Taurus / Rossi Circuit Judge
The November issue of Shooting Illustrated published a letter from a reader who suggested Taurus make a carbine version of their Judge revolver and name it the "Supreme Court Judge". Gary from Oklahoma has had his wish come true. The new Taurus Circuit Judge is a revolver carbine that can chamber .410 shotshells (2.5" and 3") and .45 Long Colt.
The design is very similar to the Russian KBP MTs 225 revolver shotgun. The Circuit has a very attractive Monte Carlo stock (I guess a synthetic stock will be introduced at a later date). A cylinder guard on the left side of the gun prevents gas and flames from scorching your arm.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .45 Long Colt, .410 2.5" and 3" shells |
| Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Action | SA/DA |
| Finish | Wood / Blue |
| Barrel | 18.5" |
| Overall Length | 38" |
| Weight | 4.75 lbs |
| Front Sight | Fiber optics |
| Rear Sight | Fiber optic |
| MSRP (Price) | Not yet announced. |
The Circut Judge will be avalible with either a rifled barrel or a smoothbore barrel. The smoothbore version will only be able to fire .410 rounds.
I really look forward to shooting the new Judge. It looks nice, feels nice and I am sure is a lot of fun to shoot.
Just noticed a crack in the stock under the hammer where it meets the receiver on my Circuit Judge. Have put less than 50 rounds through it – all factory. Anyone else have this problem? Will be calling Rossi when the weekend is over.
I posted a comment on Jan 30 about the circuit judge. I realized I had it wrong. The .45 shoots high left and the 410 rifled slug shoots low RIGHT. I have moved the sights as low as possible and as far right as possible and now the .45 is close but could be better. Now the 410 is shooting 1 1/2 ft low and 1 1/2 ft right. I just spoke to the customer service dept at Rossi and asked if I should change bullets or a differenct grain of bullets. They claim a different bullet or different grain bullet would not make that much of a difference. They want me to send the gun back for them to check. Does anybody have suggestions?
Has anyone had trouble? Such as — mine shoots 4 rounds great & hangs up EVERY 5th round…. after cleaning, the same thing —- hangs up on the 5th round… any help??
I bought the circuit judge two weeks ago. Have shot it 3 times and there is no way to sight it in at 25 yards for .45 and 410. The .45 shot high left the 410 rifled slug shoots low left. So I figured I would work on sighting in the .45. Went through a box of shells and have the sights set to shoot as low as possible and as far right as possible an still can’t hit the bullseye at 25 yards but at least it was close. So then I decided to try the 410 rifled slugs. I shot ten shell and shot 1 1/2 foot low and 1 1/2 foot to the right. Could there be something wrong with the gun? It is consistant low left with the slugs and I don’t think I should have it adjusted as low as possible and as far right as possible for the .45. The 45s I shot were American Eagle 45 Colt 225 grain jacketed soft point and the slugs were Winchester 3″ 1/4 oz rifled slugs hollow point. At this point I am ready to take the gun back. Any suggestions?
i got a circuit judge from my wife for xmas i have a judge 4″ sta.also
the judge is better qualty
the index spur on the circut is poorly machined trouble ejecting colts at times+ primer not centered on 3 cyl,s
3″#4s with choke excelent we need info for 45lc loading so far not bad
how about it braztech
thank,s
I just want to know how hot of a load you can reload them at . with a
45cal. 250 gran bullet with good brass. I shot some with
11 grans of #5 accurate, and 250 gran hornady.
Taurus / Rossi wont give any info on it of the true cut off is
so how can you realy reload this gun with any real safty.
I thank they just want you to buy there amo.
All other guns come with this info. I think they should also. please post comments. about this.
i just got the circuit judge for x-mas,couldn’t have ask for a better gift.I’ve shot around 50 rounds of each and i must agree if you added anything else to it like the.454 all it would do is get me in trouble for tryingto shoot elephant LOL.I think it ‘s just on of those things that come around once in a while you should just leave alone.My hats off to rossi/taurus congrats ,besides my judge it my second favorite gun at this time so keep up the innovation and you’ll keep on making us gun consumers happy.
Stainless, 18.5″ rifled barrel, 410/.44 Magnum, synthetic grip and tactical folding stock !!!
Predator protection and kid crazy bird and rabbit gun. Can it be built combining the Taurus Judge 410/44 Mag and Circuit Judge barrel plus after market grip and stock? Oh and Red Dot!!
