Taurus Judge - 2 1/2” or 6”?

[gdr_11]

Getting ready to buy a Judge to carry outside with .410 ammo for snakes. Cant decide on the snubby for weight and holster comfort or the long barrel for reduced recoil and better patterns.

Would appreciate any input. Also any experience on # 9 vs # 8 shot in this gun.

 

[Hoji]

have experience with the 6”.

Worthless.
Shot a rabbit at about 10’ , mid body, with #6. Tracked fur and blood ( very faint) for over 100 yards before it got into a green briar jungle.

The pattern with the bird shot is so wide at 10’ that it is worthless. At 2-5’ if might be tight enough to kill a snake, but you would be inside the strike zone.

 

[skfullgun]

My experience mirrors Hoji's.
I've had much better luck with a .22 revolver and birdshot. Even in my little NAA revolver I get decent enough patterns to take out copperheads at 6-8'.

 

[G O B]

2 1/2. The 6" throws doughnuts, due to the longer rifling. The shorty throws decent shot patterns, and still maintains acceptable accuracy with .45 LC - at 'social distances'.

 

[gdr_11]

You guys got me thinking now. I have been using a 6” .22 WMR with the #9 shot shells and it does a decent job on snakes but you need to be close. I tried the .38 Special shot shells out of a 4” revolver and the pattern was crap. Was hoping the Judge would give me better results

 

[Hoji]

You guys got me thinking now. I have been using a 6” .22 WMR with the #9 shot shells and it does a decent job on snakes but you need to be close. I tried the .38 Special shot shells out of a 4” revolver and the pattern was crap. Was hoping the Judge would give me better results

A long stick is just as effective, less dangerous to you, and can also be used to just scoot them along if killing is not required.

 

[Tex929rr]

My experience mirrors Hoji's.
I've had much better luck with a .22 revolver and birdshot. Even in my little NAA revolver I get decent enough patterns to take out copperheads at 6-8'.

Same for me, I went back to carrying my 629 (4inch) with snake shot I loaded myself.

 

[Axxe55]

Having shot a few of them with various different shotshells, for snakes, there are much better options than the Judge.

 

[Hoji]

Having shot a few of them with various different shotshells, for snakes, there are much better options than the Judge.

Long stick being magnitudes better choice, lol

 

[cliffhanger]

am impressed with the judge public defender with #6 or #7.5 2.5 in bird loads it has turned many a rattlesnake into a good snake,,,,, distance is something to be considered but ,,, Has done a good job for us

 

[retired deputy]

I would favor the 6". But I would go that route more for the 45 colt application.

If you are close enough to the snake, you don't really have to worry about holes in the pattern. If you are shy and keeping your distance, then you do have a problem.