The Liberal Gun Club Forum

Well, true to my name, I added a new Judge to my collection. I already had the original-sized 6-inch barrel variety in stainless. I now have the Public Defender in stainless (with a two-inch barrel). I couldn't help myself. Yeah, I know, I know.

I'll write a review when I get to the range (hopefully later this week). I'll compare side by side both Judges and also my Bond Arms derringer chambered for, what do you know? .410/.45 colt.

On inspection, the Public Defender seems a lot like the full-sized version (it does have a larger-than-life engraving on the topstrap. In case you forget what you're holding you can look down and see that it says "Public Defender"). I went out of my way to get the older one with the low-profile hammer. Taurus started making them with a bigger spur but ever since somebody here introduced me to the phrase Hang and Bang (Yabus? Black Eagle? Curtis? I don't remember who) I've really started questioning why I should ever go near the hammer on a DA revolver in the first place. So far, so good.

Ok, I just said a lot without a range report. I'll shut up for now.

I haven't seen any .45 Colt ammo in the shops around here in a long time. Isn't it rather expensive when you do find it?

Can't wait.

You had to have a SMALLER one, Judge? Simmer and Rich is this Freudian

Yeah, a smaller one to undercomensate for the enormous size of my.....full sized Judge.

YabuUS, .45 indeed costs a lot, but I primarily fire .410. I like making pretty connect-the-dots! The Federal .410 000 is not as expensive (12-13 bucks for a box of 20).

Shot it today side by side with the full-size. Shot-for-shot, single action at 7 yards the guns shot identically with .45 colt. I also tested some 000 at closer ranges (I think 4 yards). Patterns looked about the same (4 pellets from the Federal .410's gave approximately an 8-inch spread).

Things took a different turn at double action. Again at 7 yards, the full size kept tighter groups. I guess that's no surprise with the longer sight radius. The first shot with the PD was always right where I wanted, with follow up shots getting sloppy. I'll blame muzzle climb and sloppy technique.

Overall, recoil was not bad at all. I could have shot it all day without so much as a hand cramp. I see the PD as the 'Heavy Option' to my Airweight, which starts to hurt after several cylinders. I like the trigger on the PD more as well.

Sorry this is not that technical of a review. I'm tired and I've lost the ability to use big words.

Let us know when you try the Raging Judge in .454 Casull / 410 shotgun...

Don't know what I'd do with .454. But the Raging Judge is a giant 7-shot cylinder, isn't it?

To shoot full house 454 loads, 7 rounds sounds like an awefull lot even in that bigger beefed up cylinder. I'm thinking 6 rounds most likely...maybe even 5.