Bought a Circuit Judge yesterday after deciding not to hunt Blue Grouse with one of my 22LR’s as it could be too dangerous as more folks walk the woods. My 12,16, and 20 gauge shotguns are just too large for a shy grouse sitting in a tree perch 20 yards away. Shot it today with the sleeve designed to stop the shot from spinning and at 25 yards it will be very lethal for any small game. Very little spread from what damage it did. It has flash guards on both sides to protect either left or right hand shooters. It has a two cylinder plug for states requiring a limit of three shells loaded at a time. The sites are really well made and are a true plus when sighting something. For a 410 it is a bit loud. For distances with the 45LC out past 50 yards I’ll use my 460XVR instead. I mean really, can you expect a 45LC from an 18.5 inch barrel to be an effective sniper rifle??? I suppose, if you look hard enough, you can find something wrong with everyone elses ideas since they aren’t yours. Super little firearm, I’m quite happy about adding it to the collection. I hope it will bring home many a rabbit and blue grouse, not to mention a ton of fun to plink with.
i just purchased the only one walmart in lawton okla had and amazing its a great gun for mounting on my fourwheeler and it has been a great money investment the minuete i seen it i just so had to have it shot a hog with it last night from the fourwheeler and again i say if you get the chance to buy one do it it you wont regret it
California is not a State, it is another country run by Idiots and morons!
“The right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”
update: Still really liking my circuit judge, have found that short barrel will make your ears ring when shooting 3″ magnum 410s(hearing protection is good idea anyway) the blowback between cylinder and chamber is non issue with the deflector, never had it bother me. shooting lower powered “cowboy” loads is both fun and a lot cheaper even for most women who flinch at recoil. One of the main things i’ve noticed is that only good to about 60-70 yards with the 45 light loads, but paper plate accuracy is increased to around 150 when using 3″ magnum 410 rifled slugs, we’ve talked about the reason and we’re thinking its the travel distance between the 45 cases and barrel is a lot longer than the distance between 410s and the barrel.(wild a** guess) the factory included scope rail works good with weaver rings and mounts put a NcStar pistolero 2-7×32 rifle scope on it and it works great but it does come with hammer extender that alleveates the problem of using the external hammer manualy because of the scope extending backwards over it…altogather am still pleased with the gun and think it was a good deal.
hey matt groom i own a 410 bolt action it has a built in adjustable choke but unfortunately it has no visible markings but it looks like a Remington to me it is about 65 to 70 years old and works great .It was given to me by my father
ant he got it from his when he was 12 and it was already an old gun then
Just bought the Circut Judge yesterday, wt. is 81oz. Shot it this morning and at 25′ it key-holed the paper over 50% of the time!! Tried 3 different factory loads and a couple of my own, same results. Needless to say it goes back today. The twist is too weak I think. Twist is just at one turn the full length of the bbl. Another thing I discovered is you can’t manually eject 5 rounds fired or unfired because the stock prevents it. Looks like the Brazillaro who inletted the stock shaved a taper off of the wrong side. The accuracy was marginal at 25′ with 250 gr. SWC loads, not much better with jacketed 200 gr loads. I believe they will have to re-barrel this one to correct the stabilization of the bullet. We shall see……..
MATT GROOM, the bolt action 410 has been around for decades ,the old J C Higgins
You can take the stock off and it looks like, although I haven’t tried it, that the pistol grip could work. Next thing I’m waiting for down the pike is a Supreme Court Judge, Both .410′s, .45 LC & 454 Casull with that super heavy barrel. Yes sir buddy, that will cover every critter on the North American Continent to include the occasional charging Locomotive.
I have seen more than a few of the Taurus Circuit Judge’s at our Arizona gun shows all have been for sale by dealers as they are rather new on the market prices are $615 and up, they are not as popular as the Taurus Judge revolvers, I guess people are looking mostly for a powerful handgun for self-defence either while hiking or by the bed stand . I wish that Taurus would develop a Judge that will shoot not only .410 shotgun shells and .45 Colt but also .45ACP ! Also too bad that the Taurus Circuit Judge is not like the Thompson Contender, which has interchangable barrels and forearm stocks, so the full lenght shotgun by removing the barrel , stock and forearm could then be a Taurus Judge revolver !
I like the way Masteraceman thinks. Here’s one for the cowboy shooters. Over and under, 45/70 &45 LC long octigon barrels like the Sharps 45/70 and one really big cylinder.
I left out they aren’t sawed off shot guns.
Great blogs! Just purchased a Survivor SB1 made by Harrington & Richardson rifled in 45 LC & 3″ 410. I live in SOCAL and purchased it at from a local dealer. It’s a good little single shot for the kids and ladies. Also, for removal of rattlers and coyotes. I’ld make room for the Circuit Judge and wonder when they will come out with the Raging Circuit Judge in 454, 45 LC & 3″ 410.
Shouldn’t have any trouble buying any of these in California. Because their aren’t concidered concealable, don’t hold more than ten rounds and aren’t an assalt long gun.
