Taurus revolver frame size/match-up??
Hello Folks!
I just got a Taurus Judge Public Defender Ultra-Lite (and a partridge in a pear tree..) and the ribber grip length isn't going to cut it for my big-block size hands! I knew that when I got it but I also knew I'd get some after market grips. My question is this; my Judge is the CCW sized version but NOT the polymer frame type. So, does my frame match up with the Tracker series of Taurus revolvers or, rather, with the small frame (ie. model 85) version!?!? I have no way, nor do I have two Taurus models as mentioned, to match up dimensions side-by-side. I read all over the "net" and I can't find my EXACT question answered.
Thanks for any of your help ahead of time. I'm also going to call Hogue tomorrow but you know how you can get your question lost in the vapor sometimes.....
Jim
GunHawk on GunBroker
I just got a Taurus Judge Public Defender Ultra-Lite (and a partridge in a pear tree..) and the ribber grip length isn't going to cut it for my big-block size hands! I knew that when I got it but I also knew I'd get some after market grips. My question is this; my Judge is the CCW sized version but NOT the polymer frame type. So, does my frame match up with the Tracker series of Taurus revolvers or, rather, with the small frame (ie. model 85) version!?!? I have no way, nor do I have two Taurus models as mentioned, to match up dimensions side-by-side. I read all over the "net" and I can't find my EXACT question answered.
Thanks for any of your help ahead of time. I'm also going to call Hogue tomorrow but you know how you can get your question lost in the vapor sometimes.....
Jim
GunHawk on GunBroker
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I'd suggest avoiding all the middle-men and just calling Taurus directly.
A quick look at their website says this steel mini-Judge is built on their small frame; I'd imagine then that by design it will take any grips that will fit its model 85 and other small snubnose revolvers.
IIRC, the Taurus grips are also dimensionally similar to the Smith J frame revolver grips, and although the two are not identical, it may be possible to get Smith J frame grips to work with some fitting.
As an aside, I can't believe Taurus has put out a polymer snubnose version of this POS for use as a concealed carry gun, but amazingly enough, yes, they actually have.
I could rant on this for an hour, but instead, I'll just note that
a. The extra long cylinder length on this "snubnose" gun gives you the overall length of a 4" bbl revolver (9"), but with only a 2.5" actual barrel length. In other words, you're giving up probably the biggest single advantage of a snubnose. . compact size. Maybe this tradeoff would be OK, if the .410 actually offered something useful, unfortunately. . .
b. The .410 round is decent enough round for self-defense. . .against snakes. Against angry humans? Nearly worthless. Shotshell doesn't hold much payload, and velocity is significantly limited by a snubnose barrel. If you just want to blind your adversary, you should be using pepper spray; its easier to hit with, and carries fewer issues of liability. I see NO reason to load .410 for defense if you have the ability to use .45LC.
c. Recoil from a polymer snubnose with .45LC is going to be "brisk".
d. .45 LC ammo is not going to be found on the shelf at your local Walmart or Sporting goods store.
I think reasons c and d are the two big ones why .45LC snubnose guns generally end up being commercial flops (eg prior ones by Smith and Taurus).0 -
quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
I'd suggest avoiding all the middle-men and just calling Taurus directly.
A quick look at their website says this steel mini-Judge is built on their small frame; I'd imagine then that by design it will take any grips that will fit its model 85 and other small snubnose revolvers.
IIRC, the Taurus grips are also dimensionally similar to the Smith J frame revolver grips, and although the two are not identical, it may be possible to get Smith J frame grips to work with some fitting.
As an aside, I can't believe Taurus has put out a polymer snubnose version of this POS for use as a concealed carry gun, but amazingly enough, yes, they actually have.
I could rant on this for an hour, but instead, I'll just note that
a. The extra long cylinder length on this "snubnose" gun gives you the overall length of a 4" bbl revolver (9"), but with only a 2.5" actual barrel length. In other words, you're giving up probably the biggest single advantage of a snubnose. . compact size. Maybe this tradeoff would be OK, if the .410 actually offered something useful, unfortunately. . .
b. The .410 round is decent enough round for self-defense. . .against snakes. Against angry humans? Nearly worthless.
The 410 is not nearly worthless as a defensive round against angry humans; the slug load has low recoil, moves out at approx. 1250fps, and carries enough energy to pass through a skinny guy.
the rest of your evaluation stands.
Shotshell doesn't hold much payload, and velocity is significantly limited by a snubnose barrel. If you just want to blind your adversary, you should be using pepper spray; its easier to hit with, and carries fewer issues of liability. I see NO reason to load .410 for defense if you have the ability to use .45LC.
c. Recoil from a polymer snubnose with .45LC is going to be "brisk".
d. .45 LC ammo is not going to be found on the shelf at your local Walmart or Sporting goods store.
I think reasons c and d are the two big ones why .45LC snubnose guns generally end up being commercial flops (eg prior ones by Smith and Taurus).0 -
quote:The 410 is not nearly worthless as a defensive round against angry humans; the slug load has low recoil, moves out at approx. 1250fps, and carries enough energy to pass through a skinny guy.
the rest of your evaluation stands.
Well, I didn't really consider slugs, because presumably if you want a "solid" load, you'd be loading with .45LC bullets, not .410 slugs.
To explore further, a typical 2.5" .410 slug weighs only 90 grains, making it comparable in mass to a .380ACP round, or maybe a super-light .38 special. Some of the "magnum" .410 slugs weigh 110 grains.
From a 20" SHOTGUN barrel, a .410 slug will get 1650 fps, making this somewhat similar to .357 magnum ballistics (again with a light bullet). The velocity drops off pretty fast, but that's plenty good for defense at close range, I think.
The ballistic data I have shows that from a short 2.5" snubnose barrel the .410 slug only gets about 1100 fps (1250 is from a 4" bbl).
Compare that to say 1000 fps from a 90 grain Corbon from one of those pocket .380s like the KelTec, or roughly 1000 fps from the Corbon 110 grain .38 special +P from a 2" snubnose.
So ballistic performance of a .410 slug from the Taurus snubnose is comparable to a lightweight .38 special +P round, or maybe slightly better than a .380ACP.
Sure, that should be "good enough" for defense, though IMO still not enough reason to pick the "Judge" snubnose over a less bulky, easier to tote, and less expensive .38 snubnose (let alone a .357 which can easily surpass the .410 slug ballistics, if you like).
From the same short barrel a good .45 Colt can give you 900 fps with a double-weight 225 grain .45 slug. That's pretty good ballistics, fully comparable to ball .45ACP from a 5" Gov't 1911. If you're going to carry something like this Judge for defense, IMO that's what you should be loaded with. If for whatever reason you don't want to carry .45LC rounds, you might as well carry a .357 or .38.0
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