looking for thoughts on the usefulness of the .410/.45 as a carry gun.
(new guy getting educated)
(new guy getting educated)
.410/.45 ?
- Thread starter qwak
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OKFC05
Member
It's large, short range with the .410, and if intended to compensate for poor shooting, it doesn't. I recommend smaller and lighter guns and lots of practice for a personal carry gun.
As least the S&W version is reliable and useful as a tractor/truck snake shooter, and such.
As least the S&W version is reliable and useful as a tractor/truck snake shooter, and such.
Absolutely none, IMO. Its my personal opinion that the Taurus Judge, S&W Governor and similar guns are little more than gimmicks and poor choices as defensive weapons. Their sole usefulness is shooting snakes at close range. For HD one is much better served with a 12ga or 20ga shotgun. For carry, there are countless other weapons that offer greater concealability and firepower.
Some many disagree and are welcome too. The above is just my 2 cents.
Seneca
US Veteran
I always felt that the Judge ( et. al. ) were the answer to a question no one asked. They are, as I understand, selling well, hence the proliferation of copycats. IMHO they are a passing fad.The couple that I have handled ( but never shot ) felt clumsy and awkward. To each his own, but I'm sticking to my Colt Defender as a carry gun and my Mossberg for things that go bump in the night at home.
thndrchiken
Member
As a carry gun they are too big and heavy, that's what I have my SD and Sig P250 for. For a home defense weapon it might not be a bad option but I think there are much better options available. I'm currently in the process of re-purposing my 870 as a tactical hd shotgun. But hey if it's what you want go for it.
sps282
Member
I've looked at but never shot the judge or governor but both seem to large and heavy to be used for ccw. No doubt the 45 colt is a hard hitting round and .410 with the right load would be okay. Guess it comes down to what rings your bell! Sure wouldn't be my choice.
Titan
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- City & State/Province
- MA - Where the 2nd Amendment is under seige
I view guns that use these rounds to be marginal choices for self
defense.
Living where I live, I also see no benefit to giving a potential prosecutor additional angles to use against me, if I ever had a self defense situation.
I just think that names like 'The Judge' or 'The Governor', and rounds like these would hand the prosecutor an additional argument that wouldn't serve my best interests. It's probably a MA thing.
defense.
Living where I live, I also see no benefit to giving a potential prosecutor additional angles to use against me, if I ever had a self defense situation.
I just think that names like 'The Judge' or 'The Governor', and rounds like these would hand the prosecutor an additional argument that wouldn't serve my best interests. It's probably a MA thing.
They don't make sense to me. While the .45 colt is excellent, as others said there are better options. It confuses me why some people consider a .410 shotgun shell to be to small for defensive purposes in a shotgun but OK in one of these.
Buckshot isn't about making up for poor accuracy, it's about creating multiple wounds to create more tissue damage with greater blood loss in a shorter period of time. The fact is that to get the most from it you need better than average accuracy to make sure all the pellets hit. "Experts" have dissed multiple projectile loads in handguns for a long time due to the fact that they are hard to hit a bullseye with, but that isn't what they are meant for.
The problem with handguns chambered to fire shotshells is that the powders used are for longer barrels and there is a substantial loss in velocity when shot in short barrels. I know the popularity in these type of firearms are growing due to the ammunition that is being offered for them, but I don't know if anyone is addressing the powder/velocity issue. Some of it is made along the same lines as the old "buck and ball" load that was used during the revolutionary war.
As others have mentioned the guns are large and heavy and that is a major consideration for carrying them all day, concealed or not. If I had one I might use it for self defense around the house, with handloads only, but lugging one around is out of the question.
The problem with handguns chambered to fire shotshells is that the powders used are for longer barrels and there is a substantial loss in velocity when shot in short barrels. I know the popularity in these type of firearms are growing due to the ammunition that is being offered for them, but I don't know if anyone is addressing the powder/velocity issue. Some of it is made along the same lines as the old "buck and ball" load that was used during the revolutionary war.
As others have mentioned the guns are large and heavy and that is a major consideration for carrying them all day, concealed or not. If I had one I might use it for self defense around the house, with handloads only, but lugging one around is out of the question.
The way I look at it is a gun in this caliber combo is essentially a .45LC that you can also use .410 to shoot clays (actually fun) or snakes with.
For carry you will (or at least should) use .45LC not .410. The .45LC is a VERY good self defense round. It is up there in the discussion along with .45 ACP, .40 and .357 as the best self defense round ever made period.
However a normal .45 LONG Colt without the .410 will be a shorter/lighter gun (which may be an oxymoron). So if it is for self defense only and not .410 fun or snakes than go with a just a .45LC.
For carry you will (or at least should) use .45LC not .410. The .45LC is a VERY good self defense round. It is up there in the discussion along with .45 ACP, .40 and .357 as the best self defense round ever made period.
However a normal .45 LONG Colt without the .410 will be a shorter/lighter gun (which may be an oxymoron). So if it is for self defense only and not .410 fun or snakes than go with a just a .45LC.
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