That's a good looking weapon. Congratz on the purchase.

 

I got a Rossi Circuit Judge on August 7th. I took it to the range last week, and Here's a brief review. Well I am pretty bad at writing anything brief, but here goes. Overall, I really love the circuit judge for several different things, and I dislike it for a few nagging things.

I think the most important thing in reviewing any weapon is figuring out what it is good for... What am I going to use it for? What is it good for? And - with regards to that, how does it compare to its competition?

I bought the Circuit Judge for a bunch of different things. I wanted it to work as a compact, light, home defense weapon, a light shotgun, a weapon to help train a recoil-averse person about shotguns and high-powered rifles, and potentially a rifle for deer hunting. In short, I wanted it because I expect it to be extremely versatile. In that regard, it is outstanding, pretty unique, and I can't say this enough - it is ALOT of fun to shoot!

For home defense, I think the Circuit Judge is excellent. It fires 45 Colt (45 Long Colt) and 410. 45 colt has stopped people and horses for well over a hundred years. Winchester, Federal and Remington have 410 loads with four or five 00 or 000 Buck pellets that are probably similar, ballistically, to 4 or 5 simultaneous rounds from a 32, 38 or 9mm. Of course a 12g is more devasting, but I think that 5 rounds of 410 would quickly stop people breaking in or attacking. I have read that the Taurus Judge pistol has questionable ballistics. I believe the Circuit Judge ballistics are much better because of its 18.5" barrel.

I got the carbine for $499 plus tax at Windy Hill Trading Post in Elkin - which I highly recommend if you are in the area. Before buying it, I read and watched several reviews. including Jeff Quinn at Gun Digest and (the late) Dan Shideler at Gun Digest( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQrKslKjuZ4 ) and others.

This past weekend, I took it to the range with a person who is really averse to recoil. She and I had a blast shooting 45 Colt out of the Circuit Judge. She wasn't so happy with the 410. It was noticably more recoil, and noise.

The Circuit Judge was extremely accurate. I wouldn't say this was anywhere near minute of angle accurate, but I did shoot two 5 round groups at 25 yards where all 5 holes touched, standing, with stock sights and two eyes that aren't nearly as good as they once were. The 45 colt makes a big hole in a target, so they were probably 1 1/2 inch groups. This isn't military-sniper accurate, but considering the enormous jump the lead has to make before arriving at the barrel, see pic I was thrilled at the results. It has excellent sights, (see pic) and a high comb that meets the cheek perfectly. Those combined with the generous recoil pad make it a real joy to shoot, and amazingly accurate, for a short barreled revolver-based carbine. I think it is very well made. the quality of the stock, forearm, and sights is really great. I think those things are much higher quality than what I paid for.

It is a very light weapon, 4 3/4 lbs or so, and has sling swivels. Given the accuracy, and the power of the 45 colt, I think it will make an excellent deer rifle up to 150 yds or so. I may put a red dot on it... I'm not sure.

Here are the things that I do NOT like about it. The design of the stock and extractors means that you cannot extract all 5 rounds at the same time. It also means that there's no way you could do a quick reload with a speedloader. Maybe speed-strips would work. Two problems: the extractor is too short to extract shotgun shells and the stock extends too close to the extractor when it is pushed. Here are some pics:

I think that sanding down the stock by 1/8 of an inch would make an enormous difference.

If I can figure out how to match the stock where I sand it to the rest, color wise, I will probably do that.

I also REALLY don't like the cost of 45 Colt ammo. That's not the fault of the weapon, but it is a factor. 50 rounds of the cheapest budget ammo out there is $26 to $30.

All in all - if you want if you want a high-value, short, light, handy, carbine that does many things and is an absolute blast to shoot, this is it. If you want a perfectly engineered, designed, produced weapon that fires cheap ammunition this isn't it.

I own a blued and stainless steel of the above review. I give this review 100% on target for this gun!

 

Thanks for the review - I have always been curious about this gun whenever I spot one.

 

That is the coolest looking gun I have seen in a long time and I'm glad you like it. Do they make a smooth bore version for .410 only?

 

That is the coolest looking gun I have seen in a long time and I'm glad you like it. Do they make a smooth bore version for .410 only?

