Taurus Judge .45LC (Favorite handload Recipe)

montanatechie · October 19, 2010, 12:18 PM

Hi Everyone, The Taurus Judge is getting popular these days.
The .45LC round is quite a hard hitter for an old design, I am quite impressed with it.
However these rounds can be hard to find and relatively expensive.

Does anybody have a good handload Recipe for the .45LC for use in the judge?

How about a favorite commercial factory round for the judge? Anybody have a link to the best price?

Im excited to see what everyone else is shooting in these new unique firearms!

montanatechie · October 24, 2010, 11:45 AM

After some reading I found this to be quite informative regarding the .45LC round and it's contemporary uses and loads.

"http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3372251"

"The 45LC "+P" is WAY, way hotter than most other "+P" versions of various calibers. It's not the usual "maybe 10% hotter" situation.

What happened was, Ruger started building 45LC guns on platforms made for the 44Magnum, and with the same steel and heat-treat in both cases. This led to 45LC guns that were grossly over-strength for the caliber. 45LC+P loads were built marked "RUGER ONLY!!!" and they meant it.

Since 2005, Ruger has been building the New Vaquero in 45LC which is NOT a 44Magnum-class gun. Buffalo Bore's website on their 45LC+P ammo specifically excludes the NewVaq from consideration with that ammo - some of which exceeds most 44Mag ammo in terms of raw power (325gr hardcast doing 1,300fps!!!).

Buffalo Bore also separately lists 45LC ammo that's as hot as you can go in the NewVaq, Colt SAA (post-WW2) and other more "normal" 45LC guns including the Taurus Judge. These loads involve 200gr JHPs doing 1,100fps or a 255gr hardcast doing 1,000fps. Those are among the hottest loads you can shoot in a Judge.
__________________
Jim March "

I believe these are the BuffaloBore Rounds mentioned above.
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php...ct_detail&p=46

TXGunNut · October 24, 2010, 11:52 AM

Thanks for the link, was watching for the thread in the loading forum. I'm thinking the old Colt loads of generally blackpowder velocity would be a good choice. A 255 gr cast bullet over a moderate charge of Universal would be a good starting place IMHO. I've seen .410 revolver loads from Federal IIRC recently and commercial "cowboy" loads are available as well.

machrism · October 24, 2010, 12:57 PM

To the person who made this thread. Thanks. You were reading my mind. I too just bought the Judge Magnum and there seems to be alot of controversy on what's "The Max" for this gun! I was actually going to just shoot .410 out of it because of this but not anymore.

kraigwy · October 24, 2010, 01:44 PM

My wife has a Judge. She's small and can't handle recoil. The 410s don't bother her but I have to load light 45 LCs for her.

I load 5.4 grns of 231 behind a 250 grn cast SWC. Its mild but still hits hard. Accurate too, in her Judge and my Ruger NV.

We don't hunt with 45s, but I don't believe a 45 cal. 250 grn slug needs a lot of velocity to be a good defensive round.

I'd rather have accuracy in a round she can handle.

Jim March · October 24, 2010, 02:03 PM

I can never own a Judge. I'm too twisted in the head. Handloading concepts for me in that gun run to chunks of brass nails, marbles, busted-up car glass packed in the noxious liquid of your choice, etc.

mavracer · October 24, 2010, 02:51 PM

I wouldn't reccomend anything hotter than standard pressure 45 Colt ammo in the judge.IMHO the best SD round and not bad all around is the Speer 250gr golddot.the 250-255 SWC is a great all purpose load and will do for SD in a pinch. I use Unique powder for my 45 Colt loads 9.5gr with a 250 cast will get you ~1000 fps.8.0gr is a real good shooting load about 850fps and can be used with jacketed as well.

mordis · October 24, 2010, 04:47 PM

I love the concept and the looks of the judge, my only issue is I have now idea how effective the ammunition is. Will it reach 12" penetration or will the loads behave more like those shot out of a snubby?

My only othe observation for this thread is that, the 255gr heavy standard pressure load from buffalo bore is not hard cast lead. It is soft cast. Says so in the product description. I have no idea if that will effect its penetrating quantities or not but imsure it will make a dandy back woods load for any normal 45colt sixgun.

zxcvbob · October 24, 2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimMarch

I can never own a Judge. I'm too twisted in the head. Handloading concepts for me in that gun run to chunks of brass nails, marbles, busted-up car glass packed in the noxious liquid of your choice, etc.

