Thoughts on Judge?
- Thread starter spencerhenry
- Start date
R.Morehouse
Gold $$ Contributor
If she is not going to get training, my suggestion is a 20g double-barrel coach gun with an attached laser/strobe flashlight combo. Keep a phone attached to the stock and the gun close enough to an outlet to keep the phone plugged in. Don't keep it stored with the barrels pointed up and uncovered....Best of luck.
Regards
Rick
Regards
Rick
I saw a great explanation of the terminal effect of pistols versus rifles. VELOCITY is what makes an indirect hit (non-vitals) from a .308 lethal, whereas it is possible to survive multiple gunshots from a .357 Mag if no vital organ are hit. Testing has determined that the body's tissue is able to absorb and dissipate the vast majority of the energy/force of a slower velocity bullet (sub 2,200 fps). At velocities in excess of 2,200 fps, the bullet doesn't need to hit vital because it tears open a permanent wound channel causing massive hemorrhaging in surrounding tissue and organs.
What this means to us from a self-defense perspective is there is little difference to shooting with a 9mm, .40cal, 10mm, .45ACP, or .44 Mag, or 45 Long Colt (ie Judge). The body will dissipate these different amounts of energy with similar effect. The only terminal difference between these cartridges is the diameter of the hole (.38" - .45"). It took me a while to get my mind around this fact. From a practical standpoint for the shooter there are massive differences between these calibers. Not just the size of gun and ammo capacity, but most importantly the amount of recoil and ability to quickly & accurate place a follow-up shot(s).
The 9mm is the way to go for both recoil management and capacity, where a single stack can still get 10 rounds and in a double stack is 14-19 rounds give or take. Find the make and model that both fits your hand and also gives you a sense of mental confidence. If you like/trust in your gun then your are more likely to use it for fun/practice... and if bad things happen then you are better prepared.
What this means to us from a self-defense perspective is there is little difference to shooting with a 9mm, .40cal, 10mm, .45ACP, or .44 Mag, or 45 Long Colt (ie Judge). The body will dissipate these different amounts of energy with similar effect. The only terminal difference between these cartridges is the diameter of the hole (.38" - .45"). It took me a while to get my mind around this fact. From a practical standpoint for the shooter there are massive differences between these calibers. Not just the size of gun and ammo capacity, but most importantly the amount of recoil and ability to quickly & accurate place a follow-up shot(s).
The 9mm is the way to go for both recoil management and capacity, where a single stack can still get 10 rounds and in a double stack is 14-19 rounds give or take. Find the make and model that both fits your hand and also gives you a sense of mental confidence. If you like/trust in your gun then your are more likely to use it for fun/practice... and if bad things happen then you are better prepared.
wedgy
Gold $$ Contributor
As stated to be effective she needs to practice to where handling, aiming, cycling, and shooting are 2nd nature, even in the dark, groggy when you just woke up, etc. because if it is needed she will be under extreme duress and no thinking straight. Deterrents such as security lights, cameras, alarms, etc. might help as he may case the place before he makes a move and you may get video of him. Bear spray may be more effective if she's not going to become proficient with the pistol. That stuff is like a fire extinguisher and will get everyone in a house. Sorry you have to go thru this. Before I met her my GF had a stalker in college and had to drop out, she was a wreck and couldn't even think straight.
Old Navy
Gold $$ Contributor
There is a young lady that should own a Pit Bull.
A short barreled 20 ga with #4 buck is what I always suggest for homeland security. Mossy & Rem both make short barreled turkey guns with threaded chokes (cyl bore for short range). Have her practice at 3-7 yards.
MikeT49
Gold $$ Contributor
The Judge has a rifled barrel, not a smooth bore. Tends to open up the pattern. My Judge with 3" PDX1 shells makes an 14" pattern at 7'. The four discs make about a 3" line with the 16 pellets in a nice 14" spread around them. I just went out in my back yard and refreshed my memory. 00 buck rounds (5 pellets) at 7' make a 3" pattern. I only shot twice, otherwise, my neighbor lady down the road tends to hop on her broom and fly around squawking.
