Has the Governor been "impeached?"

[Rhetorician]

Hello all,

I was considering buyinf a Smith Governor revolver but cannot find one even to handle. "Has the Governor been impeached?"

No one locally has one and there are very few to be found on line. They seem to all be back ordered?

Are they really selling them faster than they can make them?

Are they that popular?

rd

 

[OKFC05]

Buds Gun Shop has them in stock, and usually has used ones.

 

[scooter123]

I suspect the problem is that it's a slow seller, not a hot seller. As a result S&W is making smaller batches of these revolvers to insure they won't have unsold stock on hand. End result is that demand is higher than what is produced.

As for why I think it's a slow seller, when S&W entered this market they were going into a segment that had been established by Taurus and it's really difficult to "steal" market share unless the originator starts putting out items with distinctly sub standard quality. That hasn't happened and Taurus actually has built a pretty good reputation with the Judge.

 

[scruffy]

There is a used Governor w/2.75 barrel claimed to be in excellent condition at a LGS in Washington, PA for $825. Thought the price was high. Not sure what they went for new.

 

[Oldfrt]

A couple of weeks ago they had at least two at the Armed Forces Exchange at Whitman AFB. I say that because they had one in the case that didn't have the crimson sight grip. I bought one and they pulled it out from the back. It cost me $825 new and according to the fired case in the box it was tested Feb 2015. The only ones I could find around here had the crimson grip sight and they wanted over $1000 for it.

 

[Snowwolfe]

I love mine One of the few revolvers I own that will never be sold.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

They're readily available near here. I've not been particularly interested thanks to a couple of reviews I've read that rated the Gov mediocre at everything it does. Are the reviewers wrong?

 

[adwjc]

Its not just the governor, I don't know where you are located, but making my rounds of the shops around here, all S&W revolvers seem to sell out.

Most shops will tell you they are backordered on revolvers, but can get the semi autos.

 

[rwsmith]

If I lived on a ranch or....

They're readily available near here. I've not been particularly interested thanks to a couple of reviews I've read that rated the Gov mediocre at everything it does. Are the reviewers wrong?

If I lived on a ranch or someplace that there were many different things you could run into, like snakes, animals, dangerous animals or varmints and the occasional trespasser I think one could come in very handy. As for people like me, the market is in the novelty area, because I can't think of any situation that I would NEED one.

So I think it's right in that keeping them scarce keeps demand up. Smith ONLY got into this as an answer to Taurus and I don't think they are interested in having them in stock everywhere..

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Just a question on my ignorance. What size frame is the governor? Yes i never bothered to look

 

[sw282]

M frame l think

 

[scooter123]

It's a frame specific to the Governor based on the N frame with a really long cylinder window. Personally I don't think that it's at all interesting but have a cousin who concealed carries a Judge in a shoulder holster and loves his Judge.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I think the wave of interest in .410/.45 revolvers has crested, and is heading back to the sea.

 

[686-380]

It depends upon your perspective

They're readily available near here. I've not been particularly interested thanks to a couple of reviews I've read that rated the Gov mediocre at everything it does. Are the reviewers wrong?

If you're looking for something that'll hit a gnat's eyebrow at 20 yards, you should pass.

Myself, I love my Governor. My reasons are that it is versatile and looks INTIMIDATING. Being a camp host, I live in a bumper pull trailer for months out of the year. If there's any trouble I'm on my own for about an hour. My fervent hope is that a robber will reconsider when he is staring down the barrel. Seeing the combination of .410 and .45LC loads in the chamber should give him pause.

If I have to discharge the weapon, the .410 gives me a reasonable chance of hitting my target with a bb or disc.

The Governor has been described as a "niche" platform. Maybe so. It works for my purposes.

 

[Gulfecho]

Just a question on my ignorance. What size frame is the governor? Yes i never bothered to look

I own one as well. It is a Z frame, which I believe is unique to the Governor.

 

[DD357]

They're readily available near here. I've not been particularly interested thanks to a couple of reviews I've read that rated the Gov mediocre at everything it does. Are the reviewers wrong?

I would agree with that statement. The Box-O-Truth has a pretty good series on testing the Judge/Governor type gun. The 410 loads aren't ideal SD rounds and if I wanted a 45LC I'd get a Ruger or a Model 25. It's a niche gun to me and for that kind of money there are plenty of wheel guns I'd rather have.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Must have been a hundred years ago, or so, I had a long-barreled T' Contend' that would push .410s, but it didn't do it very well. A soda can at more than four yards was pretty safe. The novelty wore off, and somebody else owns that rig now.

As with many multi-purpose handguns it appears there's a wide gap between approval and apathy for this one. I tend to fall in with the apathetic crowd. I'm sure much of that has to do with location, location, location.

I don't concern myself with BGs (the neighbors and I joke about not "taking each other out in a cross fire" if we ever did have a BG come to town). Our little snakes don't rattle, they eat voles, and they slither away from the pups so I have no reason to shoot them. BIG 4-legged things are why I pack the M&P 340 or Trail Boss, and I really hope only to scare them away -- Stan, our G&F warden, would ask too many questions if I actually shot one. So the Gov would be roughly as useful to me as a ship's anchor, and I wouldn't spend that kind of money on an anchor.

I'm not convinced Smith did itself any favors by jumping into the ring with Taurus on this one. Always better to lead than to follow.

 

[eveled]

My problem with the .410 revolvers is the salesmen who convince newbies that it is the perfect gun for everybody's needs, and so versatile, that they will never need another gun.

When the reality is they are niche guns that are not practical for most people. Most would be better served by a .357, IMHO.

Since the frame size was mentioned, is there another use for this oversized frame? Are there any rifle cartridges that could be used? If possible I think a 30/30 double action revolver would be awesome! I love my 30/30 barrels on my Contender, I have never even shot my .410 barrel.

 

[cvnunez]

I have owned the Governor for about a year and a half. It took me a couple of outings to get used to it. It shoots high so I aim looking halfway down the dovetail. I am pretty good with it now. I have the crimson trace grips and it fits me fine because I don't have large hands. Federal 000 buck group well with this gun at 10 to 20 yards. I bought extra moon clips on Ebay to target shoot with the 45 acp. At 15 yards the Federal 000 Buck self defense load can go into a 55 gallon steel barrel through a 2 inch hole. All 4 pellets then spread apart about 4 fingers wide. They make a dent on the back and almost go through. I thought that was pretty good. The Hornady FTX hollow point LC was made for the governor but you pay about 18 bucks for 20 bullets. Bottom line is that you need to practice in order to be confident with any gun.

 

[bigtubby]

I guess I should buy one has all the earmarks of a collectors item once there discontinued.