NRA Gun of the Week: Taurus Judge Pistol

by
posted on June 25, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
The DA/SA Taurus Judge revolver—celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2016— was described best by Wiley Clapp in a 2009 American Rifleman evaluationA conventional revolver in all other respects, the Judge comes with fixed sights and double-action single-action lockwork. It is deliberately contrived to shoot shotgun shells, but its short (usually) 3" barrel is rifled to keep the gun from falling under the provisions of the National Firearms Act as a short-barreled shotgun. With .45 Colt ammunition, the Judge is a good short-range conventional revolver. With .410 shotshells, it becomes a host of different things. It can be a varmint gun for use on dangerous pests, a sporting gun with clay pigeons or other thrown targets, a small-game gun in survival situations and—probably most significantly—a defensive revolver with decisive terminal ballistics. ... It’s a load to carry and a handful to shoot, but the Judge is a powerful solution to the defense gun needs of many shooters..  

The Judge has stood the test of time so much so that it has earned its place as an NRA Gun of the Week. Learn more in this video hosted by American Rifleman's Kelly Young.  

For more information on Taurus and its line of pistols like this one here, visit taurususa.com.  

Manufacturer: Taurus International Mfg, Inc.  
Model: Judge
Action: DA/SA revolver
Caliber: .45 Colt/.410 bore (2.5” chamber)
Barrel: 3”, six-groove
Trigger: hammer-fired; double action, 10 lbs., 4.5 ozs.; single action, 5 lbs., 15 ozs.
Frame: stainless
Finish: matte
Sights: fiber-optic post front, rear frame notch
Capacity: five
Weight: 29 ozs.
MSRP: $600

For more on the Taurus Judge, please enjoy the following articles:

The Judge Rules 
Taurus Judge Video Review

Latest

2026 New Suppressor Guide
2026 New Suppressor Guide

New Suppressors for 2026: A Full Guide

With the removal of the $200 NFA tax stamp on suppressors, the only sound reverberating across the firearms landscape is “cha-ching.”

MDT Now Offering Lone Peak Arms Rifle Actions

Earlier in 2026, MDT announced that it had acquired Lone Peak Arms, and now, the company's rifle actions are available to consumers.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 31, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

NRA-ILA Launches First-Ever National “Gun Bus Battleground Tour” to Mobilize Gun Owners for 2026 Midterms

The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) today launched its first-ever national bus tour, the 2026 NRA’s Gun Bus Battleground Tour, a more than two-month, 13-state campaign to energize and turn out gun owners in key battleground states ahead of the November midterm elections.

Review: TriStar KR.22

Manufactured by Kral Arms in Turkey, the TriStar Arms KR.22 is a lightweight semi-automatic that offers everything you need to get started or to perfect what you’ve learned over the years.

Safe Space: 5 Must-Have Accessories to Organize Your Gun Safe

It's a perennial problem for gun owners: not enough safe space. Here are five organizing products that will help you squeeze a bit more in your existing gun safe before you have to run out and buy another.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.