I would call it, and the Taurus Judge, an interesting misfit. Interesting because it's unique. However, if I owned one (hypothetical because it will never happen) I would keep it stoked with the same slow moving .45 Colt rib splitters that I keep in my Model 25-5 or Ruger Blackhawk. If I want a .45 ACP, I'll turn to one of my 1911s. If I want a .410, I'll go buy a skinny barreled Mossberg. BTW, you could get a Ruger Blackhawk and a Mossberg for the price of one Governor.

They are not my cup of tea. Early on in my handgun shooting I tried the various shot loads from 357, 44 and 45. None of them impressed me and all seemed to suffer from a open area in the middle of the pattern due to the rifling spinning the shot load and causing it to spread. Now the longer cylinder of the judges, governors and etc may well hold considerably more shot and do a somewhat better job. But, just how much. At close range like inside a house, I can't see much advantage. If I can't hit at 20 ft I shouldn't be shooting. Snakes never bothered me much, I can jump or even walk away faster than I can draw and fire. Might be good for a grouse for the pot while camping. So is the 18 1/2" 12 gauge dbl with a cut down stock I haul around in the truck during hunting season. But, it has more of everything and has bagged pheasants, turkeys etc. but, then my little model 18 22 lr has fed people more than once too. My truck is kind of a rolling gun shop with something for everything sometimes. LOL

Each to their own. Not for me. If it spins your wheels that's great for you.

Of course, most of us have zero experience in whether the Governor or Judge would be an effective defensive firearm. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of everyone here have little first-hand knowledge of a defensive firearm use.

I can't speak for the rest of us inexperienced/uneducated people but I do know one thing - The goal of a defensive shooting is to stop the threat, not necessarily kill. .410 defensive loads will provide several points of significant pain to an attacker. It is capable of maiming to the point of incapacitation. Yes, it may also kill.

I also appreciate the fact that the spread gives me a better chance of hitting with at least a few projectiles. Unless of course the attacker is right in front of you.

Knowing that Mr. Ayoob doesn't believe it would be effective is worthy of note - I'm the one who posed the question.

Still, I am comfortable with my choices. I have gone over 57 years without being attacked with lethal or maiming force. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for at least another 30...

People who have chronographed the 000 .410 load get about 850 fps. So your defensive load is a 70gr, .36 caliber ball, at 850 fps. Lame.

Make it 4 of them. Still lame. Four small projectiles will work like four small projectiles.

.45 Colt a far superior choice for self defense. There are much better guns to shoot .45 Colt from.

HOWEVER, if you do have need for occasional shot loads at short range, like for snakes, then the J/G is a viable combo gun.

As the OP speaks only of using it as a home defense gun, then I say it's an awful idea.

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I've still got it made.

When the Judges first came out we took a 6 inch one and removed the lands and grooves in the first 5 inches from the muzzle back leaving the first inch rifled for legality. Sort of a reverse Paradox System. Everybody enjoyed shooting hand thrown clays.

36 caliber, 70-80- grain at 850 fps. Why that's what Wild Bill used and he was pretty effective.

We are all responsible for our own salvation; use what you want to.

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I've still got it made.

Why thank you for your permission.

Sorta .32 ACP-ish, but Wild Bill used it.

We can enjoy better these days.

Can you imagine what Wild Bill could have done with a model 10?

Hah! Wild Bill could have filled up more cemetery lots with a Model 10.

First of all why don't you know all the facts about the gun you're arguing about. Six shots my friend, not 5.

Sent from my Pixel XL 128

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Smith all the things

Hornady triple defense 410 showed the 41 caliber slug consistently penetrating to 14-17 inches on ballistic gel. The two pellets behind it penetrated past 12 inches consistently.

So in my case I'll be firing six projectiles in the first two shots and the next few shots are 45LC Hornady.

If you don't consider that sufficient home defense then you're off your rocker. So much easier to handle than a 12 gauge. Easier to put away as well.

