For 2026, Taurus USA took a fresh look at one of its most popular platforms, the Judge revolver, and updated it with a new feature set while retaining the versatility that made it popular in the first place. Watch our "NRA Gun of the Week" video above to see what's changed.
"The Taurus Judge is an incredibly popular firearm, and this year, 2026, it is celebrating its 20th anniversary," American Rifleman Executive Editor Evan Brune said. "And they have a 20th anniversary of the original judge. But Taurus took the opportunity to take a look at the design and make a couple of updates. So to that end, you've got a few different things going on."
Visually, the biggest difference is in the trigger guard, where the New Taurus Judge has a squared-off guard versus the round trigger guard of older models. Inside the trigger guard, Taurus has also redesigned the trigger shoe, giving it a flatter, more angular profile that provides greater leverage for smoother double-action operation.
"The previous Judge used to have the sort of typical gutter-sight arrangement that you would see on revolvers," Brune said "They've done away with that and they've gone to a dovetailed rear sight, and that is paired with this really bright fiber-optic front sight as well."
In terms of controls, Taurus has also redesigned the cylinder-release latch on the left side of the frame, creating an ergonomically friendly release profile that sits within easy reach of a shooter's strong-hand thumb, allowing for quick access to the five-round cylinder for a fast reload. The grip also features redesigned ergonomics, and the hammer spur has been lowered and widened, allowing users to easily thumb it back for single-action operation.
"So Taurus, you gotta hand it to them," Brune said. "They know what works. They know what people like. And the Taurus Judge is a really popular firearm for a lot of folks out there. Contrary to public opinion, no, it is not really a shotgun in your hands. You're losing a lot with that 3-inch barrel, but it's still a potent defensive platform, nonetheless. So if you're looking for something with a little bit of versatility, which this absolutely does have, the Taurus Judge is something to take a closer look at."
For more details on the New Taurus Judge, see our complete First Look article here.