Mine weighs 2.5# loaded, the recoil is very manageable. I have installed Crimson Trace lazer grips. Put dot on target, pull trigger, done deal.
Mine weighs 2.5# loaded, the recoil is very manageable. I have installed Crimson Trace lazer grips. Put dot on target, pull trigger, done deal.
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Lots of good advice here, not going to disagree with any of it, but don’t be sleeping on the Judge or Governor. A Glock 17 is on the night stand right now and goes with me almost everywhere, I shoot it for fun and in amateur competitions, very familiar with it and lots of rounds on target. Not long ago, the door going into the garage did not latch well and popped open about 4 am setting off the alarm, the first thing I saw was the wife’s Governor, grabbed it and a light and headed through the house not really knowing what I would find. Having something a little wider than .355 was comforting and I think lowered my stress level somewhat, I was up and moving but certainly not 100% especially in the vision department, so pointing was much more appealing than aiming.
I went and looked at a Judge. It is not small or light. I saw the same ads everyone else saw with a woman definding herself with a Judge, but in real life it is not easy to conceal and weighs way more than I want to carry.
If your girlfriend wants a .410 shotgun for home defense that she does not intend to carry, the little Mosberg pump is a good choice. It holds 5 rounds if you take the plug out and has minamal recoil. I bought 444 rifle brass to load mine with. I like the all brass shell and they last a lot longer than the plastic shells. They are a little shorter than thr 2 1/2 inch shells but will hold plenty of powder and shot and they cycle thru the little punp gun very smoothly.
If your girlfriend wants a .410 shotgun for home defense that she does not intend to carry, the little Mosberg pump is a good choice. It holds 5 rounds if you take the plug out and has minamal recoil. I bought 444 rifle brass to load mine with. I like the all brass shell and they last a lot longer than the plastic shells. They are a little shorter than thr 2 1/2 inch shells but will hold plenty of powder and shot and they cycle thru the little punp gun very smoothly.
I bought my wife a Judge years ago. I agree 100% that it does NOT make for a good carry gun (too big, too heavy, and I couldn’t find any good holster options).
One would think that #6 shot or so would be enough to “deter someone”, however when we tested it shooting 8” steel knock-over plates at 30 feet, it wouldn’t even knock them down. It will throw a pattern about the size of a doorway from
that distance though. Would I want to be shot with it knowing that? Of course not - but I don’t have any confidence it would stop a motivated attacker.
I keep her loaded with buckshot, and she keeps it by the bed. I think the Judge makes a good house gun, and a little extra insurance that she won’t have a jam or malfunction helps me with my piece of mind.
I had recently bought a HK VP9 SK for a carry gun. My wife shot it one time, and really liked it! 9mm shoots pretty soft in this pistol, and it is SUPER ACCURATE! The wife liked line so much, she told me to buy another one cause she is keeping mine. When she has her friends over to shoot pistols with, they all fall in love with it too. I don’t know what it is, but nearly everyone who has shot her pistol does very very well with it.
One would think that #6 shot or so would be enough to “deter someone”, however when we tested it shooting 8” steel knock-over plates at 30 feet, it wouldn’t even knock them down. It will throw a pattern about the size of a doorway from
that distance though. Would I want to be shot with it knowing that? Of course not - but I don’t have any confidence it would stop a motivated attacker.
I keep her loaded with buckshot, and she keeps it by the bed. I think the Judge makes a good house gun, and a little extra insurance that she won’t have a jam or malfunction helps me with my piece of mind.
I had recently bought a HK VP9 SK for a carry gun. My wife shot it one time, and really liked it! 9mm shoots pretty soft in this pistol, and it is SUPER ACCURATE! The wife liked line so much, she told me to buy another one cause she is keeping mine. When she has her friends over to shoot pistols with, they all fall in love with it too. I don’t know what it is, but nearly everyone who has shot her pistol does very very well with it.
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