help in pricing judge

[reuben_j_cogburn]

I have first dibs on a taurus Judge with a 6.5" barrel.
It is in decent shape.. shot little, but cleaned hardly....
I see them online for $420, new..... I will check in wasilla tomorrow to compare local prices. The gun is about 11 years old. I know the original owner. He took really good care of his vehicles, but some of his guns have been neglected a bit.
Would $325-$350 be about right? His wife... who's gun it actually was, died about 5 years ago, so it probably wasn't carried or shot since.

 

[RoninPA]

Rueben,
On Gunbroker I see completed auctions for the 6.5" anywhere from $290-$370. Depending on condition I would offer $300-$325 and go up (or down depending on the condition) from there. Median price for all that I looked at (completed auction only) was probably $350.

 

[eveled]

I don't mean to be a downer, but why do you want it? It's a niche gun, that doesn't do anything well, and it's a Taurus. Just saying, make sure you really want it, before you get it. It's not something I'd like.

 

[wolfsong]

I don't mean to be a downer, but why do you want it? It's a niche gun, that doesn't do anything well, and it's a Taurus. Just saying, make sure you really want it, before you get it. It's not something I'd like.

Is there something negative about it being a Taurus? The Judge happens to be a reliable .410 revolver that also accurately shoots .45 Colts at short ranges. A niche gun in many circumstances, yet quite handy - and reliable - in others. $350 is not a lot of money to spend for a fun gun. Just my opinion.

I've had no issues with my Taurus .38 titanium pocket gun in the 18 years I've owned it. I would buy Taurus products again.

 

[GunnyGene]

I expect you'd have to ask the Judge how much he wants. :wink: :lol:

 

[hittman]

Lord only knows what Reuben runs into in the wilds of "rural" Alaska!

If he's lookin for one ..... I'm certain there's a purpose!

Never see them for sale around here so I'm no help on prices ..... sorry.

 

[eveled]

Just playing devil's advocate. A .410 revolver is not the be all end all solution some people think it is. I've seen too many new shooters with .410 revolvers that would have been better served by a .357. Salesman convince them it is the perfect do all.

Taurus is not the bottom of the barrel, but is not the top either. Plus I've heard bad things about their customer service. I'll stick with Rugers and s&w. Glad you are happy with yours.

It is not a gun I would get unless it was a smokin hot deal, then I'd probably flip it.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Reuben, I am curious what interests you as well. The reason I ask is they aren't particularly strong guns. They will handle a 410 cartridge, which will handle a ptarmigan, or grouse, but so will your 44 mag, with snake shot. We used to use that. It will handle the equivalent of cowboy loads in 45 Colt, not something I'd use on a bear or moose. Nothing wrong with Taurus but most people who use them in the lower 48 use them as a snake gun or for 2 legged varmints. FWIW. I have no idea what you want one for but depending on condition I would be hard pressed to offer more than $325. With the long cylinder the 45 Colt bullet has a long jump to the barrel and as a result isn't all that accurate.
Hope all is well with you.

 

[blume357]

I held one a few years back and all I could decern was it was one more big honking Revolver.

 

[wwb]

First time I heard about it many years ago, my first thought was "Why?". If you want a shotgun, get a shotgun.... if you want a .45 revolver, get a .45 revolver. My gut feel was that if it tried to do both, it would not do a good job at either.

Had a chance to try one a couple years ago, and decided, in very short order, that it was a bad joke. My earlier thoughts were correct. It seemed as though the marketing was directed at someone who had absolutely zero knowledge about firearms.

Turns out I'm not the only one.....
https://chuckhawks.com/taurus_judge_3inch.htm

 

[Mus408]

Didn't know they made them with that long of a barrel!

