Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n![\"4-taurus-judge-3-inch-magnum\"](\"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/cboap2010-large.jpg\" "\\"4-taurus-judge-3-inch-magnum\\"")
<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n The short grip-frame only allows two fingers to take a really solid grasp in the bare hand, with the index finger deployed to work the trigger. I found myself tucking the pinkie finger under the butt to help stabilize, which actually worked pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n Nothing on this gun bites the hand on recoil. You\u2019d think with the bore axis as high as it is, would kick back into the hand more and jump more at the muzzle. It simply doesn\u2019t. I have to assume the rotary breech thing is what\u2019s softening the gun\u2019s movement upon discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short grip-frame only allows two fingers to take a really solid grasp in the bare hand, with the index finger deployed to work the trigger. I found myself tucking the pinkie finger under the butt to help stabilize, which actually worked pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n The PX4 shares the rotary breech design of the 8000 series Berettas that preceded it. One reason for that design was slowing the recoil impulse. I have to say \u2014 it works. Most anyone who shoots a PX4 of any size comments on the soft recoil for the size and caliber, and the PX4 Sub-Compact is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing on this gun bites the hand on recoil. You\u2019d think with the bore axis as high as it is, would kick back into the hand more and jump more at the muzzle. It simply doesn\u2019t. I have to assume the rotary breech thing is what\u2019s softening the gun\u2019s movement upon discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short grip-frame only allows two fingers to take a really solid grasp in the bare hand, with the index finger deployed to work the trigger. I found myself tucking the pinkie finger under the butt to help stabilize, which actually worked pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n The PX4 shares the rotary breech design of the 8000 series Berettas that preceded it. One reason for that design was slowing the recoil impulse. I have to say \u2014 it works. Most anyone who shoots a PX4 of any size comments on the soft recoil for the size and caliber, and the PX4 Sub-Compact is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing on this gun bites the hand on recoil. You\u2019d think with the bore axis as high as it is, would kick back into the hand more and jump more at the muzzle. It simply doesn\u2019t. I have to assume the rotary breech thing is what\u2019s softening the gun\u2019s movement upon discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short grip-frame only allows two fingers to take a really solid grasp in the bare hand, with the index finger deployed to work the trigger. I found myself tucking the pinkie finger under the butt to help stabilize, which actually worked pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n The PX4 shares the rotary breech design of the 8000 series Berettas that preceded it. One reason for that design was slowing the recoil impulse. I have to say \u2014 it works. Most anyone who shoots a PX4 of any size comments on the soft recoil for the size and caliber, and the PX4 Sub-Compact is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing on this gun bites the hand on recoil. You\u2019d think with the bore axis as high as it is, would kick back into the hand more and jump more at the muzzle. It simply doesn\u2019t. I have to assume the rotary breech thing is what\u2019s softening the gun\u2019s movement upon discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short grip-frame only allows two fingers to take a really solid grasp in the bare hand, with the index finger deployed to work the trigger. I found myself tucking the pinkie finger under the butt to help stabilize, which actually worked pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n The full-size PX4 has a Glock-like takedown with twin levers in niches on the side. In the reduced-size model, there isn\u2019t room for that internally, so there\u2019s a separate lever for takedown\u2026but the niches remain. This leaves an excellent \u201cfelt index spot\u201d for the trigger finger in the \u201cready position,\u201d to keep it the hell out of the triggerguard until the shooter is in the very act of intentionally firing the weapon. I for one, having been an expert witness in all too many cases of unintentional shootings of human beings over the last 30 years, think this feature is a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PX4 shares the rotary breech design of the 8000 series Berettas that preceded it. One reason for that design was slowing the recoil impulse. I have to say \u2014 it works. Most anyone who