I’ve had this weapon on order since November 2010 and still waiting. The demand is so hight that it’s taking forever to build production to match! I’ll be back from Afghanistan at the end of July for R&R and I want it to be there when I get home for my wife to use as her primary home defense weapon with her Glock 45 GAP as backup.
the gun comes with two plugs to make it leagal to hunt with
After looking at one of these at our local shop/range, this is already on my want list. It gives both world a shot in the arm. (Shotgunners or Riflemen). Some people ask “will it hurt the rifling of the barrel shooting shot in it. The slug barrel on my 12 ga. is rifled and I load every other shell slug-buck shot-slug. ect.. My slugs still hit my aim point after years of use.
What about a Here Comes De Judge model? It would have to be chambered in something ridiculous like oh i dont know……50 caliber?
Already own the judge revolver with the 6″ barrel and absolutly love it. It is my home defense gun of choice, even over my Taurus 24/7 Pro. I ordered my Circut Judge on Saturday from my local dealer,can’t hardly wait.
I would have to agree with SHANKBONE on holding for the raging judge edition! I have one of the original judges, the 3″ raging judge on layaway, and would like very much to add this to my collection. Kind of suprised that TAURUS didnt leap straight to the .454 on this one!
just purchased the circuit judge and went shootin…..150 rounds of cowboy action lc and 100 rounds of 410 federal hi brass #6…was really surprised at the shot gun pattern at 20 yards(very good) and the accurracy of the long colt at 100 yards…will try different loads in near future but am really happy with what i got so far!
those of us who are living in MEXIFORNIA, are so jealous of all you people, who are free. you have “rights to keep and buy arms”. we have “rules, regulations and the right to bitch” about the kings, queens and nobelmen of our elected government.
Ok, I have owned this rifle for about 6 months now. I have fired a few hundred rounds so far. Even took it skeet shooting just for fun. It is abreeze to load, point and shoot. You do not even perceive the deflectors as they work so well. it is now in our home by the wifes bed as home protection. It is just right for her and she is comfortable shooting it. Well worth the money, go ahead and buy one.
I just purchased one, and it is really sweet…. paid under 450.00 msrp here in SC.. but they do tend to sell out fast!
There are numerous lever action .410’s and .45’s on the market. I can’t see a combo happening if for no other reason than ammunition feeding problems.
I would like to see it as a lever action
I BOUGHT ONE LAST WEEK,,BEING A BORED COLLECTOR AS I AM.I REMOVED THE RUBBER GRIP OFF MY JUDGE PISTOL AND PUT IT ON THE CIRCUIT JUDGE AND ITS A PERFECT ASSULT SHOTGUN WITH 3 INCH MAGS,ESPECIALLY WITH THE LASER.KIND OF INTIMIDATING JUST TO LOOK AT AND THE RELIANCE OF A REVOLVER IS BACK WITH NO HULL OR CASINGS TO PICK UP (for an old man like me)
nam69
Technicality, that monster 5 shot 45.70 is also a pistol cartridge.
Went by local indoor range today. They advertise that you can shoot rifles there if they are of pistol caliber. When I told them that I wanted to shoot my Circuit Judge, I was told ” NO WAY, Our wall can’t handle it! but you can fire 410 shells.”
Now I really want to find a place to shoot. Going to take it home to the farm in WV next weekend.
According to Guns April 2011 issue, the Circuit Judge weighs in around 4.45 pounds an overall lengthe of 36″ and has 3 dot adjustable sights and price is $618. NOW if they had a revolver carbine in 45-70 that would be something to have DONT YOU THINK?
I JUST BOUGHT ONE,TOOK IT HOME AND FOUND OUT YOU CAN PUT STOCK RUBBER JUDGE GRIPS ON IT AND PUT THE WOOD STOCK ON YOUR JUDGE,,”SOMETHING TO DO IF YOUR RETIRED AND HAVE TIME ON YOUR HANDS”BUT IT MAKES A BAD A– LOOKING {and is in a 3in.mag) WEAPON AND ALSO AN ULTIMATE HOME PROTECTION WEAPONS.
I still like the idea of saving the term Supreme Court Judge for one that shoots 45-70 rounds. I have become fond of the old 405 grain bullet. Remington sells them in a copper jacket with a soft point. That is the first round I ever fired in my new Handi Rifle…It is smooth. I also have some 500 grain INTERBONDS by Hornandy that are real interesting. It would be nice to load more than one at a time….Well I guess Quigley did okay one round at a time.
Marion, I am sure that you are correct. In fact since I have one, bought and paid for, the announcement should be out any day now. Kind of like the way I sold my 4×4 because we never got any snow here in East Tennessee, well until this year……………:)
the perfect combination for this gun would be 460s&w mag/454/45lc/410 2&3/4IN. &3IN. SHELLS. THEN YOU CAN CALL IT THE HANGING JUDGE & HUNT ANYTHING IN NORTH AMERICA.
The Winchester PDX rounds are very cool! They maintained a tight group at 25 and put a hurtin on some milk jugs.