I would probably be loading .444 Marlin brass for it using a buttload (that's a lot) of black powder. Flare the end of the cartridge to take a .452 lead bullet or roundball instead of .429

October 19, 2010, 12:18 PM	#1
montanatechie Junior Member Join Date: March 7, 2010 Posts: 7	Taurus Judge .45LC (Favorite handload Recipe) Hi Everyone, The Taurus Judge is getting popular these days. The .45LC round is quite a hard hitter for an old design, I am quite impressed with it. However these rounds can be hard to find and relatively expensive. Does anybody have a good handload Recipe for the .45LC for use in the judge? How about a favorite commercial factory round for the judge? Anybody have a link to the best price? Im excited to see what everyone else is shooting in these new unique firearms!

October 24, 2010, 11:45 AM	#2
montanatechie Junior Member Join Date: March 7, 2010 Posts: 7	Update... After some reading I found this to be quite informative regarding the .45LC round and it's contemporary uses and loads. "http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3372251" "The 45LC "+P" is WAY, way hotter than most other "+P" versions of various calibers. It's not the usual "maybe 10% hotter" situation. What happened was, Ruger started building 45LC guns on platforms made for the 44Magnum, and with the same steel and heat-treat in both cases. This led to 45LC guns that were grossly over-strength for the caliber. 45LC+P loads were built marked "RUGER ONLY!!!" and they meant it. Since 2005, Ruger has been building the New Vaquero in 45LC which is NOT a 44Magnum-class gun. Buffalo Bore's website on their 45LC+P ammo specifically excludes the NewVaq from consideration with that ammo - some of which exceeds most 44Mag ammo in terms of raw power (325gr hardcast doing 1,300fps!!!). Buffalo Bore also separately lists 45LC ammo that's as hot as you can go in the NewVaq, Colt SAA (post-WW2) and other more "normal" 45LC guns including the Taurus Judge. These loads involve 200gr JHPs doing 1,100fps or a 255gr hardcast doing 1,000fps. Those are among the hottest loads you can shoot in a Judge. __________________ Jim March " I believe these are the BuffaloBore Rounds mentioned above. http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php...ct_detail&p=46

October 24, 2010, 11:52 AM	#3
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Thanks for the link, was watching for the thread in the loading forum. I'm thinking the old Colt loads of generally blackpowder velocity would be a good choice. A 255 gr cast bullet over a moderate charge of Universal would be a good starting place IMHO. I've seen .410 revolver loads from Federal IIRC recently and commercial "cowboy" loads are available as well. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

October 24, 2010, 01:44 PM	#5
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	My wife has a Judge. She's small and can't handle recoil. The 410s don't bother her but I have to load light 45 LCs for her. I load 5.4 grns of 231 behind a 250 grn cast SWC. Its mild but still hits hard. Accurate too, in her Judge and my Ruger NV. We don't hunt with 45s, but I don't believe a 45 cal. 250 grn slug needs a lot of velocity to be a good defensive round. I'd rather have accuracy in a round she can handle. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

October 24, 2010, 02:03 PM	#6
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	I can never own a Judge. I'm too twisted in the head. Handloading concepts for me in that gun run to chunks of brass nails, marbles, busted-up car glass packed in the noxious liquid of your choice, etc. __________________ Jim March

October 24, 2010, 12:57 PM	#4
machrism Member Join Date: October 12, 2010 Posts: 39	To the person who made this thread. Thanks. You were reading my mind. I too just bought the Judge Magnum and there seems to be alot of controversy on what's "The Max" for this gun! I was actually going to just shoot .410 out of it because of this but not anymore.

October 24, 2010, 04:47 PM	#8
mordis Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2005 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 560	I love the concept and the looks of the judge, my only issue is I have now idea how effective the ammunition is. Will it reach 12" penetration or will the loads behave more like those shot out of a snubby? My only othe observation for this thread is that, the 255gr heavy standard pressure load from buffalo bore is not hard cast lead. It is soft cast. Says so in the product description. I have no idea if that will effect its penetrating quantities or not but imsure it will make a dandy back woods load for any normal 45colt sixgun.