shoots a PX4 of any size comments on the soft recoil for the size and caliber, and the PX4 Sub-Compact is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing on this gun bites the hand on recoil. You\u2019d think with the bore axis as high as it is, would kick back into the hand more and jump more at the muzzle. It simply doesn\u2019t. I have to assume the rotary breech thing is what\u2019s softening the gun\u2019s movement upon discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short grip-frame only allows two fingers to take a really solid grasp in the bare hand, with the index finger deployed to work the trigger. I found myself tucking the pinkie finger under the butt to help stabilize, which actually worked pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n I can point to a couple of features on this little gun that can be a \u201clife- saver\u201d in one case and can be a \u201ccareer and future saver\u201d in another. The lifesaver in a fight will be its \u201cstandoff capability.\u201d Most autopistols, when shoved into the attacker\u2019s body at belly-to-belly, shoot-or-die distance, will \u201cgo out of battery\u201d and fail to fire because the barrel slide assembly has been pushed too far back. The PX4 Sub-Compact won\u2019t, at least when pushed straight in against the opponent, or upward against him. The slightly protruding length of the recoil spring guide rod keeps that from happening. If you\u2019re pushing down-ward, though, it can go out of battery. This is a very significant advantage to the PX4 Sub-Compact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The full-size PX4 has a Glock-like takedown with twin levers in niches on the side. In the reduced-size model, there isn\u2019t room for that internally, so there\u2019s a separate lever for takedown\u2026but the niches remain. This leaves an excellent \u201cfelt index spot\u201d for the trigger finger in the \u201cready position,\u201d to keep it the hell out of the triggerguard until the shooter is in the very act of intentionally firing the weapon. I for one, having been an expert witness in all too many cases of unintentional shootings of human beings over the last 30 years, think this feature is a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PX4 shares the rotary breech design of the 8000 series Berettas that preceded it. One reason for that design was slowing the recoil impulse. I have to say \u2014 it works. Most anyone who shoots a PX4 of any size comments on the soft recoil for the size and caliber, and the PX4 Sub-Compact is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing on this gun bites the hand on recoil. You\u2019d think with the bore axis as high as it is, would kick back into the hand more and jump more at the muzzle. It simply doesn\u2019t. I have to assume the rotary breech thing is what\u2019s softening the gun\u2019s movement upon discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short grip-frame only allows two fingers to take a really solid grasp in the bare hand, with the index finger deployed to work the trigger. I found myself tucking the pinkie finger under the butt to help stabilize, which actually worked pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n The PX4 Sub-Compact in 9mm takes the same 13 + 1 cartridge capacity that those of my generation grew up finding only in the service-size Browning Hi-Power. It\u2019s still more than you\u2019ll find in most polymer sub-compact 9mm pistols today. The magazines are tough to load to full capacity, but that\u2019s something you have plenty of time to do before you load it up to carry it. I see the high capacity as a plus, and the time it takes to load the magazine as no big deal in a \u201ccarry gun.\u201d However, when the magazine is fully loaded, it locks easily into the grip-frame without resistance, unlike many other autopistols when their magazines are loaded all the way up. That\u2019s a definite \u201cplus\u201d for the Px4 Sub-Compact 9mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can point to a couple of features on this little gun that can be a \u201clife- saver\u201d in one case and can be a \u201ccareer and future saver\u201d in another. The lifesaver in a fight will be its \u201cstandoff capability.