I think marketing may have played a roll because if I remember correctly, there was not much of it. Couple that with high priced, hard to find ammo and you have the potential for a flop on your hands. Someone earlier said something to the effect of "If Walmart doesn't stock the ammo, I'm not interested". While many of us disagree with that mentality, that's the case with a good many people.
I think the way Taurus marketed the judge is something other manufactures should consider when looking to release a new caliber. Taurus didn't invent the .410 but they certainly had a hand in resurrecting it. I know some one will chime in and say they've been shooting their .410 rifle twice before breakfast since 1932, but before the judge, I never saw so much .410 ammo and in such variety.
Taurus took the .410, a round with question ballistics and meant for a rifle, stuffed it into a giant revolver and sold it as the answer to everyone's SD problems. And it worked! People swear by them. They buy them for their wives and tell them to put it in their purse. That's how you market a product.
The .327 on the other hand is far better than a .410 (for SD) and can fit into a sensible sized gun suited for carry. It's also easy to shoot so it makes sense for someone who can't handle bigger calibers. Now why did the .327, with practical defense applications, not enjoy the same success as the .410 and judge? I think it all comes down to marketing.
