Governor vs. Judge

[Old Fashioned Six Shooter]

Right now the Governor only comes in one configuration, but it can be had from the factory both with and without Crimson Trace lasergrips. If sales were good this first year, perhaps we will see some more varieties in the future...Shot Show did start today you know...but I think the current configuration is about as good as it gets for the best all around use of this platform.

 

[dla]

I will be in the market shortly for one of these. I know the obvious differences like 6 vs. 5 shot, .410/45lc/.45acp vs. .410/45lc, and the price diff $100-$200.

I would like others opinions and some other differences I may not know about. Thanks

• Judge = revolver for the video game crowd, no customer service, big, heavy, piece of junk
• Governor = revolver for the video game crowd, excellent customer service, giant piece of expensive junk

After you buy one, please post pictures of your manly-looking carry rig, (complete with serrated folding knife), so I can giggle.

 

[J Rich]

• 
  
  After you buy one, please post pictures of your manly-looking carry rig, (complete with serrated folding knife), so I can giggle.

• 
  
  WOW! If I were as manly as you maybe, just maybe I could tote around a governor in a "manly looking" carry rig. I guess you could keep your fingers crossed, or hold your breath for that matter.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

J, I see you're new here so I would like to say don't let the naysayer(s) get under your skin.

The negative posts, simply for the sake a being negative, are few & far between on this site.
Usually if one receives criticism here, it's of the constructive type so usually has some reedeeming qualities.

That's why this is such a great place to hang out & learn!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have shot both the Governor and the Judge within the last year. I have to say I am not impressed with either one! They are big, bulky, heavy, and hard to conceal. I truly don't understand why so many people buy them. If a shotgun is what they want, then they should get a shotgun which is much more potent, easier to shoot accurately, and probably less expensive. If you want a compact carry gun, there are many many revolvers and pistols better suited to CCW. IMHO the guns in question here try to be a "jack of all trades" and I don't think they accomplish anything really well.

Some of the adds I have seen for the Judge were with attractive slim woman carrying them - yea right! I would like to see how a 120 pound female can carry one of these suckers on her person all day long. I am not in favor of a woman (or anybody for that matter) carrying a firearm in a purse, pocket book, attache case, etc. Too easily misplaced, forgotten, stolen, left in a car or office, etc.

IMHO both of these revolvers are just kind of a marketing ploy to sell more guns. My feeling is that in a few years both the Judge and Governor will be ancient history. It will be interesting to see.

That is my personal opinion, but just the fact that S&W copied the Taurus Judge makes me believe many others disagree with me, which is what freedom is all about.

Chief38

I concur completely!!!!!!!.........What good are they?

 

[ogilvyspecial]

I concur completely!!!!!!!.........What good are they?

For me, they serve in a "critter control" role. I'm out & about on our property off & on throughout
the night and once in awhile come across critters in places they shouldn't be, doing things they shouldn't be doing.
Like the 'Possum shown below.

I sold my Judge because it wasn't as effective in that role as I'd hoped it would be, so, thinking that
it may have been an I.O. problem (Idiot Operator) i.e. me, I'm giving it another shot with the Governor.

This way I don't have to be toteing a shotgun around all the time, although as of late I've been
using a Revolver chambered for the .327 Fed Mag loaded with .32 S&W Longs (three .32 Longs & three .327's) in that role.

With the Governor I usually have the first two out .410 000 Buck with the remaining four rounds
Speer .45 Colt (250 gr HP's) just in case I come across something bigger.

Based on my experience with the Judge I can't bring myself to rely on a .410 load for self defense.
At least with the Governor if the 4 Speer HP's don't do the trick on "something bigger" I can quickly
drop in one of the two Moon Clips of .45 acp that I always have with me and get back in the fight quickly.

Just for "giggles", here's the Governor with it's night shift co-workers.
In addition to the two Moon Clips the small green pouch has a few speed strips
of the Speer .45 Colt ammo in it as well.

 

[J Rich]

J, I see you're new here so I would like to say don't let the naysayer(s) get under your skin.

The negative posts, simply for the sake a being negative, are few & far between on this site.
Usually if one receives criticism here, it's of the constructive type so usually has some reedeeming qualities.

That's why this is such a great place to hang out & learn!

Thanks. I don't let it get to me. Sometimes people should read the entire thread before posting.

So for those I will say it again. I am at one or the other for a fun to shoot weapon. I already have ccw's and a 12ga. for the house. So in conclusion I don't need a "manly looking" carry rig.

 

[Wayne]

I don't do Taurus, just my problem I guess. But I do own a Governor ! I would post a picture with my knife, but don't have any pics available.

What is it with bitter people just having to pee all over somebody's question !

What about a Governor for the hell of it, why not just a little fun. I don't need most of the guns I have, but I have them anyhow.

It's a fun gun, works well, accurate. I believe it would be a good self defense weapon in the home, across the room, with the Federal Premium handgun .410, with the 000 buck. You could always add 2 rounds of some hot .45 acp in 2 holes. Dot night sight, K/L frame grip, can get with CT grips or add them. Also shoots 45acp and colt.

