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”
Good advice Terry. Federal now has a specialized load for the Judge. It’s called “.410 Handgun” Premium Personal Defense and carries (4 pellet) 000 Buck.
I like my Judge for its versatility in ammo and in-vehicle protection. However, for home defense, IMHO you can’t beat a short barrel 12-gauge.
Do we have any dates on when the new judge will be released and in Stores? I ve been saving up for one and was just gonna wait and get the new one!
where can I find a holster for my 3” judge,
also 3”-410 shot shells ?.
I own a Judge and I absolutely love it. The comments regarding jams and other problems are most likely related to the use of incorrect ammo.
Problem #1 is that many Judge purchasers mistake the specs on the barrel length (almost all are 3″) for the chamber length (either 2.5″ or 3″). As noted above, crimped 3″ cartridges will occasionally fit in the 2.5″ chambers and can cause some major problems when they are fired. Just because the chamber can fit it doesn’t mean you should fire it! BTW, the .454 and the .460 will also fit, but should never be fired from the Judge due to the cartridge pressures. Solution: know your gun. Make absolutely sure that your chamber length is 3″; your owner’s manual should be able to help you (your gun dealer may or may not be able to help you).
Problem #2 is one that buyers aren’t always aware of. Ribbed cartridges expand when fired and jam up in the cylinder. Watch out because a lot of the cheap Remington stuff is ribbed. Solution: Check your ammo before you buy it; I’ve had the best luck with Winchester.
Hope I was of some help. Good luck!