Both of my guns (blued and stainless steel)have rifled barrels - I have seen on the internet that they make a smooth bore but have never seen one. Comes with 3 chokes - one is used for the 45 long colt - the other 2 are used for the 410 gauge.
You have to use the correct choke for the correct shell. Can not alternate 410 / 45 long colt with out useing the correct choke or damage may be done to choke.
410 gauge make some great home defense shells that will give deadly results with out killing a neighbor next door. 45 long colt makes a 325 grain that it any thing else will knock an intruder to the next home, but if you miss you may take the wrong person out(neighbor)!
Short range these gun do well with 410 and 45 long colt is extremely accurate.
This gun works well with some one that has never shot a gun before (my wife). Single and double action can be used, with double action light enough that my wife prefers to shoot it this way.
She loves the blued steel (first one purchased) so I purchased a stainless steel so we could tell them apart. Blued one is setup for 410 shells and stainless is setup for 45 long colt.
Blued steel one looks great until you see a stainless one! If you plan on buying his and hers buy her a blued steel first (she will love the way it looks) then buy the stainless and tell her you would have bought another blued but you were afraid you would get them mixed up (Just don't brag that your's looks better than hers).
This gun is hard to find in stock and the price keeps going up!
Good price for new blued steel is %500.00 or less and stainless steel is %540.00 or less.

 

I understand the choke situation differently...

Mine came with a "choke" and a "choke thread-protector" The choke tightens up the pattern and can be used with 410, but is NOT recommended for use with 45LC. The choke thread protector, on the other hand, can be used with both 410 and 45lc, but has drawbacks.

I've fired birdshot, buckshot and 45lc with the thread protector. With 410 birdshot, the pattern opens up alot, and very close-in. For instance, with #6 or #8 birdshot, at 7 yds, the pattern is about 3 feet across. With the choke thread protector in, and using 410 buckshot, (I tried both 00 and 000 buckshot) the pattern is still reasonably small (between fist-sized and pie-plate-sized) at 7yds, and still pess than pie-plate sized at 10 and 15 yds.

From my perspective, I will leave the choke thread-protector in unless I'm trying to break clay targets or something.

 

I understand the choke situation differently...

Mine came with a "choke" and a "choke thread-protector" The choke tightens up the pattern and can be used with 410, but is NOT recommended for use with 45LC. The choke thread protector, on the other hand, can be used with both 410 and 45lc, but has drawbacks.

I've fired birdshot, buckshot and 45lc with the thread protector. With 410 birdshot, the pattern opens up alot, and very close-in. For instance, with #6 or #8 birdshot, at 7 yds, the pattern is about 3 feet across. With the choke thread protector in, and using 410 buckshot, (I tried both 00 and 000 buckshot) the pattern is still reasonably small (between fist-sized and pie-plate-sized) at 7yds, and still pess than pie-plate sized at 10 and 15 yds.

From my perspective, I will leave the choke thread-protector in unless I'm trying to break clay targets or something.

See this link: http://www.rossiusa.com/pdf/rossi_circuit_judge_manual.pdf
Page 16 - Thread protector is used for 45/410 solid bullet. Choke is used for 410 shot shell.

 

Lee van Cleef's gun in "A few more dollars"

 

I also REALLY don't like the cost of 45 Colt ammo. That's not the fault of the weapon, but it is a factor. 50 rounds of the cheapest budget ammo out there is $26 to $30.

the cost of 45 colt ammo is quite high that is why i really recomend reloading it. when i started cowboy action shooting i began reloading the ammunition and got the cost down to around .10cents a round. made it so much nicer to shoot that caliber knowing i wasnt blowing a fortune.

as for the rifle my wife and i were at dicks sporting goods and she saw it. im not really sure it was a good idea to get her into shooting because im finding it is about to become very costly to me lol. we both really did like the look of the rifle and loved the fiber optic sights. i was wondering how it did accuracy wise for something like dear at roughly 100 yards and from the sound of it in your report it will do just fine thank you for your review

 

I also REALLY don't like the cost of 45 Colt ammo. That's not the fault of the weapon, but it is a factor. 50 rounds of the cheapest budget ammo out there is $26 to $30.

the cost of 45 colt ammo is quite high that is why i really recomend reloading it. when i started cowboy action shooting i began reloading the ammunition and got the cost down to around .10cents a round. made it so much nicer to shoot that caliber knowing i wasnt blowing a fortune.

as for the rifle my wife and i were at dicks sporting goods and she saw it. im not really sure it was a good idea to get her into shooting because im finding it is about to become very costly to me lol. we both really did like the look of the rifle and loved the fiber optic sights. i was wondering how it did accuracy wise for something like dear at roughly 100 yards and from the sound of it in your report it will do just fine thank you for your review

