NRA Gun of the Week: Taurus Judge Pistol

American Rifleman Staff

posted on June 25, 2016

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The DA/SA Taurus Judge revolver—celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2016— was described best by Wiley Clapp in a 2009 American Rifleman evaluation: A 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

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