Taurus introduced the “Public Defender” revolver, another in the line of the Judge revolvers, at the 2009 SHOT Show.
Chambering the same .45 Colt and .410 shotshells as the other handguns in the Judge line, the Public Defender is built on a smaller frame (the 85 series frame), and is clearly designed for concealed carry. The Public Defender still chambers five rounds, yet is smaller and lighter, weighing only 28.2 ounces for the stainless or blued versions, and 26 ounces for the blued steel/titanium cylinder model.
The Public Defender has a three-inch barrel topped with a red fiber optic sight. The rear sight is a fixed notch. The hammer has been reduced, meaning it is less likely to catch on clothing during a draw, but it can still be cocked for a single action, precision shot. The Public Defender wears a set of the Taurus Ribber grips.
The Public Defender felt a touch front-heavy, but that is probably a good thing for helping to manage recoil. While this gun is nowhere near the size of a J-frame snubbie, it is noticeably smaller than the previous Judge models. If you want to carry a .410/.45 Colt, this is the best package to do it concealed.
I spoke with a sales rep on day one of SHOT who said the pricing on the Public Defender would be around $500 for the blued and stainless models. The titanium model will be about $600. A Taurus rep on day two of SHOT also quoted me the same general numbers.
Update
Since its introduction at the 2009 SHOT Show, the Taurus Public Defender has become one of the more popular handguns in this series of Brazilian revolvers. Â The Public Defender is a more compact version of the Judge and is therefore much easier to carry concealed. Â This gun matched up with some .410 loads specifically designed for these revolvers could be a devastating close-defense firearm.
72 replies on “Taurus Judge Public Defender”
Richard, thanks for the information, It would be the best to have someone look at it. The play is not quite a 1/16th but more than a 32nd.
It’s not a S&W but I think if I get this looked at and cleared up then it will be a pleasure to keep by my side for whatever purpose! Thanks again.
James
Angela,
I don’t know if this will work, but it is easier for me to cock it this way. First…MAKE SURE IT IS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION IN CASE IT SLIPS.
But…pull the trigger slightly. The hammer will start backwards allowing you to put your thumb on top of the hammer. From that position, you rely more on finger strength than grip strength. Hope this helps, but make sure it is pointed in a safe direction before trying it. I recommend getting the hang of it unloaded.
I tried pulling the trigger back slightly first, and I was able to get more leverage and pull the hammer back myself (although it was still difficult). Thanks for the suggestion JT! However, because I do intend on using my PD for self-defense, I don’t think it’s a practical option.
I’ve been thinking about your comment, Richard, and I’ve come to the realization that the fault lies with me, not the bobbed hammer. Shooting in double action is new to me, and rather than practice and adapt, I blamed the construction of the gun. Here’s the problem I encounter, I aim, but then I take my eyes off the target and watch the cylinder rotate as I squeeze the trigger. When the cylinder is in position, I hold the trigger, refocus on the target, re-adjust my aim, and fire. It’s taking me way too long to set-up my shot; even though I am able to get all four pellets in the orange (I’m using Federal Premium Handgun loads). I have to teach myself to keep my eyes on the target and squeeze the trigger with one fluid motion.
I just so happen to have two .410 snap caps (I bought them to practice the trigger-pull on my Bond Arms) so I think I’m going to take some time learning my PD trigger pull in double action (unloaded), then get back out in the field and practice, practice, practice.
My main cc gun at the moment is a .38 revolver, and I do the same thing with it. I feel completely comfortable shooting in single action, but when my husband insists that I practice without pulling the hammer back, it becomes foreign and uncomfortable for me to shoot. It would do me well to practice shooting my .38 in double action too!
Thank you all for the advice!
Hi Angela,
Thanks for stopping back by and filling us in. Double action isn’t that hard once you practice a little bit. You just have to make yourself do it. The side benefit is while you are learning, you are smoothing out the gun’s trigger pull. So, as time goes on, you AND the gun get better!
Take care,
Richard