Judge Moon Clips

[SpidyJ]

Anybody know where I can get some so I can use 45 ACP?

I sure don't wanna modify the gun to use them though.

jpw

[Gavin_Sons]

Is your cylinder machined out to recieve moon clips?

[Gavin_Sons]

http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=819&category=Accessories

[Jess from VA]

I'm no Taurus expert, but I just reviewed their webpages and all the Judge's are listed as 410/.45 Colt (often called Long Colt).  I saw none listed to take .45ACP.

.45 Colt is rimmed, .45ACP is not. Thus the need for moon clips.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hZTGJ6LiKc

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/329808-45acp-ammo-taurus-judge.html

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/06/shootingthebull410/gun-experiment-45-acp-from-a-taurus-raging-judge/ 

[Gavin_Sons]

Youre right Jess, I missed the ACP part.
45 acp has higher pressure than 45LC.
I would not put 45acp through it.

[Gavin_Sons]

After reading more, Taurus does not recommended shooting ACP out of any of their Judges. Yes people do it but does not make it right. They will key hole and you will get no accuracy out of them. Plus you run the risk of splitting your cylinder due to the increased pressure the ACP has.

[Jess from VA]

It's also not great shooting a short cartridge out of a long cylinder; long enough for a 410 shotgun round.

SAAMI says..... 45ACP up to 21,000psi, 45 Colt 14,000psi.  That is a big difference.  

I am a .45ACP revolver fan (autos too), and have several S & W s designed just for that cartridge, not convertibles.  They all have a short cylinder and a long forcing cone.

If the goal is to find cheaper practice ammo (.45acp isn't exactly cheap), I'd be looking for target reloads in .45 Colt for that purpose.  I think a lot of the Cowboy action shooters use soft shooting .45 Colt in their matches, so you may be able to find some available commercially (if you don't reload).

A quick look showed that stuff still goes for around .60 cents a round and up..... ouch.  The problem is that lead surpassed brass as the most expensive component in ammo manufacture some years ago, and the .45 is generally a heavy slug, in any of it's iterations.

I don't own a 410 shotgun, but it is very likely that that is the cheapest thing to shoot out of that pistol. (and small shot cheaper than slugs)