Judge VS GOVERNOR

[Cheapshooter]

The judge could be a decent range toy if it didn't have such an awful trigger and horribly narrow grips

My Judge Public Defender Poly has a better than average DA trigger, ans SA is Light, and crisp. The factory "Ribber" grips were a bit small, but replacing them with Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips gives It a great feel.
Not just a range toy, but a very viable choice to be carried in a vehicle as well. Stoked with two OOO Buckshot designed for handgun use, and backed up by 3 45 Colt HP rounds It is a formidable anti carjacking choice.
Away from the two legged snakes, and on to the fanged variety, a blast of 7 1/2 shot at 10 feet produces a snake busting pattern.

 

[ripnbst]

Don't forget the Gov gives you 6 rounds and the Judge only 5.

I'd like to have the 454 over the 45 ACP but I'll never own any Taurii so for me it'd be the Governor.

 

[Bezoar]

The judge wins hands down. Really it does.

1. no stinking moon clips

2. various barrel sizes

They were made for SHORT RANGE defense shooting. Not for 100 yard head shots.

 

[P5 Guy]

Missed the Poll

I'm still perplexed by the popularity of shotgun revolvers.
A good friend of mine has a Taurus for 3" .410 with a six inch barrel. That just seems to me to be too heavy and cumbersome to carry.
And whatever happened to the THUNDER FIVE that came out in the mid 1990s?

 

[Avec Bien]

Why the Judge is more powerful then you think

This is a nice article on why the Judge is a good choice for home defense. He has some gel test on his youtube channel as well.
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/why-the-judge-is-more-powerful-than-you-think/

 

[Cheapshooter]

Probably the best, and most truthful, fact based reviews of what the Judge can, and can't do. I already knew how accurate my PD Poly is, but this also supports the fact that it is also certainly powerful, and efficient enough for HD, and SD.
The two video reviews are must sees for anybody thinking about buying a Judge. especially the "little" Public Defender. I think they would be good viewing for any open minded detractor as well.

 

[Budda]

Lots of Tauri hate in here. I like pretty much all gun makers. If it goes boom I am in......

 

[Cheapshooter]

Lots of Tauri hate in here. I like pretty much all gun makers. If it goes boom I am in.....

Had S&W came out with the Governor first it would have been heralded as the greatest innovation in self defense of the decade!
The haters have slammed the Judge so much they can't go back now and say it's a viable firearm. Even if a copy is now being made by one of their "approved" manufacturers.

I have two completely trouble free, reliable, and fun to shoot guns from Taurus. the a fore mentioned PD Poly, and a PT22 Poly. A Tracker 992 revolver is next, being very high on my short list!

 

[shortwave]

I can attest that the Judge loaded with 'home rolled' 410 shells a buddy of mine loads IS a snowball killing machine.

Too, my Judge has killed more then a few rotten tomatoes still hanging on the vine, numerous coons and to date, has one, sweet corn stealing fox squirrel to its credit that was heavily engrossed in having lunch in the garden.
A true killing machine, it is.

We have a blast with ours.

 

[Sarge]

What load are you guys using on the coons, Shortwave?

 

[mavracer]

Probably the best, and most truthful, fact based reviews of what the Judge can, and can't do.

Yep it's quite a bit bigger, holds 1 less round, is less powerful and less accurate making it a less effective SD weapon in every way.

Had S&W came out with the Governor first it would have been heralded as the greatest innovation in self defense of the decade!

Not by me I figured out the problems and limitations of a 45Colt 410 decades ago with a T/C contender.
If you're happy with your judge that's fine but there are better options.

 

[Cheapshooter]

^^^
Obviously you didn't watch both video reviews that disproved your negative comments.

Yep it's quite a bit bigger,

I think he said something on the order of "Nearly the same size"

is less powerful and less accurate

Not a direct quote, but something like "statistically equal" is how he described the power. Accuracy at 7 yds, the CCW testing standard, was equal as well.

I figured out the problems and limitations of a 45Colt 410 decades ago

Again, if you would watch the video reviews you will find out that 'decades ago" there was no 410 ammunition made exclusively to perform well in a short, handgun length barrel. Today there are, and as per the tests performed in the reviews they do quite well.

