S&W Governor .45 ACP

I've not fired that model. But I'm sure you know they make the awesome 625 in .45ACP and that's a terrific, practical gun without all the excess useless cylinder length, and which should produce much better accuracy.

Ok. Good! Then it seems you have the .45 ACP revolver base covered.

The ability to use moon clips is a tremendous advantage. I doubt you can expect much accuracy out of such long chambers though.

Also, will .45 acp ammo headspace without need of moonclips in this gun?

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No.

It would be impossible to have .45 ACP headspace shoulders in the chambers and still get .45 Colt and .410 shotgun shells to fit in it.

rc

...and we've had to use it a couple of times on rattlers.

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Was this, "We found a couple of rattlesnakes and decided to kill them?" or more like, "We were in fear for our lives, backed into a corner, nowhere to flee...the beast pawed the ground and CHARGED!!!"?

Seems like if you have to kill a snake for some reason, whatever gun you might have with you for more serious threats would do the job. Don't see much point in a dedicated "snake gun."

^^^ But then, is it ever really about need?
Part of the addiction/sickness is coming up with niches so that you have to buy a gun to fill that niche.

Speaking of which, I think I need an "alternating Tuesdays between the hours of 9:30AM and 11:45AM" gun.

I've read pretty good accuracy reports on the Gov. from actual owners and write ups. I handled one at the gun show this weekend and despite the longer cylinder it is not unbalanced or very unwieldy and the fit and finish appeared quite a bit better than the Judge. A lot of folks poo-poo the .410, however it's still a cheaper priced .45 acp/Colt S&W than you could get otherwise.

And it holds six instead of five!
That will be very important when the Rattlesnake Apocalypse comes.

And it shoots .45 GAP & .45 ACP too!

rc

+1

I blew a copperhead to hell with a CCI shot a couple of years ago, just about a second before my Boxer jumped straddle of it.

And I grew up on a farm in Kansas that had rattlesnakes in the barn, in new hay bales when you loaded them on a wagon, on the back steps sunning themselves when you went out the door in the morning, etc, etc.

My dad got bit while plowing a field, and our neighbor got bit when he got out of bed one morning.

Around me, the only good snake is a dead snake, until proven it isn't poisonous.
And even then, it is treading, no make that crawling on thin ice.

rc

Bikemutt - I firmly believe that you NEED another revolver chambered in 45ACP. I have a 625PC, a 325PD that is my EDC, and am waiting to take delivery of my Governor. For gun nuts, the moon clip isn't rare or special, but I absolutely love the look on people's faces at the range when I reload a revolver faster than they swap clips on their autos!

Now if someone would make a 410 moonclip...

Don't anyone take my word for this, because even coming from me it's second hand, but:

A few of my buddies that own Taurus Judges swear up and down they'll fit moonclips, and fire .45 ACP without any modifications to the cylinder. Not actually owning one myself, I have no idea.

I'm thinking a Taurus Raging Judge might be an interesting gun to have, considering I don't have the safe space left for a .454 AND a .410. If/when I get one I'll be sure to do a thorough range report on that.

I love my S&W GOV- It shoots great. Real accurate too. No problem with extra cylinder length in 45acp. I had groups unreal with 45acp and other 410 ammo. I know I wouldn't want to take a hit from it for sure..... I carry it everyday on the trail I walk..... I've had Taurus before S&W Gov puts Taurus to shame......

l carry 45acp shot shells in my 45s at times

Remington 45 ACP Shot Lokt shot cartridge. 650 #12 shot.

rc,

My mom's family farmed in Syracuse, the far West part of the state, they always had snakes around. Her brothers all carried .410's on the tractors, don't know about the 45's, but the 410's smack them pretty good.

Last Friday I watched two guys shoot a Governor. They used all three types of ammo and where shooting from 10 yards at a 24" round target. They had a hard time keeping it in the circles and, some of the time, on the paper. High and left consistantly.

I had also watched them both shoot a 1911 clone from 25 yards before this. Let's simply say they both at least knew how to shoot.

While I did not shoot the firearm myself, I saw nothing that would make me want to and went back to shooting my S&W Model 10 & Model 642 instead.

I bought my Governor June 13th - mainly for one reason. It is a cheaper version of the 325 Night Guard! Yeah, it's a little longer - and ~1.5 oz heavier - with it's longer cylinder. But - it has the Al/Sc frame, Tritium Night Sight on front and fixed rear, and can take the same moonclipped .45 ACPs my 625JM, my only other .45 ACP revolver - and I keep 240+ moonclips loaded with ball ammo. UMC bulk pack ball ammo stays within a 3" circle at 7 yd - mostly so at 12 yd. My 250gr GDJHP loads in .45 Colt are slightly tighter. The .45 ACP ball ammo drops the steel plate tie-breaker with authority - after the first five ping the plates.

Oh... the $ savings over the 325NG, locally $899, is significant - I paid $579 + s/t for my Governor! Yeah, I finally own a 'shotgun' of sorts, too.

Stainz

There are quite a few listed on gunbroker and if you buy out of state you don't have to worry about sales tax. I saw ONE at the Ft. Worth gun show with laser $799.