Taurus Public Defender FDE 45 Colt/410 2.5in 5rd — Superb Compact Revolver

Description

The Taurus Public Defender FDE is the Flat Dark Earth build of the smallest Judge, catalogued by Taurus as 2-441029FDE. The steel frame and barrel are finished in earth tone against a matte stainless cylinder, the barrel measures 2.50 inches, and five chambers take 45 Colt or 2-1/2 inch 410 shells.

Small-frame is the distinction. A Judge has to carry a cylinder long enough to swallow a shotshell, so shrinking one means trimming everything around that cylinder. The Taurus Public Defender FDE is the result: a revolver that will still fire a shot load and still fits a coat pocket or a console.

MAG5 Firearms has it in stock. Handguns ship to a licensed FFL on a signed 4473, and we coordinate the transfer with your dealer.

Two-tone, and the reason it works

• Flat Dark Earth over steel on the frame and barrel, with the cylinder left in matte stainless for contrast.
• Earth tone hides handling marks and dust far better than a black finish on a gun that lives in a bag or a truck.
• The Taurus Public Defender FDE keeps the same steel construction as the black version, so nothing was traded for the colour.
• Steel matters here: it is what keeps a 45 Colt tolerable out of a revolver this small.
• A ribbed rubber grip runs the full backstrap and spreads the recoil across the palm.

Sights, action and safety

• Fiber optic front sight, which gathers ambient light and shows as a bright point indoors or in shade.
• Exposed hammer, so the Taurus Public Defender FDE can be thumbed back for a single-action press or fired double action.
• Transfer bar safety blocks the firing pin mechanically until the trigger is fully pressed.
• Fixed rear notch with nothing protruding to catch on a pocket seam or a holster mouth.
• A 2.50-inch barrel, about as much as a gun this size can carry and still disappear under a jacket.

Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 2-441029FDE
• Model: Judge Public Defender, small frame
• Chambering: 45 Colt and 410 bore, 2-1/2 inch shells
• Capacity: 5 rounds
• Barrel: 2.50 in, Flat Dark Earth steel
• Cylinder: matte stainless steel
• Frame: Flat Dark Earth steel
• Grip: black ribbed rubber
• Action: single and double action, exposed hammer
• Safety: transfer bar
• Front sight: fiber optic

Check shell length before buying a case: this cylinder takes 2-1/2 inch 410 and 3-inch magnum shells do not belong in it. Both chamberings are produced to the dimensional and pressure standards published by SAAMI, so factory ammunition from any reputable maker is appropriate. Out of a barrel this short a 410 pattern opens quickly, which is worth knowing before you rely on it past a few yards. We stock Remington Performance WheelGun 45 Colt and HSM Cowboy Action 45 Colt.

The same revolver in black is the Judge Public Defender, and the lighter polymer-framed version saves several ounces. For a longer barrel, see the Judge Compact. Browse our other revolvers too.

Why this Public Defender earns its place

• The Taurus Public Defender FDE is one of very few pocketable revolvers that will fire a 410 shell.
• Steel construction rather than alloy, which makes 45 Colt loads bearable out of a short barrel.
• Five rounds of a large-bore cartridge, with no magazine and no slide to manage.
• Earth tone ages better than black on a gun that gets handled and knocked about.
• Taurus backs it with a limited lifetime repair policy that follows the firearm rather than the original buyer.

This suits someone who liked the idea of a Judge but would not carry a full-size one. The Taurus Public Defender FDE goes in a coat pocket, a console or a pack, and the option of a shot load has obvious appeal around livestock, water and outbuildings. Practise with mild 45 Colt loads first: a small steel revolver and a heavy bullet is a combination that rewards familiarity.

Ordering is simple. Choose it, tell us which FFL should receive it, and we handle the dealer side. If you have not picked a transfer dealer, call us and we will help you find one nearby.