Replacing S&W Governor Barrel

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Darkskin Diogenes

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I normally detest politics but the Governor has had my eyes for a while. I've shot my dad's Taurus PD and to be frank wasn't impressed after handing my X-Frame, but I love the idea of shotshells through a revolver.

Why you ask? Because I'm a sucker for multicaliber guns and having a "pocket shotgun" is pretty rad.

I tried one the last time I went to the range and I was missing the sight radius of my own revolver, along with the fact I just prefer the looks of a long cylinder with a long barrel.

If I buy a S&W Governor is there anyway I can replace it with say, a 6 inch full under lug barrel or something? Any gunsmith wanting to do this? I really don't want to resort to buying a possible very expensive lemon from Taurus.
 
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No doubt it can be done if you throw enough money at it.
IIRC, the guvna is a Z frame which is a N frame with elongated cylinder window but I'm not certain what the twist rate is.
Have you ever shot bird/buck through a rifled tube shotgun? It tends to doughnut the pattern. I haven't noticed this in my short barrel governor at the close range (<10 yds) I typically shoot. It does disperse the smaller shot pretty well while the Federal 4-pellet 000 buck holds a surprisingly decent (tight) pattern.
 
You might be able to have a N frame 45 barrel fit to it. Machining a longer insert from a 45 barrel blank would not be hard, butt making a longer shroud would be a time consuming mill project. You could makke a new barrel insert that stuck out of the old insert and install a sight on the end of it. maybe there are some longer N frame shrouds around that will work. Only money will stop you.

But, like Jack says rifled barrels spin the shot and you tend to get a bare spot in the center of the patern as barrel spins shot outward. Longer barrel would probably make it worse.

I do not believe the Governors will be very accurate with slugs either. The older S&W 45s had large throats (.0454-.458) and this caused accuracy problems. In a Governor that .0452 bullet is going to "rattle" down over and inch of chamber that is sized to .480 (for shot shells 2.5" length) before it hits the throat and all the time letting powder gas blow past it. That can't possibly be good for accuracy. Heck I have a couple 45 coltts that have the cylinders cut for moon clips so they can also fire 45 acps. The 45 acps fired in these cylinders lose velocity over those fired in regular 45 acp cylinders and there is only a little over 3/8 of an inch difference in case length between an acp and a colt case.

Interesting guns but a lot of big compromises. Some guys love them. I am not one of those guys.
 
Darkskin Diogenes said:
Why you ask? Because I'm a sucker for multicaliber guns and having a "pocket shotgun" is pretty rad.
Click to expand...

For the ultimate multi caliber/ handgun shotgun/ long sight radius. Consider a Contender. A .410 from a Contender is a lot different than a .410 from a Govenor. Then you can do other fun things, like .223 from a handgun, or my personal favorite .30/.30
 
Why not just get a 460 in whatever length barrel you want. Shoot 45 Colts, 454 Casull or 460 mags. Then take some 45 colt cases and load them up with real long shot capsules. It would cost less than modifying a Governor and be a how bunch more gun IMHO
 
steelslaver said:
Why not just get a 460 in whatever length barrel you want. Shoot 45 Colts, 454 Casull or 460 mags. Then take some 45 colt cases and load them up with real long shot capsules. It would cost less than modifying a Governor and be a how bunch more gun IMHO
Click to expand...

Sadly I have another tear and a half before I can have a reloading set up. I'm stuck in the barracks. Is it easy to make shot caps?
 
eveled said:
For the ultimate multi caliber/ handgun shotgun/ long sight radius. Consider a Contender. A .410 from a Contender is a lot different than a .410 from a Govenor. Then you can do other fun things, like .223 from a handgun, or my personal favorite .30/.30
Click to expand...

I was on the fence about having a contender as a first gun but I still want a 10" 7.62x39 or 5.56as a fun hunting or target gun.
 
Darkskin Diogenes said:
I was on the fence about having a contender as a first gun but I still want a 10" 7.62x39 or 5.56as a fun hunting or target gun.
Click to expand...

I have enjoyed the Contender since before I got married, that was 1976.

I have had, and sold a bunch of calibers,, each one surprising me more than the last.

My latest purchase, is a barrel/scope off of eBay,,, 35 Remington.
I have had the barrel for a year, but, have not had time to get it out and shoot.

Soon, I hope,, I am sure it will surprise me in some way!! :D
 
First gun? Can't reload? Want versatility? I'd say you really need a .357/.38 special. If I could have only one gun it would be a..357 hands down. My first real gun was a .357 Ruger Blackhawk. It would probably be the last gun I'd ever sell.

The Govenor is a niche gun, at best.
 
You can buy 45 cal shot capsules. They are thin plastic tubes that closed on one end, yoiu fill them with shot and snap a plug in the other end, then load them just like bullets about like any other type of bullet. With a long case like the 460 S&W you could simply fill one cap then super glue another behind it and then fill and cap it. Load in 46 case so one cap is all the way down in case and crimp onto second cap. Might have to shorten one of the caps to make it work as a double. LOL. Point is the 460 has a loaded length of 2.3 inches, almost as long as a 2.5" 410. It could be set up to get similar shot shell results as a governor. POOR
 
My own shooting proves that slugs are accurate within 40 yards, including the .41 caliber ones coming out of the Hornady triple defense load.

45LC and acp are accurate past 100 yards if you have the disciple and vision.

I like the short barrel, gives the gun character.
 
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