Does anyone have an informed opinion on the status of the S&W Governor? I can't find it anywhere, and I'm now wondering whether S&W is developing some fix for a hidden/little known problem with the revolver, or coming out with an improved version altogether. It's possible also, although hard to believe, that S&W can't keep up with the demand for this gun, unless I'm really off base and there is zero/little demand for The Governor. I like it simply for the fact that it can fire .410 shells, which would make it a pretty nifty home defense gun. Any thoughts?

Mine works fine. What's the problem you're mysteriously avoiding mentioning . . . ?

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

From what I've seen in my area there is little demand.

I don't see how 410 specifically would be that much better for home defense over standard handgun ammo

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Didn't mean to imply anything mysterious, just wondering why it's so hard to find a new Governor to buy.

Buds has them in stock for immediate shipment.
Around here, few small shops are stocking them because the demand has slowed and they don't want them sitting on the shelf.
Discount Guns for Sale - Buds Gun Shop

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Science plus Art

I suspect the bloom is off the rose for the Governor.

More knowledgable shooters understand that it is neither fish nor fowl: only a middling 45 and a very poor shotgun.

It does nothing well. It's overlarge, produces poor ballistics when using 45 Colt or 45 acp and offers virtually nothing in 410 other than frequent freezing cylinders and filling a role in a zombie fantasy.

It is a novelty, and its novelty attraction has faded, as it should have.

These things are still widely available, especially from Internet sellers.

When I see one displayed in a big box store, it seems to draw little interest, compared with a couple years ago. Small LGSs I frequent have no interest in carrying them. One LGS I know refuses to order them or display them because they don't sell to their clientele.

Basically, it's been panned by knowlegable gun buyers.

I am making a wild off the wall guess in that the Governor has a low demand for a relatively high priced gun as compared to all the plastic semi auto's that have a high demand with a low price. You're opinion may vary.

Mine is fun to shoot and generally receives some drooling at the range, and the 410's make some nice holes in paper with a nice bark.

I've seen The Judge in a couple of shops but don't recall seeing The Governor in my area .. don't think the demand is there .. good gun for snake country though !!

Why is everything always compared to "plastic". 3 of my local gun stores have as many metal as they do plastic and not one carries the Governor. They sell Sig P series and 1911 as much as "plastic". The Sig Legion is flying of the shelves and it's more expensive than the Governor. Even revolvers like the models 36 and 642 and 686 but no Governor. Because it doesn't do anything well. Any gun, including BB gun, can put holes in paper.

Price of the Governor is roughly around $650 +/-. HK UPS is more that that.....about $1000, the P30 is about $650, the VP9 is about $550 - $600. Glocks, Walther PPQ, S&W 99 are about $550.. only about $100 less. So how exactly is the Governor high priced compared to the "plastic"?

410 in that revolver isn't good for anything but extremely close range. 45LC it too expensive to practice with and 45acp has better bullet launching platforms.

For home defense a good HD 223 will do much better than anything in the gov

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WOW! I've had my since they first came out. Sold my JUDGE the day after I shot mine. Does it do everything great no! But I shoot a lot of acp some LC and carry #4 for first 2 shots for critter control. Do I have a lot of 1911s sure, 625, but I got to say it's a fun SW! Don't knock it till you try it!

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NRA Life Member
CPO

While I can't claim to know what "knowledgeable" gun buyers think, I'm relatively confident pistols are not intended for distances beyond a few yards.

I greatly enjoy my Governor and am pretty certain it will be effective for my purposes.

"A few yards" so let's say 2....is 6ft. That's not far. Pistols are intended for close distance but certainly more than 6ft. More like under 50 or more realistically 25 yards. of course there are laws we must follow and there may be one example in a life time where a 50 or even a 25 yard shot would be justified. My house is about 50 ft long from the front door to the living room and the kitchen where I would most likely be. That's 17 yards.

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Gunbroker.com has a ton of them for sale. FYI.

