I wanted a pistol for self defense, right after all the so-called peaceful protest (i.e.-riots) the past couple of years. I had an opportunity to shoot a 45 Colt 30 years ago and like the round to the point that I would never have another. So I started looking for a pistol in 45 Colt, and after doing some investigating I decided I like the Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt, but before I could find a used one for sale I came across a bullet that changed my course of action. Yes I ran across the Lehigh Defense Maximum Expansion round in 45 Colt, of which would not chamber in the Ruger Redhawk.
The following Videos are what convinced me that it was the perfect self-defense round ever made, and I bought two boxes of the rounds before I could even find a gun for sale that could chamber them, due to the COVID scare/lockdowns/BS going on.
Before watching this one, first make a 2.5" square and then measure the square diagonally from corner to corner (of which is 3.5"s), and with that measurement in mind watch the video and pay attention to the ruler that shows at what depth and duration it occurs.
1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bo44nokg88
Don't really need to watch this one, just see the picture it shows before watching it. It shows that over penetration is not an issue when aiming mid-chest.
2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHqeyEmEeeM
Shows what happens to mussel tissue. Sit back and watch the meat fly! ~Uwe~
3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNAI7Vr2k8I
Shows what happens when going through different types of mediums.
4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTolNB42R80
The picture before starting this video shows what happens to the bullets fired out of a 2.5" cylinder x 2" barrel [Bullet travel within the gun is 3.5" measured from the back side of the bullet to the end of the barrel] compared to a 3" cylinder x 6.5" barrel [Bullet travel within the gun is 8.5"]. To me it would seem that either the S&W Governor with a 2.5" cylinder x 3.5" barrel, or the Taurus Judge with a 3" cylinder x 3" barrel [both with a bullet travel of 5" within the guns] would be perfect for this bullet to expand fully every time without over folding backwards as it consistently did with the 3" cylinder x 6.5" barrel gun. Anywho the 5" travel should yield around 9" to 10" penetration. Also pay attention to the difference as to what happens to the jell blocks between the one shoot by the gun with a 2.5" cylinder x 2" barrel and the one shot by the gun with a 3" cylinder x 6.5" barrel. Boo-yah!
5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bLonprIWm4
So I pondered over the few pistols that could actually chamber this round and settled on the Taurus Judge Magnum in Stainless Steal with a 3" chamber and 3" barrel (See pic below). The picture below is of the one I ended up getting.
Underwood Ammo loads of these .45 Colt bullets start out .452" wide and .9" long and then end up at 1.75"s wide and .319" long, all the while retaining their full weight of 220 grains of this Ruthless Apex Trajectile (aka: The R.A.T.) The energy rating is 394 foot pounds at the end of the muzzle which is fully dumped within the target. Also keep in mind that I bought these rounds from Underwood Ammo that rates them at 900 fps, of which these videos use the Leigh High Defense ammo that is rated at 850 fps, so I should get penetration perhaps upward of 10" to 12"s in jell blocks with no bones in the way to slow them down some. All in all I should get at least 8" to 10" even when a rib gets in the way, yet no matter what the bullet should not be able to get past the back rib cage due to it being spread out so much. If any thing it would seem that the expanded bullet would bounce back if it did have enough energy to actually make it to the back ribs to start with. (keep in mind that the bullet travel within my Judge is 5")
So given the extreme accuracy of the 45 colt, and the fact that when aiming center chest there is no reason to worry about over penetration with this bullet, one need not hesitate firing due to fear of collateral damage period! And as far as that goes one's excuse for using such a round would be that this self-defense round is designed to take out the threat with the least amount of shots needing to be fired, with no risk of hurting anyone else. And I can not think of any other bullet that can do the job as safely as this one. Hence this is the only round that I will ever use in my self-defense mechanism (i.e. - The Judge).
And so yes, I bought the gimmick gun that spawned one hell of a serious round! But now I need a rifle to go with it and have been looking at the Rossi Circuit Judge as it can shoot the exact same rounds, whether it be the Lehigh Extreme Expander 45 Colt, regular 45 Colt, .410 shot shells. But also I like the Rossi Puma 45 Colt Lever action and will have to make up my mind as to which one I'll get. So I am here to learn about Lever Action rifles before I pull the trigger on buy one or the other.
And
remember:
Wisdom
Never Lies Inked To The Pages Coddled By A Book
But
Rather At Rest Supply About The Inside Of Open Minds
That
Render The Confounds Thereof.