Hey guys a few month's back I almost walked out of LGS with a s&w governor but luckily I had my girlfriend with me to complain that i have too many guns and don't need another one yadda yadda, you know the story lol. I guess my question is, is there any real life application for this gun? I think its a pretty cool gun overall but don't really want to spend $600 on something that isn't going to be an effective weapon (meaning the ammo it shoots) if I actually had to defend myself. Opinions?
s&w governor
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captain awesome
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If there isn't, there will be some day. They are an interesting little piece, capable of handling 45 acp's.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
Personally I think its the dumbest gun S&W has come out with in a long time. No real purpose at all. The only reason it exists is because the public went crazy about the Taurus Judge. There is one being raffled at my club right now. I bought one ticket for $25. If I win it, I'll take it, but I wouldn't spend more than that for one.
Just my personal opinion.
Personally I think its the dumbest gun S&W has come out with in a long time. No real purpose at all. The only reason it exists is because the public went crazy about the Taurus Judge. There is one being raffled at my club right now. I bought one ticket for $25. If I win it, I'll take it, but I wouldn't spend more than that for one.
Just my personal opinion.
AJMBLAZER
Member
Follow the trends and help support Smith & Wesson and their keen marketing skills?
$600 will get you a good new or used S&W revolver in at least .357 Magnum.
.357 > anything .45 Long Colt in a handgun that size.
$600 will get you a good new or used S&W revolver in at least .357 Magnum.
.357 > anything .45 Long Colt in a handgun that size.
Fat_46
Member
I actually have a practical purpose in mind for the Governor. The ability to chamber 410 makes it a perfect companion when I'm prairie dog shooting. We've come across some big rattlers in SoDak, and the CCI shot capsules don't deliver the payload of a decent 410.
Add in my obsession with the 625 line, and I have another revolver that is compatible with all of my moon clips.
And don't forget, with the 45LC compatibility you have a very large, relatively low recoil round...that can utilize black powder! You need to see the look on your buddy's face after you've slipped in a BP cartridge into the cylinder and let him shoot it! For even more fun, if you roll your own, add some powdered chalk(you only need a little pink) for a cloud no one at the range will ever forget!
Add in my obsession with the 625 line, and I have another revolver that is compatible with all of my moon clips.
And don't forget, with the 45LC compatibility you have a very large, relatively low recoil round...that can utilize black powder! You need to see the look on your buddy's face after you've slipped in a BP cartridge into the cylinder and let him shoot it! For even more fun, if you roll your own, add some powdered chalk(you only need a little pink) for a cloud no one at the range will ever forget!
mesinge2
Member
I wanted a 45 ACP revolver and I just went with the S&W model 22. NIB cost me $800, so for $200 more I got a shorter gun that I can actually carry. If I want to shoot .410, I'd buy a .410 shotgun.
Just my $.02
Now if it could handle .460 Mag, .454, .45 colt, and .45 ACP. I could tolerate it also shooting .410
Just my $.02
Now if it could handle .460 Mag, .454, .45 colt, and .45 ACP. I could tolerate it also shooting .410
oldfool
Member
depends mostly on whether or not you have a watermelon patch (or a pumpkin patch)
for a good cause I would buy a raffle ticket too, whatever the 'prize'
(and pretty sure I could find somebody with a watermelon patch willing to pony up $250 for a melon shooter, if I happened to win one, profit e'nuff)
Just my $.01
for a good cause I would buy a raffle ticket too, whatever the 'prize'
(and pretty sure I could find somebody with a watermelon patch willing to pony up $250 for a melon shooter, if I happened to win one, profit e'nuff)
Just my $.01
bluethunder1962
Member
I have one. I love it. I even carry it sometimes. It shoots well. Feels goodl I just got some new wood grips for mine that are bigger than the rubber it came with. Looks a lot better. Can't really think of anything bad to say about it. I have never shot acp in it. Don't know why you would want to unless the price is cheaper.
mesinge2
Member
.45 ACP is generally cheaper than .45 Colt if you don't reload. Also, I'm curious does it use N frame replacement grips or L frame?