 

[mavracer]

Go ahead and ignore the facts from the video.
30 to 40 FPS less velocity
nearly 2" longer OAL and nearly twice the width.
5 rounds vs 6
and 5.5" at 25 yards is pathetic accuracy for a gun that size.
Sheesh get a reality check I don't care how many times you say 5 is about the same as 6, 6>5

 

[shortwave]

What load are you guys using on the coons, Shortwave?

Since most of the coons/opossum I've shot have been in the barn/storage house, they have been at short range. Have used #4 and 6's as well as BB's loaded up by a friend of mine.

If memory serves me correctly I killed the squirrel with 6's. I was sitting on the deck and noticed the top of a corn stalk shaking. He had climbed halfway up a corn stalk and was preoccupied with an ear of my prize sweet corn letting me sneak to about 15ft away.
Could have shot him from the deck with either the .22 or shotgun but I felt like practicing my 'ninja' tactics that day.

He died valorously(for a corn thief) and I can only hope he thought his last meal was a good one.

FWIW, The Winchester PDX-1 round sound like it might be a good round to try as well but I have no personal experience with it.

 

[Cheapshooter]

Go ahead and ignore the facts from the video.
30 to 40 FPS less velocity
nearly 2" longer OAL and nearly twice the width.
5 rounds vs 6
and 5.5" at 25 yards is pathetic accuracy for a gun that size.
Sheesh get a reality check I don't care how many times you say 5 is about the same as 6, 6>5

Name one SD target that will know the difference of 30 to 40 fps when he is hit with a 200 grain bullet!

Neither I or the reviewer have argued the Judge has the same capacity as the XDs.

25 yards is an unrealistic civilian SD distance for most except the internet educated mall ninja. Possible, but so unlikely as to be non existant. That was also covered in the reviews. Claim SD at 75 feet, and have a very good, and expensive, legal team ready.

To your Judge hater's talking point about the size, as they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words". Here is a side by side, one on top of the opther comparison of my Judge Public Defender Poly, and my cold weather EDC Springfield XD40 Sub Compact. Admittedly a bit wider than the XDs in the review, but still quite concealable, and comfortable in a Theis IWB hybrid holster.








And a Colt 1991a1 Compact I have, but don't use as a CCW weapon.



[URL=http://s549.photobucket.com/user/bobwehnert/media/JudgePoly015.jpg.html]

[/URL]

 

[Cheapshooter]

As far as accuracy, here is an example of my personal results with Winchester PDX1 225 gr. HP.

Slow fire, off hand S/A @ 10 yards.


Rapid fire off hand D/A @ 10 yards.

Reality check? I think "reality" is plainly shown here.

 

[shortwave]

Cheapshooter

The accuracy with my Judge shooting 45 LC at 10-12yds pretty much mirrors yours as well.

Slugs open up a bit more but are still center mass in the kill zone.

 

[mavracer]

check? I think "reality" is plainly shown here.

10 yards rapid fire

"There are better choices for SD than a Judge", does not mean it might not work fine, just that a gun that was smaller and lighter that holds more rounds and is far mor accurate would be better.

 

[Cheapshooter]

just that a gun that was smaller and lighter that holds more rounds and is far mor accurate would be better.

I count four hols, the other two must be completely off the target.
No, the Judge PD Poly is not the ideal SD firearm. But it is certainly not the useless "gimmick" it is described as being by it's detractors. As stated in the video reviews it would not make the perfect CCW, but would be an excellent night stand gun for home defense.
I have choices in my CCW EDC firearms from a warm weather grab and go LCP to a KAHR CM9 in a Theis IWB holster, or pocket carry to a Ruger LCR, and a Springer XD40 Subcompact. But my Poly fits the bill perfectly as an anti-carjacking devise riding between the seat, and console of my truck. 8 70 gr., 36 caliber projectiles @ over 800 fps point blank within less than two seconds is undeniably an attack stopping situation. Backed up by 3 rounds of 225 gr, 45 caliber hollow points. Do that with your "six shooter". Just saying.

 

[Sevens]

I believe the pictured revolver is a S&W J-frame, holds FIVE rounds, and the paper pretty clearly shows five shots, two of them having gone through the one hole in the bottom right corner of the group.

I'm not so sure that ONE person in an argument MUST be wrong every time.

Sometimes I wonder if the participants agree?