My gimmick of gun, as you call it, will kill just fine. Thanks.

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Smith all the things

American Rifleman | Hornady's Critical Defense Triple Threat .410 Shotshell

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I've still got it made.

Duly noted . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Wild Bill got shot in the back of the head which proves the theory that in defensive shooting, shot placement trumps all!

The only thing I don't get with the Governor is why anyone would load it with shotshells for defense. There is no .410 load with a better record of stopping bad buys than .45 ACP or .45 Colt, nor will the shotshell increase accuracy.

Tell ya' what . . . I'll hold a Governor in my hand, and you try to come get my wallet . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I'm still not seeing how .410 loads would be superior to any centerfire caliber in that situation.

But they would do the job, and I like the Governor. You would still be without my wallet . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

After a fair amount of research I had decided on picking up a judge in the public defender variety. My uses were going to be home defense and concealed carry as well as something I could carry in the North Maine Woods.

Now, I settled on it after doing lots and lots of research. Pros for it included cost, and yes, versatility. It definitely held a certain "cool factor" for me also.

When looking at reviews I noticed a lot of the early reviews were poor. The main complaint was that .410 shell fired poorly out of the short rifled barrel. I was a bit dismayed but read on. I noticed later reviews and tests with ammo specially designed to be fired out of such a gun tested much better. Further, 000 buck was devastating at typical SD ranges--as long as you were using a variety designed to fire from a revolver.

Interest renewed, I headed off to my local gun shop and asked to see the Judge PD. I thought it was pretty neat and really liked the price but then noticed the s&w variant next to it. It was a bit larger but I asked to see it--it was a Smith, after all, so it had to be nice. It was larger by a bit and heavier, but was of far superior workmanship and held six shots. Plus, it came with a tritium front sight--nice! Further, I could easily conceal it in my front pocket or IWB in the small of my back. My only disappointment at this time was upon hearing the price. I briefly considered sticking with the judge but reminded myself that a gun is lifetime-enduring investment and that build quality mattered.

I purchased it and it is now my home defense gun. 000 buck is my go to for my small-roomed home. I have it in all cylinders. When I'm outdoors with the dogs, I have 2 buckshot followed by hardcast 45 colt for the black bears. They're no competition for grizzlies and this would handle them fine.

When I'm concealing in public I don't want multiple projectiles with a single pull, so I use Lehigh defense's maximum expansion in their specialized judge/governor round. Needless to say, I feel safe. You should check out some ballistics tests with it. No other firearms can shoot it. In my book this ammo is a huge plus for it.

You can see some testing here:

Taurus Judge/Governor Ammo Test: Lehigh Defense Maximum Expansion 45 Colt review - YouTube
I love the gun because it fits my needs, is a joy to shoot and is overall, a pretty cool idea in my book.




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I was blissfully ignorant of the governor until this thread - and returned to blissful ignorance after reading it.

See, now to me this is where the Governor shines - you can have birdshot or buckshot for woods use, plus it can chamber bullet designs that wouldn't fit in anything else. Very clever idea from Lehigh Defense.

Despite all of this, you have refused to acknowledge ballistic tests in the past of the .410, 45 Colt fired through a Governor. Are you being obtuse deliberately?

Look at the numerous test firings at gel with these calibers.
Yep, you're one of those relegated ignorant snake gun shooters, that believes Smith invested all those dollars and market research to compete with the Judge, only to be qualified as a "good snake gun". Poor conclusion.

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"The Dude abides"

have had mine several years now...great trigger,fun,versatile...

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

No one claimed 410 had more stopping power than 45. Obviously 45 wins there.

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Smith all the things

I've seen a couple of ballistic tests and wasn't all that impressed. Are you saying the Governor is actually superior in this regard to most other options?

The snake gun quote was from Massad Ayoob. Most other instructors say similar. Are they all ignorant?

S&W maufactured the Governor because Taurus was raking in the money with the Judge. Nearly all of the die-hard advocates of these guns I've come across are neophytes.

