Taurus Polymer Judge

Taurus introduced the first polymer Judge at the 2010 SHOT Show.  Called the “Public Defender Polymer,” this Taurus Judge features a frame entirely made of polymer with a stainless steel cylinder and barrel insert.  This follows the trend started by Ruger last year with the polymer LCR revolver.

Holding the polymer Judge, I was impressed by how light it felt.  Weighing 27 ounces, the Public Defender Polymer is clearly much lighter than the other models of Judge revolvers.  The handgun was well balanced, and a red fiber optic front sight was very easy to acquire.

Like other Judge revolvers, the polymer Judge chambers five 2.5″ .410 shotshells and .45 Colt cartridges.

Features of the Public Defender Polymer include:

• streamlined frame,
• target style trigger,
• adjustable rear sight,
• fiber optic front sight, and
• rubber grips.

The polymer Judge will be available with either blued steel or stainless steel finishes.

Notice the fiber optic sight and the slick lines of the gun – both features desired by many people who carry a Judge revolver for personal protection.

The Taurus Ribber grips will help with recoil, which I suspect will be significantly harsher than the metal framed versions of the Judge.

Update – October 2013

The Taurus Public Defender Polymer is still being sold by the company.  The production guns are very similar to the models shown at the SHOT Show.  Sometimes the guns shown will vary significantly from the guns that are actually manufactured.  With these, the guns are extremely similar.

The MSRP on the guns is $459.00.  Street prices tend to run lower than that.

If you like the Taurus Judge line of handguns for self-defense (or just plain old fun shooting), you will probably like this variation.  It is not likely to be as much fun to shoot as the larger framed guns (due to the much lighter weight and shorter barrels), but it is probably a lot easier to carry and to conceal on one’s person.