Gov owner observations

[Whistlebritches]

I had the idea of a Governor, in my mind for some time. I didnt really plan to buy one, but was shopping my old H S ISU gun, at Cabelas, and they actually wanted it, possibly the only buyer in Reno, and they had a near spanking new Governor in their case.

Laser grips no less, but as laser sights are not all that great in the NV 355 days a year, sun, I replaced them with Badger birdseye maple.

I have probably less than 50 rounds through it, 5 or 6 410 shells, and it actually patterns decent, with 7.5, at a few steps. The katy bar the door Federal triple buck loads the same.

45 colt handloads, for sure group better than the ACP loads, I reckon from the less "free bore".

I have read other sites, I feel the shooters are expecting the 410, to pattern like a 42 Win skeet gun, at the same range.

A good buddy, spends a lot of time in the mountains, was looking at one of the longer barrel makers. The occasional fools hen, for the pot type use. But again, I dont see any them are gonna replace a "real" 410 shotgun, at more than a few steps.

In my thinking, a homeowner waking up in the middle of the night, may forget to watch their front sight, and some bird shot, at across the room, may change the direction of the perp coming in, and if not, ya got 5 more hardball handy.

I have done some minor experiments with 44 shot loads, in a 4 inch 29, I wish I could find some of the 45 shot cups, but no luck yet.

Next plan, is too get some short ribs, wrap them behind a few layers of lunch meat, and do some penetration test.

From 4 steps, 7.5 shot, went through a 6 inch deep box, layered with ten pieces of "standard" cardboard,

The same AA factory load, chronographed at 799

As with any gun testing "your mileage may vary"

I doubt it will turn heads of new shooters, but being that light, and 3 inch, it does buck a bit. Especially with those Federal loads.

Any comments, agree or not, are welcome.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I have a Governor. I'm very pleased with it. It spends some time on the night stand and in various other self defense situations. All I'm trying to do is make that other fella' decide he's got something better to do at the moment than try to screw with me . .

 

[RogerA]

I have a Governor. I'm very pleased with it. It spends some time on the night stand and in various other self defense situations. All I'm trying to do is make that other fella' decide he's got something better to do at the moment than try to screw with me . .

This old head and these old hands are thinking something like a Governor might be the correct choice for me. As always, a pleasure to read and see your posts. Take care.

 

[HughD1]

My wife gave me one for Christmas. It goes with me on my morning walks in SW Mississippi. I know how quickly birdshot spreads out of it. How on earth did you chronograph birdshot without damaging your crony?

Hugh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I like the idea of the Governor, but already have several 45 Colt revolvers. So I shortened 460 S&W cases to 1.50", the same OAL as a loaded round and used a 44-40 die to put a slight bottle neck in the case where the chamber narrows for the bullet. Since I was after a 1/2 ounce load I used a lead bullet load for 220 grain bullet, 6.7 grains of WW 231, placed a 45 cal. card (I used cork, but cardboard would work) over the powder and dumped in 1/2 ounce of 7.5 birdshot. I started with a Gas Check as an over shot card and crimped it in place. These were fine for immediate use. But worked loose when being carried in the woods. I later went to a 45 Cal cork card, and sealed in place with Getter seam sealer from Lowe's (allow two weeks to dry.)

These loads are about 750 fps. Out of a 5.5" Vaquero barrel the spread 12" at 15 feet. Works great on snakes and close vermin. Really teares them up much better than 1/3 ounce of #12 shot in the CCI/Speer shot shells.

I would assume 410 will also hold better patterns with shells loaded to a 700-800 fps velocity also.

I used Magnum type shot and had no leading issues.

454 cases will work too but are only about 3/8 ounce of shot.

Ivan

 

[surfgun]

Nowwhat happens when one squeezes off a .454 Casull in one of these?

 

[BourbonCowboy]

In my thinking, a homeowner waking up in the middle of the night, may forget to watch their front sight, and some bird shot, at across the room, may change the direction of the perp coming in, and if not, ya got 5 more hardball handy.

I don't have a Governor, but I do have a Judge. To say it's loud is a gross understatement. The birdshot might be a deterrent, but the sound coming out of that hand cannon will definitely make an unsuspecting intruder soil his underwear.

 

[22hipower]

Nowwhat happens when one squeezes off a .454 Casull in one of these?