\u201d Most autopistols, when shoved into the attacker\u2019s body at belly-to-belly, shoot-or-die distance, will \u201cgo out of battery\u201d and fail to fire because the barrel slide assembly has been pushed too far back. The PX4 Sub-Compact won\u2019t, at least when pushed straight in against the opponent, or upward against him. The slightly protruding length of the recoil spring guide rod keeps that from happening. If you\u2019re pushing down-ward, though, it can go out of battery. This is a very significant advantage to the PX4 Sub-Compact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The full-size PX4 has a Glock-like takedown with twin levers in niches on the side. In the reduced-size model, there isn\u2019t room for that internally, so there\u2019s a separate lever for takedown\u2026but the niches remain. This leaves an excellent \u201cfelt index spot\u201d for the trigger finger in the \u201cready position,\u201d to keep it the hell out of the triggerguard until the shooter is in the very act of intentionally firing the weapon. I for one, having been an expert witness in all too many cases of unintentional shootings of human beings over the last 30 years, think this feature is a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PX4 shares the rotary breech design of the 8000 series Berettas that preceded it. One reason for that design was slowing the recoil impulse. I have to say \u2014 it works. Most anyone who shoots a PX4 of any size comments on the soft recoil for the size and caliber, and the PX4 Sub-Compact is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing on this gun bites the hand on recoil. You\u2019d think with the bore axis as high as it is, would kick back into the hand more and jump more at the muzzle. It simply doesn\u2019t. I have to assume the rotary breech thing is what\u2019s softening the gun\u2019s movement upon discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short grip-frame only allows two fingers to take a really solid grasp in the bare hand, with the index finger deployed to work the trigger. I found myself tucking the pinkie finger under the butt to help stabilize, which actually worked pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran this one off the bench with 147-, 124, and 115-grain 9mm rounds by the \u201cbig three makers\u201d on a day when I was shooting 2 inches or better with service-grade handguns, and the little 9mm just didn\u2019t make the cut in my hands. Every load shot very low and somewhat right. Remington 124-grain +P Golden Saber put five shots in 6.15 inches, strung mostly vertical with the best three in only 4.20 inches; Winchester subsonic 147-grain FMJ did 4.80 inches for all five with the best four in 3.65 inches, and the best three in 2.25 inches; and the \u201cbest of test\u201d Federal 9BP 115-grain hollow point went 4.15 inches for all five and 2.10 inches for best three. The distance was 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve found over the years that the \u201cbest three\u201d hand held from the bench compensates for human error, which is why I include that measurement. Still, I\u2019ve been spoiled by Beretta 92 pistols that out of the box went between 1 and 2 inches for all five shots, and am not happy with these results. In per-spective, though, the five-shot groups would all have been inside the maxi-mum point-scoring zone of any police qualification target at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability, obviously, comes before accuracy in a defensive handgun. A test team of several competent shooters joined me in running several hundred rounds through the last PX4 I tested. The result? Zero malfunctions. This particular specimen didn\u2019t get as many rounds, but it still never jammed. I\u2019ve seen the PX4 Sub-Compact go through everything from qualification courses to 500-round shooting classes to 120-shot IDPA matches over the last year and a half plus, and have not yet seen one jam. That collective experience leaves me comfortable with the reliability of the 9mm PX4 Beretta Sub-Compact in general. The only malfunctions I\u2019ve seen have been \u201cshooter-induced;\u201d if you fire with a forward thumbs position, the thumb(s) may ride down the slide stop lever and prevent the slide from locking open on the last shot. That\u2019s \u201con the shooter, not on the gun,\u201d in this reviewer\u2019s opinion. We see the same thing happen with many other makes and models of semi-automatic pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All things considered, the Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm has way more going for it than against it, and is a very promising pistol for someone who needs a concealable handgun that will deliver the life-saving goods in an up-close-and-personal confrontation. For an \u201call around use\u201d Beretta, I\u2019ll stay with one of my Model 92s, but for a high-capacity 9mm \u201cbelly gun,\u201d the PX4F Storm definitely passes the acceptance test.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"In many quarters of law enforcement and the law-abiding armed citizenry the ole' standby snub-nosed .38 revolver is being replaced by 9mm subcompact pistols. We give the PX4 Subcompact a full test.