Oh the hell with it just buy another K frame and add it the others, forget something fun and a little different !!!

 

[jmark1651]

Was in a pawnshop today in a small Miss. town and mentioned I had been looking for the Governor(not Haley Barbour) and he pulled out one from under the counter. I know some big time smith dealers and they have none. It always pays to ask. I did bring it home and look forward to comparing to my Taurus with different loads and rounds. I must say it appears better built than the Taurus, but after all, I am a smith collector!

 

[Allen-frame]

• Judge = revolver for the video game crowd, no customer service, big, heavy, piece of junk
• Governor = revolver for the video game crowd, excellent customer service, giant piece of expensive junk

After you buy one, please post pictures of your manly-looking carry rig, (complete with serrated folding knife), so I can giggle.

Giggle all you like. I am unconcerned.


Manly carry rig.

Quick handling and accurate. Now I'm giggling.

Allen

 

[Islander]

My Thinking
CCW you want a gun that you can get too without the bad guy seeing it ? you want the most bullets in the most concealed package ? You want 25 yd. accuracy, You want a pistol chambered in something that will stop an assailant you want a model 27 smith that will fit in your waistband not going to happen. For me Glock 36 with a spare mag fills the bill to each their own. that is my two cents.
Regards
Bob

 

[Coelho]

Allen:

Thanks dude. Exellent photos

 

[Allen-frame]

Allen:

Thanks dude. Exellent photos

Just good clean fun.

Allen

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Just good clean fun.

Allen

And I'm guessing a lot more fun than video games!

I wouldn't know, the last time I played a video game was when my kids
challenged me to a game of Super Mario Bro's, back when that game was still new.

 

[dla]

Grip at your nipple, barrel on your knee cap - perfect Concealed Carry weapon.

A definite giggle

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Grip at your nipple, barrel on your knee cap - perfect Concealed Carry weapon.

A definite giggle

All other issues aside..........

So people can make up their own minds on if the Governor deserves "hogleg" (nipple to kneecap)
size status or not, I went and took this shot of "The Governor & Friends."

I do understand that some are more intimidated by full size guns than others, for any number of reasons.
This type of gun person, those who are easily intimidated, are usually easy to spot around anything bigger
than a J Frame because they're the ones doing a lot of gigglin'.... for no apparent reason

That's nothin' more than an uncontrollable nervous reaction to seeing
all that gun in one place, at one time, so it's really not their fault.

Edited to add: I was just searching the web and found a remedy for the "big gun giggles."
You are supposed to take a Baby Browning or NAA Mini Revolver and hold it front of the giggler's face.
If you don't have either one of those guns available a Ruger LCP, Kel-Tec P32 or P3AT will also work.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Because someone mentioned how heavy the
Governor was it got me to wondering about
this so I went and did some checking.

I used digital postal scales that were zeroed in
before each weight was taken so I'm probably
pretty close to the actual weights.

The 3" 686+ loaded with 7 rounds of Buffalo Bore
.38 SPL +P, 158 gr lead semi-wadcutter hp's weighed,
2 lb. 7.7 oz.

The 2.5" Model 66-2 with 6 rd's of the same Buffalo Bore
ammo listed above weighed,
2 lb. 3.4 oz. (same as the Gov w/250 gr. Speer Gold Dots)

The Governor weights are below:

6 rounds Speer Gold Dot .45 Colt, 250 gr. hp
2 lb. 3.4 oz.

6 rounds Federal LE Classic "Hi-Shok" .45 acp, 185 gr. hp
2 lb. 2.2 oz. (with Moon Clip)

6 rounds Federal Handgun .410 (2.5") 000 buck
2 lb. 3.1 oz.

All 3 guns had Crimson Trace LG-306 Grips
(as shown in the photo in my last post)

 

[Czbilly]

My Gov is the perfect woods bopper and Beagle running gun. You can load for any situation or all situations at once. In terms of reloading capability, 6 buck loads equal 24 good size pellets. Even a wonder 9 doesn't hold that many. As far as 25 yard accuracy, any critter big enough to threaten one of my dogs is plenty big enough for me to hit with either acp or Colt at that range. I think it's funny that people fret and fuss about which mountain gun to buy when those of us with Governors have three in one.

 

[sqhead]

if one crossed my path at a decent price,i would snag it up just like any other smith.

 

[J Rich]

I do understand that some are more intimidated by full size guns than others, for any number of reasons.
This type of gun person, those who are easily intimidated, are usually easy to spot around anything bigger
than a J Frame because they're the ones doing a lot of gigglin'.... for no apparent reason

That's nothin' more than an uncontrollable nervous reaction to seeing
all that gun in one place, at one time, so it's really not their fault.



That's exactly what the problem is with the naysayers. That 5'4" ball of fire I call my wife seems to not be intimidated by the size of a firearm. I think someone needs to check their "manhood". I'm just saying!


BTW Nice pics Allen thanks!