Shotgun Chambered Pistols

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djmay71

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Hey handgun aficionados!
2 part question: These shotgun chambered handguns that are popping up here and there (Taurus Judge/Bond Arms Snake Slayer) look interesting, but I got asking myself, what is the actual purpose of these guns? I don't see them being very effective for self defense or much else, so are they all eye candy and range toy? Obviously any firearm is a hoot to shoot, but understanding the usage (although the proper usage of said firearm may be shunned here in Canada) is interesting triva, is it not?

Also- for those who have shot some of these guns: how do they shoot with the 410? 45 LC?
 
yup, mostly snakes. I got some Texan buddies who swear by the Judges for the trail, especially the "public defender". There are some incredible .410 loads being produced with assorted projectiles for self defense carry as well. Mix in a few .45lc and you got some mega boom power in a j-frame sized gun. I heard that the Judge is the best selling Taurus gun to date.
Hawt stuff
 
So hunting snakes then? Hmm- I guess the Snake Slayer coinage makes sense then.

Anybody shoot these? My eye is wavering from the S&W MP9 to the Judge at SFRC.

Damn! I want everything!
 
If you were living in the states I'd say that a Judge would not be a bad car defense gun. Someone tries to car jack you and assuming you have the time to pull the Judge out a face full of 00buck should put a stop to things.

Up here they are pretty much a rather useless range toy. The rilfing needed to make them work with the .45Colt rounds puts a spin on the shot colum so that the pattern is more or less donut shaped and spread quickly for the same reason. Only good for short range stuff.

As a .45 colt revolver is big and rather unwieldy.
 
BCRider said:
If you were living in the states I'd say that a Judge would not be a bad car defense gun. Someone tries to car jack you and assuming you have the time to pull the Judge out a face full of 00buck should put a stop to things.

Up here they are pretty much a rather useless range toy. The rilfing needed to make them work with the .45Colt rounds puts a spin on the shot colum so that the pattern is more or less donut shaped and spread quickly for the same reason. Only good for short range stuff.

As a .45 colt revolver is big and rather unwieldy.
Click to expand...

Going to watch some videos later and see for myself
 
Snakes? Some may use it for that but it was really sold as a home defense gun in the US. The shotgun pattern is horrible unless u are mere feet away, which makes sense as it was not designed for any great distance. Snakes would be ideal providing they are about 5ft away. My buddy actually retails the Judge in the US but has modified it to have interchangeable chokes. Makes a huge difference. But here in Canada I am afraid it is merely a novelty as many others are due to our restrictions on useage.
dB
 
djmay71 said:
Going to watch some videos later and see for myself
Click to expand...

Don't shoot me, I'm just the messanger. It's what I've seen reported on other gun forums by owners of the things.

A buddy with a Bond Arms Snake Slayer found the same thing when shooting the .410 birdshot rounds. That one I witnessed first hand. But it was OK since the second "donut" pattern overlapped the first so each shot filled the center hole of the other for a nice big oval two shot pattern at 5 yards. This was despite aiming at the same spot for each shot and due to the greater recoil lift from the high mounted second barrel.

At the 5 yards the main donut ring with the majority of pellets was about 2 feet in diameter. So anything with bird shot farther out would not see many pellets hitting it. He said that bigger diameter buckshot tended to stay grouped more tightly but nothing useable past 5 yards for anything worthwhile.

I suspect a LOT of them were sold in the US as a "Spray of Death" style gun for folks that didn't trust themselves to aim well. And for up close and personal they'd likely fit the bill. But shooting at anything out past 5 yards even with the tighter patterning buckshot would be iffy at best.

Here in Canada at the range I suspect folks try a box of shotgun shells once then stick with .45Colt the rest of the time. Or maybe .410 slugs. Now THOSE would kick like a strong .44Mag.
 
Judge Tarus,

Snake Slayer...

Tactical imports had a Shotgun chambered in 2 3/8 for a while that looked like a uzi and had mags.
 
One has to realize that with the Derringer pistol, 5 yards is very optimistic. The Bond Arms is labeled the Snake Slayer, and is marketed as such and as a personal defense pistol. You're not getting carjacked or snake bit at 5 yards. That kind of s**t happens point blank, maybe 2 yards for the snake. Test your patterns at that distance.

(E) :cool:
 
BCRider said:
This was despite aiming at the same spot for each shot and due to the greater recoil lift from the high mounted second barrel.
Click to expand...

the bond arms barrels are regulated so the bottom barrel hits point of aim and the top barrel hits higher so a lower aiming point is needed... with winchester defensive slug loads which is a slug with balls of buckshot on top this gun will keep all rounds on papers at 5yds.
 
djmay71 said:
So hunting snakes then? Hmm- I guess the Snake Slayer coinage makes sense then.

Anybody shoot these? My eye is wavering from the S&W MP9 to the Judge at SFRC.

Damn! I want everything!
Click to expand...
not for "hunting" snakes, more like you come across a biter in your campsite where yer kids are running around and don't want a hospital visit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glIfHr2neQA&feature=fvwrel
I want everthing too, but get the M&P. The range kit is an awesome deal considering all the extras you get and sfrc has em.
not many snakes around here. luckily.
 
BCRider said:
Don't shoot me, I'm just the messanger. It's what I've seen reported on other gun forums by owners of the things.

A buddy with a Bond Arms Snake Slayer found the same thing when shooting the .410 birdshot rounds. That one I witnessed first hand. But it was OK since the second "donut" pattern overlapped the first so each shot filled the center hole of the other for a nice big oval two shot pattern at 5 yards. This was despite aiming at the same spot for each shot and due to the greater recoil lift from the high mounted second barrel.

At the 5 yards the main donut ring with the majority of pellets was about 2 feet in diameter. So anything with bird shot farther out would not see many pellets hitting it. He said that bigger diameter buckshot tended to stay grouped more tightly but nothing useable past 5 yards for anything worthwhile.

I suspect a LOT of them were sold in the US as a "Spray of Death" style gun for folks that didn't trust themselves to aim well. And for up close and personal they'd likely fit the bill. But shooting at anything out past 5 yards even with the tighter patterning buckshot would be iffy at best.

Here in Canada at the range I suspect folks try a box of shotgun shells once then stick with .45Colt the rest of the time. Or maybe .410 slugs. Now THOSE would kick like a strong .44Mag.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I found several Youtube videos showing the same result, but I have found that Winchester PDX1 .410 was specifically designed for use in the Judge.
Info on the round here:
http: //www.winchester.com/Products/New-Products/Pages/pdx1-410.aspx

Quick Video with CGA demo of the Winchester PDX1:
[youtube]5kIuI3heYMQ[/youtube]

All that being said, I'm liking this more and more. If funds allow :)p), I might end up getting a blued one at SFRC.
 
TinkerBell said:
the bond arms barrels are regulated so the bottom barrel hits point of aim and the top barrel hits higher so a lower aiming point is needed... with winchester defensive slug loads which is a slug with balls of buckshot on top this gun will keep all rounds on papers at 5yds.
Click to expand...

You can believe that if you want. But it was not the reality with the one I shot with it in my hands or the owner's hands. We both noticed the difference and determined the firing order of the barrels and both noted that the top barrel shot a lot higher than the sights were aimed at.

Examining the spacing between the two bores at the muzzle and breech ends did not show any sign of the thickness of the metal being different as it would be if the bore axes were done in a regulated manner to adjust the POI. They appeared to be quite parallel in fact.
 
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