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"The Dude abides"

Here is the response I got from chatting with a Smith and Wesson Representative:

Thank you for choosing Smith&Wesson. A representative will be with you shortly.

You are now chatting with 'Steve'

Steve: Hello Sid, Welcome to our Live Chat. How may I help you today?

Sid: Why is the Governor hard to find these days. Has Smith cut production? Or is it just selling well?

Steve: We did not cut production. It is purely a supply and demand thing.

Sid: Thank you.

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"The Dude abides"

Speaking from my very limited experience as a Governor owner, I never thought I'd own one until I fired a friend's judge. Even then I wasn't on fire for one or even searching for one until I ran across a LNIB at what I considered a "better than good deal" deal. After trying different loads in Colt, ACP and shot, I've came to the conclusion that like most things that perform various roles, the Governor is ok. Not the best at any one thing, but overall does ok.

Governers and Judges sell well in my area. I don't own one because it's not a caliber I intend to shoot, and plus I can use CCI shotshell in both my 357 and 44 mag revolvers anyway. I see the Governer as no less of a novelty than an 8 shot 357 N frame, or 10 shot 22lr K frame. I'm sure they're all fun guns to own.

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

My personal preferred limit for any revolver is about 7 yards. If I have to shoot at something 25 yards away, I'd rather have a long gun.

I am not an "operator" or an expert, just a regular consumer.

Two advantages I perceive with the Governor are the mitigated risk of over penetration with .410 defensive rounds and an intimidation factor the huge firearm presents.

What I rather have an what I can carry are two different things. I'd rather carry a rifle all the time but I can't.

I'd also rather practice from 25 - 7 yards and be as good as I can with what I carry then just stick to 7 and hope for the best

It's nothing to do with being an operator. I simply don't see a reason why limit yourself to only 7 yards. It's a range, it's not against some law to go past that. I would rather be able to hit from my living room to the front door then go running 3 flights of stairs to open the safe and get a rifle.

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I've tried to come up with a niche use a Governor or Judge could fill for me, but have come up short...

For defensive work I would rather have a dedicated auto which I consider better suited for the task.

For a woods gun I have 22 LR handguns and both 357 and 44 Magnum revolvers which again I consider better suited for those jobs.

The one niche a handgun loaded with .410 shotshells could excel at for me would be that of an effective sidearm in snake country.

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

I still like mine & It's fun to shoot

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JR

I'm pretty sure my LGS has them in stock. I know they have several Judges, so it's likely there is a Governor or two in that case to run things.

I recall seeing a couple of used ones for sale. They didn't last long.

But then I admit that I've never paid a lot of attention to them. 410's and 45 Colts, in any platform, don't interest me much these days. I've got enough reloading to do with 38/357, 44Sp/44 Magnum, and 9mm.

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John 3:16 .

Seems like two schools of thought when it comes to the Gov.
1. Those that own them and love the practicality
2. Those that don't own one and bad mouth it almost every time they get a chance.

Put me in group 1. For carrying around our property it has no equal.

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Tennessee

Well said !

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JR

Put me in group 3: I consider the Governor to be a superb snake gun, especially for riding a tractor, and I posted where the OP can buy one today, trying to be helpful.

Don't own one, just like I don't own many other S&W revolvers that I've shot quite a bit: I make it a point to ask to shoot each new model that shows up at our range, and most are eager to show off their new toy.

The decline of this thread into "bashing group" vs "if you don't own it, you're a jerk" is disappointing and completely pointless. Count me out of THAT "discussion".

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Science plus Art

The Governor competes directly with the less expensive and more common Taurus Judge. I suspect that the Governor is not a high volume item for S&W.

If you live where snakes are common the it makes sense OR if you want an bedroom or car gun for close encounters of the WORST kind.

I find many people say they would not use a 410 shotgun for home defense due to its low power. But then give the same person a 410 handgun and now it's a bear stopper despite the loss of velocity from the short barrel. A good hollow point from any of the major calibers will be far more effective

It seems we forget the objective is not to kill but to stop the threat.

