S&W Governor?

[Zaydok Allen]

I've shot a Judge Public Defender, a Governor, and owned a Bond Arms Snake Slayer IV.

I shot 45 Colt rounds from all three, and they were reasonably accurate in all three guns, but not great past about 15 yards.

The Judge literally came apart during that range trip with the cylinder falling right off the gun during loading.

The Bond Arms was supremely nice in fit and finish, but it's a derringer, so utility is severely limited.

The Governor was the nicest shooting of the three, probably due to the larger grip. It did seem a tad more accurate but the action was smoother than the Judge, so it's not surprising.

410 loads were accurate enough at short range to deal with a snake. Penetration and effectiveness, well that's all debatable on larger opponents.

Personally I think these guns are gimmicky and jacks of all trades, but masters of nothing.

I was not terribly impressed with the Governor's accuracy with 45acp ammo. But that's a long cylinder jump to expect more. I mean 45 Colt doesn't shoot very well from my 460 magnum either, so what'cha gonna do?

If I wanted a gun to shoot snake/bird shot out of, I'd likely get a 45 Colt revolver, or maybe a GP100 in 44 Special, and either buy some CCI shot shells, or load my own. That way you still have a nice accurate gun capable of slinging a heavy large diameter slug at greater distances. If you use any of these guns for very close and personal defense, I don't think you'd have a problem with them being effective. In fact I've more or less come to view the Judge and Governor as giant derringers in practicality, despite their revolver design.

 

[Obturation]

Nice! now put that on a full length stock , barrel and barrel length magazine and that could be a contender with the Winchester and Marlin for sure.

I have no doubt it's coming, I think they're trying to sell off all their solid frames first, I doubt there'll be much demand for them when the sidegate is available. I could be wrong . I like the removable tube for unloading purposes but like the gate for topping off. I was going to buy an all weather big boy but I kept waiting on the loading gate model and it hasn't been announced except in the x model which I'm not a fan of. So I got something else instead thinking that the day I bought the big boy is the day they'll announce it with the gate.

 

[jski]

That is significantly more interesting IMHO. It lack only the side gate loading port. Winchester and Marlin also have, are, or will be making 410 lever guns. Both of those have side gate loading. I believe Marlin is currently producing another batch of their 410 lever guns built on the 336 actions.

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/lever-action/model-1895-big-bore/model-1895-410

I love my Winchester 9410.
View attachment 908971View attachment 908972

I didn’t know about the Marlin. I’ve always been a BIG Marlin levergun fan!

 

[jski]

The loading gate is coming in sure.
You guys seen this thing?
https://www.henryusa.com/firearms/lever-action-axe-410/

Now that’s a gimmick!

 

[Obturation]

Now that’s a gimmick!

I'm not sure, it's a smooth bore with screw in chokes, just tough to aim. I could see putting in the paperwork for a SBS and buying a traditional stock for it. At that point it'd be a handy little squirrel popper.

 

[jski]

That is significantly more interesting IMHO. It lack only the side gate loading port. Winchester and Marlin also have, are, or will be making 410 lever guns. Both of those have side gate loading. I believe Marlin is currently producing another batch of their 410 lever guns built on the 336 actions.

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/lever-action/model-1895-big-bore/model-1895-410

I love my Winchester 9410.
View attachment 908971View attachment 908972

I looked for the Winchester and found this:

Model 9410 Packer
These products are no longer in production.

 

[FFGColorado]

The one thing the Governor (and Judge) does better than any other handgun is dispatch snakes and similar size critters at spitting distances with shotshells. A typical 2.5-inch 410 shotshell with 1/2 oz of #8 or #7.5 shot beats any other shot load on the market for a handgun. Beyond that their performance falls rather flat.

Paul Harrell shooting the Judge at 'snakes' starts at about 8:35 mark

 

[alfsauve]

I'd always thought the Governor would make a great fresh water fishing gun. I have memories of more than one cottonmouth joining my grand-dad and I in his boat while fishing on the Ogeechee River. And that's what the .410 load would be good for. Maybe the last two chambers with 45Colt in case something with 4 legs needs to be dispatched.

 

[unclenunzie]

My plastic judge is for while riding the mower. It is lightweight and convenient, I have dispatched copperheads with it effectively from beyond shovel range. Ten foot distance patterns are just fine with size 8 shot. But that's about it for my purposes with it.

I had considered a Bond before they had the economy models available, but chose the plastic judge and it suits well for it's purpose. Might have to get a Bond one day though....

For me I can't justify the much higher priced Governor for any purpose.

 

[mcb]

Paul Harrell shooting the Judge at 'snakes' starts at about 8:35 mark

Seems like a fair assessment to me. The only thing I would say is that the #7.5 pellet perpetrates a lot better than the #9 from a 45 ACP or similar commercial pistol shot shell.

I am not sure I completely agree with his only counting pellets that hit the head. Body shot that hit heart, lungs and CNS work just as well on snakes as it does other critters.

My comment was also trying to point out one of the few areas the 410 Revolver do well (this being relative). I personally carry a 38 Special and if close enough to feel the need to shoot the snake I have never had an issue hitting them with a bullet. Usually I just walk away.

 

[mcb]

I looked for the Winchester and found this:

Unfortunately Winchester has stop making them back in 2006 IIRC. I have one of the early, of the lastest batch made in 2002, fixed choke and a really ugly cross bolt safety. Later models came with a tang safety (still silly but aesthetically much better) and choke tubes. I have the 24-inch Traditional model and its the most fun shotgun I own. Hunted everything from dove to deer with it.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'm a crusty, opinionated old curmudgeon and I have said before of the Judge, Governor, etc., "A bad idea, poorly executed."