Ballistics aren't everything and unless the Governor offers some substantial advantage in that area, what does it have going for it? Nothing, it is a very large, awkward, heavy, expensive snubnose revolver.

The Governor is large for CC, comparatively slow to draw and has poor accuracy and inherent weapon retention traits. For home defense, it has limited capacity and it's size prohibits it from being a 24/7 gun. It can't easily be slipped in a pocket like a J-Frame or comfortably worn at all times when around the house. If investigating a bump in the night, I almost always default to a enclosed hammer snub for it's extreme close-quarter advantages, but the Governor doesn't have those advantages. If someone is kicking in my door and I have a little more time and distance, I myself want a high capacity weapon.

For protecting my life and the lives of my family, I want what I determine to be the best tool for the job. So, what specifically does the Governor do better than anything else that makes it the best choice for defensive purposes?

Something like 2.5" 410 000 Buck from Federal shoots 280 grains of shot at 1200fps. That's quite a bit more energy than a 45ACP or Colt. I'm not saying it's better, but I could see a case being made.

I don't think there's enough data out there to compare to two intelligently (which never stopped an internet debate).

1200fps is ridiculous. You'd be lucky to get 900fps from a handgun. And I'll say it again, .36" 70gr balls are not the same one large slug. Inadequate times 4 is still inadequate.

One 255gr flat nose lead bullet at 950fps is vastly superior.

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I've still got it made.

I never imagined there would be two pages of comments on the Governor/Judge revolvers. I have seen lots of them sold to elderly clientele. The only young person I have ever seen handle one of those guns was the salesman at Reeves Ace Hardware.

I don't really get the concept of one of these for self defense but I have a unique situation that has me considering a Governor. I hunt ducks on a rice farm in the Texas coastal plains. We shoot the duck over a 10 acre irrigation reservoir which often has active alligators in it early in the season when the weather is still warm. My hunting buddies are reticent to use their retrievers in a lake full of gators so we have to use a canoe to pick up the ducks. There are sometimes wounded ducks that need to be dispatched and retrieved as well. Taking a shotgun in the canoe is unsafe and would tear up the ducks if we need to shoot them at close range. A Governor loaded half and half with .410 shells for wounded ducks, and .45 slugs for alligators, might be just the ticket.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

The only reason I own a Governor is for a purely recreational firearm. I own a large piece of property here in Texas, and I use the Governor as a fun gun on my land. I got the idea from the Hickok45 Governor "woods walk" video. I use the Gov to shoot 2 liter bottles, clay targets out of trees, etc. I set up a course in the woods to go through and shoot with the .410. It's a lot of fun.

If I was like the typical shooter who was restricted to only gun range shooting, I never would have purchased a Governor. But with my large acreage property, it's a lot of fun to shoot/own.

It's not heavy at all. It's 33oz.

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Smith all the things

I would not want to be one the receiving end of a barrage from a Governor. Ballistics schmistics, that thing would put a hurtin' on you....put your eye out!

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Have Gun Will Carry

Not technically legal though, as it hold more than 3 rounds.

Yeah, and does anyone make steel shot loads for .410?

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I've still got it made.

I guess I better make sure my lawyer is in the canoe with me.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

People who buy the Governor (or the Judge) know what the gun is, know what they want it for, and have every intent to use it for its intended purpose...whatever purpose they decide that is.

They don't sit around wondering if it's a misfit or misunderstood or whatever other label people might put on it. They couldn't care less.

This is the best post on this entire thread!

^^^^^^^^Yes!

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

End your blissful ignorance with this vid....

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Hipcocked45

Range day tomorrow for me.

