I have owned a couple of Judges...I can't remember the specific models, but one was the stainless, full size and the other was the polymer framed model. I didn't have any problems with them (I've owned other Taurus products over the years, and the only one I've had a problem with was a .44 Special Titanium revolver.) I've also owned a S&W Governor.
If I was going to buy another, I would go hands down with the S&W. For one thing, it's a much better made gun, and S&W has great customer service. Taurus doesn't. Taurus products do not hold their value, if resale is a consideration for you. The Governor holds 6 rounds versus 5 in the Taurus, and also fires one additional caliber (.45 LC.) The S&W has the ILS on the frame, whereas the lock on the Taurus is on the hammer. If the lock bothers you, it can be removed on the S&W...I don't know if it can be removed on the Taurus, but at the minimum you'd have to have a new hammer.
Frankly, I wouldn't buy either one, unless you were doing so just for fun or a range gun. If you are going to shoot .45 ACP or .45 LC, there are much better choices. The .410 rounds, even those designed for handgun use, have been shown to have limited effectiveness...while I don't doubt that a face full of .410 000 buck would deter a carjacker at up close and personal distances, for example, that effectiveness is dramatically lessened as the distance increases, including normal distances within the home. Small shot rounds (like #6 or higher) have even less effectiveness.
Many ranges will not let you shoot shotgun rounds; one of my LGS has an outdoor range, and they would let me shoot the .410 rounds on their range as long as no one else was on the range.
IMO, it's an interesting concept, and if you have access to open land or a range that will let you shoot it, these type revolvers could be fun. I think they have very limited usefulness, and there are much better choices available for home defense and personal protection. Since you mentioned prairie dog hunting, I think you would fare much better with a good .22 caliber rifle or handgun (like a Ruger MKIII), or even a higher caliber, that would be more accurate and effective for that purpose.
