Description

ROSSI SCJ4510 CIRCUIT JUDGE 45 COLT OR 410 GAUGE 5RD

ROSSI SCJ4510 CIRCUIT JUDGE 45 COLT OR 410 GAUGE 5RD

The Rossi SCJ4510 Circuit Judge is a distinctive revolving-cylinder long gun chambered for .45 Colt and .410 bore shotshells. I checked Rossi’s published catalog and owner’s manual to verify the specifications.

Rossi Circuit Judge SCJ4510 — specifications

Rossi’s catalog specifically identifies the SCJ4510 as .45 Colt/.410, 18.5-inch barrel, five-round capacity, with polished black finish and wood stock.

What makes the Circuit Judge unusual?

It’s essentially a carbine-length revolving-cylinder firearm rather than a conventional lever-, pump-, or semiautomatic long gun. Rossi describes the Circuit Judge as a hybrid platform derived from the Judge concept, allowing it to fire either .45 Colt ammunition or .410 shotshells without changing the barrel or cylinder.

The cylinder holds five cartridges/shells.

Ammunition

The SCJ4510 is designed for:

• .45 Colt
• .410-bore shotshells, including shells up to 3 inches, according to Rossi’s published specifications.

It is important not to confuse .45 Colt with .45 ACP, .45-70, or other .45-caliber cartridges. Likewise, the .410 designation refers to a shotshell bore rather than a conventional rifle caliber.

For ammunition selection and any restrictions on particular loads, use the ammunition specifications in the Rossi manual rather than assuming a cartridge is suitable because it physically fits.

Barrel and .410 use

The 18.5-inch barrel makes the SCJ4510 considerably longer than the handgun versions of the Judge concept. Rossi’s documentation identifies the Circuit Judge as having an 18.5-inch barrel.

The Circuit Judge platform has also been offered with interchangeable-choke arrangements depending on the particular version/configuration. Rossi’s manual specifically discusses an interchangeable choke and associated components, so the exact accessories supplied with a particular SCJ4510 should be checked against its manual and original package.

Action

The SCJ4510 uses a DA/SA (double-action/single-action) system:

• Double action: pulling the trigger cocks and releases the hammer.
• Single action: the hammer can be cocked first, producing a different trigger operation.

Rossi’s catalog describes the Circuit Judge as having a single-action/double-action trigger system.

Stock and handling

The traditional SCJ4510 has a hardwood stock and forearm. The approximately 5.3-pound weight and 18.5-inch barrel give it much more of a conventional long-gun feel than a Judge revolver. The older Rossi catalog lists the traditional SCJ4510 at 35.60 inches overall and 5.3 lb.

Rossi has also produced related Circuit Judge variants, including:

• SCJ4510SS — stainless/wood
• SCJT4510 — synthetic-stock variant
• SCJT4510B/D/K — later black, green, sand and graphite configurations

Important distinction about the listing you provided

The product description you quote says:

ROSSI SCJ4510 CIRCUIT JUDGE 45 COLT OR 410 GAUGE 5RD 18.50″ BBL

That’s broadly consistent with Rossi’s factory identification. However, “OR” doesn’t mean you have to choose one caliber when purchasing it. The SCJ4510 is a dual-caliber firearm design around both .45 Colt and .410.

Also, the SCJ4510 shouldn’t be confuse with the similarly name SCJT4510. The latter is the synthetic-stock version; the standard SCJ4510 is the wood-stock model.

Factory documentation

Rossi’s current published owner’s manual is the best reference for operation, ammunition limitations, loading/unloading, maintenance and safety procedures:

Bottom line: the SCJ4510 is the classic wood-stock Rossi Circuit Judge, a 5-shot, 18.5-inch, .45 Colt/.410 revolving-cylinder long gun, approximately 35.6 inches long and 5.3 lb, with DA/SA operation.