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Smith all the things

In late 2015 I was shopping around for a handgun to carry around on my property for snake control while doing bush work/yard work etc. I was really looking to get a 38 special and use cci shotshells. Well this happened to be at the tail end of the ammo shortage and cci had halted production on some of the shotshells including the 38 special. None of the local stores or online sources had any 38 shotshells in stock and I hadn't gotten into reloading at this point, so I looked for other options. I really wanted something to just drop into jeans pocket without a holster. I started looking at
the Taurus Judge even though it was a little bigger than I wanted. I wound up getting a Taurus Judge Public Defender with the polymer frame. It has a 2" barrel and weighs 23 oz unloaded. While still a rather large gun I can still slip it into jeans pocket and the grip stick up out of the pocket and still carry it ok. It will go all the way into cargo pants pockets and military style camo pants and carry fine while wearing a belt. I love the judge and will probably never part ways with it. It is in my opinion the best pistol for snake control but I probably wouldn't have bought it if I could've gotten 38 shotshells. I believe these kind of pistols are more appealing to folks that don't shoot alot and want something to increase their odds of surviving a home invasion or car jacking. I didn't purchase the judge for home defense but with the right ammo it would definitely mame or kill someone. Would it be a one stop shot? Most likely not but it can still fit the bill for some people.

Are you saying it increases their odds of surviving a home invasion or car jacking compared with using a different pistol?

The question I have yet to see anyone answer is why is the Governor is better than other guns for self-defense purposes. If it's not the best choice for the task of personal/home defense, why buy it instead of the better weapon?

Because it can fit many needs. For example example part of why I got mine was for when I go camping and hiking. But it's also a great defense option given the rounds it can fire.

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Smith all the things

I do believe the judge/governor could give someone that doesn't shoot much a greater chance of hitting their target and doing some damage vs. using a pistol they might not be able to hit with in the heat of the moment. Am I saying these guns are superior over other proven calibers, absolutely not. But it may be better for some people and increase their chances. I think it all comes down to the person.

I don't like the looks of the Judge, and I'm a person who likes many Taurus products. They have an oversized "Yosemite Sam" appearance to them.

http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/american..._gun_image.jpg

My thing is, I wonder how the Governor is selling? I think the Taurus version is a little high priced (for a Taurus) and the Governor seems to be $150-$200 more. Who's buying that gun?

Having said that, their are a lot of what I would call "novelty" products out there in the gun market, and the Judge/Covernor are no worse than most, and not near as silly as many. Like What?

Well the AR "bump stock" stuff, for one. The bump stock is just a way to legally get around fully automatic rifle restrictions, and that seems to be it's primary appeal to it's buyers. It's silly, really. In that same sense, that may be part of the appeal of the Judge/Governor - it's one way to legally own a "shotgun" that has a very short barrel length. Or maybe that isn't a part of it's appeal, I don't know.

I do know that, while I wouldn't own a Governor because of it's very large size (in relation to it's firepower) it isn't as foolish as owning a bump stock or the green Zombie guns and ammo (a craze that thankfully seems to be fading.)

My concern is that from watching hickok45, at 6 yards some of his shots with 000 buck were completely off the target (and I don't think he's a poor shot). Those errant shots would have done nothing to stop a bad guy and could easily hit something - or someone - else.

If I wanted to shoot lots of little bullets out of a revolver I'd rather have a 617, at least then I have a better chance of getting rounds on the target. Or better yet just load the Governor with .45 Colt or ACP.

Repeal NFA so they can take the rifling out.

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I've still got it made.

I never liked the Governors until I held one in my hand and it went home with me. A month later I had another one.

I have several nice S&W revolvers, almost all of them are Performance Center guns (627vcomp, 627 2.6", 327, 637pc, etc.). The Governor without hesitation is my favorite. I have one at home for defense and the other is dedicated for range time and I shoot the **** out of it. I am strictly guessing but I probably have around 5000 rounds through the range gun and it looks like new.

People can say whatever they want but it is an excellent gun, high quality and extremely capable. The accuracy is shocking, even with 45acp. I also shoot 45LC, 45GAP and a variety of .410 out of mine.

The Governor is a VERY capable multi-purpose tool.

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617,627vc,327PC,2xGov,4xBG380