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-18 14:35:04","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-18 18:35:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/04\/05\/beretta-px4-storm-subcompact-9mm\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159966,"post_author":"270","post_date":"2010-03-10 11:48:23","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-10 17:48:23","post_content":"\r\nThe idea for combining a .45 caliber cartridge and a .410 shot shell in one gun is not new, it has generally been limited to specially-built over\/under Derringer-style pistols. Taurus International\u2019s Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Robert Morrison, asked the engineers at Taurus if they could build a revolver chambered for both a .45 LC cartridge and a .410 shot shell. The result was the original Judge chambered to fire either 2\u00bd-inch shot shells, .45 LC cartridges, or a combination of both. The limitation of the 2\u00bd-inch guns was the number of pellets in .410 gauge 000 buckshot shells, usually three, although that has changed with the new 3-inch Magnum Judge.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe new, longer cylinder 3-inch magnum version loaded with 000 buckshot is probably the most awesome self-defense weapon I have ever seen,\u201d says Morrison. \u201cThe thing you have to remember is that the pellet doesn\u2019t know if it is spraying from a shotgun barrel or a pistol, it is coming at you at about 950 fps (feet per second), and with a 3-inch .410 buckshot load, five pellets of approximately .36 caliber (.350) diameter, the result at close range is devastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAt 10 feet, says Robert Morrison, \u201cfive pellets all strike within the upper part of the chest cavity, at 15 feet the spread covers the torso, and at 30 feet from the head to the beltline.\u201d An accurate shot with the 3-inch Magnum Judge is like being hit five times at once. According to Morrison, \u201cThe cumulative effect of that form of impact is far more dynamic than a double-tap, which is to hit your target with one aimed shot and a quick second follow up shot. It is the multiple impacts that make a double-tap so effective, so when you compound that with five simultaneous hits, it is far more immobilizing.\u201d\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nWe chose to test not only the new 3-inch Magnum Judge but also the handy and compact Judge Public Defender. The latter is chambered for 2\u00bd-inch shot shells and the former is equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The 3-inch is the real home defense powerhouse of the Judge line-up. Taurus also makes a special tactical version of the 2\u00bd-inch chamber .410 gauge Judge fitted with a ported barrel and attachable Picatinny under barrel rail for mounting a laser, flashlight or combo unit. The 3-inch magnum, however, is ideally suited for home defense use.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Final Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Author found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Author found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Author found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Author found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Author found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Author found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
PX4 Sub-Compact didn\u2019t give the author the tight groups he normally gets from a Beretta 92. This was best of test, with 115-grain Federal 9 BP standard pressure hollow point.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAuthor found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Shooting Impressions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
PX4 Sub-Compact didn\u2019t give the author the tight groups he normally gets from a Beretta 92. This was best of test, with 115-grain Federal 9 BP standard pressure hollow point.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAuthor found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Shooting Impressions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
PX4 Sub-Compact didn\u2019t give the author the tight groups he normally gets from a Beretta 92. This was best of test, with 115-grain Federal 9 BP standard pressure hollow point.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAuthor found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Shooting Impressions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
PX4 Sub-Compact didn\u2019t give the author the tight groups he normally gets from a Beretta 92. This was best of test, with 115-grain Federal 9 BP standard pressure hollow point.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAuthor found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere were a few companies that tried, a Commander-length slide on an Officers\u2019 frame. This seemed to be the \u201cquintessential concealed carry 1911,\u201d as it solved most of the reliability issues using the longer slide, it was not harder to conceal due to barrel length, and it offered the smaller \u201cprint\u201d of the Officers\u2019 frame. Depending on how you dress, that little bit on the grip can be significant. Having carried an Officers model as a secondary pistol in an ankle rig for years, I can attest to the fact that it\u2019s rather large for ankle carry. In climates where light clothing is in order, \u201cbutt print\u201d is a real problem for concealability. Given any one of the three sizes in my typical inside-the-pants rig, it is the butt that is the easiest to pick up. