This Home defense plan video starts as a scenario. We are in bed and my wife hears a noise. Being a traditional family she hears a noise, I have to figure it out.
She wakes me up and I get my gun. The rest of the scenario shows how we deal with intruders at our house.
Traditionally the man would get a golf club and go looking for the bad guy. In my post “Don’t clear alone” I discuss why I don’t think this is a good idea.
Rather than look for trouble we shelter in place.
I set up a protected spot where I can cover the entry way to the bedrooms while my wife grabs a second gun and protects the kids and contacts the police.
In this case, I would be justified to seek out the intruders, and based upon the laws of my state if I found him and feared that he was a lethal threat I could shoot him. However, I find it safer to let him come to me.
If an intruders came down the hall after being warned and seeing the 12 gauge shotgun aimed at him, no one would question the need to fire.
Apparently the Taurus Judge is the most popular selling gun in the Taurus lineup, I didn’t know that when I started researching this article, but I believe it because I hear more students, coworkers and friends tell me how much they want a Judge for personal protection/prepping/zombie killing because it has the ability to shoot both centerfire ammunition as well as .410 shotshells.
I also did not expect the level of disagreement when I posted my video on my opinions on using the Taurus Judge for self defense.
I will admit that does give it some cool points, and I think it is a great concept, but I try to distinguish between true and perceived benefits and make any purchases based upon a cost benefit analysis rather than getting wrapped up with and enamored by features.
People Don’t Buy Features, They Buy Promises
The ability to fire 45LC ammunition in addition to .410 shotshells is a feature. It is perceived benefit is increased flexibility. However when compared with the size and weight of the gun, (the snub nose 2.5 inch chambered Judge is larger than my Glock 19), the small amount of ammunition available (5 shots), and the inaccuracy (more on that later), I just don’t see it as a justified self-defense purchase.
Now, don’t think I am bashing the Judge, I think it is a cool gun, and was a blast to shoot. I also do not think there is a better gun for backwoods fishermen to use as a tackle box gun for snakes. – It would also be great in a shoulder holster for farmers on tractors out clearing brush. A .410 shotshell is much more effective against rattlesnakes that a .38 or .45 revolver shooting a shotshell cartridge.
You would think that a pistol firing shotshells would be regulated under the National Firearms Act as a Short Barreled Shotgun, but since the pistol has rifling in the barrel (shallow enough to allow it to be used as a shotgun) it is legally considered not to be a shotgun (except in Commiefornia where it is banned). While this great legally, what it does is make a barrel that does not live up to its potential as an accurate centerfire handgun, nor as an accurate shotgun. The rifling gives less stability to single projectiles, yet still causes a more rapid dispersion of the shot pellets when used as a .410.
Don’t buy a gun that promises flexibility, but only shoots well with special ammunition.
Shooting the Gun
I was able to shoot one of these pistols when a student at an NRA Pistol Instructor Course brought one in. The fit and finish was nice, and it felt good in my hand. Admittedly I was not able to fire a lot of rounds as I had to stick with what I had on hand, but as you can see in the video below I feel that when shooting buckshot (which is the round of choice for almost everyone that wants one ) the rifling causes the shot to “fling” out in a wide pattern – at almost contact distance I had about a 6 inch pattern – at 7 yards only one pellet hit anything nearing a vital shot on a human sized target.
If you have a 2.5 inch chambered Judge shooting OO buck you only get 4 .32 led balls – times that by the 4 chambers and you only have 20 potential projectiles – and the vast majority of them won’t hit a vital area of an attacker, and those that do are underpowered and designed to function best when paired with several other their brother’s hitting nearby at the same time. Speed loaders are rare and I only know one company that sells them.
For a comparable cost and size I can get another Glock 19 that shoots 16 larger, more accurate and more effective bullets that are easier and cheaper to purchase.
It seems to me that if you are buying a gun that shoots multiple calibers to prepare for a time when ammunition is hard to get, it is counterproductive to get two of the more rare calibers – when is the last time you have seen .45LC or OO/OOO .410 buckshot at the Wal-Mart?
