Governor?

[ACORN]

Dropped into a couple pawn shops yesterday and one had a like new “blue/black” Judge. The asking price is reasonable I think, $599.
I’ve been intrigued with these and have had and sold 2 Judges. They just didn’t give me the pride of ownership.
Another shop has a silver, and a black, Governor and is asking $795 each so $599 seems like a deal.
I know opinions vary on these.
I consider it a “repel boarders” weapon.
Thoughts.

 

[C3Ranger]

The Governor has the added advantage over the Judge of using moon clips to shoot 45 acp, as well as having the S&W 'pride of ownership' you cited. Pawn shops are almost always willing to negotiate for cash in hand. Pick the one you like and go for it!

 

[Countrycuz]

If you have already sold two Judges maybe it's time to try a Smith and Wesson. I don't know much about them but isn't the Smith a 6 round cylinder and the Judge a 5?

 

[firefighterjohn]

If you have already sold two Judges maybe it's time to try a Smith and Wesson. I don't know much about them but isn't the Smith a 6 round cylinder and the Judge a 5?

Yes CounrtyCuz you're right on the round count for each.

Here's my experience ACORN. I've owned a Governor for 13 years and it's a great pistol for anything out in the back woods or fields. It even has a night sight. I ordered a OWB leather holster with 6 loops sown on the outside for extra ammo storage.

IMHO, it's a far better choice than a Judge. Buy once cry once.

 

[ACORN]

If you have already sold two Judges maybe it's time to try a Smith and Wesson. I don't know much about them but isn't the Smith a 6 round cylinder and the Judge a 5?

Yes the Gov. holds 6 as opposed to 5 for the Judge.
I also like the ability to chamber .45acp and I assume .45 Auto Rim, which I can reload.

 

[Hawg Rider]

I think that the advantages of a S&W Governor over the Taurus Judge are not only the round count, but the quality of manufacture and the ability to shoot .45 Colt. The only advantages of the Judge are that it has several different choices of barrel lengths, and the prices. They cost less than 1/2 of a Governor and even the very nice Executive Grade Judges cost less than a Governor. The ability to shoot powerful .45 Colt rounds, in addition to .45 ACP and .410, leans me towards the $599 Governor.

 

[22hipower]

Buy the Governor and don't look back. I carry one all the time on the mesquite farm; three 410s and three 45 Colt. Lightweight and shot loads are effective to 15 yards or so depending on the pellet size/weight. Far better than any handgun shot loads I've ever tried and I've tried most of them. At relatively close ranges it seems as accurate with the 45 Colt loads as most of my handguns.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I had one for a minute. Collectively, I HATE the .410 revolver trend. Quit trying to stuff squirrel and rabbit shells into a defensive weapon. I wish they'd focus as much energy on just producing a good .45 revolver and quality rounds for it.

Having said that...I really did like mine. I never intended to shoot .410 shells in it, though it did pattern fairly reasonably with them as I recall-and...I live in Alaska. I don't worry about snakes up here. If I still lived below the Mason Dixon line, I'd have one of them things on each hip.

It was a very smooth and well made revolver, and more accurate than I had any right to expect. I treated it as a garbage disposal for all my .45s. Due to the extra long cylinder I was able to load some LeHigh .45 Colt 220 grain Maximum Expansion rounds that were ridiculously long and nasty looking. If I'm to be honest, those rounds were probably influential on my purchase decision. It was nice to have a revolver that could shoot two out of four of my favorite rounds. Additionally, living in the suburbs, I even came to appreciate the .410 options that allowed me the option to shoot at predators and aggressive dogs in the yard with less liability in launching slugs into the neighbor's house.

