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 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

Latest

IHTOG Lee Metford 1
IHTOG Lee Metford 1

I Have This Old Gun: The British Lee-Metford Rifle

In the late 1880s, the British military adopted its first bolt-action rifle chambered for the .303 British cartridge. This is the Lee-Metford, the first step on the way to the iconic Lee-Enfield.

Colt Delivers M4A1 Rifles to Guatemala Through Foreign Military Sales Program

Guatemala’s military recently acquired more than 2,000 Colt M4A1 rifles through the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales program as part of the country's ongoing military modernization efforts.

NRA Launches New Texas Senate Ad as Part of Multi-Million Dollar Campaign to Retain Pro-Gun Majorities in Congress

The NRA today released a new 30-second ad highlighting Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico’s longstanding support for banning so-called “assault weapons” and standard-capacity magazines—the firearms and accessories owned by millions of law-abiding Texans.

Going Pro: Springfield Armory's Echelon Pro Comp

Springfield Armory has expanded its Echelon line of handguns with several new Echelon Pro Comp offerings, bringing a number of what the company calls "performance-oriented enhancements" to the platform.

Steel Yourselves—Metal is Back

These days, it’s safe to say that injection-molded polymer of some sort is the most prevalent material from which to construct a pistol frame, but lately, that trend seems to be reversing. Metal is back.

NRA-ILA Names National Shooting Sports Foundation Official Partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour

This sponsorship through NSSF’s Protect Liberty PAC puts the firearms industry trade association on the road through Election Day.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.