I like the idea of a .410 revolver, but I wouldn't want one with a 2.5" chamber. I'd prefer the 3", because you can fit 2 extra balls of 000 in it. At that point, you have something shoot 5 projectiles instead of 1, even if they're smaller.
A lot of people like to point to the "ratshot" rounds you can get for a standard handgun caliber, such as a .45 ACP as a better alternative to a .410 shotshell, but I still like the idea, and think .410 in birdshot is much more readily available.
A lot of people like to point to the "ratshot" rounds you can get for a standard handgun caliber, such as a .45 ACP as a better alternative to a .410 shotshell, but I still like the idea, and think .410 in birdshot is much more readily available.
mgkdrgn
Member
The Smith, like the Judge, is a "point defense" weapon. Truly SD oriented in every sense of the phrase. Bedroom nightstand, automobile, hunting/hiking sidearm.
It's not for target shooting ... it's not for shooting the hostage taker at 30 yards, it's not for the "cowboy action" match. It's for "Dispatching Vermin" at close range, 4 legged, 2 legged, or no legged.
It's not for target shooting ... it's not for shooting the hostage taker at 30 yards, it's not for the "cowboy action" match. It's for "Dispatching Vermin" at close range, 4 legged, 2 legged, or no legged.
Loosedhorse
member
It uses K/L/X/Z frame grips.
Don't understand why you say that.
Despite it's long cylinder, finding a smaller, lighter, less expensive DA revolver in .45 Colt or .45 ACP is a challenge.
mesinge2
Member
I knew that the Governor was the new Z frame I just didn't know what size that was, ha. Also, I am surprised that the X frame has a K/L sized grip frame instead of the N frame. Thanks for the info!
cl4de6
Member
I see uses for both the Judge and the Governor. I assume that you live in a Free State (ie: Not New Jersey) where you can carry a gun or keep one in your car.
I can't think of a better anti-carjacking gun than the Governor or Judge. A face full of birdshot or self-defense buck & ball at close range will let somebody know that they need to find another victim.
That being said as a home defense gun, there are better alternatives.
BUT... life is short. If you like it and have the money, buy it. There are plenty of guns that I have and didn't need. And *need* is a very subjective word.
I can't think of a better anti-carjacking gun than the Governor or Judge. A face full of birdshot or self-defense buck & ball at close range will let somebody know that they need to find another victim.
That being said as a home defense gun, there are better alternatives.
BUT... life is short. If you like it and have the money, buy it. There are plenty of guns that I have and didn't need. And *need* is a very subjective word.
bikemutt
Member
It's my nightstand gun of choice for now, never could figure out how to git that darn Mossberg pump in the drawer
bluethunder1962
Member
My grips I put on mine are for K an L frame. I bought it for another gun and did not work. It is fo a square butt frame but needs to be round butt. I still looks great. Hogue grips.
bluethunder1962
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What Would You Say
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count me another thumbs up for the perfect home defense gun. I'm in a approx. 1700 sq foot house. If a criminal enters my home, I'm not too far off of "point and shoot" instead of aiming anyway. Even wal-mart is carrying the winchester defense loads made for the Judge/Defender guns. combo pack of .410 with 3 slug/BB shot and 45LC JHP's . as someone else mentioned, the Defender even shoots 45 acp. many have probably seen a you tube video of how these heavy, ugly, guns can put a nasty taste of big Leaky holes in home invaders or car jacker's mouth (and body). It's a stop-the-threat gun, and killing the attacker could be a side effect.
What Would You Say
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I dunno Skribs.. I checked and cleaned the barrel after shooting and those 3 discs did come out of the barrel with the rest of those 9 BB's (or however many .. I forget)... "worthless" . I dunno . lets maybe downgrade that to not optimum or not what you'd pick. funning aside, alot of people mix the chambers with 45LC , .410.. of course, whose gonna remember what is in where when someone's pulling trigger for their life possibly. - 000 buck will work as it always has.
funning aside, alot of people mix the chambers with 45LC , .410.. of course, whose gonna remember what is in where when someone's pulling trigger for their life possibly. - 000 buck will work as it always has.I think ill rent one on Sunday when i go shooting and if I like it put one on layaway which will give me a few months to decide and pay. Its been on my list for awhile but something better/more practical (for me) always seems to pop up. Like the Gen 4 g21 FDE I picked up on an impulse buy this evening
You mentioned not wanting because it would not be effective if you had to use it for self defense, but yet your girlfriend says you have too many guns. I don't know what you have, but I would be willing to bet you have the self defense angle covered. Are all your future guns going to be bought around self defense?
