WOW!

[TX58]

Take my perfect handgun. Make it lightweight, fixed sights so they don't get bumped out of alignment or I don't have to worry about a sight screw/blade comming off, now make it light weight and rust resistant and have it shoot a reliable, proven self-defense round for animials that attack. But, I'm not done - I like things better than normal. Now, make it able to shoot several different calibers - nope, I didn't buy a Kroth, I bought a Smith & Wesson Governor! It shoots .45ACP, .45 G.A.P., .45 Colt AND .410 shotgun shells. I hear all kinds of people who slam the Governor, focusing on the .410 round (because what else could they complain about?) when it is only one of the MANY rounds the Governor shoots. Thats like saying a Honda that gets 35 mpg, is sporty and very efficient and carries lots of cargo, "yeah, BUT, it doesn't have four doors" - really? Try looking at the overall great picture, not just focusing on a small black dot on a HUGE white piece of paper! I shot over 100 rounds through mine Saturday. The best grouping .410 is the Federal four rounds of 000 buck (in each shell) at 25 yards, with the four 000 buck going into a four to five inch circle every time! Next, I got three inch five shoot groups (sorry, the Judge conditioned me to shoot five even though I know I got six) shooting CCI/Speer Blazer .45 Colt hollow points. 230 grain .45ACP went into about 4 1/2 inches and the .45 G.A.P. into just a hair over three inchess, bench rested over sandbags at 25 yards. And thats with my "visually challenged" eyes. Bottom line, a great gun, patterns well with all the ammunition I shot, and it's a HOOT to shoot! I've ordered more full moon clips and next is a holster. If you haven't tried one, and you get the chance, I suggest you do so, as (for me in my humble opinion) it's WAY better than the Judge I traded off due to (my gun's) quality control issues. Sorry, no pictures as my digital camera ran into a cataclysmic event (called a teenager)! By the by, it does not shoot .45 auto rim, however I think it can/will shoot .455 Webley rounds, but at collector prices for each round, who would?

 

[mag318]

I couldn't agree with you more, this has to be S&Ws most versatile handgun. I was amazed how well the Federal Handgun 000 buck 410 rounds performed. The Governor is not only a great survival/defensive revolver but a good all around fun gun. Everytime I shoot mine I enjoy it a little more.

 

[Dave T]

I'm sure S&W is pleased as punch that you guys like them. Just please don't tell me I have to like it!

Dave

 

[mes227]

I'm sure S&W is pleased as punch that you guys like them. Just please don't tell me I have to like it!

Dave

I just re-read the OP and other comment. Not even a hint that they care whether you like it.

 

[TX58]

Mag318: I thought I saw you on u-tube shooting the Governor. Good Job!

Mes227: Correct (thank you), I would not seek to impose my views on others. I just wanted to share some info on a great gun, and maybe allow others who have never fired one to get a different perspective.

 

[Joe in SC]

Glad you're enjoying it! Ain't America grand? There's something in the way of guns out there for every body.

 

[mag318]

Thanks guys and I'm glad you enjoyed my YouTube videos.

 

[Jeb21]

I was never tempted by the Judge, but the Gov is tempting to me. However, I would imagine that the recoil out of that light weapon is pretty sporty. I fired an all steel judge and found that the recoil was stout.

 

[mag318]

Jeb, actually the recoil is amazingly comfortable. I expected it to be very stout also, but was pleasantly surprised. My last range session I shot 200 rounds of assorted ammo and only stopped when I ran out. Try one and I think you'll be impressed. You'd think such a light gun would beat you up, but it doesn't.

 

[m4bgringo]

I know nothing about that gun, is it composite?

I have shot my friends Judge a lot, fun little gun. More of a novelty gun to me, just a fun gun. Maybe some would like it for self-defense, but I just like to shoot it! Shooting .410 shells out of a handgun is just a blast.

 

[rangemeister]

I am a new GOV owner and am still trying to figure out it's place in my moderate arsenal. I like shooting the gun, I found the 410's a little stiff, but overall I am very pleased with this gun. Are they all SCANDIUM frames? There is a article in a recent Combat Handguns about the GOV. I will be getting a few more moonies and a holster as I will get some range time form this weapon.

 

[caryg]

After having and shooting a Taurus 3 inch magnum judge for over 2 years I finnaly sold mine and centered on a 357 magnum smith and wesson revolver. The cylinder was just to big for a carry gun. If you want one for home defense, why not a 12 gauge shotgun? I feel smith and wesson should quit trying to copy other gunmakers who copy them and stick to making good quality revolvers that have stood up to the test of time. Now if youre talking 8 shot 357 magnum revolvers thats a different question, but 410 revolvers, please give me a break. I know alot will be upset at my remarks but a shotgun is a shotgun and revolver is a revolver. If you want to spend alot on a 410 revolver go ahead

 

[TX58]

One aspect

caryg: The idea is versatility. You mention (in more than one thread) you don't like the governor, and mention the .410 in a revolver is not good but fail to mention the Governor also shoots .45 colt, .45 ACP and .45 G.A.P - now that's versatility! Are those adequate rounds? If so, then (in my opinion) there is a very good reason and a market for the Governor. Nothing on this earth is perfect, and there are lots of guns I don't like, however I don't go to a thread started for Colt Pythons (which by the way I do like) and say "the Colt python is too big, or "it's not big enough", so I don't understand why on this (and several other threads for the Governor) you continue to post comments about how you don't like it. If you don't like it, why continue to seek out threads on it? Why not go on to a thread/idea/gun you like and have a nice time commenting/sharing ideas with peple of like mind? Yes I know, it's a free country, however I fail to understand all the energy you are putting into telling everybody how you don't like the Governor, there is no use for it, etc., etc.

