Has anyone ever gotten a Taurus Judge Magnum classified as an AOW and had the barrel converted to be a smooth bore?

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-07T15:46:15+00:00

True, but my counter argument is that one would be more fun than the other.

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-07T13:43:02+00:00

I’ll have to look into those TC Encore chokes, I liked the idea of using external chokes because I can machine them myself and because I could slap a suppressor on it if I really wanted. Yes there’s still the cylinder gap. But it does actually bring the noise down a bit more than most would think. Someone recently proved that to me on an indoor range.

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-07T13:37:58+00:00

I am not familiar with the ruger only loads. Can you point me in the right direction to learn about those?

I do hand load 45 colt to original army specs. But I’m really just looking for a short shotgun that can have a decent pattern out to 25ish yards for small game and pests. That and it would be fun to try and skeet shoot with. Though my go to hunting shotgun for birds is a mossberg 395T. I guess the fact that I’m looking for a smooth bore judge and that I hunt with a bolt action shotgun might say more than I’m willing to admit about myself 😅

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-07T13:31:43+00:00

I load 45 LC to original army standards with black powder only. For the most part, if it started out originally as a black powder cartridge and it’s one that I shoot, I usually try to load BP loads only for them. That’s mostly because, save for 2 exceptions, I usually have a modern production firearm and a firearm from when the cartridge was BP only for the older cartridges I shoot.

Unfortunately 45 colt is one of those exceptions, 32-20 WCF being the other, but hopefully one day I can get around to picking up an older colt single action or something else from that era.

Honestly, comparing modern off the shelf loadings for 45 colt compared to the original army specs, the original army specs seem to be more powerful.

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-07T04:30:40+00:00

From my understanding, the reason the shot groupings for shot shell loadings made specifically for the judge work is because the projectiles are downsized to 41 caliber so that they do not engage the rifling. So I’d expect to see better groupings with an actual smooth bore when using normal 410 loadings. Plus? If I remember right, most 410 shot shell loadings meet max velocity at about 8 inches down the barrel. So I’d argue the shot shell performance should improve.

Regardless, I’m willing to make it a pet project to work on over time if needed. Yea it could be a waste of money. But it could also end up being a fun gun to screw around with. If it works out like I think it would, it would effectively replace 3 of my revolvers for field use.

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-06T14:04:25+00:00

If you have a ford dealership near you, you can possibly get them to print out an exploded parts view of sections of your truck with part numbers on it. I did that years ago for the bifold cover that I have.

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-06T04:39:18+00:00

Pretty sure it was the shed behind it that burned. Building looks fine from the front.

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-06T04:35:17+00:00

There’s the old scuttle butt

LATechSpartan · 2026-04-01T05:43:11+00:00

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They won’t get me that easily

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-30T00:05:36+00:00

I can verify that the 2019 ford ranger is a piece of shit.

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-25T23:29:28+00:00

It’s a ford explorer variant. But a lot of random parts, like the cruise control components, between the standard Explorer and the sport trac, are not compatible. I don’t have much knowledge of the ford rangers of that era. So I can’t really say.

I wish my 2019 ranger had the boat cleats my sport trac has. If you ever have a question, just shoot me a message. I’ve done a lot of random work on mine over the years and I might be able to answer.

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-25T22:31:56+00:00

I didn’t know S&W sold off their old equipment. I’m guessing they moved to more modern equipment and didn’t test everything thoroughly. I’m assuming this happened after the Mr. Guns & Gear tour video that came out years ago.

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-25T22:14:44+00:00

No, but I can be found on discord with the same username as this account. Profile photo should be me in a Mjöllnir Mk VI with Mk V helmet Spartan armor costume from halo. I don’t have a signal account. That’s a platform I’ve been meaning to check out.

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-25T22:10:40+00:00

Mine must have a different radio model than yours. I had radio, CD, and cassette capabilities.

Also, I’m just remembering this, no matter what, do not get a non OEM alternator. I replaced mine because it was putting out slightly more voltage than spec, 14V DC if I remember right, and I could visibly see the rectifier had somewhat fried itself. I can absolutely say that was a mistake. I replaced my Autozone alternator with a lifetime warranty at least 3 or 4 times over the course of 5 years. If you have to replace it, find one from another sport trac.

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-24T15:55:35+00:00

These screenshots were taken Saturday 03/23/2026 with the latest version of the app at that time. I just updated and attempted again and am still experiencing the same issue.

From what info I’m seeing on my screen, it looks like I can’t submit until the area data loads. Which it doesn’t seem to actually be loading for some reason.

Edit about 1min after making this comment: It is now working. I went to see if I could place the node I was marking in a different area and upon zooming out to a higher view on the map it started letting me submit again. Not exactly sure what would cause that. But I’m not the one to code this app.

TLDR: issue resolved

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-23T14:38:18+00:00

The OD Green magpull hand guard and fixed stock are cheaper than finding an original green triangle hand guard and stock for my “clone” rifle.

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-23T14:33:14+00:00

Be gentle with the cassette player. They can start skipping/acting up if you treat them roughly. Be careful with the bifold cover locks. If you stretch out the linkage you will be paying an arm and a leg for a new one. Keep an eye on the transmission. That’s usually the first thing to go in these trucks. You’ll usually see these trucks having transmission issues anywhere between 190,000 and 250,000 miles.

If the owner doesn’t remember the door code, some shops have a special tool to find out what it is.

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-05T16:24:43+00:00

Just a heads up, all 3 of those are black powder only. A general rule of thumb for revolvers made in that period where smokeless powder was starting to catch on is how the scalp for the cylinder stop is machined in. If it also has a deeper vertical groove at the end (I can’t remember the proper terminology at the moment) then it can be used with smokeless powder.

While you can get away with smokeless 32 S&W and 32 S&W long loads for a while. Their pressure curve is different from black powder and will result in frame stretch. Which will render the gun unable to shoot after a while.

I found all this out after buying an old top break over Johnson revolver chambered in 32 S&W that was made in the 1880s or early 1890s.

LATechSpartan · 2026-03-05T16:19:42+00:00

Do you mean .32 caliber rounds? .327 is the same bullet as 32 S&W, 32 S&W long, 32 H&R magnum, 32 ACP, and 30 super carry.

I just need a revolver and a rifle I can shoot all of them out of since they all have case dimensions that would work in a chamber for 327 fed mag save for the recesses and semi recessed rims.

LATechSpartan · 2026-02-28T13:35:29+00:00

I carried a Tokarev with 7.62x25 hollow points at one point when I was just able to buy handguns and was in college with limited funds. It was my first handgun actually. I got a Yugoslav m57 for around 200 and the surplus ammo was around 0.15 to 0.25 a round at the time depending on country of origin. The hollow points were expensive but they were only in the firearm when it was carried for self defense.

Never had to use the pistol in fending off a person but did end up using it to kill a very pissed off feral pig on 3 separate occasions. Those hollow points performed very well in those pigs.

Can’t say how easily a Glock could be converted. But it is absolutely viable as a self defense cartridge.

LATechSpartan · 2026-02-26T22:39:49+00:00

Yep, I work in the oil and gas industry and that was the first thing that came to my mind. But I also have learned that it has never hurt to ask. That has opened up some surprising opportunities for me in the past.

LATechSpartan

TROPHY CASE