Pretty sure you'll only do that once.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[22hipower]

This Governor discussion comes up occasionally here, most S&W fans aren't wild about it, based on previous comments anyway. I used to feel the same way, until I bought one.

Turns out to be the perfect revolver, and I've tried most of the others, for ranch use. Carry it with three 410s and 3 45 Colts and you're ready for most any varmint. I've killed skunks with it with the 410 loads at 15 yards and use it to dispatch wounded hogs. It's light, easy to carry and those benefits far outweigh how ugly it is. I use the laser grips too as in the dark that red dot helps considerably. Enjoy.

Jeff
SWCa #1457

 

[Uraldriver]

There's a guy on Youtube Gun Sam that is pretty enamored with his. If they were in the $500 range I'd consider one. The Buckshot loads seem effective. I would not shoot Birdshot at anyone that I had a legitimate reason to shoot in self defense.

 

[surfgun]

Since these are cut accept rimless cartridges, has anyone tried .45 Super? Or even imprudent .45 Winchester Magnum cartridges?

 

[Whistlebritches]

A few guys here, using their heads, for something other than a place to park their sombrero.

As a rule, gun makers rarely chamber anything, that an incorrect round will fire in.

Though I can speak from personal experience, the claw extractor on Mauser, may hold the rim tight enough, to get an 06 base case, to fire in a 338 Rem mag chamber....no blood, that the good Lord looks after fools maybe...

I did some measuring with my verniers, and with no 454 loaded round too test, it MIGHT be a bit too long, before hitting the "forcing cone", in the chambers. Would be interesting to learn the facts.

The Cassull case, is .003 smaller dia as well, maybe the "sloppyness" might be the warning flag.

Another suspect fireworks as hinted, is the 45 Win Mag

I chronographed using an Oehler 33 P. I made wood covers for the screens, and held high over the screens.

I later borrowed a buddies, Labradar, thus the muzzle actually ahead of the unit. I plan to order one soon.

My 33P apparently has ghosts, never reads much of the time, especially when I only bring a couple rounds. Its been back to Oehler three times, they claim its a problem with aircraft radar, and "too test it some place else", which would mean I would have to drive up to Oregon, as NAS Fallon, flys over head, many weeks a year.

I had an old school 33 though years back, and it was like a Timex watch, always worked. Maybe the Navy changed their radar since then?

When I could still walk good, we did a lot of handgun testing on Jacks, shot them with every handgun in the safe. Learned a lot.

Similar testing with small bores rifles, on ground squirrels. An obvious difference, starting from 17 Mach 2, to various 22 LR HP, on up the scale, to 22 250 class. We found kills, versus instant kills depending.

We had so much mountain snow this past winter, the squirrels are even hard to find this season. Theory is, they drown in their holes.
A similar situation we noticed, the last time we had record snow, in the mid 1980s, and later 97.

Thanks to all for their ideas. I showed the gun today, to a retired CA county deputy, turns out, he has a 66, by his bed, with shot loads in the first two, along with 4 katy bar the door loads.

As an aside, I knew two guys, flew and killed coyotes, from a Cessna, for the state, and they reported steel BB, from a 3 inch 12, left holes in both sides of a coyote, from maybe 20/30 yards away, as they flew by.

I suspect may be a reason, a handgun is defensive, and a shotgun an offensive weapon.

 

[steelslaver]

I bought the one of Taurus models cheap from a pawn shop. It had a 6" barrel, but I found a 3" barrel which I reamed to .452 then put shallow, about 1 in 60" twist rate rifling back in and installed it. Not only does it pattern fairly well at 20 yards, but 6 shot from a 2 1/2" shell will penetrate 1/2" OSB. I have since found a bunch of 3" shells for it. I have always found that normal rifling spins the shot load and you end up with a hole in the center of the pattern in a very short range.

But, I only see it as a short range grouse and pheasant killer to carry around in my truck and side by side while hunting.

While I would not want to be shot by anything in one, I have several way better self defense guns for both house and carry

I have considered running some 45-120 brass though a 45 colt die, shaving the rim a .010 to make some 3 1/4" long brass cases that I can load any way I want and use a roll crimp on a wad to hold it all in. Other option is to get a 2nd cylinder and ream it out a tiny bit to accept 45-120 brass. A 3 1/4" brass case that does not have the end unfold like a 410 shell will work in a 3" 410 cylinder

 

[Whistlebritches]

Now, there is a perfect example of members here, using their heads, for something besides a hat rack.