 

[TX58]

Yes

rangemeister: Yes, all the Governors have the Scandium frame. Also, as a helpful hit, there is a company Z something or other (I can get you the info if you want it) that makes polymer full moon clips for the Governor. They are MUCH easier to load/unload. They are about $32.00 shipped for 18 as I recall, but worth it in my opinion as I have a difficult time getting the factory ones loaded, then unloaded after firing. You can google it or let me know and I will point you in the right direction after I go get the info I had from the order.

 

[Dave T]

I just re-read the OP and other comment. Not even a hint that they care whether you like it.

I just re-read the OP as well. They may not care if I like it or not but it certainly is a sales pitch, touting the many virtues of the Governor. And to set the record straight, all I said was to not ask me to like it. Not sure why you felt the need to be so snarkey about that. Guess that's what makes horse races.

Dave

 

[Maximumbob54]

rangemeister: Yes, all the Governors have the Scandium frame. Also, as a helpful hit, there is a company Z something or other (I can get you the info if you want it) that makes polymer full moon clips for the Governor. They are MUCH easier to load/unload. They are about $32.00 shipped for 18 as I recall, but worth it in my opinion as I have a difficult time getting the factory ones loaded, then unloaded after firing. You can google it or let me know and I will point you in the right direction after I go get the info I had from the order.

RIMZ 625

Rimz are all I now use in my 625.

 

[M2MikeGolf]

TX58,

I've been waiting for some decent reports of the Governor. My brother-in-law has a Judge, and I liked the concept, but not the execution. I am particularly interested in the .45 ACP feature of the Gov. which the Judge does not have. I also noticed some time back that Federal, and perhaps some others are making specific .410 loads designed orignally for the Judge, but which of course will also be suited for the Governor. Anyone that would base an opinion of either revovler as a "carry weapon" is not understanding the design of this weapon. It's an outdoorsman weapon, not a city-boy, mall ninja concept. It would have much use for how I hunt and do business in the forest, and you've provided a fair assesment of it's performance. You can make anything you want to work for "self-defense", it's all in how you plan to use it. I'm not sure I see the "self-defense worth" out of the Governor, but it could certainly be applied as such. If someone wants to use carrying ability as a measuring tool, then try walking around with a 12 gauge shotgun and see how they compare. You can't fire .45 ACP through any shotgun I've ever owned, not to mention .45 LC.

I'm curious if you have the LASER grips, and if so, if they seem useful. Also, are you using the two round clips? As I understand it, the full moons that work in the 22, Model 1917, 625, etc, will all work with the Governor, which means there are lots of makers out there, to include loading/unloading tools (they work, and aren't gimmicks).

I'm seriously considering one, and wouldn't unless I saw some valid use for one, and rely on the experience of those that have owned one and use it. For those that don't, there's a number of other threads to go exhibit their perceived expertise.

 

[semperFi]

WHY

The Gov has been a source of much contention. Does someone really need the Governor? Something that is expensive and expensive to shoot? Shoots 410's and 45 ACP and Colts? How many revolvers does someone really need. Then Why climb the highest mountain? Why sail the farthest sea? I recently picked mine up. Ergonomics are great (Grips!), recoil is extremely manageable and mild. Versatile in ammo and shoots them all very well, and accurate. Appears a bit bigger than the Nightguard series with a larger chamber. I think that if I didn't buy the piece I'd have missed out experiencing the .45 Colt in action. S&W did good. I think if anyone picked it up, they'd really like it.

 

[TX58]

Replies

DaveT: I know that I wasn't trying to sell you anything, just sharing info on a new gun for people who might be on the fence about buying one and needing more info from people who have one or have fired one.

MaximumBob54: Thanks, Rimz polymer full moon clips are exactly what I was talking about, a GREAT idea for anybody with a Governor as they allow easy hand loading and unloading of the full moon clips.

M2MikeGolf: Nope, I'm not using a laser, however I do use the two round (semi) moon clips - but I only use them at the range. I carry (when walking the dog) the Governor with two Winchester PDX copper flat discs, then two 000 Federal (the ones that hold four 000 in each shell), then two Speer 250 grain Gold Dots. I don't need the moon or semi moon clips for that. And, as an additional thought, take a look at the 25 yard group (photo) that mag318 posted on the Governor thread next to this one - a great group at 25 yards shows how the Governor CAN be used for self defense for home or hunting - that .45 Colt round is amazingly accurate. I got simular groups with my Governor using Speer (Blazer) .45 colt hollow points, of course I didn't get a photo like he did, so mine must have been my imagination

It's also not much larger that the nightguard, AND costs at least $100.00 less (and more than $100.00 less in some places). Sorry, pretty soon somebody is going to say I'm trying to sell you one, I'm not, just pretty excited about a great gun/concept. And, understandably confused about all the negative energy about them. If I don't like Chuck Norris movies (I do), why go to a Chuck Norris web site and start saying negative things about him/his movies? What's the point? Is Chuck going to stop making movies because of my opinion?

Now, if somebody owned a Governor, and had a bad experience with one, and came here and posted it so others could comment if they had the same experience or how to fix it, that I could understand. But I have been looking at all the Governor threads I can find (more and more each day) and I have yet to find ONE person who owned one (or even fired one) that has one bad thing to say about it. If you get the chance, shoot one, but I think you should be ready to buy one soon after.

 

[redbos]

I want one for the Glove Compartment loaded up with nasty .410 rounds and maybe a box of ,45 Colts just in case......