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the perfect solution. Initially they did not really catch on but it seems they are coming back, and I\u2019m glad to see it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGun Details<\/strong>\r\nCZ-USA and Dan Wesson has brought one of the best examples of this pistol I have seen in a long time to the market in a 1911 called Dan Wesson CCO Bobtail. The description is a bit deceiving as it pertains to the bobtail at least. There is a bit of a bob to the tail but it is just enough to make for solid carry under clothing, not the pronounced bobtail seen on the commander pistols. Given the quality of the last Dan Wesson I had tested, I was looking forward to handling and testing this pistol.\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nUpon first look I was not disappointed. This pistol carries the same ceramic coating as the Valor, as well as the attention to detail. It has a steel slide and aluminum frame. The coating is flat, deep, and rugged. There are no serrations on the front of the slide, just the rear. The safety is neither extended nor ambidextrous. The sights are Novak with tritium inserts, and the front sight has a white \u201cdoughnut,\u201d making sight acquisition easy. It utilizes a fully supported barrel and a standard guide rod. I was able to take it apart without tools, but it is tight; a plastic barrel-bushing wrench is provided for those who need it. The slide to frame fit is incredibly solid. The trigger is a medium-length trigger that is crisp and clean. The frame is cut high for a good solid grip and utilizes a \u201cChain Link\u201d pattern on the front of the grip in place of serrations. The magazine well is beveled, and the entire pistol is smooth as can be.\r\n\r\nA couple of nice touches are the really nice grips and understated markings. No gaudy symbols, names, or sayings engraved in the slide, just a nice, understated CCO and that is it. The magazine release is also not extended, nor is the slide release. Being designed for concealed carry, anything sharp either hurts or snags, but there is nothing sharp on this pistol to do either. It fits comfortably in your hand and it just plain looks nice. As I passed it around the shop everyone commented on how well it felt and how nice the pistol looked. You would think you were holding a $3000 custom 1911 and not a $1500 production pistol.\r\n<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nTesting began with this pistol by simply carrying it around. Once it was certain my carry ammo worked, the CCO rested in my normal concealed carry rig\u2014an inside-the-pants Mitch Rosen rig that has seen several years of hard use. The CCO carried and concealed well. The Officers\u2019 frame does make a difference, especially with light clothing. The weight was certainly different after normally carrying a full-sized 10mm, and it was pleasant. There was no evidence of anything poking, prodding, or otherwise making carry uncomfortable. After quite a bit of carry and dry fire practice it was time to go to the range.\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nIn presentations using a jacket the pistol did not snag on clothing; it presented smoothly and easily. The sights were easy to pick up and the pistol shot pretty much to point-of-aim at 15 yards. Being a concealed carry pistol, ranges for the day were under 25 yards and the bulk of time was spent at 15 yards or closer. This pistol was fired on the move, stationary and from different positions. To test it in some more unconventional positions, it was fired from my car window, the door, and from some awkward positions on some stairs. These are all circumstances one may encounter in self-defense situation.\r\n\r\nMost of the time was spent on 6-inch round steel. The ammunition used was 230-grain FMJ, but I also ran a magazine of Speer Gold dot 230-grain, Hornady 230-grain TAP, and some 185-grain Golden Saber through it as well. It ran everything without a hitch. It did so using the included Dan Wesson magazines as well as some Wilson seven rounders and some plain old 47D eight rounders.\r\n\r\nAccuracy was excellent for a concealed carry piece. There was no issue keeping everything on the steel, and at 12 yards with the defense ammunition it all stayed inside 3 inches. There is no doubt it is plenty accurate, but this is a concealed carry test and not intended for a match pistol. This pistol was reliable, controllable, and accurate throughout the test and I felt plenty safe carrying it around.