This just in from American Rifleman's Mark Keefe:
With the vast array of new guns in the Taurus booth at the 2011 SHOT Show, it was easy to go into new-product overload. But the one gun that stood out most was the 28-gauge Raging Judge revolver. Whenever there is something truly new and different, there are bound to be juicy rumors, which included that the gun had been declared a National Firearms Act item by BATFE and "removed."
This is simply not the case. Taurus President and CEO Bob Morrison invited officials from the ATF's Technology Branch to discuss some of the firm's new product introductions. "I asked them to come and give some advice," Morrison said. By all accounts the meeting was cordial, professional, and not a "raid" or "gotcha" as erroneously reported elsewhere. No determination on the gun's status was made at the show. Remember, to even be in the United States at all, the prototype had to be cleared by BATFE for importation. On the 28-gauge Raging Judge revolver, Taurus sought BATFE's advice on some modifications to the gun and is the process of implementing the results of those suggestions. This is a very common practice; gun manufacturers and importers regularly work with BATFE as the firearm industry's regulatory agency.
Also, despite rumors to the contrary, the .45 Colt/.410-bore lever-action Ranch Hand with the rifled barrel is good to go for importation, as is the 28-gauge Circuit Judge. You'll see them later on this year, as well as the 28-gauge Raging Judge, with minor modifications.
Rumors also abound regarding an impending ATF ruling regarding shotguns and "sporting purposes," but they have nothing to do with the 28-gauge Raging Judge.
Mark A. Keefe, IV
Editor-in-Chief, American Rifleman