If You Want One Buy One
I have more in common with someone that chooses a gun different self defense gun than I do with someone that chooses not to have a self defense gun at all. Please don’t take this article personal. I am not mad at people that love the .410 Judge. My reason for writing this was not to bash, but to inform.
I just want to share my knowledge on the matter and try to influence someone that wants a self-defense gun to get a gun that is more effective.
I get questions on occasion about “sawing off” shotguns. My first question is why – what do you want out of it, and my first comment is about the legal ramifications.
There are some legitimate uses of a short barreled (under 18.5 inches), and I do think the idea is cool so don’t Zumbo me, but in general for home defense use I do not think a regulated short barrel shotgun is worth the hassle and a standard pump with an 18.5 inch barrel gives you everything you need.
However, if you want a shorter barrel on your 870 shotgun you need to know how to replace a Remington 870 shotgun barrel
If you want to cut down the total length of a shotgun so that you can maneuver it easily 18.5 inches works fine. This length also balances spread with energy transfer – if the pellets have too extreme a spread then less of them with strike the target.
Besides that if you go with a 18.5 inch barrel it is easy to buy a new barrel and just replace the barrel that came with your shotgun. That way if you ever want to go hunting or shoot skeet or trap you can just put the older barrel back on.
If you cut your barrel down it’s a permanent solution…
As I said in the video, a coworker asked me to show him how to switch barrels – since we both commute to work, and work is a national guard armory I could not bring in my gun to show him or store it in my car until after work. Besides, this gives me a legitimate reason to make a video – and you know how I need that…
I made the video and burned it to a disk – when he watched it he said “Is that all there is too it, anybody can do that”. I agree, and if you have a pump shotgun I think you should consider getting a few specialty barrels – a 18.5 cylinder or improved cylinder bore for defensive work – a longer hunting barrel, maybe a slug barrel for deer – they are cheaper than buying new guns, and turns your shotgun into a true multi-purpose arm.
Procedure
Clear the firearm. In the video I reversed the steps. I checked the chamber and then the magazine.
In my defense I did it prior to filming. The shotgun used is my home defense gun and was loaded and had the 18.5 barrel on it. No excuse I know.
Pull the slide to the rear.
Unscrew the magazine cap. The magazine cap is located at the very end of the slide, just underneath the barrel.
Grip the barrel just in front of the magazine tube and pull it straight out. It should come out easily, but you may have to twist it a little
Insert the new barrel into the receiver and push it back as far as it will go.
Screw the magazine cap back on
Function check your firearm to ensure you installed everything correctly
So You Want to Be a Firearms Instructor? I can tell you that of all the things that I have done to improve my life, becoming a firearm instructor was one of the best. I have received much more in return than I put into learning the ropes and gaining the certifications.
The only caveat is, that a weekend NRA firearm instructor course may certify you, but you cannot stop learning if you want to a competent instructor.
It took me over a year of teaching to become comfortable, and I have spent many thousands of dollars on books and continuing education courses, and I think that is only a good start. I have been an instructor for more than 15 years and I am still learning.
As far as becoming a firearm instructor, unless you are a law enforcement officer and can talk your way into a FBI or P.O.S.T. class, the simplest way is through the NRA training program.
If you are interested, and want to know more, please feel free to email me directly at [email protected]
There are a few ways of becoming a firearm instructor, some better than others. While I don’t think a 17 hour course on the weekend will prepare you to be a firearm instructor if you don’t already posses the right knowledge, skills, and attitudes. It is a good start if you are serious about the process.
Apparently the Taurus Judge is the most popular selling gun in the Taurus lineup, I didn’t know that when I started researching this article, but I believe it because I hear more students, coworkers and friends tell me how much they want a Judge for personal protection/prepping/zombie killing because it has the ability to shoot both centerfire ammunition as well as .410 shotshells.
So You Want to Be a Firearms Instructor? I can tell you that of all the things that I have done to improve my life, becoming a