I picked up this pair of governors today. One is mine, the other was an early father's day gift to my dad. We shot them today with a variety of loads I had on hand. First up was Winchester USA 230gr FMJ .45 ACP, next was a 230gr cast LRN .45 ACP handload of mine. Next was Winchester 250gr lead cowboy load. All of these were fairly mild to shoot. Next up was Federal's 7/16 oz #4 handgun load. At 10 yards the results were devastating with even the wad penetrating the wooden backstop. These kicked like heavy .44 special loads. The final load was Winchester's PDX-1 self-defense load featuring 3 .45 caliber discs and 12 BBs. The recoil of this load was quite brisk, about like shooting 158gr .357s in a K-frame model 19! I could feel the blast on my face. No problems of any kind were encounted. The scandium frame really balances out the weight of that long stainless steel cylinder! The .410s spread quickly and at 25 yards only 1-2 pellets strike the target. The .45 Colt and .45 ACP loads were surprisingly accurate, averaging 2-2 1/2" at 25 yards! BTW, be advised that the Governor will NOT accept .45 auto rim. The cylinder face is recessed for the full-moon clip, and the rims of .45 Colt are about as thick as the full moon clip. However, the rims of auto rim were too fat to clear the breach face. The front sight is a fairly large white dot with a tritium insert. It really does glow in the dark! It glows a bright green. All in all, a very interesting range day. I was very inpressed with the Governor! Feel that Taurus! Here's some pics:

Great lookin' weapons and range report. FYI, our forum member Lefty Lewis @ Bell Charter Oaks Custom Holsters (advertised in the Vendor section) is makin' a gorgeous holster for this model. His work is superb.........

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Anyone else shoot one yet?

Picked mine up Friday and had it at the range yesterday. Shooting .45 Colt cowboy loads, .410s in #8 and #4. Didn't load any moon clips or try buckshot or SD loads yet. Definitely fun to shoot! The guy I was shooting with was immediately sold on the gun, won't be surprised if he has one the next time we connect!

The #4 shot at 7 yards did a job on the target, and the pattern was tighter than I had expected from a rifled barrel, with most of the shot staying inside a 10" circle. Tried shooting a little skeet just for fun. All the pigeons survived!

I did pick up some 000 buckshot and Federal SD rounds (with the 3 discs + BBs). Will give those a range run next weekend.

Yep, even says that in the newest edition standard S&W instruction booklet. I didn't expect that but in retrospect it makes sense. Too bad, though, as I really like the .45AR. But I've got plenty of acps and Colts around, so I guess feeding it 3 calibers is good 'nough.

Question: Anyone know what S&W says about putting slugs through the Governor? The booklet is silent. Can't see why it'd be a problem, but wondering. And if yes, which type, plain or sabot or does it matter?

Good to see another favorable report for the Governor, I love mine. It won't take the older 1917 type halfmoon clips but the full moon and 2 shot 1/3 moons clips that come with the Governor are great, I need to buy a lot more of them.

I see that the price thru Bud's is quite a bit lower than I expected, too. Time to decorate some melons??
TACC1

A while ago when the Gov was announced, there was a significant amount of negativity posted here. Comments ranged from S&W foolishly copying Taurus to the stupidity of producing a useless firearm, blah blah blah. It's encouraging to see some positive feedback about the Gov ... hopefully further positive 1st hand accounts and Gov sales #s will silence the gratuitous whining.

Thanks for the report.

Can someone verify if Rimz clips will work in these? I'm thinking it may be a problem if AR won't fit.

Question: Anyone know what S&W says about putting slugs through the Governor? The booklet is silent. Can't see why it'd be a problem, but wondering. And if yes, which type, plain or sabot or does it matter?[/QUOTE

Check out .410 slug performance on Box of Truth.

The Box O' Truth #53 - The Taurus Judge, Revisited - Page 1

He used a 3" Taurus Judge, but the results should be the same with a Governor.

Hmmmmmmm?

Two guns would normally be a New York reload.

Two Governors?

Eastern Seaboard reload perhaps?

You are a good lad, I bet your father was pleased with the revolver and the opportunity to shoot with you.

How much does the Governor run at local stores?

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Don't look, reload and shoot!

I saw one at the gun show last weekend. $575.

I'll be buying my 1911 1st then LOL

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Don't look, reload and shoot!

Do the full moon clips from the N-Frame S&W's work in this gun?

I'm not sure the Governor answers any handgun questions I've ever had, but it would be a plus to use the same moonclips my 625's use.

Bob S.

Yes - it takes the same moonclips as the 22 & 625JM, etc. The recoil in mine was brisk - the small grip wasn't fun. It has a K/L frame sized gripframe, so the X-frame Hogues, OEM grips on the .460/.500 Magnums, fits fine - see below. The OEM boots are alongside.



Above is an assortment of ammo like that which I shot yesterday at the range - with those stock boot grips. I expect an improvement, recoil-wise, with the X-frame monogrip.

Stainz