Can I own or purchase one of these guns in CALIFORNIA? This sure would be nice to know for sure. Because if not I just happen to be going to Arizona next month and would love to pick one up. But if i am able to buy this in CA. I will wait until i get back and purchase one then. Can anyone Please let me know? Thank You! Byron
I just bought my Circuit Judge yesterday, it looks and feels good. FYI; it comes with 2 choke’s, (rifled and straight), a two chamber plug, (to comply with idiotic state gun laws for hunting), a cleaning swab and the standard Taurus locking key. The down side is that my local gun dealer could not get me one and I had to buy it at a chain store. The upside is that it was $499.98. I thought that was extremely reasonable. You’d have trouble buying a standard Judge revolver for that price. I plan on doing some ballistic tests with various .410 loads including the Winchester PDX rounds. I will post the results as I get them.
I purchased my Circuit Judge last year and have put 100′s of rounds through it. I like the weapon very much. It’s just what I thought it would be, just plain fun. It is also a good truck, saddle, or backpack gun as many others have mentioned.
I viewed this site last year to see what others were saying about it before I purchased it. I visited today to post my experiences with the weapon. However, Mr. Maguire and Mr. Ralph covered the points I wanted to make very well. Heed their advice!
I saw the details of the Circuit Judge shotgun/rifle mid December. Immediately ordered from the local big, big box store. It has just been delivered. It certainly meets all expectation to looks and feel. I have yet to take it or my Taurus Judge to a firing range for trial.
goatman
I’ll make it a point not to use that. Please keep us posted on the results if the investigation.
Good news/Bad news. We have the CJ in the area now! The bad news is that my locally owned dealer still can’t get a hold of one. While I would much rather pay a bit extra from my hometown dealer it looks like I’ll have to go to Goose Hills or Drcks for one.
Spence not factory <Hodgdon Titegroup 6.8gr Hdy 200 gr xtp. Guarantee i will flinch next time i pull the trigger on a rifle.
Ouch! Was this factory ammo or hand loaded? I’m guessing that it was not factory.
Got mine in Nov at Gander mountain in Wichita Ks. Loved it great pattern at 25-20 yards with 410 buckshot. sub 2 inch groups at 50 yards with 45 LC. However did have some primer issues with the 45 LC and must have caused a problem. The cylinder is now in 4 pieces. the scope mount could not be found. My head is still sore and ears are ringing. In summary CATASTROPHIC FAILURE!!!! We will see what the repair facility says when they recieve it.
Stephen, Thanks for the great review. I plan on buying a CJ as soon as I can find one in this area.
I just bought this gun…. Love it! but a little FYI for everybody out there… When removing the Choke keep in mind it is REVERSE thread!!!! it does NOT tell you that in the owners manual. Also i paid $450.00 for it new thru Cabelas.
WANT A GUN THAT IS FUN TO SHOOT GET A HENRY 22MA GOLDENBOY FINE SD FROG HAIR
Unfortunately other than home defense or backpack gun I can’t find any other purpose for this gun. The .45 round would bounce down the .410 chamber making grouping unpredictable and the 5 round chamber would exclude this gun for most bird hunting applications.
GOT MINE YESTERDAY. LIGHT, GOOD BALANCE, COMFORTABLE FEEL….ONLY BAD PART IS I HAVE TO WAIT TO SHOOT IT….SO MUCH FOR LIVING IN TOWN.
Thanks for your excellent and informative post. I have only shot .410 2 3/4″ 000 buck so far through my CJ, and used the rifled “choke” as the manual suggested. After reading your post, I realized I had the wrong choke in for what I was shooting and – as you said – had a tough time removing it. A little penetrating oil did the trick.
Would have been very nice if Rossi had added just a couple more lines to their manual on using the chokes. First, that the threads are reversed from what you might expect (turn left to install and right to remove), so you are tightening it when you think you are loosening it. And then that the rifled choke is really only for .410 bird shot. All other rounds should use the smooth bore choke.
Due to the weather, haven’t been able to go out and put some more rounds through it to see if my original problem (stated earlier) of double-action not firing all cylinders goes away. Called Rossi and they said they had never heard of that problem and I should just shoot more to break the rifle in.
My wife,. bless her heart, bought me a circuit judge at Christmas. I have shot it often and I have several answers for you folkes. There is a cylinder guard on both sides an so no one will get a powder burn. The gun comes with two types of chokes. One is smooth and is used with 45 shells and 410 slugs. This is because the barrel is rifled and the bullet will continue to rotate past the smooth choke. The other so-called choke has straight elevated rifling which is used only with 410 birdshot. The elevated straight rifling at the end of the barrel works nicely to stop the spinning shot and keeps the pattern tight. It works very well. Next,. if you shoot buckshot or the other tripple ought shot through the straight rifled choke,. the spinning buckshot will hit the rifling and act to tighten the choke. Then it will take some effort to remove the super tightened choke. It’s not the end of the world just a pain. I have had no problems with primers or stuck shells. Yes it would be nice to have this gun in 44 mag,. 480 Ruger,. ect. This gun shot 2 inch groups at 25 yds with both the 45 and 410 slugs. Next,. if you shoot birdshot thru the smooth choke the pattern at 15 yards opens to 10 feet!! No good. Next,. Shoot buck or larger thru the smooth choke and the pattern only opens to 12 inches at 20 yards. The gun comes with 2 plastic cylinder plugs for legal hunting. Do not use Buffalo Bore hot loads in this gun. It;s not designed for them. Thanks.
Nice review and well thought out. I agree whole heartily. As much as I’d love a 5 shot carbine that fired .45, .454 & 410, I can’t thing of much east of the Mississippi that I would need it for, (elk perhaps, but I would get less jail time for shooting my wife than for taking out an elk in TN). The extra weight and extra ammo is also a consideration, (not to mention the cost of .454). I think that the Circuit Judge is a “great grab and go” gun. The rifling is not a huge problem with the 410 if you buy the right ammo. Plus I very much like the duel ammo consideration of the CJ and the Judge, or Peace Maker etc. That’s why they made duel ammo weapons in the first place.
had an opportunity to handle the rifle at the gun store today, and I’ve been doing a considerable amount of research on it since. the first thing i noticed was how light, and compact the rifle really is. weighing in at only 4.45 pounds according to Rossi’s website this little beauty comes in lower than a Ruger 10/22. considering this, it may end up being a great survival gun. the rifled version will produce interesting .410 patterns, but as i myself would use it primarily for small game hunting, i cant remember the last time i spotted a rabbit at 25 yards, no problem finding them within the 10-15 foot range, it shouldn’t matter.
now with the 45 colt should give the added advantage of being an excellent self defense, and mid size game hunting (white tail, hog, black bear) at reasonable ranges. I disagree with those that consider the 45 colt anemic, it has been around hunting and killing decent sized game for longer than anyone around.and when I’ve personally seen hunters with 45 colt revolvers hunting, I think this baby will do just fine. are there better choices out there? sure, like someone said, they would rather carry their rifle, shotgun,handgun, backup, backups backup, and so forth.?… and another 30 pounds of ammo to boot.
as to the 454 casull. I’m torn, simply due to the fact that when I researched the Taurus website, the average Judge weighs in at 36oz, while the average raging judge comes in at 63-72 oz. up this to the rifle/carbine circuit judge, and i’m not sure i can justify the extra weight for a round that i personally probably won’t need to use.
I’ve waited for 9 months to receive my circuit judge in Colorado. Came down to N.C. for Christmas and had my hands on three circuit judges. Why haven’t they sent any out west?
mr. minbuilder, congrads on settling in GOD’S country, where people and guns are as normal as american flags and apple pie. i hope to return, before i die out here in commie/mexifronia. disarming the general public is in a full court press. registering all ammo purchases is next. commie/mexifornia’s defintion of an assult rifle is essentially any gun with bullets inside the gun and possessed by someone other than government law inforcement puppetes. God help us and pray for us.
I commented on the circuit judge last March and have been following the comments ever since.
Long-story-short, I wrote the first comment from California where I was born and raised (45 years). I write this comment from the Great Republic of Texas where I now call home.
Proud owner of a new revolving cylinder shotgun.
Free at last, free at last– thank God almighty I am free at last.
mr cron, you are absolutely right, about changing the laws via the system in theory, but mexifornia just puts injunctions on anything that makes sense and is perfectly rational. we have a history of being denied our rights, because, as you say, the “GIMMIES” always win. And, if you believe an “illegal can not vote” in our elections, i have a bridge to sell. mexifornia has so many addon rules, they defeat practical gun ownership. trigger locks,gun safes, unloaded 24/7, out of reach of children, even if no kids live there. it goes without saying, many gun owners are probably breaking the law, to protect their homes and family members.
Roger: You are correct and I have been doing my best to do that but the ‘gimmies’ outnumber the gun owners in this state. Especially in San Francisco where they voted to outlaw the private ownership of handguns. Thank God for the judge who said that law was unconstitutional. People move here for the welfare. The original founders wanted to limit voting to people who worked and owned property which would give us working people a chance to change the laws. When people find out they can vote themselves a check from the state, the ‘gimmies’ always win and the government goes downhill from there. BTW My wife’s from Waterloo in your state.
You people in California need to change the laws. That is how it works.
We changed Iowa’s law to a total Shall Issue Conclealed Carry State effective Jan 1st 2011.
We, Iowans, voted out 2 judges who forced gay marriage into Iowa.
back to the Circut judge topic.
Roger: I’ve never had a Street Sweeper and someone else either on this blog or something similar said it was a 10 shot. Personally, I could care less. I was merely venting on the stupidity of the whole bunch of Kalifornia lawmakers for considering the Circuit Judge an assault weapon. Even before the Clinton gun ban, I was forced to give up my Colt AR-15 due to the original Roberti Ban passed after the Stockton schoolyard shootings. These people making the laws in California are the exact same people that were rioting at Berkeley and throwing rocks and bottles at us cops in the mid-sixties.
Back to my FAVORITE blog. I bought a Circuit Judge last night at Gander Mountain for $499. totaling #536 with tax. Not bad price and is the same price as Gun Broker. Buds don’t have any. All in all a great finish. The Brazilian Hard wood accually looked really nice. Good graining. (Unlike the Ranch Hand I boiught last week.)
Well made little rifle and unusual. Taurus has to be commended for coming out with new guns. All the other cookie cutter Manufactures are afraid to try anything.
The Circuit Judge is very well made. The action works nice and timing is perfect. The fiber optic sights are great as most other guns you have to buy them After Market. How does it shoot? I don’t know nor will I ever know as I just collect the guns.
The improvementg to it I’d like to see is a stock more like a cowboy rifle and not a Thompson Contender. Not saying the stock is bad. Just not to my taste.
All in all I am very satisfied.
Roger
Mr Cron. Mis-information Correction.
The Street Sweeper was a 12 round non detachble drum. Had a horriable double stage pull. One to release the cylinder (was spring wound) and further to shoot the gun. The finish was crap. Had sharp edges and a floppie folding stock that moved from side to side when extended. You loaded and unloaded it like a SAA Colt. I had to send mine back 2 times to the factory because the aluminum cylinder seperated. True you could shoot all rounds in 3 secons about 2 times before your finger gave out. When the 1994 assult weapons ban went into effect it listed the SS bas a Destructive Devise. In my state I can’t own such a gun unless one has a Class 3 licence. I sold it ot a Class 3 dealer for $50. I paid $400. for it but wasn’t worth going to jail for. It still is classified as a DD.
The Saiga 12 is a much better Hi-Cap. I had a SS and have a Saiga 12.
ALL STAINLESS WOULD BE SO AWSOME . I ‘D BUY ONE .
IT WOULD BE AN AWSOME GUN IN CHROME , IF IT WAS ALL CHROMED OUT I THINK I WOULD BUY ONE .
Dave, I think the term we used was, “Like a Bat out of Barstow”.
mr. cron and mr elder, all your negative thoughts, about mexifornia, are very accurate. not sure who advised the kings and quees in sacramento ,on gun info, but they have really made lilfe a liviing hell for gun owners. in their view, we are all suspects and need state and federal watch-dogs. we are a threat to the peaceful coexistance with the gangbangers and undocumented visitors, who just happen to claim the entire state as their “HOOD”. I too am a home owner, but I AM making plans to see the “welcome to california” sign in my rearview mirrow.
Dan, I know what you mean. When I retired from the Army at Ft. Irwin, they asked me what post I wanted to retire from, I said as far away from here as possible. My favorite photo is a picture of the “Welcome to California” sign, in my rear view mirror.
Spence: In California it is. What surprised me was that this five-shot carbine with a rifled barrel is considered an assault weapon in California. I wish the idiots in the California legislature knew something about firearms before they pass laws covering guns of any kind. They have absolutely no knowledge of firearms otherwise they wouldn’t think a hundred fifty year old basic design patented by Sam Colt would be considered to be the same as the semi-automatic, ten shot revolving 12 guage shotgun called the ‘street sweeper’. The ‘street sweeper’ has a smoothbore non-rifled barrel but the ‘Circuit Judge’ has a rifled barrel so it is not even a shotgun technically. I shoot snakeshot loads in my 1873 Colt ‘Peacemaker’ occasionally. Does that make it a shotgun? My eight-shot 12 guage 870 police shotgun that also shoots rifled slugs is far more intimidating than the Circuit Judge. If I wasn’t retired with a paid-off home, I would leave this Communist state. I can’t afford to move.
The manual says the smooth bore choke is for .45 LC and the “straight rifled” choke is for .410 to stop the shot from spinning due to the barrel rifling. It doesn’t say you can’t use the “wrong” choke, or what would happen if you did, for example, shoot .45 long colt through the “straight rifled” choke. I would like to know that for myself.
So, does that mean that the, “Judge”, in any of its configurations is an assault pistol?
Can i shoot both .45 and 410 with the smooth choke?
Can you shoot the 410 and the .45 colt out of the smooth bore choke?
Wated to carry both at the same time for grouse or more!
So can it work or why not, does in the reg. judge.
Thanks, Doc……….
I got a call from my local dealer telling me that my circuit judge was finally in. I paid for it and waited my ten days before picking mine up. I picked it up in early November and took it out in the desert and fired maybe ten rounds of 45 Colt and five .410 shells through it. It wasn’t bad at all but we had other guns to shoot so I didn’t fire any more. It shot real well. Last week I got a call from my dealer that the Circuit Judge had been declared an ‘assault weapon’ in California so would I please bring it back so he could return it to the distributer. Dammmmit! To declare a hundred and fifty year old design (revolving cylinder rifle) to be an assault weapon is ridiculous. Maybe Rossi will make it in 45 long Colt only and it will finally be legal in this Communist state. I was lucky enough to purchase the Taurus 450 before it was discontinued. That was the 45 long colt, 5-shot snubbie which was the predecessor to the ‘Judge’. I just don’t understand how they could consider it to be an assault weapon since it had a rifled barrel and not a smooth bore. Does that mean that when I shoot snakeshot in my old Colt Peacemaker, it becomes a sawed off shotgun? California was a ‘free’ state when I moved here but the laws have become a nightmare and I’m too old to relocate.
I’ve fired 50 rounds .45 remmington through my circuit judge. neat
carbine. not tried .410 yet.
great gun!!
Yo Spence …
Nothing like what you are describing. The cylinder rotated with no problems. It’s like the hammer didn’t strike the firing pin hard enough at least once for each 5 shots when using double-action. However, re-trying the same shell (with the primer now showing a “dent”) using single action would cause it to fire.
Did you have any problem with the .410 shells primer expanding to such a degree that the cylinder was difficult or impossible to turn? I’ve had this problem with my Judge Ultra Lite and before I fork out the bucks for the Circuit Judge I’d like to know.
I just purchased the Circuit Judge and went out to shoot it for the first time. Only shot 000 buck and Win PDX, but did notice a problem. About 1 out of each 5 shots would not fire using double-action. The primer was hit, but the round would not fire. If I tried the same round again using single-action, it would fire.
When it did shoot, the results were pretty devastating to the target. Hate to think this means I will need to send it back for repair, though.
The way i understand the law to read in that communistic stat of Calif. is, no handgun can be owned that is able to shoot a long gun cartridge. So rules out the judge…. SASS Shooter Judge Earp
I would love to have a circuit judge chambered for 3″ mag 410, and the awesome 460 S&W, but ONLY if offered in stainless (or titanium). A firearm chambered for the S&W 460 will also fire a .454 or 45 colt. The 460 is substantially more power than the .454, yet my performance center x-frame S&W is not uncomfortable to shoot due to the fairly effective muzzle brake. I have the 8-7/8 inch barrel (includes compensator), and they make 12″ barrel as well. The cylinder measures a little over 2 1/4 inch, and i have often wished it were long enough to chamber a 410 shot shell. I have thought about experimenting with some hand loaded (and hand shortened) shot shells without a crimp (using hot melt glue to retain a plastic disk to retain the shot — but such shot retention may not survive the recoil if “stripe” loaded with 460 rounds in the mix.
I have thought about making a shoulder stock similar to the one colt made for the buntline, or cattleman model. A “forearm shield” would be necessary if firing a 460 (or 454) like a rifle ( people have blown off the ends of thumbs and fingers from improper weak hand placement in the cylinder gap blast area of the XVR).
Of note: i have experienced a jammed cylinder due to a pushed primer while firing factory 460 loads. One box must have been a little hot, as all the primers were flattened, and one pushed out far enough to jam the cylinder.
I am happy with my XVR as an all-round survival tool — it would be even better if it: had a easily removable shoulder stock, accepted 410 shot shells, and had a cylinder gap blast shield — the Rossi CJ is a good move in that direction — make my judge extreme!
Several years ago I posted on a firearm blog that given the similarity in cartridge of the .45C/.454 (size at least) and the number of manufacturers offering the .410/.45C combo, I asked if there was any reason that given the extra power a .410/.454 could not be made and felt it would certainly be a good seller.
Perhaps offering the.454 capable rifle as an upgrade.
I was disappointed to be given flack by just about everyone with reasons from not needed, couldn’t be done engineering wise, too expensive.. etc .. etc…
I have to say I feel somewhat vindicated in the Rossi .410/.454/.45C revolver and would not doubt we will see a carbine to follow soon on the lines of the Circuit judge.
Can wait!!!
I recently purchased the Circuit Judge. Fun little rifle, good brush gun. Or as I like to do, kick them outta bed & kill ‘em! (VA deer)
Dave- Good luck with the Ruger. The Mini-14 is a very nice light-duty carbine and ranch rifle in my experience.
Seems to me that if this carbine has a rifled barrel and shoots 45 long Colt, then it isn’t a shotgun so therefore it should be legal. I have several 45 long colt handguns and have shot snakeshot rounds through them and that doesn’t make them shotguns. It’s all semantics. I think it would have to be a smoothbore to be actually classified as a shotgun with a revolving cylinder. I want one too.
hey Will and others, who remember my tough choices a while back. about 3 weeks a go, i got a good deal on a new ruger ss all weather ranch .223 from turner’s sportingt goods, in san diego, ca. have not fired it yet, but she points quick and feels very comfortable. hoping to declare war on a few tin cans very soon. the sales guy through in a nice 10 round mag as part of the sale. needless to say, i am a happy camper.
how much is the rossi going for
I resently visited my oldest child at her school in southwestern Virginia and we stopped at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Christiansburg. To my surprise, while I was in the gun section, I saw a CJ on the shelf. I had not seen a revolving rifle since I purchased my Cattleman’s carbine (1860
reproduction by Uberti) .45 cal. black powder for the re-enactment group I’m with. I asked a clerk to see the CJ and I fell in love with it. Keep in mind Dick’s is asking 599.99 for the CJ. This is a little pricey for my wallet, so I spoke with one of my local gun dealers here in Tidewater. He informs me he is unable to get the CJ through his dealer’s network yet and Dick’s has an exclusize contract with Rossi/Taurus. But he says that when he is able to purchase CJ’s like other Judge’s he is able to buy, it should be under 500 dollars. Now this is easier on my wallet and I will be purchasing one to try. I am also going to inquire more about the CJ in a .454/.45 /.410. If Taurus is going to make the CJ’s with the .454 capability then I will wait.
I’m curious as to the price as well. I’m not planning on purchasing a Circuit Judge, but I’d like to be able to do a price comparison between the CJ and a reproduction of the Winchester ’73 or Winchester ’92.
I’m just curious, what was the purchase price? We haven’t been able to get them in my area yet.
I finally purchased the Circuit Judge yesterday. Took it out to the range today and fired about 200 rounds. A mix of 45 Long Colt and .410 shot shell from it. Very little recoil. Over-all it is a very light gun. I love the look and feel of this gun and it only weighs in at 4.75lb. Downside, I only wish ammo was cheaper for it. It took a few shots with the 45 colt ammo to get the feel of it, but I manage to keep my shots groupings in under 1 inch at 25 yards no problem. I like the fiber optic sites because I normally never shoot with a scope. It slows me down.
Great looking gun with proven design. Would make a great gun for youth or smaller person. No complaints and no powder burns from the cylinders on either side because there are two small guards on both sides of the gun. Looks like the hot gas or powder escaping from the cylinder problem has been successfully solved.
Don’t get me wrong, a 357 is fine for those who like them however, there is something about a 45 Colt that is magic, IMHO.
as to one of the comments they do make bolt action .410s; and one thing about the .357 it’s not quite th same diameter as a .410
Jim, Good price on the CJ! Let us know how things turned out at the range.
I just bought a CJ for $483. Just cleaned it up and I’ll take it to the range tomorrow. It does come with the Taurus lock, like the Judge, and it comes with the two shot plug. Seems like all of the Taurus complaints were about the semi’s. I’ve owned a Judge for over two years and other than it being ugly to look at, I love it. My CJ will serve as a ranch gun dispatching snakes and other varmints to their next life.
this is an awsome gun i was looking forward to hunting with it but in ohio we are not alowed to use this because we have this stupid 3 shot rule and for us to use this the firearm must have a plug that requires the firearm to be dissasembled to remove the plug
$600? That’s still in the range of an M1 Super 90 in very good condition. But I will say that my bad experiences with Taurus have left me with a bias so your milage may vary greatly from mine.
i have seen a price of 600 for this piece.
Error above… was 5 guns… trying to type at 1 AM isn’t my strong suit.
Went to the range earlier with a friend and we had a bit of a contest. We took 4 guns, Taurus Judge w/ 6″ barrel, the Circuit Judge, a Cimarron clone of the old Colt Model 1872 “open top” chambered in .45 Colt with 5.5″ barrel, a Marlin .30-30 lever action with 16″ barrel, and a well-maintained Winchester ’97 shotgun. He used the Taurus guns while I used the lever gun and the single action. We found that the 1872 was easier to shoot at speed than the Judge with full-bore 000 buck loads and that with me shooting the .30-30 and him shooting the Circuit Judge, I was only very slightly slower due to having to chamber each shot manually. However the rifle was handier and was easier on the recoil end. And we both could fire the Winchester faster than the Circuit Judge (slam fire is exceedingly quick with a bit of practice)
I’m not looking to start any kind of flame war, just posting my experiences with the platform, limited though they may be. My personal conclustion is that The Circuit Judge does not fill any need or want for me when other, less expensive options are out there such as the Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. As with all things, however, your milage may vary.
the judge was awsome, but the circuit judge is one wicked rifle
I was wondering if anyone knows where the Circuit Judge is manufactured? (Taurus U.S. or Brazil)
They have these at my local gander… Rifled choke smooth barrel. They sent a pattern test paper with the gun BAD 10 meters looked like a sawed off shotgun at 30 foot… not worth the $600 price tag. A pump will do everything and more….
i read about a special choke that can be used to stop the spin on a rifled barrel but you have to take it off when firing .45 lc. can you put a choke on a rossi circuit judge?