It was insufferably ugly, and I found that I never carried it. For everything it could do, I had better options. Carry .45 Colt? I had a Mountain Gun. Carry .45 ACP? I had a 325. Something for shotgun duty? I got a safe full of legit shotguns... It was never a bad gun, I just got bored and sold it to make room for and fund the next new item of covetousness. Ultimately, it was a fine and useful gun, it just didn't fit into MY world and MY habits. If it happens to fit yours, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[besshoudini]

Buy the governor its 3 guns in one, that is my home defense gun.

 

[jack the toad]

I’m on my 2nd Governor after selling the first to a buddy that bought his dad a judge. This is NOT a judge bashing post as he thinks was ammo (reloads) that did it in. See below pic.
Story goes they were shooting across hood of pickup when cylinder came unshucked, no injuries but did lose the windshield.
I admit I first thought of the Governor as more a novelty than useful handgun but have since come to like them and is reason I replaced it after selling.

 

[ACORN]

I’m on my 2nd Governor after selling the first to a buddy that bought his dad a judge. This is NOT a judge bashing post as he thinks was ammo (reloads) that did it in. See below pic.
Story goes they were shooting across hood of pickup when cylinder came unshucked, no injuries but did lose the windshield.
I admit I first thought of the Governor as more a novelty than useful handgun but have since come to like them and is reason I replaced it after selling.

Yikes!! What was he shooting when that happened? Hot .45 Colts?

 

[shell627]

45auto rim will not work in a governor.

 

[jack the toad]

Yikes!! What was he shooting when that happened? Hot .45 Colts?

Reportedly were not hot reloads, but no idea on loading specs.
The son, (my bud) loaded them but didn't think it a double charge.
He did say was gonna pull them and check. It was a first (and hopefully last) for all of us.

 

[jack the toad]

45auto rim will not work in a governor.

Rim too thick???

 

[shell627]

Rim too thick???

Yes at least according to the people at Georgia-arms.I was buying ammo from them at a gunshow when I mentioned I had a governor.He would of sell me autorim until I told him I had other 45 auto revolver

 

[jeffrefrig]

Personally, I'll stick with the model 36 beside my bed; along with the slingshot! Okay, maybe no slingshot, but that would be cool!

 

[Model 15-4ever]

I've owned two different Judges about 10 years ago. .410 shot loads did pretty well, especially in the 5" barrel version. The "ribber" grips were very comfortable for shooting. But neither was accurate with .45 Colt ammunition: 4" groups at 15 yards were the best it could do with a variety of loads. The .410 buckshot loads patterned wildly past 7 yards. Sold both of them.

Currently have a blue Governor and it is a much better quality rendition of the idea, despite the short 2-3/4" barrel. .45 Colt accuracy is twice as good as the Judge and it shoots to the sights. The 230 grain .45 ACP loads also shoot the sights but you must use moon clips with them, which I despise, so rarely shoot ACP in it. I would definitely avoid the 2-shot ACP clips as they are the least reliable of that genre.

The .410 shot loads break hand thrown clay targets and the patterning with buckshot loads is pretty amazing. The Federal 2-1/2" 000 Buck 4-pellet load shoots to point of aim out to 30 feet and keeps within a 6" pattern. Velocity with the latter load is only 770 fps due to the short barrel, but given the payload it is still quite a punch.

Recoil is rather stout - moreso than the Judge - due to the lightweight scamdium frame and skinny grips. A set of Hogue Tamer grips (X-Frame) helps substantially, although they increase the trigger reach in an already large frame, make DA shooting a bit of a stretch.

It's a fun revolver, and has practical application depending on your situation. If that is what I had for home defense I wouldn't feel unarmed in the least. The sight picture with the blue gun is quick for such a large revolver. I would load 6 .410 buckshot loads, and have a .45 colt speedloader or .45 ACP moon clip or two in reserve.

 

[David Sinko]

I have tried two Governors over the years. Both had problems stabilizing certain .45 ACP bullets, especially cast bullets. Recoil with any real service grade .45 Colt load was harsh. The sights were not ideal. I will not buy one because I refuse to own a revolver that won't shoot cast bullets.