silversnake
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I don't own one but I wouldn't feel undergunned if it was all I had. For self defense I'd use .45 Colt in every chamber.
The Smith and Wesson Governor: Misfit or Misunderstood?
- Thread starter Gulfecho
- Start date
RETOKSQUID
Member
If I were to buy another one I'd have to pay the tax and re barrel it as a mooth bore. 
And its glock ugly too.......
I never thought I'd own a 500 either, or any Smith with a lock or MIM for that matter. However, I now own three of the IL/MIM Smiths and often look at the Governors when cruising the LGSs in my area. Although they're still a novelty to me, I may still find a place in my safe for one.
You could label it a viable weapon, but the same could be said about a Rohm .22 short revolver or any firearm that will fire, but there are so many options that are infinitely better that it simply makes no sense to choose it as a defense weapon.
The only misunderstanding as I see it is that many people(often inexperienced and uneducated) buy it under the false perception that they are getting a versatile, effective and powerful handheld shotgun, but that isn't the reality. Choosing a Taurus Judge or S&W Governor is analogous to having a goal of wanting to learn effective real-world H2H self-defense skills and get in better physical condition and subsequently taking Tae-Bo classes.
I'm with the "nastygrams." I can see them for poisonous snakes at close range, but am not sold at all on .410 ammo for self-defense when attacked by large, aggressive humans. Neat novelty guns, though. - Massad Ayoob
The only misunderstanding as I see it is that many people(often inexperienced and uneducated) buy it under the false perception that they are getting a versatile, effective and powerful handheld shotgun, but that isn't the reality. Choosing a Taurus Judge or S&W Governor is analogous to having a goal of wanting to learn effective real-world H2H self-defense skills and get in better physical condition and subsequently taking Tae-Bo classes.
I'm with the "nastygrams." I can see them for poisonous snakes at close range, but am not sold at all on .410 ammo for self-defense when attacked by large, aggressive humans. Neat novelty guns, though. - Massad Ayoob
You do know that The Govenor is a 6 shot gun not a 5 shot.As said earlier people who have never seen or handled one are making snap decisions
Will Carry
Member
I have never met a person who owns a Judge or Governor who doesn't love it. They have sold thousands of these things. So you have a large sales volume and satisfied customers. That is a win win. A lot of my friends who own them are not "Gun People" and the simplicity of operation and perceived lethality work well for them.
I don't own one, but I can see the allure.
I don't own one, but I can see the allure.
Comment on Governor
I know a few folks that own one and they each like theirs. I don't own one though wouldn't mind having a Governor, just for something different. My snake gun is a 629-4 Mountain Gun with CCI shotshells. 44 special/mag shot shells are hard to find. .410 ammo is far easier to find and the cost per round is in favor of the .410. Speaking of different I've a Thompson Contender chambered for 444 Marlin, great gun to shoot, though you need to be prepared when you pull the trigger.
I know a few folks that own one and they each like theirs. I don't own one though wouldn't mind having a Governor, just for something different. My snake gun is a 629-4 Mountain Gun with CCI shotshells. 44 special/mag shot shells are hard to find. .410 ammo is far easier to find and the cost per round is in favor of the .410. Speaking of different I've a Thompson Contender chambered for 444 Marlin, great gun to shoot, though you need to be prepared when you pull the trigger.
I'm not aware of any reputable defensive shooting instructors that recommend them. Doesn't that fact in itself make you stop and think that there are likely some very good reasons behind it even if you don't understand them?
Here are a couple of articles that pretty much cover why .410 handguns don't make a whole lot of sense as a self-defense weapon. They are primarily focused on the Taurus Judge, but most of it applies to the Governor as well.
The Taurus Judge Is Just Not Very Good | Vuurwapen Blog
Hating on the Taurus Judge | Active Response Training
...
Here are a couple of articles that pretty much cover why .410 handguns don't make a whole lot of sense as a self-defense weapon. They are primarily focused on the Taurus Judge, but most of it applies to the Governor as well.
The Taurus Judge Is Just Not Very Good | Vuurwapen Blog
Hating on the Taurus Judge | Active Response Training
...
bmcgilvray
Member
The .410 revolvers provide no extra special measure of effectiveness that is lacking in conventional big-bore revolvers. They don't deliver any harder a blow to an assailant and one still must employ accuracy with them. No special "room clearing" advantage here. In my view, trick .410 buckshot loads or not, the ungainly things don't do terminal ballistics in any superior way to the .45 Colt and there are better .45 Colt revolvers.
We've seen remarks on staged loading .410 with .45 Colt behind to finish off the threat. Why not simply use .45 Colt to begin with? If a threat requires finishing then finish it!
"Bad-to-the-bone" looks has to do with perceived lethality which is a matter of interpretation rather than with actual suitability.
Shredded paper and shredded pumpkins aren't the arbiters of effectiveness.
There are owners of these things that are far more gun savvy than I am and also can handle guns better far better than I can, but nothing screams "naive" and "gullible" quite like taking an awkward, clunky .410 revolver seriously.
Now for fun, all bets are off.
Only one opinion.
We've seen remarks on staged loading .410 with .45 Colt behind to finish off the threat. Why not simply use .45 Colt to begin with? If a threat requires finishing then finish it!
"Bad-to-the-bone" looks has to do with perceived lethality which is a matter of interpretation rather than with actual suitability.
Shredded paper and shredded pumpkins aren't the arbiters of effectiveness.
There are owners of these things that are far more gun savvy than I am and also can handle guns better far better than I can, but nothing screams "naive" and "gullible" quite like taking an awkward, clunky .410 revolver seriously.
Now for fun, all bets are off.
Only one opinion.
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.
Each to their own. Not for me. If it spins your wheels that's great for you.
686-380
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I respect Mas Ayoob's opinions
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...
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.
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.
Lee's Landing Billy
Member
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.
Lee's Landing Billy
Member
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.
Lee's Landing Billy
Member
Why thank you for your permission.
bmcgilvray
Member
Sorta .32 ACP-ish, but Wild Bill used it.
We can enjoy better these days.
We can enjoy better these days.
Lee's Landing Billy
Member
Can you imagine what Wild Bill could have done with a model 10?
