This is not meant to be critical, but did Smith & Wesson copy the Taurus Judge "idea" when making the Gov. because Taurus copied so many of Smith & Wesson's guns. Just wondering as I purchased a Judge long before the Gov. Arrived on the scene.
Gov. Vs Judge
- Thread starter Billzach
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WhiteLightning02
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I'm just glad I waited. All my friends have Judges and my Governor really has been built with quality.
CatSnipah
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This. And the ability to also shoot 45 acp is a nice add.
ThrillBilly382
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I did not know this... Thanks for the info!
Will Carry
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The law forbids a smoothbore .410 pistol. It has to be rifled and (I may be mistaken) it has to be able to shoot a handgun cartridge. It is a shame because the rifling causes the shot pattern to "donut". Taurus reduced the rifling as much as they could and still enable it to shoot 45LC accurately. A smooth bore .410 pistol would be so cool.
It seems that these revolvers don't get much respect from people who don't own them but people who do, love them.
It seems that these revolvers don't get much respect from people who don't own them but people who do, love them.
wingnuut
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It is my bedside gun and fun gun at the range, what more can you ask for.
getoff
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the ultimate home defense gun IMHO. the grip is small enough for my wife to handle, holds 6 shots, perfect for its job. a moon clip with .45 as a back up, and i can carry it. nothing against the judge. my father in law has the orig. 3" all steel one and its an animal. i just love my S&W revos...
Rapidray
Member
The Governor in addition to the 45 acp will also shoot the 45 Schofield, the 45 Gap. To me, the Governor is the revolver to have for your BOB...Bug Out Bag. This is one revolver I will not get rid of! And the price just keeps on getting higher! Glad I got mine at $575.00 two years ago! 
Boogsawaste
Member
In all reality I wish they would come out with a steel frame governor. Not that the aluminum is too light or anything, I just prefer steel guns.
Supposedly the Scandium frame is as strong as a steel one, I'm somewhat skeptical. That said I do appreciate the relative light weight of the Governor.
wildenout
Member
Yes and no...in a sense, yes since Taurus technically came out with a double action .410/45 first. But Smith ran with it! Having shot both, I have to say, the fit feel and balance of the Gov. is SEW much more better though has a bit more recoil. Plus it's better in the 6 shot, and 3 types of ammo category. I was forcing myself to be ok with having a Non-smith on my wishlist (i.e. the judge) so I am so glad they came out with the Gov.
Boogsawaste
Member
I'm sure it's just fine strength wise. I was just stating my personal preference. Although, you see more airweight frames cracking under the barrel than steel ones...But that's what the lifetime warranty is for. I wouldn't turn down a governor for the right price, that's for sure!
And the first .410 revolver was the thunder 5. Even made a movie appearance in the movie 3 kings. It wasn't a very well known gun though.
eveled
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I did not know about the thunder 5. Talk about a monster! Even chambered in the full 3" .410!
This is my 2'nd Governor and the more I shoot it the more I like it. Whether you load it up with 410s, 45 ACPs or 45 Colts, or a combination of all 3, it's one versatile revolver. Which probably explains why S&W sells all they make and my local dealers can't get enough of them.
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Although recent .410 handguns have rifling to satiisfy legal requirements, rifling in handguns meant to be used for shot predates these laws. The last blunderbusses, pinfires of the latter nineteenth century, seem to have universally had rifled bores. All that I have seen or read about were 16 gauge. There probably were exceptions but it's obvious that many people preferred a rifled bore which would have opened the patterrn far more quickly. Contrary to the words of most writers, the bell-shaped muzzle does open the pattern. In fact, the US Army has experimented with diffrent muzzle shapes and achieved different effects. The pinfires were targeted at the South American trade; the Taurus is a South American product. That strikes me as interesting.
As an aside, it may be interesting to note that the only handguns which individuals in Britain may possess without Home Office approval are smooth bore single shots chambered for .410 and 9mm rimfire.
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Doublebit
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What are Governors selling for now? The last time I checked (about 6 months ago) they were running from $650 - 750. Are the new "silver" ones much more expensive?
LT
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You got a deal!
I just bought mine and paid $739.00. I'm hoping to test it out next week. I hear the PDX1, with the discs, actually uses the rifling...all 2.5 inches of it.
The Governor in addition to the 45 acp will also shoot the 45 Schofield, the 45 Gap. To me, the Governor is the revolver to have for your BOB...Bug Out Bag. This is one revolver I will not get rid of! And the price just keeps on getting higher! Glad I got mine at $575.00 two years ago!
I just bought mine and paid $739.00. I'm hoping to test it out next week. I hear the PDX1, with the discs, actually uses the rifling...all 2.5 inches of it.
There's no requirement that the gun has to be able to shoot a handgun cartridge, only that the barrel be rifled. Taurus actually had prototypes of a 28 gauge revolver (very big) a few years ago, but they could not be marketed here because firearms with a rifled bore greater the 0.5 inches are considered destructive devices.
If you really want a smooth bore revolver, you could do the paperwork to make one with ATF. It would be considered "Any Other Weapon" and subject to a $5 tax stamp and registration. After approval, you could remove the rifling from the barrel of a Judge or Governor and you'd have a smooth bore revolver legally. It would become pretty useless with .45 Colt or .45 ACP ammo.
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