I fell in love with the Taurus Judge revolver the moment I saw it. How cool is it, that you can fire 45 Colt and 410 Bore ammo without changing anything about the gun? (That’s a rhetorical question. Obviously, it is very cool.)
The Judge altered public perception of the 410 Bore shotshell. It used to be regarded exclusively as a hunting shell. But now that revolvers can chamber 410, the petite shell is increasingly favored for its defensive capabilities.
The best 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge is Winchester Defender, which is loaded with 12 pellets of BB shot and three plated defense discs: hard and hard-hitting copper-plated projectiles which wreak havoc on their target at close range. We’ll talk about it at length below, as well as recommend our top 410 selections for other worthwhile applications.
Top 5 410 Ammo for the Taurus Judge
| Winchester Defender Plated Defense Disc | Best Overall |
|---|---|
| Winchester Super-X 000 Buckshot | Best Home Defense |
| Winchester Super-X #7-1/2 Shot | Best Shooting Range Ammo |
| Sterling Rifled Slug | Honorable Mention |
| Hornady 410 Triple Defense | Honorable Mention |
Winchester Defender Plated Defense Disc - Best Overall
Why I Chose It
Winchester Defender (also occasionally known as “PDX1”) 410 Bore ammunition is loaded with a truly unique shot column. One shell is loaded with twelve BB shot pellets, each 0.18" in diameter (compare that to 00 buck, which is 0.33"), as well as three “Defense Discs,” which are shaped a bit like button batteries (or perhaps tins of cat food).
All the projectiles are copper plated. This hardens them, which promotes deeper penetration through body mass. The narrow BB pellets enter deeply, inflicting multiple wound channels to cause heavy bleeding. The awkwardly shaped Defense Discs tumble about in soft tissue, tearing out wider wound channels as a result. Combine these terminal ballistics with the shell’s wide range of effect, which compensates for poor/hasty aim, and you’ve got a real potent solution for self-defense on your hands.
Doesn’t hurt that it’s made by Winchester, which is one of America’s greatest ammo producers, so much so that it even manages the U.S. government’s largest ammo factory.
When it comes to the best 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge, Winchester Defender reigns supreme. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better self-defense round, though Hornady Critical Defense deserves its mention as well. So too does Remington 1/5 oz. rifled slug: cheaper, and able to deliver more energy on target over farther distances (although there are good reasons to prefer 45 Colt over slugs for defense).
Winchester Super-X 000 Buck - Best Home Defense Ammo for Taurus Judge
Why I Chose It
Winchester Super-X 000 buckshot: another swell option for defense. It’s designed for hunting, but has ample power to neutralize a threat as well.
Winchester loads this shell with five pellets of 000 buckshot. Each lead projectile is 0.36" in diameter and weighs ~70 grains. Compare that to 00 buck (0.33" diameter, ~53.8 grains), and it’s easy to see why triple-aught can do even more damage. Its girth gouges out a wider wound cavity. Its higher mass enables it to penetrate deeper into flesh as well (noting that the 410 is a weaker shell, and cannot accelerate nearly as much shot as the more popular 12 or 20 Gauge).
Does your revolver only have 2.5" chambers? Tough cookies. No five-pellet load for you. You can choose a round loaded with three pieces of 000 buck instead. It may prove less effective, although one well-placed shot would instantly end a violent altercation between two (and possibly more) opponents.
Winchester Super-X 000 buckshot ammo is also a hoot for target practice. If you have recyclables, a garden hose, this ammo, and a Judge, then I promise you can have yourself a good time.
Continue reading Best 410 Ammo for a Taurus Judge: At-Home Defense on Ammo.com
