It’s been 10 years since Taurus breathed new life into the .410 shotshell cartridge and shook the handgun world to its foundations. Before 2006, if you wanted a cloud of birdshot to come out of your handgun, you did not have a lot of options in a “traditional” handgun.
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Taurus’ engineers had a challenge, and its leadership, a vision: to put the practical effect of a shotgun into an easily carried, multi-shot handgun. The theory held that there was a market for close-range defensive handguns that could fire buckshot at carjackers and muggers, and that shooters would quickly embrace the idea that multiple projectiles flying to their defense per trigger pull would be better than one.
So, Taurus’ engineers modified a .45 Colt revolver frame to accept 21/2-inch, .410-bore shotshells. The rifling spread the shot a little too quickly, so they modified its depth such that it would still stabilize solid projectiles but wouldn’t impart so much spin to the plastic wads around the shot column. And they tinkered. And they tinkered some more. Then they released the first Judge, Model 4410, revolutionizing this category of handguns entirely.
A Fitting Name
The name “Judge” came about when Bob Morrison, then-president of Taurus International, heard that judges in Miami, Florida (and increasingly elsewhere, too) were carrying the 4410 revolvers under their robes for personal protection.
Few people anger more violent felons regularly than judges, so he figured their silent testimony had some merit—and in their honor, he named the pistol the Taurus Judge. The model number was later changed to 4510 to acknowledge the gun’s ability to chamber .45 Colt cartridges as well—and to eliminate any confusion from the “44” in the prior model name.
Now, sales of Judge models reportedly outpace sales of any other Taurus handgun. While the essence of the Judge is a five-shot, double-action revolver chambered for 21/2-inch, .410-bore shotshells or .45 Colt ammunition with a 3-inch barrel, there are lighter models, longer-barreled models, stainless and blued models and even the Raging Judge series, whose six-shot cylinders also accept the devastating .454 Casull cartridge.
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With so many options currently available, here’s our slideshow to figuring out the right Taurus Judge revolver to fit your preferences and needs. Scroll the gallery above for tons of info! Also be sure to check out the specs on each Taurus Judge below.
For more information on the Taurus Judge revolvers in the gallery above, please visit taurususa.com or call 800-327-3776.
Taurus Model 4510TKR-3B
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 3 inches
- OA Length: 9.5 inches
- Weight: 29 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte black
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $553
Taurus Model 4510SS6MAG
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 6.5 inches
- OA Length: 12.5 inches
- Weight: 48 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte stainless
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $598
Taurus Model 4510PD-3B
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 2.5 inches
- OA Length: 7.65 inches
- Weight: 28 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte black
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $553
Taurus Model 4510TKR-3SS
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 3 inches
- OA Length: 9.5 inches
- Weight: 29 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte stainless
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $598
Taurus Model 4510PD-3SS
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 2.5 inches
- OA Length: 7.65 inches
- Weight: 28.2 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte stainless
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $598
Taurus Model 4510PLYFS
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 2.5 inches
- OA Length: 7.65 inches
- Weight: 27 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, adjustable rear
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte black, blued
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $483
Taurus Model 4510TrackerB
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 6.5 inches
- OA Length: 12.5 inches
- Weight: 32 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte black
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $553
Taurus Raging Judge 513SS6
- Caliber: .454 Casull/.45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 6.5 inches
- OA Length: 14.1 inches
- Weight: 73 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Rubber with cushioned insert
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte stainless
- Capacity: 6
- MSRP: $1,038
Taurus Raging Judge 513SS3
- Caliber: .454 Casull/.45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 3 inches
- OA Length: 10.2 inches
- Weight: 61 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Rubber with cushioned insert
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte stainless
- Capacity: 6
- MSRP: $1,038
Taurus Model 4510PLY-SS2
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 2.5 inches
- OA Length: 7.65 inches
- Weight: 23 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, adjustable rear
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte black, stainless
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $514
Taurus Model 4510TKR-3MAG
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 3 inches
- OA Length: 9.5 inches
- Weight: 37 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte stainless
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $598
Taurus Model 4510TKR-3BMAG
- Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
- Barrel: 3 inches
- OA Length: 9.5 inches
- Weight: 37 ounces (empty)
- Grip: Ribber
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear groove
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Matte black
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $553