A .410 defensive round will introduce a world of pain to anyone in its path. Simultaneously, the risk of over penetration is mitigated. I have 45LC defensive rounds loaded afterwards, just in case.

people finally realizing 410 ballistics from a 3 inch barrel suck

I don't shoot mine much but it is a fun day when me and my son take it out. I hated the factory little black grips. Order this set from eBay when I first got it but I've changed them again but no current pic

Attached Images

smith and wesson governor.jpg (131.2 KB, 89 views)

There was a homicide in my area about a year and a half ago. The weapon used was a Taurus judge loaded with buck shot. This was a drug dispute murder so I can not feel bad saying that the wound inflicted was absolutely devastating. The victim was shot in the head and died immediately. Based on seeing numerous gunshot wounds from a variety of calibers I can tell you for a fact that a govenor or judge is a capable defense weapon. I hope to pick one up personally someday. If a person was to really practice and learn how to "run" one tactically I wouldn't want to tangle with them at all! I plan on staggering buck and .45 long if I get one. Govenor is my first choice with ct grips and big dot front sight

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"The Dude abides"

My hubby just got me the Governor for my birthday. It's the stainless so it doesn't have the laser grips on it. I REALLY want a set of these but I'm unsure of the size. Any help would be most appreciated! Thanks!

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IIRC, the governor uses same as K/L round butt.
ETA:
Welcome to the forum celticmom.

I concur with jack the toad, K/L round butt for your Governor. You will feel more recoil than what you have now, especially from the .410s.

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"The Dude abides"

The people I know who own a Judge or Governor, love them. It makes them feel safe, empowered even. If a happy customer defines a good handgun, then it must be a good one.

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Have Gun Will Carry

I just ordered a set of these laser grips for my Governor:

Crimson Trace LG-306 Lasergrips S&W K & L-Frames Round Butt Including Governor

Found them on eBay for $227. There are numerous YouTube clips showing how to install them. It looks really easy. Enjoy your Governor. I do!

Thank you all for your responses and the welcome! This really helps a LOT! I'm anxious to get out to the range and try it out!

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Be careful if you decide to run a lot of shot shells through it. Most lead shot is pretty soft and will lead the barrel if you over due it.

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Tennessee

Well I've had one from the start. I had a Bond arms 410 for years but did not like the grip shape. I will not own another Taurus due to poor factory service. When they announced the Governor I knew they were going to sell at least one. I now live in the Desert area of Phoenix, plenty of snakes here. I had a custom rig built for mine as I carry it often.
I added the CT Laser grips to mine. I liked the Pachmayr better for recoil control but having the red dot for night use is great.

I see many at local shops but like I said here in AZ they have a real use in snake control.



Hunting Pictures - Gov3

Like everything else in the lineup, S&W doesn't manufacture it continuously. It's made in "runs"--all the more so because the Governor uses a unique frame.

As to availability in local shops, it's a matter of economics. If you have X dollars and Y shelf space to invest in a gun to sell, which will turn over faster--a Governor that people either love or hate, or a 686 that pretty much everybody loves?

I wish S&W would make the governor capable of firing 454. I think sales would skyrocket. Taurus has the raging judge magnum but it doesn't fire .45 acp. Or even better, a 460 that could fire acp, lc, 410, 454 and 460. I'd definitely buy one

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M&P sport
S&W 500

Anyone saying that the gov shooting 45 "not well" is off their wagon. My buddy can drive nails with his, and i hope to once i get mine.

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Smith all the things

Do you mean to say that an 8-shot 357 is a novelty item, or that a Governor is not?

Personally, I'd rather keep a couple 38 snake shots handy than buy a Gov, but I see the 8 shot N frames as a 2-ounce heavier L frame with 33% higher capacity. Though I suppose it's a novelty item if you're looking at it from a CCW perspective.