The Taurus Judge .45 Colt/.410 Shotshell Defender was originally reviewed in October 2015.

I have always admired the versatility of revolvers. For example, a .357 Magnum revolver can be loaded hot for hunting or defense, or down-loaded with .38 Special for reduced recoil. The same versatility is found in the .44 Magnum revolver, which can also fire the lower-powered .44 Special round.

But perhaps the most versatile revolver cartridge combination yet is .45 Colt and the .410 shotgun shell. Despite the difference in caliber designations, both perform well when fired through a rifled .45 Colt barrel. That versatility is the foundation of the Taurus Judge, a revolver that has now been in continuous production for nearly two decades.

The Taurus Judge: Origins and Early Adoption

First introduced in 2006, the Taurus Judge is a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) revolver. Its elongated cylinder allows it to chamber 2 ½-inch or 3-inch .410-gauge shotgun shells. Because the barrel is rifled, the Judge is not considered a sawed-off shotgun or “dangerous ordnance” by federal law, meaning anyone who can legally own a firearm can own a Taurus Judge.

The Judge was so named when the executive vice president at the time learned judges in Miami, Florida, were buying the original Taurus 4410 revolver for self-defense in courtrooms. Judges favored the .410 shell because it offered less risk of over-penetration in confined spaces than traditional revolver cartridges, including the .45 Colt.

My Original 2015 Evaluation

In 2015, Taurus sent me a 3-inch-barreled M4510 stainless steel Judge with 3-inch chambers. The revolver weighed 36.8 ounces and was mostly matte-finished stainless steel with polished controls (hammer, trigger, cylinder latch release and ejector rod). It was a utilitarian but attractive appearance.

The Judge was equipped with Taurus black rubber “Ribber” grips, a groove rear sight cut into the top strap, and a red fiber-optic front sight.

At the Range

I shot the Judge from 30 feet, testing three different ammo types.

  • With Buffalo Bore standard-pressure 200-grain .45 Colt Gold Dot, producing 1,100 fps and 537 foot-pounds of energy, recoil was noticeable but manageable. This load would be my choice for trail defense against large animals. I was able to hold a 4-inch group, and despite the long cylinder, the revolver pointed naturally and operated smoothly.
  • Winchester Super-X 2½-inch 000 buckshot loads produced lighter recoil but the pattern was noticeably larger. At 30 feet, each shell spread its pellets in the 10-inch range. With this particular load, 30 feet is the safe maximum range for self-defense but does still present a high risk that one pellet may be off target if not hit dead center. This load would not be preferred for defensive use.
  • The Hornady Critical Defense .410 is loaded with a specially designed plain lead .41-caliber FTX bullet followed by two .35-caliber lead balls. Muzzle velocity is 750 feet per second, generating 294 foot-pounds of energy for the combined projectiles. All three projectiles landed in a 2-inch group.

If I were carrying the Judge for general self-defense, I would load it with Hornady Critical Defense .410 ammunition and carry a Tuff Products QuickStrip loaded with .45 Colt as a reload.

Where We Are Now: Almost 20 Years of the Judge

When I reviewed the Judge in 2015, Taurus offered 10 models. As it approaches 20 years, Taurus now offers 19 variants. Smith & Wesson introduced the six-shot Governor in 2011, which added .45 ACP capability to the revolver’s chambering via included half-moon clips.

Though the S&W Governor initially appeared to be the better option with its three different cartridges, Smith & Wesson has remained largely static with its two stainless steel versions. Taurus, by contrast, has continued expanding and refining the Judge line.

Added to the original Judge is the Public Defender, Executive Grade, Magnum, Raging Judge, Toro, Toro Magnum and Home Defender, each offering multiple variations.

Notable Taurus Judge Variants

Judge Public Defender

With a 2-inch barrel, the Public Defender is one of the most compact versions of the Taurus Judge. It is chambered for .45 Colt and 2 ½-inch .410 cartridges and available in a matte oxide or stainless-steel finish.
MSRP: $663.99

Public Defender Poly

The Poly variant of the Judge Public Defender is finished in a black polymer for a more futuristic look. It is lighter than the original Public Defender at 27 ounces. This Judge features a partially vent-ribbed top strap for heat dispersion and a sleeker cylinder latch release.
MSRP: $606.99

Taurus Judge Magnums

The Taurus Judge Magnum models are chambered for the 3-inch .410 shotgun shell. Honestly, though, the ballistics comparison shows a limited velocity advantage over the 2 ½-inch version.

Ammunition Brand Gauge Shot Size/
Pellet Count		 Muzzle Velocity
Federal Personal Defense .410 2 ½ inch 000 Buck

4 Pellets

 850 feet per second
Federal Personal Defense .410 3 inch 000 Buck

5 Pellets

 775 feet per second

The 75 feet-per-second increase comes with more heft, as the Magnum weighs 37 ounces, compared to the 3-inch stainless-steel Taurus Judge at 29 ounces. Though this one does offer the additional load option, at age 68, I tend to go with weight savings when I can.
MSRP: $731.99

Judge Executive Grade

Though Taurus revolvers had a reputation for reliability, they weren’t often known for being as attractive as the S&W revolvers from which they were derived. The Taurus Judge Executive Grade has changed that, though. This hand-fitted model is assembled by a specialty team of gunsmiths, ensuring an exquisite finish. And the hand-tuned action results in a smoother and more precise trigger pull.

This revolver is beautifully finished with a polishing treatment that really shines. Instead of a fiber optic front sight, the Executive Grade features a brass-bead sight. The factory custom wood grips look nice, but with the widest part of the grip at the bottom, it can be more difficult for shooting control. It is a beautifully rendered yet still practical handgun.
MSRP: $1,114.99

Taurus Judge Toro and Toro Magnum

The Taurus Judge Toro and Toro Magnum are available in blue and stainless-steel versions and come equipped with the ever-popular red-dot pistol sight. Chambered for the .45 Colt and 2 ½ inch .410 Shotshell, the Toro series is pre-cut for Holosun K-Series and Shield RMSC footprint optics, though an optic is not included with the gun. Factory sights are fixed and fiber optic.
MSRP: $731.99.

Judge Home Defender

Taurus jumped on the short-barreled pistol grip shotgun trend with the Home Defender. The Home Defender is built on the standard Judge five-shot revolver with a 3-inch cylinder and is chambered in .45 ACP/.410. The frame and 13-inch barrel are black-finished alloy steel and the pistol grip is rubberized.

The Home Defender does not come with front or rear sights; however, a strip of Picatinny rail sits atop the receiver for mounting optics. With its double-action revolver firing system, the Taurus Judge Home Defender can quickly deliver six shot or slug loads, and its short size make it easy to maneuver in a home or at camp.

Specs:
Overall length: 19.5 inches
Overall weight: 3.66  pounds
MSRP: $891.99.

The Taurus Judge Continues to Endure

If someone had asked me 15 years ago whether Taurus would still be expanding the Judge lineup, I would have been skeptical … and wrong. The Taurus Judge has proven to be a durable, adaptable concept that continues to evolve. Based on both my original testing and the breadth of current offerings, it’s clear Taurus is doing something right.

Sources:

Taurus: TaurusUSA.com
Federal: FederalPremium.com