From what I have read the .410 shell seems to pattern better with a shorter barrel.
Anyway here is a good review on how the short barrel version performs with various loads.
https://youtu.be/qRlry5KH6I0

 

[protoolman]

The long jump affecting accuracy just hasn't held up. Handloaders have been able to shoot accurate loads for years out of longer chambers. It was a big gripe when the 45 acp length of the .45 Cowboy special was developed to shoot in .45 colt yet handloaders were able to get stellar accuracy with it. Same with Judges and another couple dozen things that could be dredged up but we're getting way off topic. Same with it being a niche gun. Plenty of people are buying them so they are obviously useful for some things. Heck a trap shotgun is a niche gun but plenty of people will shell out a few thousand bucks for one. Back to the OP. The 300 to 350 range sounds about right real world in my part of the country.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

Well... I will try and answer all without posting the quotes.....
I am not ashamed to be a taurus owner... I own 4 9mm's and the PT92 is by far the most accurate... They have come a long way sinnce the 70's and early 80's...
I have read online reports that the 6.5" patterns well..... But only one way to know fer sure.
I actually have very little time to hunt. Most my life seems to be labor. The bulk of my hunting is incidental... while I am out hauling firewood or running the trapline. Pine squirrels are what I shoot the most...(Both for trapping bait, and dog snacks..). along with grouse for dinner.... With the occasional porcupine..
I cant carry my .22 rifle while cutting firewood, and it is a p.i.a on the trapline as well. And often, I don't have time to get a good ready anyhow. I need something that will allow a bit of error, in the heat of the moment. A handgun seems to be the best choice.
I too thought the judge was a weird idea.. But when I was with simply rugged, I'd estimate that 25% of the holsters we built were for a version of the judge.. They are popular... fr whatever reason. Over the years, I have re thought the idea, and think it may actually fill a void, when I am already burdened down with a pack full of traps, or toting a chainsaw.
As a side note... the gun belonged to the same women who owed the Yamaha bravo I bought this spring......
It's just an idea.. but I think I will offer the $300-$325 suggested.... Local (wasilla) prices for new are in the $429.00 area....

p.s. I wont use it for snowshoes, as we have a method up there that is pretty cool. If I can video a hunt, I will post it after freeze up...
Thanks for the input....

 

[tinman]

I bought one some years back......paid $300 if I recall correctly......and I have zero issues with the Taurus brand. The Judge is not the strongest gun made, but works very well with standard velocity ammunition and "cowboy" type loads. And I would wager that (when loaded full up with some of the "specialty" .410 ammo) it would make a formidable car-gun if ya ever need to "repel borders" at arms length or less. Mine works great on field mice/rats when I am mowing.....and the odd copperhead or rattler. It is a good price and fit for my circumstances............and I've never had so much as a hiccup from mine.

 

[exavid]

In the years I spent hunting, fishing and flying in Northwest and Southeast Alaska my carry pistol was a S&W Model 29. Good quality, plenty of punch. Mine cost me $150 brand new in the box from Howard's gun shop in Anchorage.

 

[blume357]

Rueben, I'd buy it... sounds like it might be worth a try for what you need.... is it practical to load half with 410s and half with 45 long colts? I often carry when working in the yard certain times of the year a S&W model 19... first two rounds are snake shot... next 4 are magnum hydro shocks in case something a little larger comes along.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

I'm gonna make an offer and see what happens. The guy is now living in Ca, and probably wont be back...

 

[arfmel]

Wife insisted on having a Judge for rattlesnakes and such. I know a rifled barrel is legally required for a handgun that fires a shotgun shell, but it seems to me that the Judge would benefit from having a rifling pitch of about 1 turn per 72”. It would produce a heck of a lot better pattern with shotshells than whatever rate they use currently, which probably is optimized to be effective with .45 Colt ammo.

A person can buy a whole lot handier revolver in 45 Colt, if that’s what they’re wanting.

 

[exavid]

I've heard that some judges in Oregon go fairly cheaply.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

Well.....
The owner decided not to sell...
Oh well..... I have another surprise coming soon..... :wink: