Best 410 Ammo For A Taurus Judge: At-Home Defense

I fell in love with the Taurus Judge handgun the moment I saw it. How cool is it to shoot a 45 Colt cartridge or 410 shotshells without changing anything about the gun?

This unique ability makes it a top choice for home defense, but to make it as effective as possible for personal defense, we must load the best 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge in it.

If you ask me, the best 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge is Winchester PDX1 Plated Disc BuckShot because it's designed for personal defense. But if you're in the market for something different, make sure to check out our Top 5 List below for multiple ammo options for your favorite 410 revolver.

Top 5 410 Ammo for the Taurus Judge

1. Winchester PDX1 Plated Disc Buckshot - Best Overall
2. Winchester Super-X 000 Buckshot - Best Home Defense
3. Winchester Super-X 11/16 oz. #7-1/2 Shot - Best Shooting Range Ammo
4. Sterling 1/4 oz. Rifled Slug - Honorable Mention
5. Fiocchi Golden Turkey TSS 13/16 oz. #9 Shot - Honorable Mention

Winchester PDX1 Plated Disc Buckshot - Best Overall

Specs

• Shot Type: Buckshot with Discs
• Projectile Weight: N/A
• Muzzle Velocity: 750 fps
• Muzzle Energy: N/A

Pros

• Trusted Brand
• Designed for Self-Defense
• Reasonably Priced for 410 Ammo
• Accurate
• Hard-Hitting Projectiles

Cons

• Not Intended for Hunting
• Short-Range Ammo

Why We Chose It

Winchester PDX1 Plated Disc Buckshot is the best 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge overall because it's produced by a trusted brand for self-defense, but most importantly, it has loads of stopping power and is deadly accurate.

When I first saw the price of these 410 shotgun shells, I thought they might have been priced incorrectly. Now, don't get me wrong, 410 ammo is expensive, and these rounds aren't cheap, but compared to other rounds in this category, this ammo is a steal.

Winchester PDX1 is designed for close-range home defense, which means it's less likely to over-penetrate like a 45 ACP or 45 Long Colt hollow point.

BUT!

That doesn't mean it lacks knockdown power. 410 buckshot with the 3 plated defense discs maintains enough energy to incapacitate any bad guy looking to bring harm to you or your family.

I also love that the hard-hitting nature of these projectiles doesn't negate their accuracy, whether you're shooting the original Taurus Judge with a 3-inch barrel or a Taurus Judge Public Defender with a 2-inch short barrel length.

Now keep in mind, these rounds were designed for close range since most self-defense scenarios happen well within 25 yards.

So, don't plan to take these out to the woods and drop a trophy buck anytime soon, because you'll likely be sadly disappointed.

Overall, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better self-defense round, though Hornady Critical Defense often tops our lists when we're talking concealed carry ammo. Remington 1/5 oz. Rifled Slug is another decent option for self-defense; as it's cheaper and faster. Though I'm not as much of a fan of 410 slugs for home defense because they are more prone to punching through walls like 38 Special FMJ.

However, when it comes to the best 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge, the Winchester PDX1 Plated Disc Buckshot reigns supreme because it's deadly accurate, reasonably priced, and offers shooters plenty of knockdown power at close ranges.

Winchester Super-X 000 Buck - Best Home Defense Ammo for Taurus Judge

Specs

• Shot Type: 000 Buckshot
• Projectile Weight: N/A
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,135 fps
• Muzzle Energy: N/A

Pros

• Produced by a Trusted Company
• Fast
• Accurate
• Buckshot is My Favorite Home Defense Projectile

Cons

• You must have a 3-inch Chamber on Your Wheelgun

Why We Chose It

Another excellent option for home defense is the Winchester Super-X 000 Buckshot. It's designed for predator hunting but has plenty of power to eliminate any threat that might think they have a right to harm you.

Winchester Ammunition has been around for over 150 years, producing reliable high-quality ammo for various calibers, including the 410.

These Super-X 000 Buckshot shotgun shells offer anyone needing to protect their home with fast, hard-hitting, and accurate projectiles.

I also prefer buckshot for home defense because you have multiple projectiles per trigger pull, and they're less likely to go through multiple walls, especially when fired from a 410 handgun like the Taurus Judge.

The biggest downside of these rounds is that to get the 5 pellets, you have to purchase the 3-inch shell. So if you don't have a chamber that can take 3-inch shells, you'll have to settle for the 2 1/2-inch shells with only 3 pellets. Though the 2.5" shells have a higher velocity than the 3" shells, so it's not all bad.

Even with the drawbacks, the Winchester Super-X 000 Buckshot shells are well worth loading into your Taurus Judge for home defense.

Winchester Super-X 11/16 oz. #7-1/2 Shot - Best Ammo for Shooting Range

Specs

• Shot Type: #7.5 Birdshot
• Projectile Weight: 11/16 oz
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,135 fps
• Muzzle Energy: N/A

Pros

• Trusted Brand
• Inexpensive for 410 Ammo
• Easy to Handle
• Excellent Versatility

Cons

• Poor Ballistics for Self-Defense

Why We Chose It

I've shot a lot of Winchester Super-X 11/16 oz. #7-1/2 Shot when skeet shooting and dove hunting as a kid, and it NEVER failed me.

Since Winchester has been around for a very long time, it can produce 410 ammo at a reasonable price, even though I still think 410 shotshells are expensive in general.

The lower price and reduced recoil compared to heavier loads make it perfect for a day at the range or hunting small game like dove, quail, and rabbits. I've even taken care of a few pests, such as venomous snakes, with these shells.

I grew up using these rounds as a small child, so they don't have much recoil, even when using a double-action, five-shot wheelgun like the Judge, plus if you're into reloading, you can reload the shells to save a little extra money.

While the Winchester Super-X #7.5 Shot is an excellent ammo for the range; it's terrible in terms of a defense load because it lacks the stopping power of a slug or buckshot load. Obviously, it's better than nothing, but it's definitely not my first choice for home defense.

However, when you're headed to the range for a fun day of shooting or training, Winchester Super-X 11/16 oz. #7-1/2 Shot is the way to go!

Sterling 1/4 oz. Rifled Slug - Honorable Mention

Specs

• Shot Type: Rifled Slug
• Projectile Weight: 1/4 oz
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,542 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 577 ft-lbs

Pros

• Decent Price
• Reasonable Ballistics
• You Don't Need a Rifled Barrel

Cons

• Ballistics are lower than Federal Ammunition 410 slugs

Why We Chose It

The Sterling 1/4 oz. Rifled Slug made the list because it's much less expensive than most other 410 slugs on the market, and that includes the American-made slugs from Federal.

Even though they're less expensive, they still offer Taurus Judge owners solid ballistics for home defense. This is because these rounds are designed for hunting with a smooth bore barrel, so you won't need to swap to a rifled barrel to get more accuracy out of the slug.

Now Sterling Ammunition claims these are for big game hunting, but big game must mean something different in Turkey, where these shotshells are manufactured; because there is a fox on the box, and I wouldn't consider a fox or coyote big game.

Yes, I know I said the ballistics were solid because they are considering the price, but if you're willing to spend quite a bit more money with each trigger pull, I'd recommend stepping up to Federal 1/4 oz. Rifled Slugs because they offer better all-around ballistics.

While slugs are not my first choice for self-defense if you're on a tight budget, Sterling 1/4 oz. Rifled Slugs are a good option.

Fiocchi Golden Turkey TSS 13/16 oz. #9 Shot - Honorable Mention

Specs

• Shot Type: #9 TSS Turkey Load
• Projectile Weight: 13/16 oz
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,100 fps
• Muzzle Energy: N/A

Pros

• Loaded in the USA
• Fast
• Hard-Hitting

Cons

• Small projectiles for self-defense
• Expensive

Why We Chose It

Fiocchi Golden Turkey TSS 13/16 oz. #9 Shot had to be an honorable mention because these shotshells are killers, turkey killers that is.

Even from a Taurus Judge, these shotshells are hard-hitting and capable of stopping a threat at close range.

However, the #9 shot pellets are small and will have difficulty punching through thick clothing when you have a bad guy in your front sight.

Another downside to these rounds is the fact that Tungsten Super Shot is expensive. Whether you go with Remington Premier TSS, Federal TSS, or Fiocchi TSS, you'll pay a crazy high price.

While Fiocchi Golden Turkey TSS isn't my first choice for home defense with a Taurus Judge, it's much better than throwing rocks at a bad guy!

How to Choose Ammo For 410 Taurus Judge

I understand choosing the right ammo can be daunting, especially when you know very little about a firearm.

However, I like to keep things simple when picking the right ammo, whether I'm buying it for a Glock, Ruger, Smith and Wesson, or Taurus.

The decision in ammo choice is based on the type of shooting I'm doing.

Since the Taurus Judge and all of its variations are designed for concealed carry and home defense, those are the primary scenarios we will consider.

Self-Defense

To choose ammo for self-defense, I buy several boxes of different brands, weights, and bullet types.

You'll find that some guns feed Federal better than Speer, and other firearms like Remington better than Hornady.

Once I've purchased all the self-defense ammo I want to test, it's time for the fun part! Heading to the range.

I test to see which rounds are more accurate, the shells that put the most pellets on target in this instance, and how dependable they are; this doesn't affect a revolver nearly as much as it does a semi-auto pistol.

Whatever round I'm most comfortable shooting and can consistently hit the target with, that's the ammo I'll stock up on and use for home defense.

Training

When buying training ammo, I tend to go with the cheapest stuff I can find. That way, I can shoot more often and not feel bad about blowing through a few boxes.

However, that has backfired on me in the past, because cheap rounds rarely have similar ballistics as self-defense ammo. And when training, I want to get as close to a real feel as possible.

So, in those instances, I'll eat the cost and use expensive ammo.

Frequently Asked Questions

The team here at Ammo.com has gathered and answered several of the most commonly asked questions about the best 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge below.

What size 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge?

The size of 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge will depend on the length of your cylinder. If you have a 3" long cylinder, you can use 3" shells; if it's shorter than 3 inches, you must use 2 1/2" shells.

What ammo is recommended for a Taurus Judge?

The ammo that is recommended for a Taurus Judge depends on what it's chambered in; generally, you can shoot 410 or 45 Colt ammunition through a Judge.

What is the best 410 ammo for snakes?

The best 410 ammo for snakes is birdshot. Winchester Super-X 11/16 oz. #7-1/2 Shot works very well for snakes.

What shot is best for 410?

The shot that is best for 410 depends on what you plan on shooting.

What is the best 410 ammo for home protection?

The best 410 ammo for home protection is buckshot because it's less likely to over-penetrate through walls, but it will quickly take out a threat.

Parting Shots

Now that you've finished reading the best 410 ammo for a Taurus Judge, you can confidently purchase Winchester PDX1 Plated Disc Buckshot because you know it's some of the best 410 ammo on the market for self-defense.