Hey first post here. Lots of great discussion...

I bought a Governor last summer when considering my next survival/defense gun. I'm a pilot spending most of my life in the remote areas of Alaska and the versatility of this piece really got to me. After firing a few boxes of each type of load that it'll handle I was really hooked. Out to 25 yards the accuracy with acp's and LC was imo excellent, and the shotshell option is just slick. I can load it up with 260 hardcasts and have an ample bear protection gun, and with the shotshells I can cap a bunny, grouse or ptarmigan. acp's are cheap to shoot.

Good price, handles nice, wonderful trigger, S&W quality, versatile. I'm really pleased with it and find no reason not to recommend it.

What is not to like? It shoots the ammo I use for my Colt SAA, 1911 and Bond Arms .410.45 Colt. I never have to go looking for ammo for it as I always have something I can shoot in it. There are some good Buffalo Bore loads for it in .45 +P and .45 Colt that would be good for defensive use but the gel tests and my own testing has shown me that the Federal HD 000 buckshot holds a tight group and penetrates enough for any inhouse and car defense distances.

What I like is that this is the kind of gun you can take with you to the range when you are shooting your other .45s and gives you another gun to shoot without the need to buy any other caliber of ammo. Generally opinion are a good thing but not when they are not based on fact. Then they become a waste of time, indication of the posters credibility and in some cases dangerous to others who may read them and act upon the opinion.

First off God did not make shotguns. Secondly all firearms were smooth bore at one time. Thirdly, chokes were later added to shotguns to control the shot pattern. Fourth, Federal and Winchester have figured out how to keep their buckshot together in a tight group when fired through these guns using pre flatened disks in one case to grab the rifling and using a sabot in the other case. I can go on but just try shooting one at 10 yards using the Federal HD 000 Buck and see all those 4 pellets stay in the head area. Even if they penetrated just 8", 4 .36 caliber pellets will get anyone's attention. Of course there is always that illusive no pain feeling drug addict who just will not stop unless you hit is brain or spinal column through 4 denim shirts and an arm. In that case good luck with whatever you are carrying.

Not a knock on the Governor, but what about it makes it possible for S&W to shave $400 off the price of a 325 Nightguard by lengthening the cylinder and window to 2 1/2 in .410 dimensions?

I could really go for a .45ACP/.45LC revolver ala the Nightguard, have no personal need or desire for a .410 revolver and would much prefer either a shorter OAL or a longer barrel.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Never owned a governor or judge nor shot one. Dont need it, dont care for it. The short 410 and 410 shot in general is pretty useless, especially out of a 2" barrel.

It's a gimmick gun, they sell a boatload of them at gun shows, that should tell you something (the newb factor).

I shot one that belongs to another club member, It was surprisingly light for its size, I shot .45 Colt and .45 acp at 50 feet at an NRA 50 ft bullseye timed fire target. I was able to hit the black quite a few times and all shots were on the paper. Would I buy one? Well I have a 22-4 to shoot .45 acp and carry, so NO, But it was kind of cool in its own big ugly way. The owner was surprised I could keep all the shots on paper at that distance and even hit the bullseye a couple times. I told him it was a nice gun and good luck with it.