Using the S&W Governor as a self defense weapon ?

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Whitwabit

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Anyone using a Governor for your night stand weapon ?? Or as a varmint pistol out on the farm ??

I've thought of getting a Governor for a varmint gun living here out in the country and for a home defense gun that my wife could use also if needed .. How is the recoil with the 410 shell ?? I've shot a 410 rifle a few years back but that was with 3 inch rounds and they would seem rather stout in a hand gun I would think .. have looked on u-tube but it really doesn't demonstrate how much recoil there is .. and the S&W uses 2 1/2 inch 410 rounds verses the 3 inch rounds in most 410 rifles .. being able to shoot .45 Colt/.45 Auto/.410 I think could be a real advantage ..

At about 29 oz the pistols mass should help with the felt recoil

I like the ability to use any one of three different rounds in the same pistol .. even a mixture of the three different rounds at the same time intrigues me !! But must say I'm not a wheel gun person not owning any presently the last one 30 some years ago .. have had many autos since then ..

Any info would be greatly appreciated !!
 
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Don't have a Govener. I do have a Taurus Judge that was purchased before the Gov. was available it's a 2-1/2" chamber with 3" barrel. At ten yards, the pattern from the buckshot shells is pretty lethal looking. It's been a few years since I've shot it, but as I recall the #4 buckshot patterned better from this particular gun that the discs in the other brand. The .45 Colt rounds shot ok. Really didn't shoot for groups since the PD rounds cost over $1.00 each. Bottom line, at in the house range, the .410 buckshot rounds are certainly appropriate for self defense.
 
Many people poo-poo the Governor and Taurus Judge. I do not. I prefer to have it when I'm a camp host. It's an intimidating firearm by itself and most defensive gun uses don't involve discharging the weapon.

The .410 defensive shells are fairly stout but won't knock you on your butt. I enjoy shooting mine.
 
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Hello, for some reason the gov. Doesn't get much good pr on this forum. I love mine, I got a judge when they first came out, and like it. I sold it the day after I got a governor. It's my yard, farm,tractor, walk in the woods. I reload and love 45LC! Mine is most accurate with 45acp, did I mention I love moon clips! I carry mine in a shoulder bag or owb holster. Go gov. And you want regret.
 
I picked up a Governor specifically as a possible carry piece. With the new Winchester defensive 410 loads, the three wadcutters and load of BB's in each shell should pack a lot of wallop without a lot of risk of overpenetration.
 
If I was going to use the Governor for self defense, I would load it with 45 Colt, probably Speer Gold Dot 250 gr.

A .410 shotgun might be a good choice for small game, I wouldn't want to rely on it to stop human beings and the ballistics don't get any better out of a short barrel.
 
I bought a 3" chamber, 3" barrel stainless Taurus Judge and installed Crimson Trace laser grips. It is used as a nightstand gun and occasionally carried as a snake gun loaded with 3" shotshells.

I bought it as a 3" .410 shotshell handgun. I have other .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and .454 Casull handguns with better rifling than the Judge or Governor for accuracy.
 
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"I've thought of getting a Governor for a varmint gun living here out in the country and for a defensive gun that my wife could use also if needed"


I get quite a few women in pistol classes. Half of them that bring a gun start the conversation with "XXXX bought this gun for me and I hate it." If she likes shooting a large hard kicking gun as her first handgun, she is very unusual. And the implication that it will somehow make up for no training and poor shooting is a common myth; it won't.
 
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I've never owned either, but have been tempted many times to purchase one! However, ANY gun you can shoot accurately, regardless of caliber is the one you want to be using as a personal defense or whatever use you come up with! I keep a S&W Backpacker in 44mag loaded with 44spls as my EDC and night stand gun...so to each their own!
 
OKFC05 said:
"I've thought of getting a Governor for a varmint gun living here out in the country and for a defensive gun that my wife could use also if needed"


I get quite a few women in pistol classes. Half of them that bring a gun start the conversation with "XXXX bought this gun for me and I hate it." If she likes shooting a large hard kicking gun as her first handgun, she is very unusual. And the implication that it will somehow make up for no training and poor shooting is a common myth; it won't.
Click to expand...

You injected all those thoughts as they are not mine !!

I didn't say any thing about lack of training that she has or that it would be the first pistol she has shot .. I didn't say anything other then she would use it also .. As she shoots my 40 Compact and my Sig P229 Legion in 40 S&W .. along with several other pistols and has been shooting for over 40 years I really don't think she would have any more trouble shooting it then you probably would !!!! Maybe even less !!
 
It could suffice as a self-defense weapon, but the same can be said about pretty much any handgun. There are much better choices available. When there are as many naysayers(including nearly every professional defensive shooting instructor) as there are regarding the Governor(and Taurus Judge), I think it wise to take notice as there are likely very good reasons for the opposition even if you don't understand it.
 
Whitwabit said:
You injected all those thoughts as they are not mine !!

I didn't say any thing about lack of training that she has or that it would be the first pistol she has shot .. I didn't say anything other then she would use it also .. As she shoots my 40 Compact and my Sig P229 Legion in 40 S&W .. along with several other pistols and has been shooting for over 40 years I really don't think she would have any more trouble shooting it then you probably would !!!! Maybe even less !!
Click to expand...


Good to know. Then if you both like it, that's the one to get.
 
While I've never owned or shot one, the reason is because I do not "get it" about these types of handguns.

As I guy that owns way more handguns then he could ever need, the reason I've never owned a .410 handgun is because I see it as nothing more then a joke (or as one said much nicer, a "novelty").

But hey, if it floats your boat, go for it.

But I think you need to give a bit more consideration to it's use as a handgun for personal defense.
 
Muss Muggins said:
Good lying around the house pistol. I've got two ACP, a slug, a triple copper disc, and two Long Colt in mine. As for the naysayers, and there will be plenty, I know I don't want to get shot with it . . .
Click to expand...

What kind of groups do you get with that assortment of ammo?
 
I have a governor and it is a lot of fun to shoot at my local indoor range. The 45ACP's are easily controlled one handed I practice both left and right handed with them. The 45 long colt are two hands, they give quite a kick but are manageable. With 410's I shoot only Hornaday slug with 2 35 cal balls at the range, it's what they have in stock and the bullet trap would bounce back anything smaller than 00 buck, it hits a bit harder with the 410's than the 45LC in my opinion.

If you plan on using 410's a lot then a lot of practice in recoil control would be called for.

Currently the Gov has three 410's 3 plates and 25 balls and 3 45LC loaded while it sits ready in a safe.

I like to close out a shooting session with the Gov by a round of 410's, they seem to help clean the gun. My normal pattern with the slug and 2balls at 10 yds is about 4 to 6 inch line going down and to the right.
 
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