My point is you think it is cool. I have a Judge and they are a blast to shoot. One of the most enjoyable plinking guns I own. And the only time a self defense senario would come up is if a bad guy attacked me at the range.
If you can afford it, you already have guns to protect you, and you want it, why not get it? No one says you have to carry it or keep it in your night stand. Just have fun.
I am amazed sometimes that it seems that a gun cannot be for fun only. It actually kind of drives me a little crazy. "that gun has no purpose" well please define purpose for me. Does purpose have to be a good self defense gun? Does something not have a purpose because there may be a gun that is better suited to stop a badguy with?
I have been shooting a while and hopefully will be shooting for a long time to come. So for 100% of my shooting has not involved self defense. I have guns for that purpose and practice with them. Have some for my pocket, some for my waistband, some for my bedside. But so far 100% of my shooting has been an enjoyable experience. I will still train with my SD guns, but I hope to spend a lot of time in the future just having fun with my guns. That is the most important thing right? Enjoying this hobby?
My point is you think it is cool. I have a Judge and they are a blast to shoot. One of the most enjoyable plinking guns I own. And the only time a self defense senario would come up is if a bad guy attacked me at the range.
If you can afford it, you already have guns to protect you, and you want it, why not get it? No one says you have to carry it or keep it in your night stand. Just have fun.
I am amazed sometimes that it seems that a gun cannot be for fun only. It actually kind of drives me a little crazy. "that gun has no purpose" well please define purpose for me. Does purpose have to be a good self defense gun? Does something not have a purpose because there may be a gun that is better suited to stop a badguy with?
I have been shooting a while and hopefully will be shooting for a long time to come. So for 100% of my shooting has not involved self defense. I have guns for that purpose and practice with them. Have some for my pocket, some for my waistband, some for my bedside. But so far 100% of my shooting has been an enjoyable experience. I will still train with my SD guns, but I hope to spend a lot of time in the future just having fun with my guns. That is the most important thing right? Enjoying this hobby?
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Stainz
Member
I bought mine last June - on my first visit to a new gunstore - and I am not an 'impulse buyer'. Sure, I had shot a range acquaintance's Judge some years earlier - really ho-hum in .45 Colt - nasty trigger & nastier grip - not for me, as I have two 625MG's in .45 Colt. But - as I looked at this new-to-me S&W offering, I noticed something odd - it was milled for moonclips - it would chamber six 'clipped .45 ACPs. Hmmm, same Al/Sc frame, black SS cylinder and barrel construction, same tritium Night sight on front and a fixed rea sight... it was just a slightly larger - 7/8" longer OAL - and heavier by a whole 1.5 oz - than a 325 Night Guard. Did I mention that, at $589, it was over $300 less than the cheapest 325 Night Guard I had seen in a store? I made it OTD for $579 + s/t... with my new .45 ACP revolver - to share the 240+ loaded moonclips I keep for my 625JM.
Sure, I bought some .410's - I already had plenty of .45 Colts, Schofields, and ACP's for it. When I got home, I checked S&W's site - they already had a holster for it... I had it in a week. I bought a couple of boxes of varied .410's that first week, too - and none since. After my first range trip, I tried the Hogue/S&W X-frame (.460/.500 Magnum) monogrips - they pad the backstrap - they are still on it!
As to size, it is 8.5" long OAL, which makes it shorter than the shortest 4" K-frame, a 64, at 8.88". Compared to an L or N-frame, ranging from 9.3-9.8", it is even shorter. No, it won't fit in a pocket like a 642 (see below), but it can reside within arm's length in a night stand. You bet I won't shoot Magnums in the house... but big and slow .45 ACP's or Colts, you betcha I will!