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinal Notes<\/strong>\r\nGranted, having long been a proponent of this configuration I knew I was going to be pleased. That notwithstanding, this is one of the nicest concealed carry 1911 pistols you will find out there. It was built to be carried and used with practicality, reliability, and ruggedness in mind. Although a workhorse, aesthetics are important and this pistol looks really nice. I haven\u2019t carried a short 1911 pistol for years, but I may be changing that in the near future. It is nicely priced for a pistol of this quality, and far less than some of lesser quality. The Dan Wesson CCO just may be the quintessential concealed carry 1911, at least for me.","post_title":"Dan Wesson Co Bobtail .45 ACP 1911 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Concealed Carry Officer\u2014a quintessential 1911 with beauty and function!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/09\/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail-45-acp\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":33},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
BROWSE BY BRAND
Shooting Impressions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
PX4 Sub-Compact didn\u2019t give the author the tight groups he normally gets from a Beretta 92. This was best of test, with 115-grain Federal 9 BP standard pressure hollow point.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAuthor found the PX4 9mm soft-kicking and controllable. At end of a burst of rapid fire, the Subcompact Storm locks open empty but still on target, with three spent casings (arrows) still in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see\u2026it functions reliably. It is compact. It can be had with a manual safety that buys the owner some time to deal with the horror of being disarmed by his or her attacker. It holds more rounds than most of its competition and comes back on target very quickly, with a very soft felt recoil impulse. At muzzle contact distance, it\u2019s more likely to keep working than most of its competition. It also has interchangeable grip backstraps to adjust size and fits many hand sizes well as it comes from the box. It doesn\u2019t have the accuracy we competitive shooters like. It may take a little extra effort to load its magazines up to full cartridge capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the 3-inch magnum you have five pellets with each shot and you don\u2019t have to be as good an aim because of the spread. I can personally shoot five targets a yard apart at 3 yards in less than 1.5 seconds. The recovery time between shots is very quick and the recoil is not bad at all with the .410 and \u2018ribber\u2019 grips,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nFitted with the Crimson Trace Lasergrips you give up some of the recoil dispersion of the Taurus\u2019 energy absorbing \u201cribber\u201d grips, however, the Crimson Trace also uses rubber rather than hard plastic for their grips. The tactical advantage of the laser is not only the improved aiming ability, particularly in a low light situation, but also as a great psychological weapon. As Morrison points out, \u201cIf you put the laser on someone and they see the red dot on them they don\u2019t want to get hit.\u201d The psychological advantage is that it instantly throws your adversary off-balance and they want to move out of the way. The tactical advantage is you have a better chance of aiming under the high tension and adrenalin rush that comes from a confrontation.\r\n\r\nWith the 3-inch Magnum going to one extreme, Taurus also went in the opposite direction by creating a smaller frame, snub nose version for concealed carry. The new Public Defender, which is based on the smaller Taurus Model 85 revolver frame, uses an elongated cylinder chambered for both .45 LC and 2\u00bd-inch 000 shot shells. The PD is not a small gun but it could be more easily carried in a slim belt or paddle holster, or as Morrison suggests in a fanny pack. \u201cIf you need a gun to defend yourself with, that\u2019s the one I\u2019d wish I had in my hand if the time were to come,\u201d says Morrison.\r\n\r\nIn comparison, the PD measures just under 7.5 inches in overall length (2.56 inches of which is cylinder length), compared to the 3-inch Magnum Judge which is 9.5 inches overall (with a 3.06-inch long cylinder), and 8.6 ounces lighter at 28.2 ounces compared to the 3-inch Magnum\u2019s 36.8 ounce heft.\r\n\r\nRange Time<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to Winchester\u2019s standard 000 buckshot in both 2\u00bd-inch and 3-inch chamberings, Federal Premium makes a special 2\u00bd-inch 000 buckshot load for the Taurus Judge Public Defender that has four pellets instead of three. Paraklese Technologies makes a 3-inch .410 shot shell loaded with six .330 caliber 00 pellets, a .410 loaded with five .375 caliber pellets (which they term 4-ought buckshot or Ultra Buck), a .45 LC 185-grain JHP, a 230-grain hard cast LRN .45 LC, and a 2\u00bd-inch .410 shot shell packing four .375 caliber 4-ought pellets.