I own one of the original Judge models with a 2 1/2 inch barrel and it's a fun gun to shoot. It's surprisingly accurate at self-defense distances using .45 cal. long Colt rounds but not very effective with standard 410 shotgun shells. The spread with #4 shot was about three feet at a distance of ten feet. A heavy coat might stop the pellets. HOWEVER, I substituted Federal's self-defense shells with 000 buckshot designed for the Judge and it became an entirely different animal. At the same distance, one shot tore three large holes with a spread of less than four inches in a standard military silhouette target. Not perfect but it'll do the job. I do agree though, the 28 gauge is more lkely to be a novelty than a practical weapon.