.410 vs .380

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familywgn

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I am deciding between a new CCW and am thinking small .380 or Taurus Judge. Why? I have some .380, but its still hard to find and the guns are small and light weight.

The judge however, has more power (?) and since I already have a .410 shotgun, I have plenty of ammo. Plus .410 is easy to find.

If you had the choice which would you choose and better yet, why?

Thanks
 
You're certainly thinking extremes here.
The judge is not going to be easy to conceal at all,and I think the 45 colt cartridge would be a better defence load than the 410.
A small 380 will be much easier to conceal,and you would probably carry it more for that reason.
Read the post about 380 ammo and the many judge posts,then buy both:)
 
Wow, talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. A mouse gun with the minimum caliber for protection and a mini shotgun that is arguably more powerful than other large caliber pistols.

If youn can afford both the get both. If you are like the majority of us and have other bills to pay, perhaps a compromise is in best order.

How about a Kahr or J-frame that can be a nice multi-purpose gun.
 
The Judge

Taurus answered a question that was never asked. Might I suggest a 9mm or 40 compact like a S&W M&P, or any other Tupperware gun. Light, cheap, dependable.
The previous poster's are correct the Judge is a monster. You can conceal a 4" 357mag as easily.
 
1) .410 runs a "bit" higher in ammo & purchase cost!
2) .410 is not a CCW friendly gun!
3) .380 you get to choose the manufacture! More options!

~ I guess it depends on what you want to do with it! Keep us updated!
"JJ"
 
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Between the two, the 380 is much more appropriate. 380 ammo is becoming more plentiful, and shouldn't really
a problem anymore.
The Judge is more of a niche firearm. While the 410 loaded with 000 Buckshot can be effective for very short range, and a load of lighter shot in the face of an assailant would probably make him re-consider his actions, it is limited in it's use for SD. Accuracy with the 45LC round is not very good either.
This is not intended to be a slam against the Judge like others who have called it a "gimmick. Or the people who buy them uninformed and ignorant.
It is a unique firearm with most of it's value being just that, it's uniqueness.
 
The Judge has to be the most useless gun made. Both 410 slugs and buckshot are a poor choice, especially from a 3" barrel. The 45 round is a solid dependable round, but why use it a 5 shot revolver slightly smaller than an artillery piece.

A small 380 makes a lot of sense for a small carry gun where almost nothing else will work. Almost any mid size revolver/pistol in a common caliber would be a better choice than the Judge

If I were buying a gun as large as the Judge I'd go 44 mag or 454 casull.
 
I am deciding between a new CCW and am thinking small .380 or Taurus Judge. Why? I have some .380, but its still hard to find and the guns are small and light weight.
Click to expand...

"I have some .380", but that will be soon gone. Meanwhile, 9mm (and .40, and .45, and .38 Special) can be had at fine Walmarts everywhere.

The Judge is something I can't imagine being the first choice for anything.
 
.380, the Judge is by no stretch of the imagination a CC piece. .380 ammo will be available again. I wouldn't not buy a gun for that reason.
 
I think the Judge is good for dispatching snakes with .410 and if needed for defense can go with 45C. A good backpack and fishing gun but I don't think very ideal for everyday carry.
 
I believe that the judge is the worst possible answer for SD ever. It gives such an overwhelming feeling of hubris among the people I know who own one.

If I was to engage in a gunfight at normal public ranges, 30 feet or so, I'd probably be safer going up against a judge with .410 loads than any other weapon. I would be wounded, probably, the other guy, of course, would be dead.

My thoughts would also go out to a snub 38 or better yet, a .327 magnum.
 
You have certainly compared two different guns!

A compact 380 would be good for deep CCW.

A Judge would be good for nothing.

So in order for us to advise you, we need to know what purpose you intend. If it's CCW and you need a small pistol, a 380 can be a reasonable choice.

If you need a house gun get either a 45 or a shotgun. But please pick one and don't try to get both in one gun and end up getting neither.
 
If the .380 doesn't work for you, I agree with the rest that the Judge is a pretty bad choice as well due to overall size. A .380 makes a great deep concealment piece by the way so I wouldn't be quick to rule one out.

If you want to go bigger than a .380, a mid size 9mm or a .45 would be a great choice. If you want a revolver, it's hard to beat a snub .38 or .357.
 
Everybody who has never been shot with anything...please take a step back and think, don't talk.

If you have been shot with anything, your entire attention turns as quickly as your realization to the fact that you have been shot. Nothing else matters for quite a while as the fact that you have already been shot -- not even the possibility of being shot again.

Being "shot" means being "hit". The Judge with .410 shotshells was developed to improve the hitting probability, and it functions as designed. Newer shotshells developed especially with the Judge's limitations under consideration have further improved its usefulness.

If I am as yet unwounded, I can fire my Judge across the width of a highway and hit my target every time -- guaranteed. Can you do the same with a small semi-auto?
 
IMO, neither the .380 nor the .410 is the best choice for a ccw if I had a choice of other calibers. Just to many other cals. better suited and conceal as well for ccw.

Owning and shooting the 'Judge', I'd say the 45lc or 00buck at most short SD distance would be adequate for a car gun but much to heavy to carry. My wife likes ours as a house gun and shoots the 45lc accurate out to about 12-14yds. The Winchester 00buck greatly loose's pattern past 8-10 yds. It will buy her time to get to the shotgun.

Although .380 ammo has come along way in the last few years as a SD rd., there's just to many heavier cals. in small package's(both in revolver and semi-auto) that are better suited ccw. Trick is you have to be able to withstand the recoil and (to some extent thats been,being addressed by low recoil ammo) hit COM.

Since your not opposed to a revolver as a ccw, have you thought about something in the 'airweight' revolver line? Very concealable and a bit heavier cal.

If you have to choose between the .380 and Judge for ccw, I'd have to pick the .380 simply because the size/weight of the Judge.
 
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Having shot both I vote Judge. Of course I freely admit to being a dinosaur who likes the bigger is better rule.
 
So dancer, how many times have you been shot?

People miss at "across the road" distances all the time with shotguns. There is no guarantee you will make that shot with anything. You are much more likely to have a smaller gun on you than the tank called the Judge.

People have been using guns for a long time now for self defense and no one in their right mind would suggest a 20" barreled 410 shotgun is a good self defense weapon. Suddenly the same load from a 3" barreled pistol is supposed to be devastating.
 
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