\r\n\r\nFor our range tests we used standard B-27 silhouette targets. The 3-inch magnum tests were conducted using Winchester 000 buckshot and Paraklese 0000 .410 loads at a distance of 7 yards. The Taurus PD was tested using Winchester 000 and Federal Premium\u2019s special 000 4-pellet buckshot. We selected a distance of 7 yards as the best compromise and likely the greatest average distance in which the guns might be used in a home defense scenario. All 7-yard test shots with the 3-inch Magnum were fired using a two hand Weaver Stance. For the Public Defender, a one hand Isosceles Stance (square-on crouched position with the strong side arm fully extended) was used.\r\n\r\nBoth Taurus models have extremely heavy trigger pulls at slightly less than 12 pounds, which is an advantage in preventing an accidental discharge and in causing your grip to tighten up (the recoil is substantial with the PD and 000 buckshot). Of course the down side is a near 12-pound trigger pull, but once you get a feel for it, it is more than manageable. The 3-inch Magnum can also be fired single-action and trigger pull decreases to 5.1 pounds. The PD trigger pull decreases to 5.3 pounds average but with its bobbed, serrated hammer is harder to thumb cock.\r\n\r\nThe Winchester 000 buckshot in the 3-inch Magnum delivered an impressive and tight pattern. Five rounds fired at one-second intervals placed all of the buckshot within the 8, 9 and 10 rings of the B-27 target, with the majority concentrated in the 9 ring at the 9 and 10 o\u2019clock positions and a total of 10 hits in the central body mass. As Morrison says, \u201cDevastating.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe Paraklese 0000 Ultra Buck provides five .375 pellets (roughly the equivalent of being hit by five .38 caliber round nose lead bullets) as opposed to the five 000 in the Winchester shot shells. The Paraklese produced a wider pattern dispersion spread across the 8, 9, 10, and X. The one advantage was that the pellets tended to group in pairs averaging an inch or less apart, four of which struck in the X. The only problem with Paraklese is a tendency for the shell cases to swell after discharge just below the base of the brass, which makes ejection more difficult and hinders a quick reload. The company is working on this problem at the present and the latest rounds tested showed an improvement, both in case crimping and reduced swelling. As for accuracy, when you can place a dozen .375 caliber rounds in the 9, 10, and X rings of a B-27 target, you have delivered almost 50 percent of your pellets (out of a total of 25 from five shot shells) within the central body mass\u2014a disabling strike by any standard.\r\n\r\nBetween the 3-inch Magnum and new Public Defender, we found the smaller, lighter, 2\u00bd-inch .410 gauge revolver an exceptional close-quarters defensive handgun. Loaded with Winchester\u2019s 000 buckshot (three pellets), five rounds deposited strikes across the central body mass of the B-27 target with all but two pellets in the 8, 9, and 10 rings. The real champion is Federal Premium\u2019s Personal Defense 000 buckshot (four pellets) made for the Taurus Public Defender. This proved to be the most accurate and most potentially devastating of all the shot shells tested. At 21 feet, five rounds fired at one-second intervals delivered the 000 pellets within the 9, 10, and X with four closely grouped in the X, and multiple overlapping hits in the 10 measuring under an inch.\r\n\r\nAs a last test, since both Taurus models are also designed to fire .45 LC, we tested Paraklese\u2019s specially made 230-grain JHP rounds. Two strings of five rounds were fired at 10 meters (33 feet) using a two hand Weaver Stance at a 50-foot slow fire target. If the target were laid over a B-27, all 10 rounds would have been within the 9, 10, and X rings for solid central body mass hits. Still, when push comes to shove, we\u2019d prefer five 2\u00bd-inch Federal Premium Personal Defense 000 (four pellet) buckshot shells in either Taurus over just about anything.\r\n\r\nFinal Thoughts <\/strong>\r\nMorrison concludes by saying that in his 42 years in the firearms business (including his many years with Colt), he has never seen a single product that has taken off and captured the imagination of people who are concerned with their welfare and protection like the Judge series. After testing both the big 3-inch Magnum and compact Public Defender we find both sidearms worthy not only of Morrison\u2019s accolades, but of our own. The defense rests. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l","post_title":"Taurus Judge .45 LC\/.410 Pistol Review","post_excerpt":"Tipping the scales of justice in your favor\u2014 the guns, the ammo, and a laser!