How many calibers can the S&W Governor handle?

[OldArcher]

1.) .45 Schofield
2.) .45 S&W Short
3.) .45 Short Colt
4.) .45 ACP
5.) .45 Auto Rim
6.) .45 GAP
7.) .45 Colt
8.) .45 Winchester Magnum
9.) .45 Super
10.) .410ga 2 1/2"

Can anyone think of any other cartridges that would fit the "footprint" of the S&W Governor?

I've been trying to get the folks at S&W to think of doing the same thing as a survival/camping/self defense handgun in 9mm/.38, to take advantage of the many more possibilities of that pellet... Most of the world uses a variation on that, as Ruger made a .38Spl/.357 that could use 9mm ammo in full-moon clips... Why not make another of the great hand guns that could find ammo almost anywhere on earth?

What would YOU call a 9mm/.38 Special/.357 magnum, +many more caliber handgun?

Fun to think, isn't it? I love it when people are still perfecting things...

OA, out...

[NavyFrank]

Don't forget .45 Cowboy Special.

[cornfed83]

While I'm not sure how it would take the pressures .460 Rowland would fit as well.

[Stainz]

The .45 Auto Rim definitely won't work - there is a vestgial outer ring left on the cylinder's input end to catch and headspace regular rimmed cartridges. Sorry! I've shot .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Schofield, and 2.5" .410 shot shells in mine.

Stainz

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Which begs the question "Can you shoot .45's in your .410 shotgun?????"

[OldBull57]

Originally Posted by CAJUNLAWYER

Which begs the question "Can you shoot .45's in your .410 shotgun?????"

I say run with the big dogs or sit on the porch:

50 BMG from a 12 Gauge Shotgun - YouTube

I'd rather see them put this in production. The ultimate bear country camp gun.

[OldArcher]

Originally Posted by Stainz

The .45 Auto Rim definitely won't work - there is a vestgial outer ring left on the cylinder's input end to catch and headspace regular rimmed cartridges. Sorry! I've shot .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Schofield, and 2.5" .410 shot shells in mine.

Stainz

Thank-you, Sir, for the head's-up. I guess that changes things a bit... I didn't know about the .45 Cowboy Special that NavyFrank brought up. As to cornfed83's suggestion of the .460 Rowland, wouldn't that be a wee bit stout? Especially since the Governor only weighs 29.6 oz? My gun dealer said I'd bought mine too soon- as he said S&W was coming out with an interchangeable .454 Casull cylinder... Uh-uh, nope, no way, nada, no mas, nyet, ain't no way I'd even consider that as a possibility... I'll have to keep my eye on him- practical jokers can be dangerous...

Anyway, thank-you, Gentlemen, for keeping me on the straight and narrow... Still, and all, that's one heck of a list for a little handgun... For anyone interested in survival, that's a great start for a handgun... Now, if only S&W would get interested in a similar concept for the .38...

Have a great day and week.

OA, out...

[OldArcher]

Originally Posted by CAJUNLAWYER

Which begs the question "Can you shoot .45's in your .410 shotgun?????"

Don't know, CAJUNLAWYER. Don't have a .410 shotgun... Pressures on a shotgun, I thought, were lower than on a handgun or rifle... As the .45 Colt, with proper casings, can equal or exceed a .44 Remington Magnum, I'd ask the manufacturer... Eating a receiver may be low in calories, but it could hurt...

OA, out...

[OldArcher]

Originally Posted by OldBull57

I say run with the big dogs or sit on the porch:

50 BMG from a 12 Gauge Shotgun - YouTube

I'd rather see them put this in production. The ultimate bear country camp gun.

OldBull57,

I wonder what happens when they reload that fire formed cartridge, using the same initial loading, and THEN fire it out of the same shotgun... No unburned powder? Pressures in the 100,000 PSI? Or, would it just repeat the performance, as no lands, no resistance?

Either way, it was fun to watch somebody else uses THEIR shotgun for the experiment... I wouldn't like to touch that one off, as my old shoulders couldn't withstand the punishment... It'll have to be 12ga 3" slugs for old Bruin from me...

Guess I'll set on the porch, and watch the young pups on this one...

Take care,

OA, out...

[OldBull57]

OA - Didn't Mean to Hi-Jack your thread, thought you might get a kick outta that video. I'm an old Recurve hunter myself. I have 3 of Roy Hall's Navajo II TD recurves, 60, 70 & 84#s.

Really no need for a 50BMG camp shot gun when they already make a perfectly good .470 nitro Double

[David Sinko]

What are these various .45 "Short" cartridges and Cowboy Special? Is this some kind of joke?

Any revolver that can handle the .45 Winchester Magnum can certainly handle the .460 Rowland. But the question that begs to be answered is can it REALLY handle the .45 Winchester Magnum? And if so, do you really want to shoot .45 Winchester Magnum out of this revolver?