"accuracy wise for something like dear" - Hope "dear" was misspelled and you ment "deer" because if not your wife is in trouble because the Rossi with 45 long colt is as accurate as the person who is shooting it! Cost - Yes it is expensive compared to other calibers but how many firearms do you know of that a new person to firearms can learn how to shoot. 410 to start with to learn how to hit target and then 45 long colt for "bulls eye" shooting.
My wife started with 410 shell (cheapest I could buy)- Hitting near or part of the target gave her enough of confidents to continue on. She has since stepped up to shooting 12 gage semi-auto Westley-Scott - But she does not like the extra "kick" that the 12 gauge has. Still working with her - not quit ready for the 45 "bulls eye" yet but she's getting there.
Just be aware when they start hitting the target they get a little "Cockey" about how good they are but the smile on their face is worth it!

 

lol well i did say i got my wife into shooting lol so the dear might be spelled correctly. lol i wasnt paying attention hehehehe and misspelled. and yes they do get cocky when they start hitting the 10 ring repeatedly. teaching her has been fun and to sit and listen to her talk to people and give a well informed oppinion on different types of firearms is awsome. doesnt hurt that she is accurate also.

 

The nice thing about a wife that can shoot is when you hear a "bump in the night" you can hand her the shells and the gun and tell her to take care of it - that way you can go back to sleep!
You notice I said shells and gun - with a wife that can shoot you never keep a gun loaded -
Just in case - you can run while she is loading the gun!
With a 410 shell maybe you can get far enough away so it will not hurt to bad!
If she has 45 long colt I am afraid that is going to hurt "REAL BAD".

 

Jaker, thanks for the review! I keep seeing these at gun shows and they are very cool looking. I've wondered what they are like.

That's a great review!

 

well, i bought one the wedns before thanksgiving for $494 at walmart believe it or not... i also saw 50 45 lc rounds for $18 and they were remington i think. i love how tight the group is on .410 bird shot and firing all 5 chambers in a row was no bad at all, havent tried the 45s yet but that'll be tried out soon anyway. still havent tried the slugs yet but pretty sure things are gonna be booming where i'm living for a while!

 

Did you (jakerson9) or anyone else sand down or groove the area of the extractor ? Did it work ?

 

Got a bunch of folks in AZ who buy them from me, the .357 model, they love em......

 

Great review. I've got one of these and have similar thoughts. It's got a few flaws, but I love the way it looks and it's versatility. I highly recommend destroying some cardboard with those fancy 410 personal defense rounds. It's very satisfying.

 

Liked the review and have been interested in the weapon, but I am waiting to see if and when it will come out in 45 colt, 410, and 454casull

 

Hey,

I recently bought myself a circuit judge rifle and I'm having trouble getting it to group. At 50 yards about the best I can get is 5-6" group. Using sand bags, red dot, scope, and open sights nothing seems to make it any better. Has anyone had a similiar problem with the rifle? or does anyone have any suggestions?

 

I've been told by those who know that FMJ loads are far more accurate than lead. I just got my Circuit Judge today, so I'll test that theory later.

 

I got a Rossi Circuit Judge on August 7th. I took it to the range last week, and Here's a brief review. Well I am pretty bad at writing anything brief, but here goes. Overall, I really love the circuit judge for several different things, and I dislike it for a few nagging things.

I think the most important thing in reviewing any weapon is figuring out what it is good for... What am I going to use it for? What is it good for? And - with regards to that, how does it compare to its competition?

I bought the Circuit Judge for a bunch of different things. I wanted it to work as a compact, light, home defense weapon, a light shotgun, a weapon to help train a recoil-averse person about shotguns and high-powered rifles, and potentially a rifle for deer hunting. In short, I wanted it because I expect it to be extremely versatile. In that regard, it is outstanding, pretty unique, and I can't say this enough - it is ALOT of fun to shoot!

For home defense, I think the Circuit Judge is excellent. It fires 45 Colt (45 Long Colt) and 410. 45 colt has stopped people and horses for well over a hundred years. Winchester, Federal and Remington have 410 loads with four or five 00 or 000 Buck pellets that are probably similar, ballistically, to 4 or 5 simultaneous rounds from a 32, 38 or 9mm. Of course a 12g is more devasting, but I think that 5 rounds of 410 would quickly stop people breaking in or attacking. I have read that the Taurus Judge pistol has questionable ballistics. I believe the Circuit Judge ballistics are much better because of its 18.5" barrel.

