It's now 2022-Can we safely discuss the Governor?

[rock doc]

I keep mine in the nightstand loaded with a combination of Winchester PDX1 and .45 Colt HP. For range day, I'll use moon clips for .45 ACP. I changed the grip from RB to SB, which I find more comfortable. I also plugged the hole, thanks to bullseye smith.

 

[Buford57]

I don't own a Governor, but have been intrigued by them (more than the Judge) since their introduction. My g-grandmother would say I have "a tooth for knick-knacks".

When my brother and I hunted in MS he carried a Judge loaded with .410 #4 shot (which was all he could find) for snakes. I carried a Ruger Vaquero .45 LC with 3 rounds of my #7.5 loads in CCI capsules followed by 3 rounds of Grizzly +P 335 gr. WLNGC. At the end of one day we decided to test our snake loads at 10 ft on 1 liter pop bottles. Mine perforated the bottle. He got one hit. I donated a box of #9s to him. I expect he does better now.

He mainly uses the Judge for snake medicine while riding tractor or fishing and says it performs well in that role. It is probably more likely to be carried consistently than my Big Iron.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I had one issue with my Governor early on. I was practicing with some cheap and aged Centurion .410 birdshot shells. The recoil hammered the cartridge face back towards the recoil shield and the brass expanded between the extractor star and the shield. Could not rotate the cylinder, and could only open the cylinder by pressing it agains the shooting bench surface with purpose. All other shells have worked flawlessly . . .

 

[racoonbeast]

Everyone to their own likes and dislikes. Me, personally, I would not take one as a gift. From where I sit it is a foolish answer to a foolish concept. But. That's me. You asked what I thought.

 

[22hipower]

Everyone to their own likes and dislikes. Me, personally, I would not take one as a gift. From where I sit it is a foolish answer to a foolish concept. But. That's me. You asked what I thought.

Not to argue, just curious. Have you ever used one? I thought pretty much as you do until I bought one. Now its with me most of the time when I'm hunting or just wandering the ranch.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[jeffrefrig]

I don't own one, and have never shot one. But one thing's for sure, if it works and does it's job, I have nor reason to diss on it. I personally would like to stay on the shooter's end of the gun. apparently they work. I will not disrespect any gun that can make me a corpse; or another person a corpse should he/she have the same intent.

 

[Greyman50]

Each to his own IMHO.

 

[DR505]

Life is too short to own ugly guns.

 

[22hipower]

Life is too short to own ugly guns.

Something to that thought I suppose but "ugly" is all in the eye of the beholder. Some of us confused folks even think these 296s have a certain beauty. . . . .

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2nD68ov https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Buick]

Well dang I was hoping it might make a good rabbit gun for beagling the thickets.

 

[racoonbeast]

Not to argue, just curious. Have you ever used one? I thought pretty much as you do until I bought one. Now its with me most of the time when I'm hunting or just wandering the ranch.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Actually, I have. My best friend and permanent shooting buddy has one and he is quite fond of it. He has brought it to the range a number of times and I have tried it with a variety of ammo. Like I have said, it does zero for me. But, he likes it, and he is nobody's idiot when it comes to shootin' stuff. So, like I said, everyone has their likes and dislikes. I would never tell him that he is wrong. I just don't feel the same way that he does about that particular gun. I would never want one for anything.

 

[LPD256]

I’ve shot one that is owned by a friend. Put a B-27 silhouette target out to 7yards. Shoot it with some .410 PDX rounds. Consider over penetration issues. The target will look like it was hit with machine gun fire. The gun isn’t pretty. But my opinion is it will do it’s job at close range when defending against a snake, burglar, or small bear with a .45 Colt load. I don’t yet own one. But I never say never.

 

[Rpg]

I won’t hunt with a gun that embarrasses the dog.

 

[quikdraw67]

Not my cuppa. But your money, your call.

What's wrong with rabbit ear antennas? They work fine for those of us with satellite TV who lose signal during a storm, or want the extra local digital channels that DirecTV doesn't have on their local channel package.

PS - we still have a land line too.

 

[Rubone]

"but hey - people in the Middle East love their camels." In the Biblical sense??