You and I must be brothers from a different mother...I am finally old enough to sort all my projects and ideas, into "which one gives the less headaches"

I like the one comment about "noise" as well. Everyone gets their gun "facts" from movies, and rare is the action picture, two or three guys shooting inside of a vehicle.

None of them go around saying, "huh" though, as would be in reality. Kind of like head butting, seen in the movies, both heads are gonna hurt.

I actually saw an old TV western awhile back, the deputy was asking the sheriff, "is that coach gun gonna work"? Sheriff answers, "shoot him in the legs, he falls down"

With bird shot, just aim about three feet higher.

I just pray, to never have too. I dont feel like selling all my house, and guns to pay the lawyer.

 

[Mike-AK]

I bought a Governor on a whim, and it sat in the safe for a couple years before I sold it. .410 ammo is not easy to come by, and when you do find it, it is expensive. Shot patterns are horrendous, and there are far better platforms for .45 Auto and .45 Colt, IMO. Just for fun before I sold it, I checked to see if a Buffalo Bore .454 Casull round would fit in the chamber. It did. No, I did not fire it! I imagine somebody has, or will, though.

 

[K-22]

Nothing Good

Nowwhat happens when one squeezes off a .454 Casull in one of these?

Nothing good.

 

[Whistlebritches]

I bought a Governor on a whim, and it sat in the safe for a couple years before I sold it. .410 ammo is not easy to come by, and when you do find it, it is expensive. Shot patterns are horrendous, and there are far better platforms for .45 Auto and .45 Colt, IMO. Just for fun before I sold it, I checked to see if a Buffalo Bore .454 Casull round would fit in the chamber. It did. No, I did not fire it! I imagine somebody has, or will, though.

Am a bit surprised, it hasnt already took place. One of those "hold me beer, and watch this" moments.

I recall a story way back, I had worked on a guys 16 M12. He came back in cussing about the "gun not firing". I say, "Pardner, I am way sorry, lets figure it out, show me the ammo you were using". Hands me 20 ga ammo...His lights came on, before mine did, and apologized, and walked out.

Those who know M12, 16 and 20s are near identical at first glance, and he apparently had both, very similar old blue brown worn finish.

Got a buddy witnessed it, and he still talks and laughs about it.

I believe, that was why they color coded shells back in the day, guys were dropping 20s, into a 12, and they slide down, and smoke and fire soon happems.

I dont throw too many rocks at folks making such mistakes, as only the grace of the Lord, do I still have ten fingers, nearly doing identical boners.

 

[22hipower]

I believe, that was why they color coded shells back in the day, guys were dropping 20s, into a 12, and they slide down, and smoke and fire soon happems.

No color codes on 300 Blackout rounds but you can sometimes fire them in a .223/5.56 chamber. . . . . .once.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Whistlebritches]

I dont think they color code shotgun shells any more either. But you may recall 12 red/16 purple/20 yellow/ cant recall 28 nor 410.
Nor am I swearing it as fact, but I seem to recall reading it.

I popped a 25 06 in a 30 338 way back, in a hurry shooting an antelope, and a long story. All it did, was swell the case, course the bullet bounced down the barrel and didnt seal.

A lot of difference than with this 454 /410 example. The 454 case might not seal very well, but the bullet isnt gonna bounce down the barrel, and relieve the pressure.

The theory similar to a long throat Weatherby, lowers the pressure curve.
With out that long throat, ya coudnt keep a primer in a Weatherby.

Most of us have popped a 22 LR case, in a 22WMR chamber, and a split case is the only issue.

Several vintage revolver rounds will fire in various back in the day guns, there is that one Spanish 9, that about a half dozen various 9 rounds, will make a noise, yet nothing comes apart.A split case maybe.

Maybe we can get those mythbuster guys to try it?

OH yeah, I never pop a cap, without wearing shooting glasses. Not even a 22 rimfire. NEVER, and because of what I have seen in the past, when the devil comes calling.

 

[surfgun]

Taurus has some Judge models that can fire the .454 Casull.
A 3"
Raging Judge 513
And a 6.5"
Raging Judge 513

But I think there needs to be a revival with modern bullets for the .45 Winchester Magnum. A .45 Winchester Magnum revolver could use moon clipped .45 ACP as a sub load.
I believe this concept would surpass any 10mm revolver included those that may be reamed out to 10mm Magnum.