 

[mcb]

I'm a crusty, opinionated old curmudgeon and I have said before of the Judge, Governor, etc., "A bad idea, poorly executed."

And yet a market success given the numbers of both that have sold.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

In my very opinionated opinion, the S&W Governor, as well as its imitator the Taurus Judge, are the dumbest revolvers ever designed. Besides being ridiculously large and heavy, the rifling will spoil any shotgun pattern beyond a few feet, and 45 Colt is available in much smaller packages. All I know about how successful it is, when I visited the S&W factory about 10 years ago, there were bins and bins full of the super large frames used in the Governor. These frames had just been forged in the hammer forges and were waiting for further CNC operations to become finished frames. I must have visited right after Governor day because there were dozens of frames waiting for the next steps.

There is nothing new about lever action shotguns. John Browning patented the Model 1887 Winchester lever action shotgun sometime before 1887.

It did not become popular again until Arnold Schwarzenegger brandished one in the second Terminator movie.






Notice the trigger guard section of the lever has been cut so he could twirl it to cock it.






They are being manufactured in China today, I know at least one Cowboy who shoots his with Black Powder. Because the barrel is so short it is incredibly loud. I used to know a guy who had an original with a 30" barrel, but I have not seen him in years.

 

[Targa]

I don’t think the Governor or Judge would make a bad nightstand gun, I won’t get into an argument about that but I do find the “gimmicky” gun’s....Governor, Judge, Shockwave etc..etc..to be some of the biggest grin inducers at the range.

 

[haybaler]

I wanted a .45Colt/.45acp DA revolver to accompany my Ruger Blackhawk convertible. At the time the Ruger Redhawk was not available so I bought the Governor. It looks ungainly and clunky but it shoots well and with the scandium frame the weight feels good to me.

I haven't needed it for snakes but I can dispatch woodpeckers drilling holes in my house without damaging my house.

As others have said it's not perfect for anything but it does what it is meant to do and I'm fine with that. In shooting .45acp or .45Colt I was surprised at how well it actually shoots. I would consider trading it for a Redhawk but for now I'm satisfied.

 

[PapaG]

BTW, is the barrel rifled?

By law, it has to be.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Howdy

In my very opinionated opinion, the S&W Governor, as well as its imitator the Taurus Judge, are the dumbest revolvers ever designed. Besides being ridiculously large and heavy, the rifling will spoil any shotgun pattern beyond a few feet, and 45 Colt is available in much smaller packages. All I know about how successful it is, when I visited the S&W factory about 10 years ago, there were bins and bins full of the super large frames used in the Governor. These frames had just been forged in the hammer forges and were waiting for further CNC operations to become finished frames. I must have visited right after Governor day because there were dozens of frames waiting for the next steps.

There is nothing new about lever action shotguns. John Browning patented the Model 1887 Winchester lever action shotgun sometime before 1887.

It did not become popular again until Arnold Schwarzenegger brandished one in the second Terminator movie.

View attachment 909006




Notice the trigger guard section of the lever has been cut so he could twirl it to cock it.

View attachment 909007




They are being manufactured in China today, I know at least one Cowboy who shoots his with Black Powder. Because the barrel is so short it is incredibly loud. I used to know a guy who had an original with a 30" barrel, but I have not seen him in years.

View attachment 909008

The 1887 was used heavily by American forces in trench warfare during WW I, wasn't it?

Edit: Never mind. I was thinking of the 1897, not 87.

Pump gun versus lever gun.

 

[PapaG]

We sold the dickens out of Judges in the beginning. A few Governors, also when they became available. Mostly gimmicks. Biggest problem is that the cylinder throats are way, way oversize, in some I measured as big as .465". We sold a lot of lead removing patches as lead bulleted ammo would lead the bores like crazy. Talked to Taurus techs and they would agree to put in a "properly sized" cylinder when we'd send on in. Never did. Would return with a note that said "adjusted timing" and they'd lead just like before. I lapped a couple to glass smoothness for myself and a friend. Made no difference.
My buddies down by the Shawnee Forest love them for the rattlers and copperheads and I find no problem with that. What they aren't are strong guns as one customer found out trying Ruger only loads. Cracked the cylinder. Taurus replaced the gun "one time only".
I load Speer shot caps in either my 625 or 624 or flattop Blackhawk and get just as good patterns, many a smidge thinner. I have made some great shotshells for the 44 with 444 brass cut to cylinder length.
I sold my Judge and haven't missed it once. For them that love them, that is fine. They can serve a limited purpose well.

 

[DukeConnor]

The loading gate is coming in sure.
You guys seen this thing?
https://www.henryusa.com/firearms/lever-action-axe-410/

That thing looks FUN

 

[WisBorn]

I

The 1887 was used heavily by American forces in trench warfare during WW I, wasn't it?

Edit: Never mind. I was thinking of the 1897, not 87.

Pump gun versus lever gun.

That thing looks FUN

That thing looks FUN

Wrong button

 

[Vern Humphrey]

And yet a market success given the numbers of both that have sold.

At one time, fortunes were made in Holland selling tulip bulbs.

 

[mcb]

Howdy

In my very opinionated opinion, the S&W Governor, as well as its imitator the Taurus Judge, are the dumbest revolvers ever designed.
{snip}

I believe the Taurus Judge pre-dated the S&W Governor by several years. 2006 vs 2011 respectively.

Sometimes dumb is still fun...

 

[unclenunzie]

At one time, fortunes were made in Holland selling tulip bulbs.

A bit different market...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A bit different market...

Same result. A lot of people paid a lot of money for something that was not worth it.