Dave Sinko

[nipster]

I think the "survivalist" weapon is a fallacy.

9mm is about the closest thing you will find worldwide, next would likely be 38 spl.

Fat chances finding 45 long colt outside the US anymore. It's pretty difficult to find some of the things you mentioned HERE.

What exactly is the premise? Do you want a swiss army knife gun that does nothing well, but a lot of things poorly or do you want a good gun? Find a decent 9mm gun like a 5906 or 6906, or heck, even a glock 17 and be done with it.

[OldArcher]

A club, albeit, a well made, and good looking, one...

I've posited the idea of a Governor as a "survivalist's" possible handgun for the stated reasons- multiplicity of potential ammo sources... As to being used around the world, .45 acp and other .45 ammo types are plentiful in Latin America.

Yes, .38/9mm varieties are more plentiful worldwide, and so I've stated, S&W is the only company, in IMHO, that can pull it off, in offering such a weapon with the characteristics and virtues of the Governor. I will continue to agitate the fine folks at the S&W Performance Center in Springfield, MA, until they either tell me to buzz-off, or they make the blessed thing...

IF they do make such a weapon as the Governor in .38/9mm, I believe they will have a weapon that will be a massive best seller... I would, however, recommend that the barrel length be increased from 2.75" to 3" or 3.75", to better take advantage of the higher velocities necessary for the smaller caliber vs bullet weight, cross sectional density, and energy imparted by the heavier, slower loads of the .45 family...

OA, out...

[Stainz]

Here is another current production S&W revolver with a wide palate...



Of course, wide as long as you have .32's... I've shot .32 S&WL, .32 H&RM, & .327 Federal Magnums from it with great results. Some old Remington 88gr LRN .32 S&W's chamber and eject fine, as do the Winchester 60 gr Silvertip HPs in .32 ACP from my wife's Seecamp .32 stash. I haven't tried the .32 S&W's because they would be considerably wimpier than the .32 S&WLs; the .32 ACPs are part of my wife's stash - I'd have to replace them! Yeah, the 632 Pro was finally produced last August - I got mine after Labor Day. 115gr Speer Gold Dots in .327 Fed Magnum reportedly make 1360+ fps from the un-comped 2 1/8" barrel - that's pretty hot for a 23 oz 6-shooter J-frame. Sadly, the .500 Magnum grips won't fit it. Even more sad... the 60 Pro's wood grips look great - probably enhance the recoil feel. It says 'Howdy!' pretty impressively with the 100gr JSP American Eagle .327 Fed Magnums. The 85gr A.E.'s are a bit softer in recoil. The Governor is more fun to shoot!

Stainz

[cornfed83]

I remember years ago reading an article about a gun called the "Medusa." It was capable of chambering and firing everything from .380 to .357 Mag and all offerings in between. I like the concept of being able to find ammo and use it in one gun especially in the greatly anticipated Zombie Apocalypse!

If anyone has more info on this gun please post it so that we can all see.

[offensive]

Originally Posted by Stainz

Here is another current production S&W revolver with a wide palate...



Of course, wide as long as you have .32's... I've shot .32 S&WL, .32 H&RM, & .327 Federal Magnums from it with great results. Some old Remington 88gr LRN .32 S&W's chamber and eject fine, as do the Winchester 60 gr Silvertip HPs in .32 ACP from my wife's Seecamp .32 stash. I haven't tried the .32 S&W's because they would be considerably wimpier than the .32 S&WLs; the .32 ACPs are part of my wife's stash - I'd have to replace them! Yeah, the 632 Pro was finally produced last August - I got mine after Labor Day. 115gr Speer Gold Dots in .327 Fed Magnum reportedly make 1360+ fps from the un-comped 2 1/8" barrel - that's pretty hot for a 23 oz 6-shooter J-frame. Sadly, the .500 Magnum grips won't fit it. Even more sad... the 60 Pro's wood grips look great - probably enhance the recoil feel. It says 'Howdy!' pretty impressively with the 100gr JSP American Eagle .327 Fed Magnums. The 85gr A.E.'s are a bit softer in recoil. The Governor is more fun to shoot!

Stainz

Stupid question but what model is that?

[Macinaw]

Just for fun here is a 632 Pro with a three inch barrel.

It will chamber .32 S&W .32 long .32 H&R Mag. .327 Federal

[Kernel Crittenden]

How about the .455 Webley?

Maybe not here in the US, but in the current and former Commonwealth countries I think it can still be found.

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by David Sinko

Any revolver that can handle the .45 Winchester Magnum can certainly handle the .460 Rowland. But the question that begs to be answered is can it REALLY handle the .45 Winchester Magnum? And if so, do you really want to shoot .45 Winchester Magnum out of this revolver?

My thoughts exactly. At 41.5K psi wouldn't you think a 45WIN Mag is a wee bit too much power!? That's about 48% more than the 45 Super runs (around 28K psi).

.