The only problem I see is ammunition.
It's relatively hard to find 45 long colt ammo now, let alone a shtf situation.
It would be a great gun as long as ammo is readily available...
Having .410 versatility is nice too.
But again, how much ammo are you going to have?
I always try to think about the easiest ammo to find when considering a shtf gun.


But until then, the best survival gun is:
Anything you have ammo for.

Other than that, slingshot or other rudimentary weapons would make it farther.


Good thread semper.

I feel you should have three weapons instead of relying on one do it all weapon.Simply for mechanical failure and different situational responses needed.Pistol,shotgun,rifle.

I respectfully disagree.

As a “Snake Gun” this choice is excellent, however the use as a survival weapon it is very limited.

The .410 shotgun shell is not powerful enough to use as personal protection, and combined with a short barrel the “spread” on the shot pattern is to large to make a kill shot on a small mammal unless you are very, very close.

Using the .45 caliber shell this weapon would be deadly for humans, but now you are required to be somewhat of a good marksman at distance. Plus shoot a rabbit with a .45 at close range and you will blow half of the meat away.

Even though this is a very wicked looking gun the best option for this weapon is for protection from snakes when working in the field.

Stick with a 12 gauge short barreled pump for a survival weapon. Even when loaded with #6 shot it will cut a man in half at close range. A .410 will not even knock you off your feet even if you pressed it to someone’s leg. I should know, I was shot in the thigh from about 12 inches away with a .410, #6 shot, didn’t even stagger me. The shot only penetrated just below the surface of the skin. I was lucky in which part of the body I was hit, a major organ area it could have been deadly at such a close range, but more than 10 feet away the .410 is not powerful enough to take down a human.

Where a 12 gauge with the proper load will take down a bear.

I have a Taurus 455 revolver in .45ACP uses five shot moon clips.
Methinks the moon clips for the Taurus 455 will fit the Judge (5 shot).
Iff you can use .45ACP your ammo availability issues disappear.
Unfortunately it's not going to have stellar accuracy at distance using the short .45 round in that long cylinder - but it's a great savings on your target ammo. Just a thought.

ganjoa

I have never handled the Judge, so I can't talk about it's quality, but I've had many pieces from Taurus and have never been let down.

The ammunition issue is the one that worries me the most. As others have said .45 long colt and .410 shells aren't really that common or abundant.

For guns if TSHTF I'd want something in 9mm, 45acp, 22lr, 7.62x39, 5.56, 308, .30-06, or 12ga. Which is why I have a 9mm, 12ga, .22, 7.62x39 (and x54r Mosin FTW heh, .44, 38, 10mm too )

Even reloading doesn't assure you will have ammo. Where are you going to get more primers? Powder? Shells will wear out eventually. Are you going to keep hundreds of pounds of lead billet sitting around?

The size and weight of reloading equipment and supplies for a given number of rounds isn't anymore compact or lighter than the equivalent number of complete rounds. The only thing you are saving weight and size on is the shells, which is canceled out by needing various presses, dies, smelting equipment, etc.

I just don't see reloading as a big advantage for a SHTF situation unless you can manufacture your own quality powder. I have equipment to reload .38 special and .44 as well as tons of once fired brass, primers, and powder, but I do it because it's a lot cheaper than buying a few hundred rounds of .38 special and .44 every time I go shooting. It takes up more space and is heavier than keeping a stockpile of a few thousand rounds of .38 or .44 would be though. I do however have a decent stockpile of 9mm, 7.62, 12ga and a few stragglers for a SHTF situation.

If you are going to be in a large commune or clan with the ability to manufacture your own powder reloading would be great, but if not carrying around a press, die, smelting pot, various boxes of primers, shells, and powder isn't going to be as good as straight up ammo would be.

One thing I didn't think about until right now, is that if you do have to scavenge for ammo after TSHTF, I would bet other people would take actual ammo long before taking reloading supplies. So the chance of finding some powder or primers might actually be greater than finding complete ammo.

It doesn't matter what you carry if you are pointing it the wrong way. If people like you, who profess defense while pushing aggression actually pushed for some type of personal plasma shield technology, we wouldn't have the problems with violence that people like you live for.