Love it - hate it - it doesn't matter to me. Just be accurate when you compare it. Buy it for 'protection' - buy it for 'fun' - we all rationalize our firearm purchases. I had no 'buyer's remorse' on this purchase... mine has a home. If you can shoot one first, fantastic - it will probably make a convert out of you! Oh - mine it's coincident POA/POI from 7-12yd with .45 ACP 230gr ball ammo or Speer 250gr Gold Dots in .45 Colt, a bit lower with cowboy loads - lower still with mild 200gr .45 Schofields. Not fond of tritium sights - this one didn't change that. Here it is in the S&W holster:
Stainz
Sure, I bought some .410's - I already had plenty of .45 Colts, Schofields, and ACP's for it. When I got home, I checked S&W's site - they already had a holster for it... I had it in a week. I bought a couple of boxes of varied .410's that first week, too - and none since. After my first range trip, I tried the Hogue/S&W X-frame (.460/.500 Magnum) monogrips - they pad the backstrap - they are still on it!
As to size, it is 8.5" long OAL, which makes it shorter than the shortest 4" K-frame, a 64, at 8.88". Compared to an L or N-frame, ranging from 9.3-9.8", it is even shorter. No, it won't fit in a pocket like a 642 (see below), but it can reside within arm's length in a night stand. You bet I won't shoot Magnums in the house... but big and slow .45 ACP's or Colts, you betcha I will!
Love it - hate it - it doesn't matter to me. Just be accurate when you compare it. Buy it for 'protection' - buy it for 'fun' - we all rationalize our firearm purchases. I had no 'buyer's remorse' on this purchase... mine has a home. If you can shoot one first, fantastic - it will probably make a convert out of you! Oh - mine it's coincident POA/POI from 7-12yd with .45 ACP 230gr ball ammo or Speer 250gr Gold Dots in .45 Colt, a bit lower with cowboy loads - lower still with mild 200gr .45 Schofields. Not fond of tritium sights - this one didn't change that. Here it is in the S&W holster:
Stainz
AJMBLAZER
Member
You know, I can see the argument Stainz and others like minded make. Smaller sized .45 ACP 6 gun far cheaper than the others on the market.
I just don't buy the .410 street sweeper argument. Folks talk about it like it's magical 12ga 3" Magnum buckshot with a 5' wide pattern or something and it doesn't have any recoil.
The testing I've seen on several forums, in several magazines, and by several online enthusiasts all are very..."meh" about the effectiveness of the .410 rounds. The terminal results on all tests were less than impressive and the spread was small.
Nice part about the Governor is, as noted above, it can shoot .45 ACP which has a variety of good rounds, all of which the Governor can fire. Cheaper than .45 LC, more useful than dubious .410 shotgun rounds, far more available than either, and a wide variety of self defense rounds...might be a point to this one vs the Judge.
I just don't buy the .410 street sweeper argument. Folks talk about it like it's magical 12ga 3" Magnum buckshot with a 5' wide pattern or something and it doesn't have any recoil.
The testing I've seen on several forums, in several magazines, and by several online enthusiasts all are very..."meh" about the effectiveness of the .410 rounds. The terminal results on all tests were less than impressive and the spread was small.
Nice part about the Governor is, as noted above, it can shoot .45 ACP which has a variety of good rounds, all of which the Governor can fire. Cheaper than .45 LC, more useful than dubious .410 shotgun rounds, far more available than either, and a wide variety of self defense rounds...might be a point to this one vs the Judge.
I'm not talking about mixing chambers, I'm talking about the self defense rounds. The disks have the sectional density of a parachute (maybe not exactly, but they act like one) and penetrate horribly. As to the mix of buck and birdshot, you pick a load assuming you need a desired amount of penetration. If birdshot will do, that buckshot is thinning your pattern. If you need the buckshot, then the birdshot is simply adding recoil without causing the damage at the depth you need. Thus, it is not nearly as good for either task (and generally more expensive).
Some folks do, others (like me) look at it as a tool that puts 3-5 0.36" holes in the target instead of 1 0.6-0.9" (depending on caliber and expansion) hole per pull of the trigger. At least for a handgun. Obviously a 12-ga shotgun or a .223 carbine would be better. Would I carry a Judge? Probably not. Would I put one in the nightstand? Probably, if I had one.
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