Winchester PDX1 Defender combo pack: includes ten .410 buckshot shells (each shell contains 3 buckshot discs and 10 BBs)
and ten .45 Colt 225 grain bonded jacketed hollow point self defense rounds.

I bought these at Walmart for $28.00 and some change.

 

My favorites are: Winchester 7-1/2 shot for close range small game, Federal Premium 000 Buckshot and Winchester Bonded 225 GR JHP for protection. Although, I do shoot a lot of other types of 45lc and misc 410 ammo through them. The Federal 000 Buck holds the best consistent pattern of them all. The disks work well with the 410Winchester PDX1 but the 12 BB's spread out too quickly. If you ever had to fire in a populated area I wouldn't want to have to account for those 12 BB's. I would like to see Winchester get rid of the BB's and use another disk and see what it patterns like. Besides the Federal 000 buck is a lot cheaper then the Winchester PDX1. That's what's nice about the Judge is the variety of ammo you can shoot through it.

 

The Federal 000 Buck holds the best consistent pattern of them all. The disks work well with the 410Winchester PDX1 but the 12 BB's spread out too quickly. If you ever had to fire in a populated area I wouldn't want to have to account for those 12 BB's. I would like to see Winchester get rid of the BB's and use another disk and see what it patterns like. Besides the Federal 000 buck is a lot cheaper then the Winchester PDX1. That's what's nice about the Judge is the variety of ammo you can shoot through it.

I gotta agree 100% with Delta & bcteck! If shooting buckshot, the Federal Handgun 410 000 (in either 2 1/2" or 3") is normally cheaper than other Judge-specific buck rounds and the they pattern very well out to 25-30 feet max.

 

I am planning a trip to Alaska in bear country and plan to take my Judge. Curious if anyone prefers a certain ammo for this. Or should I just load 45LC?

 

If you don't have anything bigger to use I would load it with the best 45lc available. To make a long story short-Some years back my buddy shot a Black Bear with a 12GA slug followed up by several rounds of 00 Buck at fairly close range and the 00 Buck only penetrated the hide and never even entered the body.

 

If you don't have anything bigger to use I would load it with the best 45lc available. To make a long story short-Some years back my buddy shot a Black Bear with a 12GA slug followed up by several rounds of 00 Buck at fairly close range and the 00 Buck only penetrated the hide and never even entered the body.

It is so hard to believe how tough their skin and skulls are.....you shoot a watermelon with buck and it blows it away.

 

the heaviest bullet you can find for the 45. even then i'd be alot more comfortable with a 454 or atleast a 44mag if there was a chance i might face a big bear.

 

I agree but it would be hard to talk the wife into letting me purchase a .44 mag or 500 just for a trip to Alaska. I would rather have my Judge then a rock or stick I guess is the best way to put it.

 

If you have a good 357 Mag already in the safe ..would be a good choice....158 gr JSP.....or this .357 Magnum 200g HardCast Flat Nose Gas Checked - Reed's Ammunition & Research, LLC

 

If you have a good 357 Mag already in the safe ..would be a good choice....158 gr JSP.....or this .357 Magnum 200g HardCast Flat Nose Gas Checked - Reed's Ammunition & Research, LLC

Nope no 357 mag I have .17, .22 .380 9mm .38 .40SW .45LC I think that is it....

 

The Judge is not safe with "Ruger Only" type loads, currently called "+P". It is safe with loads suitable for modern Colt SAA's and replicas thereof or Smith and Wesson Model 25's and the like. This would be conventional 45 Colt loads. I would find some hottish 45 solids-SWC, RN, RNFP or Full Wadcutter. The harder these are cast, the better for this purpose. I'm thinking around 900fps with a good powder...but don't take my word for it, look it up in a good reloading manual. You need deep penetration with a bear, more so than with a human or deer. The human especially, is a real good target for hollowpoints. A bear, not so much.

 

X2
you want a HEAVY HARD CAST bullet, think 300gr or more, pushed as fast as safe pressure will allow. if you have the choice, opt for more weight over more speed.

 

The best .410 load is, hands down the Federal Handgun 3" 000 5 pellet buckshot. At 25 feet or less has 3-5 inch spread. It puts 5, almost 40 cal holes in a target with each squeeze of the trigger.

The best 45 lc loads are Hornady Critical Defense, or hornady revolution. Perfect hollowpoint mushroom every time!

 

Mine

Federal 000 buck handgun and Barnes Vor-Tx. Now that is a hollow point.

 

WOW, never seen those 45s before! I agreee, hell of a hollow point! Price? Where to buy? I would like to try them...

Federal 000 buck handgun and Barnes Vor-Tx. Now that is a hollow point.
View attachment 48881

 

At this point, any ammo is good enough for me!

 

I'm giving these a go: Hornady Critical Defense Ammo 410 Bore 41 Cal FTX Slug over two 35 Cal

I ordered two boxes a few moments ago, I'm interested to see how they pattern in comparison to the Federal 000 I use currently.

 

I'm giving these a go: Hornady Critical Defense Ammo 410 Bore 41 Cal FTX Slug over two 35 Cal

I ordered two boxes a few moments ago, I'm interested to see how they pattern in comparison to the Federal 000 I use currently.

I'd like to here about your thoughts on these after they come in and you get a chance to test a few

 

Winchester PDX1 combo pack

 

Can you still find this combo pack anywhere. I have not seen these anywhere and the Winchester website says they are out of stock. Just wondering.

 

I have picked up a few combo boxes at the local Wal-marts around here. I have not seen them anywhere else, though.

 

Found some at a local Walmart last Monday

 

Out & about, I load Winchester 3" 000 Buck 5-pellet (1135 fps)...tightest pattern of any 000 from my 3" barrel. At home, I load Federal 2 1/2" 000 Buck 4-pellet (850 fps). Most any .45s are fun for target but I'd never load 'em for SD.

 

Data Source



What table are you using to reload? I am looking to start reloading for my Judge also. I would like to duplicate these too if you have any info on them :Paraklese Technologies LLC

Thank you.

 

I pack for the home defense in my Judge 3" cylinder/3" barrel.

First round....#4 buck
Second round.....PDX home defense
Third.....000 buck
Fourth and Fifth......45 Long Colts

#4 buck is very hard and rare to find but it's like shooting (9) 22's projectiles at one time. At 21' the diameter of the pattern is 24"! Great to shoot down the hall gun at nite! You will hit them even if you cannot see the sites. Because 99% of the time you might need this weapon will be at nite. JMO! I want this to be the first round especially for my wife in an emergency. I start at the widest pattern ammo first and go to the narrow pattern to number 4 and 5 rounds.


......................Twin

 

Thanks guys for the info. I'm new to the Judge and I've still got a lot to learn about it.

 

Judge versus alaskan bear? If the judge is all you have, then possibly a 45LC JHP in a Buffalo Bore might help. Their standard pressure is hotter than most, and should be safe coming out of a judge. Youre gonna need all the over-penetration you can get out of that short barrel. Even though the judge is not rated for +P, I might take some "just on the in case" I am going somewhere there might be barrs.