Hickock45 judges The Judge

[TheTman]

Hickock45 does a lengthy test of The Judge, using a wide variety of ammo and targets, with some pretty interesting results: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRlry5KH6I0

[TheTman]

I had considered a Judge for my daughter, but I thought she would have more fun with a conventional pistol. The Judge seems kind of awkward to me. I think it would make 1 hell of a snake gun when loaded with birdshot.

[knkali]

great post. I saw that vid awhile ago. I learned a lot about the gun from it. I cannot get one in Kali but it seems not as effective as I thought it would be at fairly short distances but for up close and personal it is a man stopper for sure. If I could, I would have one. My 2 centavos

[Bawanna]

My son went with the Smith Governor. Pretty similar.
They are both pretty bulky and big but great snake medicine.

There's some special shot shells made pretty much just for those too. Rather nasty thing with odd shaped projectiles but effective.

[jocko]

I have always felt the judge or govner is the ultimate home defense gun. For me and if a home gun only i would buy the 3" 410 judge and have alot more variety of ammo choices, Big fokker though, but u don't need to be right on target and for a woman, that is good and also ur not gonna shoot through the wall and killur sleeping kid either, all things a woman and man will think about in ahome situation, let aloneshooting and knocking your neighbor off his front porch. I think it is one of the safest handguns for home use. Hickock has said it, and ol joco has said if for a number of years. Just sayin

Ihave two boxes of S & B 410 3" oo BUCK WITH 5 PELLETS IN IT. tHAT IS SOME FIREPAOWER imo.

i THINK i WOULD RATHER HAVE THE sMITH GOVONER BUT i AM NOT SUR ETHEY OFFER A 3" govoner.

[Surlyman]

I think if one can swing the extra pennies, the S&W Governor is the way to go.

6 rounds and the added ability to shoot .45 auto sells it over the Judge alone for me. You also get a front night sight and the ability to mix and match between the three options. Both are within an ounce of each other and one is not made in Brazil where it is near impossible to legally own a firearm.

Ive fired a Judge and it was a ton of fun, nothing wrong with it, I'd buy the poly version personally.

Wish Hickok could run them side by side and give his opinion.

[BEARDOG]

My Dad is looking to get one of these. I sent him the video link. Thank's for posting!

I wouldn't mind having one (but I wouldn't mind having one of just about everything LOL) for the wife for her HD gun. Llke Jocko said, and I agree it would work great in that role.

[BEARDOG]

I think if one can swing the extra pennies, the S&W Governor is the way to go.

6 rounds and the added ability to shoot .45 auto sells it over the Judge alone for me. You also get a front night sight and the ability to mix and match between the three options. Both are within an ounce of each other and one is not made in Brazil where it is near impossible to legally own a firearm.

Ive fired a Judge and it was a ton of fun, nothing wrong with it, I'd buy the poly version personally.

Wish Hickok could run them side by side and give his opinion.

Nice info Surlyman!
I have not really studied up on these .410 pistols,yet... but was thinking exactly that the other day. Instead of 45 long why not .45 ACP? Would be so much better for ammo choices and reloading. Do you use moon clips for them in the Gov.?

Edit; Yep moon clips...answered my own question by just watching a gunblast review on the Gov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNsnqZw1dkk

[Bawanna]

Yeah the moon clips are'nt much fun at the range practicing. You also need to clean the cylinder well since there's about a quarter mile of free bore before you hit the forcing cone but they are surprisingly accurate.

I like the 45 Colt better. But like ya say 45acp is a lot easier to find and lots more options.

[RRP]

Seriously, 45 ACP?

If the goal is to shoot 45 ACP, there are far better platforms from which to do that.

The strength of this pistol is its ability to shoot .410 from a compact package.

[Surlyman]

Seriously, 45 ACP?

If the goal is to shoot 45 ACP, there are far better platforms from which to do that.

The strength of this pistol is its ability to shoot .410 from a compact package.

Most defiantly, and both options fit that bill.

But one ALSO shoots ACP, and has other advantages as well.

[BEARDOG]

Yeah the moon clips are'nt much fun at the range practicing. You also need to clean the cylinder well since there's about a quarter mile of free bore before you hit the forcing cone but they are surprisingly accurate.

I like the 45 Colt better. But like ya say 45acp is a lot easier to find and lots more options.

Good point taken. I Still like the ability to shoot all three. And its a Smith.
Taking Dad to a gun show in 2 weeks, so we will try to check them both out.

[Surlyman]

The only advantage I see coming form the Judge would be the poly variant as its about 3oz lighter and obviously a bit more compact than the S&W, but I don't see many choosing this as a carry option.

[Bawanna]

I thought the trigger and some of the cosmetics were better on the Governor. Either will work fine, both are large.

I did hold a poly version Judge and it did feel pretty good with those Ribber grips.

[TheTman]

I like that Govenor with the 6 shots.
I wonder if something like a 45-70, cartridge would fit in the cylinder, to place the bullet closer to the barrel. I'm not suggesting a full power 45-70, as loaded for a rifle, but a handload, with an appropriate amount of some kind of large grain powder, with maybe a plastic wad to take up the space left between the bullet and powder. I was thinking perhaps that might make the gun more accurate, with the bullet not having to travel down the unrifled length of the cylinder, before getting to the barrel. Just a thought.
After looking at the case dimensions, I don't think it would fit into the cylinder, I guess there is a slight taper to the case. I didn't know it was tapered like that.
Maybe there is an opening here for some entrepreneur to develop something that would work to get the bullet closer to the barrel.