That being said I've never felt an attraction to a Governor or Judge, but enough folks do to keep them in production so there is a demand out there. I am a diehard revolver guy (no "wheelgun" terminology for me) and have many different frame sizes, capacities, and brands. But none pretending to be a shotgun!!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Not to argue but I'm curious, how do you get a half ounce of shot in a 45LC shot capsule? Have you compared the pattern of shot from a 44/45 four or six inch barrel with the pattern from a 2.5 inch lightly rifled Governor? The deep rifling and longer barrel in my experience spins the shot shell load and spreads rapidly. Less so in the shorter Governor with light rifling making for much tighter patterns at greater distances. As mentioned above, I've killed skunks at 15 yards with the Governor 410 loads, don't think I could do that with the 44/45 shot loads I use to use.

Another factor I think 410 loads, while more effective, are also less expensive. Certainly less expensive than the CCI factory shot loads and given the cost of capsules ($10 or so for 25) factory 410s may be less expensive than making our own 44/45 shot loads.

Just curious as to your approach.

Jeff
SWCa #1457

I despise shot capsules. I use cardboard wads cut with an arch punch. A cardboard wad tamped down on a 4-5 gr powder charge leaves LOTS of room for shot. Then I tamp down a cardboard wad on top and seal with airplane glue...........I do the same thing with .38 spl's to shoot carpenter bees.

410 buckshot OOOB is about .365 in. in diameter. So it raddles down a 45 cal barrel......Same with a 410 slug undersized so it to rattles down a 45. cal barrel. Accuracy is dismal and so is penetration. And 3/4 of an inch free bore with the 45 LC is horrible to accuracy too. A standared 38 spl outruns it. So I stick to my original thought......It's neither fish nor fowl.

 

[Bumpus13]

I’ve got a buddy that has one, and I fired a few cylinders through it.

Didn’t float my boat, but if you like it …

 

[.38SuperMan]

I despise shot capsules. I use cardboard wads cut with an arch punch. A cardboard wad tamped down on a 4-5 gr powder charge leaves LOTS of room for shot. Then I tamp down a cardboard wad on top and seal with airplane glue...........I do the same thing with .38 spl's to shoot carpenter bees.

You must have some serious carpenter bees, I use CCI 22LR shot shells. It’s actually a lot of fun to load up my Bearcat with shot shells and pop carpenter bees trying to destroy my deck.

 

[10Mad]

I’ve had one since they first came out. The owner of a shop where I used to do a lot of business sold me one at cost because he knew I would actually shoot it and figure it out. He just wanted to get a good shake down and review before he ordered a bunch for inventory.

I’ve shot mine a lot, and I mean a lot with all of the various loads made for these. With the proper load this is a great tool for whatever job you need.
The defense loads are no joke. At self defense distance they would be deadly. Mine shoots 45 ACP better than a 325 night guard I had and will run right with my 625 out to about 30 yards. It shoots the 45 Colt just as good. It does seem to have a preference for mid range cowboy loads. For small critters I use #6 for rabbits and squirrels out to about 10 yards. I use #9 skeet shells for chipmunks around the barn foundation. I don’t have dangerous snakes but the #9 skeet loads would be great for that.

I carry mine when bow hunting. My concern is coyotes and my Governor has put hole in several. What I like is that I can index my loads. I keep a buckshot as the first one up. Second is a 45Colt. I can cock and lower the hammer quietly and cock again for a longer shot. Again choose the tool for the job.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Even in 2022 it is probably not safe yet.

This is only personal opinion, but outside of recognizing the .410/.45 revolvers as the novelty gimmicks that they are I don't see a valid use for the awkward, ungainly things.

I want to keep the .410 shell where they belong, in suitable conventional shotguns and .45 Colt is better served up in proper revolvers rather than some clumsy, one-size-fits-all aberration.

I've killed as many poisonous snakes as anyone and have never wanted any handgun shot shell load for the task. Plain ol' .22 Long Rifle, .38 Special, or 12 gauge shotguns have served fine, or else more often than not, a handy rock, branch, shovel, or hoe have sufficed. I've been taking out snakes all of my life, both as a kid back at home or else on a really snaky family property of large acreage on a lake here in Texas and have yet to utilize a handgun with a shot load for the purpose.

A .410/.45 Colt revolver for fun and frolic? Yeah, but as a handgun for any serious purpose? Just ... nope!