Got my Governor

[yardman4]

I took my new Governor to the range today. I am impressed with it. Shoots dead on with 45ACP and 45 LC ammo. Buckshot did well,had a nice spread but not too much. 410 shotshells did a nice pattern to. Recoil was less than I expected from a lightweight gun.
I have owned 2 of the Taurus Judges. I had an early 2 1/2" shooter, then a 3" shooter. They both did fair with 45LC and slugs, but the shot patterns were not good. I had trouble breaking clays setting still at close range. On paper, the shot pattern was really spread out.

The Governor , in my opinion, is the better gun.

 

[Goony]

I don't doubt that the Governor is a better piece of work, but it bothers me that S&W has been reduced to copying a Taurus design when at one time it was entirely the other way around.

 

[Dragon88]

I wish people would stop talking about these...so that I can stop thinking about buying one. Enjoy your new Governor!

 

[walterg]

sorry Dragon88 because i'm going to talk about the Governor some more. I picked up my Governor last week and took it out this weekend. Did a lot of shooting with all the different types of ammo. had a blast, but the thing i really wanted to try was shooting a clay pigeon. it took me four tries, but i was able to break a clay pigeon! Pretty cool!

 

[mag318]

Actually from someone I know at Smith & Wesson relates they started working on this revolver long before Taurus came out with the Judge. It was just shelved because of other projects and the time was right.

 

[kennyb]

congrats on your new gov.!

 

[Kollin]

What's funny to me is how many threads I've seen in the past about how stupid of a gun the Judge was, and now how many threads there are about how neat of a gun the Governor is.

 

[celticfisherman]

I held off on a Judge because my biggest interest was in having a rabbit hunting (over dogs so we don't shoot 22lr or etc) pistol and the shot pattern just sucked.

I've been waiting to see what people said about the Governor. Just would be a cool gun to me.

 

[Snapdragon]

How does it shoot both 45 Colt and 45 ACP out of the same chamber?

I had a Judge but could not get it to work properly. I might look at a Governor if reports come back that it functions reliably.

 

[walterg]

it uses moonclips to shot the 45 ACP, and I haven't had any problems with my governor.

 

[Snapdragon]

I was wondering if it might use moon clips.

 

[Revoman]

I don't doubt that the Governor is a better piece of work, but it bothers me that S&W has been reduced to copying a Taurus design when at one time it was entirely the other way around.

I think it's great they have been copied by Taurus for years.

Taurus finally invents something and Smith & Wesson is going to take part of their market from them.

Also they name it the Governor being from Massachusetts and our Governor being so anti gun I'm sure this will piss him off.

A little payback for both of them.

 

[Allen-frame]

I just want to find out if the California approved model will be
called '' The Governator ''.

Just curious.
Allen Frame

 

[mag318]

The Governor is a very well designed and executed revolver, the more I shoot mine the more I like it. It's a great field and SHTF survival choice, accurate, comfortable and multi calibre. With the 2 shot moon clips you can really mix and match your ammunition. Everyone I let shoot mine was impressed.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't doubt that the Governor is a better piece of work, but it bothers me that S&W has been reduced to copying a Taurus design when at one time it was entirely the other way around.

I'm with you. Much better to just ignore it and let Taurus have that entire segiment of the market.

Sometimes the other guy does have a good idea.

 

[Stainz]

Yeah, I am so happy I bought a 'Taurus copy'... love the 'improvements'. Seriously - who cares? S&W 'followed' Ruger to the market place with a plastic revolver and no one cared. Heck, the Sigma's were a decent Glock-copy, too. The Governor really is a neat revolver. Is mine loaded and stowed by the bedside? No... I have something with .38's in it there. Will it be in that neat holster on my hip in my next woods walk? Nope - probably the 642 or 296 in my pocket then, too. I expect it will be in my range bag next trip, of course!

I look at it as a cheaper 325NG... a bit bigger... weighs nearly 2 oz more... chambers a bit more choices, caliber-wise!

Stainz

 

[historyguy1979]

can you shoot 45 rimmed out of it like a 1917?

 

[batmann]

Although I'm not 100% sold on the concept, I can see something along the lines of what Rossi did. A .410/.45 revolving rifle/shotgun would be a neat little firearm to have, especially made by Smith.

 

[semperFi]

I'm very tempted to buy it the minute I see it. I know it comes with a laser version as well. what are your thoughts about the laser? How's it accuracy etc? Recoil? What's the preferred 410 ammo for it. Can you fire 410 slugs thru it etc? More intel on it would be appreciated.

 

[Stainz]

The August 'American Rifleman' has an article on "Feeding 'The Judge'". It mentions the Governor. I like the pricey, although no .410's are cheap, Win 2.5" PDX - which they shot from the Judge. At 12 yd, it would seem to still hit the torso with 3 larger diameter items (The three discs!) while at 7 yd, the plastic sabot probably made the fourth low hole in the silhouette paper. I counted 11 BB holes in the 7 yd sheet; 10 max in the 12 yd sheet - significantly lower, too. I assume the missing BB's made it through an existing hole. For max stopping power, I'll stick with 250 gr Gold Dots or 255gr LSWC in .45 Colt.

The Judge I shot several years ago produced a celestial swirl-like pattern with bird shot. The Governor seems more shotgun-like in it's bird shot patterning. I am not a shotgun type, so that's about as descriptive as I can get - sorry.

Stainz