I've been trying to find out, not that I would ever fire one, but can one chamber a 454 Casull or a .460 S&W in the governor?? Always wondered that what with the ability of this gun to chamber .45's AND .410's. Wonder what would happen if someone actually touched one off?
I'm looking for someone who has actually tried to chamber one of these rounds for a definitive answer.

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What you are actually looking for is someone who is fool enough to do this and dumb enough to admit it.

Difference between about 15k PSI and 65K PSI ?

I’ll pass. Leave that to the Raging Judges of the world.

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- Post No Bills -

Certain models can fire the 454. I have a buddy that has one. The 454 Case is only 1/10" longer than the 45 LC case. The 454 also takes a small rifle or small magnum primer.

I am at the age anything more power than a low end 44mag I want nothing to do with.

Any lucky enough to survive

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Now THAT was funny

As owner of a couple of 460's and a Governor with an ample supply of ammunition readily available I can attest to the fact that a factory 454 Casull will not chamber in my Governor. The base sticks out to far to allow the cylinder to close. Inquiring minds need to know, that is my theory to practice event for the day.

If it is chambered for 45 Colt and 45 acp, shoot 45 Colt and 45 acp.

Greetings all. Own a newish Governor. Also own a Henry Big Boy Lever Action Carbine Rifle chambered in .45 LC. Henry answered their phone right away and assured me I could use 330 Grain .45 LC plus P ammo in their rifle. I don't know the pressure but the load is 1,200 FPS. Can the Governor SAFELY fire the same heavy and hot PLUS P .45 LC round that my new Henry rifle can fire??

Gloves, gentlemen - gloves. The Hockey kind (of course).

Unless the barrel is stamped 45LC +P, I'd stay away from it... I'd call S&W and check to see for sure before I'd try any.....

I'd find more appealing if my governor could handle a .454 Casull or better yet, a .460.

Thank you for answering my question. All I asked was if it was physically possible to chamber a 454 Casull or a 460 in the Governor. I said nothing about actually touching one off. Sheesh!!!

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I would say do not do it . I clipped up 45 Gap Gold Dot I have and it shoots great . It was just a few left over boxes now used up .

Looking at drawings in saami, with 45 colt’s chamber as the limiter, maybe the 480 ruger might actually be the closest possible unsafe mismatch ?

The S&W Governor is only rated for up to 23,000psi whereas .454 Cassul operates at 65,000psi, so even if you had someone reem out the cylinder to chamber .454 Casull, it wouldn't be safe at all.
Heck, even .45LC +P loads which typically operate at around 25,000-26,500psi would be pushing it.

Taurus makes a version of the Judge which can handle .454 Casull known as the Raging Judge, but the thing is an absolute tank that weighs 61oz for the 3" barrel model and 73oz for the 6.5" barrel model. I honestly think that the reason why Smith & Wesson never offered an answer to the Raging Judge is simply because a Governor chambered in .460 S&W Magnum would be so massive and so heavy to accommodate a cylinder with a 3" chamber for .410 Bore Shotshells and would likely cost so much to produce a whole new frame specifically for it that it just wouldn't be worth it.

I had given some thought into purchasing a Taurus Raging Judge in the past, but ultimately passed on it in favor of a Mossberg 590 Shockwave, because frankly all I wanted was an extremely powerful compact firearm that could handle shotshells anyway, so the $300 Mossberg 590 Shockwave made a lot more sense than the $1000 Raging Judge, and 12 Gauge Brenneke Slugs hit a lot harder than .454 Casull.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

You can do anything if you throw enough money at it.

In handguns, I figure if it standard pressure .44 Magnum or .45 Colt isn’t enough, it doesn’t need to be done. ( At least with a pistol ).