Judge ammo help

Did some testing a while back with a friend's judge and the federal 000 Buck had the best groupings. I'm sure .45 Colt ammo would get the job done but I don't think the +p ammo is a good idea for a female shooter.

When we tested it at 15-20 feet all 4 pellets of the federal 000 buck easily went through a 5/8" plywood sheet as well as an old wooden door we had behind the plywood.

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federal 000 Buck had the best groupings

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Correct 25 yards and in, all 4 pellets will be in a group about the size of a baseball or smaller.

Bird shot goes everywhere... not good out of the judge.

master judge haters caliber arguers checking in

Yes, OP.. the judge is a terrible choice. She needs a GLOCK, GLOCKs are great guns for women. The new GLOCK .380 would be great for her..

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What's wrong with that?

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I just think there are better options. That's all. If the reason was to get a SD weapon was because of the .410, I believe it needs more barrel to get proper velocity. I went to a website that showed that most didn't even penetrate to 10 inches in ballistics gel. The average for the load is only like 3-4". If the reason was to get a 45 LC, why? Get a modern caliber or .357. I just see no reason for the Judge in SD. Great for snakes and stuff though.

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I just think there are better options.

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Ii agree. And I hate the Judge.

Which model did she get -- the 2.5" barrel or the 3" barrel ?

Here's a test from the Box-of-Truth" using the 2.5" bbl.
LINK

They later did a second test with the 3" bbl. model. It did a lot better, but there's still a ton of difference between a Judge and a real shotgun. I think it be an OK "snake gun" to tote in the woods (but I'd still rather have a 9mm revolver, or a .38 SPL. revolver, loaded with CCI snakeshot for that application).

IIRC Tom Givens tested the Judge with pellets and with the .45LC. I'll try to find his review -- I know it was negative.

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Before Bapple posts his videos, she already bought the gun. So no handguns for womenz video for me.

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I agree the Judge is pretty bad for self defense. The short, rifled barrel makes the wad spin as it leaves the barrel, causing your pattern to go everywhere.

You will get "poor groupings" from 45 LC out of the judge since the bullet has to travel so far before it contacts the rifling. While it may not group well, it will do fine for self defense distances.

Before she shoots it and makes it a "used" gun, I would suggest selling it and getting something better. But you knew I was gonna say that anyway...

Hickok45 did a Judge ammo test video I believe

I got no beef with the 45 lc. 410 out of a 2.5 inch barrel is the issue.

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I got no beef with the 45 lc. 410 out of a 2.5 inch barrel is the issue.

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It's like Dawg said. The Judge does "everything" simply "ok," rather than doing one thing VERY well. It doesn't shoot 45LC worth a crap because not only is the rifling very far from the bullet itself, it is also shallow to not rip into the wad of a 410 shot.

Plus, like I said, the short barrel doesn't have as much to do with it as the rifled barrel does. IT spins the wad as it leaves the barrel, making your shot scatter everywhere.

But, if you're forced to use it, or she doesn't want anything else, I would load it with either Winchester PXD1 or some 45LC JHPs.

That CZ75 would sure be a nice pistol for her though. Has much more ammo, less felt recoil, better sights, a better grip, less weight out front, and has actual accuracy.