I got the carbine for $499 plus tax at Windy Hill Trading Post in Elkin - which I highly recommend if you are in the area. Before buying it, I read and watched several reviews. including Jeff Quinn at Gun Digest and (the late) Dan Shideler at Gun Digest( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQrKslKjuZ4 ) and others.

This past weekend, I took it to the range with a person who is really averse to recoil. She and I had a blast shooting 45 Colt out of the Circuit Judge. She wasn't so happy with the 410. It was noticably more recoil, and noise.

The Circuit Judge was extremely accurate. I wouldn't say this was anywhere near minute of angle accurate, but I did shoot two 5 round groups at 25 yards where all 5 holes touched, standing, with stock sights and two eyes that aren't nearly as good as they once were. The 45 colt makes a big hole in a target, so they were probably 1 1/2 inch groups. This isn't military-sniper accurate, but considering the enormous jump the lead has to make before arriving at the barrel, see pic I was thrilled at the results. It has excellent sights, (see pic) and a high comb that meets the cheek perfectly. Those combined with the generous recoil pad make it a real joy to shoot, and amazingly accurate, for a short barreled revolver-based carbine. I think it is very well made. the quality of the stock, forearm, and sights is really great. I think those things are much higher quality than what I paid for.

It is a very light weapon, 4 3/4 lbs or so, and has sling swivels. Given the accuracy, and the power of the 45 colt, I think it will make an excellent deer rifle up to 150 yds or so. I may put a red dot on it... I'm not sure.

Here are the things that I do NOT like about it. The design of the stock and extractors means that you cannot extract all 5 rounds at the same time. It also means that there's no way you could do a quick reload with a speedloader. Maybe speed-strips would work. Two problems: the extractor is too short to extract shotgun shells and the stock extends too close to the extractor when it is pushed. Here are some pics:

I think that sanding down the stock by 1/8 of an inch would make an enormous difference.

If I can figure out how to match the stock where I sand it to the rest, color wise, I will probably do that.

I also REALLY don't like the cost of 45 Colt ammo. That's not the fault of the weapon, but it is a factor. 50 rounds of the cheapest budget ammo out there is $26 to $30.

All in all - if you want if you want a high-value, short, light, handy, carbine that does many things and is an absolute blast to shoot, this is it. If you want a perfectly engineered, designed, produced weapon that fires cheap ammunition this isn't it.

[hr]
Can anyone tell me which choke I can use to fire both 410 and 45LC?
Thanks,

KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY!

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[size=large]

I also REALLY don't like the cost of 45 Colt ammo. That's not the fault of the weapon, but it is a factor. 50 rounds of the cheapest budget ammo out there is $26 to $30.

the cost of 45 colt ammo is quite high that is why i really recomend reloading it. when i started cowboy action shooting i began reloading the ammunition and got the cost down to around .10cents a round. made it so much nicer to shoot that caliber knowing i wasnt blowing a fortune.

as for the rifle my wife and i were at dicks sporting goods and she saw it. im not really sure it was a good idea to get her into shooting because im finding it is about to become very costly to me lol. we both really did like the look of the rifle and loved the fiber optic sights. i was wondering how it did accuracy wise for something like dear at roughly 100 yards and from the sound of it in your report it will do just fine thank you for your review

"accuracy wise for something like dear" - Hope "dear" was misspelled and you ment "deer" because if not your wife is in trouble because the Rossi with 45 long colt is as accurate as the person who is shooting it! Cost - Yes it is expensive compared to other calibers but how many firearms do you know of that a new person to firearms can learn how to shoot. 410 to start with to learn how to hit target and then 45 long colt for "bulls eye" shooting.
My wife started with 410 shell (cheapest I could buy)- Hitting near or part of the target gave her enough of confidents to continue on. She has since stepped up to shooting 12 gage semi-auto Westley-Scott - But she does not like the extra "kick" that the 12 gauge has. Still working with her - not quit ready for the 45 "bulls eye" yet but she's getting there.
Just be aware when they start hitting the target they get a little "Cockey" about how good they are but the smile on their face is worth it!

 

Can anyone tell me which choke I can use to fire both 410 and 45LC?
Thanks,

KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY!

I took this from the circuit Judge Manual:

CAUTION
Do not use the STRAIGHT RIFLED CHOKE, when shooting .45LC or .410
solid slugs. Remove the straight rifled choke and install the “THREAD
PROTECTOR SLEEVE” .

The requirement to use only slugs with the .45 LC ammo or just the .45 ammo alone limits your loading options. I do not believe you can shoot buckshot with the straight rifle choke but I am a newbie so I can't say that with 100% certainty.