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"taurus-judge-45-lc410","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 20:21:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2010\/03\/10\/taurus-judge-45-lc410\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":159974,"post_author":"579","post_date":"2010-03-09 17:44:16","post_date_gmt":"2010-03-09 23:44:16","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOver the years many arguments have raged on when it comes to the 1911 pistol as a concealed carry piece. Two long-standing points of contention are the length of the barrel and the composition of the frame. Many simply carry full-sized all steel guns with no issues. But for many there remains a desire for a smaller pistol with the same advantages of the design, and more importantly the use of the venerable .45 ACP cartridge.\r\n\r\nThe first in this line was the Commander-sized pistol, which has a 1911 Commander frame with a 4 to 4.25-inch barrel. For many the inch-shortened barrel works well as it does not adversely affect accuracy, it is controllable and has the benefit of being reliable. Some will disagree, but I have never had a quality Commander-length pistol not work as well as any full-sized pistol. Nor have I experienced any appreciable loss in accuracy at concealed carry distances that wasn\u2019t attributable to the shooter. There is also the added benefit of not losing any capacity, as it maintains the standard frame. This design has withstood the test of time and only improved with better manufacturing and materials, as a Commander pistol with an alloy frame is considerably lighter. Although it\u2019s made in many calibers, the .45 remains the most popular. For many this is about perfect for concealed carry, but for others, an even shorter barrel was required.\r\n\r\nThe next step in the evolution is the Officers model, a design that incorporates a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip.\r\n\r\nThis results in what many believe to be an easier pistol to conceal, but also results in one less round in the magazine. They are lighter weight and fit in some places a full-sized pistol will not, but many of the early guns were not reliable. To be honest, in many if not most cases it was probably the operator as short barrel guns require a firm hand no matter who makes them. Where a shooter may not have an issue with a full-sized pistol, any \u201cissues\u201d\u2014weak grip, poor stance, or poor presentation\u2014will all show more easily with a shortened autopistol. On the other hand, the nature of a gunfight presents just such stances and issues. As Clint Smith so nicely put it, \u201cThe gunfight is not what you make it, it is what it is!\u201d Essentially, your survival depends on your ability to adapt to reality, not video game fantasy.\r\n\r\nErrors typically manifest themselves as a failure to eject or failure to feed. In some cases it was the shorter barrel design, as physics just make it more difficult when the slide moves less. It requires stiffer springs and tighter overall tolerances. The first one I ever purchased required a \u201ctune up\u201d to run duty ammo, and that was on a $1200 pistol in 1999! For many, an Officers model left too much to be desired, and they would stick to Commander or full-length pistols. When the Defender came out with its even shorter 3-inch barrel, many just wouldn\u2019t go for the shorter 1911 pistol.\r\n\r\nAluminum Frames<\/strong>\r\nIn addition to barrel length, the other principal argument in the 1911 world is whether an aluminum frame will hold up to \u201creal use.\u201d First of all, real use on a concealed carry weapon for the vast majority of shooters is about no use at all. The idea that most shooters out there shoot regularly is simply a myth. Most gun purchasers fire their weapon a few times and never use it again. And as ammunition continues to get priced off the planet, it becomes even worse. Given this reality, a pistol that will stay accurate and reliable for, say 10,000+ rounds, far exceeds anything most people will do in a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI took a brand new aluminum-framed Commander model and did just that. In fact, I grew tired of testing the thing after about 12,000 rounds. Working in a gun store with a range, as well as the ability to shoot \u201cstore ammunition\u201d daily made this possible, though I doubt many people could do that today. After all that, it was still accurate, still reliable, had no signs of breakage or damage and was as good as the day I took it out. I replaced return springs twice over that time, but other than that, not a thing was altered. Over that time it was mostly FMJ, but there were several hundred rounds of various defense loads as well as some really hot stuff. I gave that pistol to a friend who shot it for years with no issues. That was in the late 1990\u2019s, so with today\u2019s metals and manufacturing I chalk it up to the need for people to argue. I have no problems with any of my polymer pistols or those with aluminum frames.\r\n\r\n