International President and CEO Bob Morrison stated on the Gun Talk radio show that the Taurus Raging Judge XXVIII was still under development.[9] Ultimately, the firearm never made it into production and no official statement was made by Taurus about it again.
Carbine
Taurus makes an 18.5in barrelled
It comes in the original combination chambering of .410 bore and .45 Colt. The Taurus/Rossi Circuit Judge has small blast shields attached to the cylinder to protect the shooter from hot gases escaping between the cylinder and barrel.[11]
The carbine has a butt stock and forend made of either Brazilian hardwood or plastic and uses a
Efficacy
Taurus also paid attention to effectiveness with buckshot. One example would be 2 1/2" 4 pellet 000 buckshot, such as those offered by Federal and Remington, among others. In the original Judge chambering for standard 21⁄2" .410 shells, each shell contains three
The Taurus Judge is based on the Taurus .45 Colt revolver and is adequate for its designed rounds. It was not designed for higher pressures generated by cartridges such as .44 Magnum or .454 Casull; to prevent use of such rounds, the firing chambers of the Judge cylinder are choked to prevent chambering rounds larger in diameter than .410 shotshells and longer than .45 Colt cartridges.[2] Later, Taurus introduced the Raging Judge Magnum based on their Raging Bull model designed for magnum cartridges; the Raging Judge Magnum safely chambers .454 Casull as well as .45 Colt cartridges.[16]
Gallery
-
Original version of the Taurus Judge (blued finish) -
Closeup of the cylinder (carbine model pictured), showing the choked chambers that prevent loading .454 Casull rounds into non-magnum models -
Fired from early short barrel, 2.5" chambers. Slugs are 71 grains each and there are 12 number 4 shot.
See also
- MIL Thunder 5 - US designed and made shot pistol which predated the Judge
- Smith and Wesson Governor- a similar weapon sold by S&W as a response to the success of the Judge
- Bond Arms Derringer
- Kit gun
- .410 bore
- MAG-7
References
- ^ a b "Taurus Big-Bore Double Feature". Shooting Times. Archived from the original on 2009-02-12.
- ^ a b c "The Judge Rules". American Rifleman. January 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4402-2856-8.
- ^ Michel, C.D. (June 13, 2011). "Judging the Judges: Illegal Firearms in California?" (PDF). Los Angeles: Michel & Associates. pp. 1–11.
- ISBN 978-1-4402-1624-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4402-3542-9.
- ^ Big gun, Short lived. Taurus 28 Gauge Revolver
- ^ The Judge Goes Even Bigger Bore
- ^ March 27, 2011 Gun Talk radio program
- ^ "Rossiusa.com".
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4402-3544-3.
- ISBN 978-1-62087-516-2.
- ISBN 978-1-4402-2927-5.
- ISBN 0-695-81199-1.
- ^ "The .410 Bore". ChuckHawks.com.
- ISBN 978-1-4402-3253-4.
External links
