Judge VS GOVERNOR

[hydroholic]

Pretty much the same results from my stepfathgers Judge (public defender). Same results with 3/4 " plywood at about 10 yards as well. Went through with no problem. Definately enough to do some fatal damage to an intruder. I would have no problem with using it as a SD weapon. Pitty the person on the other end. You would have to be insane to think it would not cause great bodily harm or death!

 

[triggerhappy2006]

Now the S&W has the .45ACP for a 3rd chambering and the Raging Judge has a .454 Casull, certainly the .454 is going to be more of an ideal round than the .45ACP. Now I'm sure the argument is going to come up "why not get a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan for .454 and .45 Colt", well that is an option, but in my experience, as a bedside gun .410 would easily drop somebody at the most common distances inside a house. So I would rather have a little bit more of a spread (opposed to a single projectile) and have a .454 or .45 Colt in the next couple cylinders. The purpose behind the Judge and the GOVERNOR are as multi-duty self defense weapons, load them with .45 Colt or .454 and it is decent predator defense gun, .45 ACP or .45 Colt and it is a good choice for a personal defense gun, .410 for the wife's bedside gun, or taking care of pesky critters that decide to move in the attic, basement, garage or barn.

 

[kozak6]

Okay so the Taurus Judge has been around for years, proven, effective, realiable...

It may have been available for years, but many would disagree about that second part. Also, don't most modern browsers come with a spellchecker?

Taurus added the power of the 454 Casull[ to the mix, and combine that with a 6" Barrel and you have an effective general purpose revolver(maybe not Conceal Carry or 100yds hunting) but you can still use it as a bedside gun

A .454 Casull for a bedside gun? I prefer more stopping power, personally.

You could probably conceal it if you go with the 3" barrel

Have you actually seen one of these? It's a pretty big gun. The long cylinder means that the overall length is almost the same as their 5" barrel Raging Bull. Not the ideal size, and heavy too.

Here is my a question is having the ability to fire a .45 ACP from a revolver that can shoot 2 other more powerful rounds really worth sacraficing the ability to shoot a 454?

This is a bad question. You are comparing a magnum revolver that just happens to be able to fire shotshells to a Judge clone. A better question is why would you get a Judge when the S&W offers the ability to fire the powerful and more affordable .45 acp, better quality control, better customer service, and isn't a Taurus?

Also is it possible to shoot a .45 ACP out of a .45 Colt revolver or did Smith and Wesson actually do something different?

S&W did something different. Taurus makes a big deal about things like repeat strike capability in their double action semiautos even though it's been a common feature in firearms since the 1930's. Do you really think they would forget to mention it if their Judge could fire .45 acp?

I would like to hear anybody else's arguments for or against the GOVERNOR.

Ok.

For:
It's not a Taurus.
It can fire .45 acp.

Against:
It's a silly fad revolver in .410.

My stand is I would rather have a 454, .45 Colt or 410 in a 3" package than .45 Colt, .45 ACP and 410 in a 3" revolver, now the .45 ACP is an outstanding round but it's not really in class with the .45 Colt and 410.

It's disingenuous to refer to it as a 3" package. The cylinder is stupid long. For a similar overall length, you could have a regular .454 with a 5" barrel. If you really want a short .454 Casull, the Ruger Alaskan has a 2.5" barrel and is about 2.58" shorter overall (and isn't a Taurus).

now the .45 ACP is an outstanding round but it's not really in class with the .45 Colt and 410.

Yeah, it's a rimless cartridge commonly used in semiautomatics.

Plain-jane .45 Colt is nearly identical to .45 acp. Spicy .45 Colt is different. I will agree that the .410 shotshell is in a different class than .45 acp.

The purpose behind the Judge and the GOVERNOR are as multi-duty self defense weapons

The purpose is to part you from your money.

 

[mega twin]

I went with the other large frame revolver with the three inch bbl.,but actually,a six inch bbl.would not be much larger than the judge ,or governor.

 

[mavracer]

Unlike the "expert" detractors ,most of who have never even fired one, I tried it, and I liked it!

Well since apparently only first hand knowledge is acceptable to you. Just how many people have you shot with your judge and what is the difference in average incapacition times between the better 45 colt loads and .410 buckshot.

 

[Walklightly]

Both the judge and governor are sucker bait.

Sucker?

Back that up "Sucker"!

I've shot a Judge in 45colt and .410, I thought it's kind of cool. How about you? Not that I would buy another taurus, but the Gov is on my "long" list.

 

[fadetoblack172]

I have a judge PD killed a grouse 30 yds away with a rem #4 shot .410 shell
Also have a Governor finished off a deer 20 yards away with 000 buck
The governor is a much better quality firearm, looks, feels, and shoots better than my judge.. IMO save for the GOV its worth it

 

[Newton24b]

the 1/5 ounce .410 slugs have the weight of cas ammunition for 38 special, but the muzzle energy of normal 158 grain lrn 38 special.

thats still a bigger entry hole and more energy then the wonderful 25 and 32 acp revolvers that everyone tells me is more viable as a carry weapon then a snub nosed 38 spcl.

the federal buckshot loads are generating what is essentially a 4 round burst function from a 32acp revolver with just about the same muzzle energy per projectile.

seriously, a company just released a 32 or 380 acp semi auto that comes with a buttstock that has 3 round burst mode in it.

no offense but the 45 acp with the sw governor mandates all ammo be used with a moon clip, thats not something I want to deal with. and the 45 acp really isnt that much of an advantage over 45 colt. sure you can find 45 in more places, but the price/availability doesnt mean anything if your still buying the 1 dollar a round hollow points.

 

[jhomman]

judge v govenor

As usual, it all depends on need/ use. For a snap shot weapon, these guns are awesome. Where would you need a snap shot? A vehicle for one. These guns are excellent vehicle weapons. Got a snake problem? Again, these weapons are excellent for that purpose. Need / application should always be the #1 consideration.

 

[Sarge]

I've got a Public Defender that seems to be a decent little revolver.

I’d read that some of these revolvers will accept 45 ACP in Taurus’s little 5-shot ‘Stellar’ clip intended for their Model 455 snubnose. Some won’t; the difference being about 0.008″ as near as I could tell. Anyhow I ordered a 5 pack of moon clips and determined to make them work. One of the glorious things about an off-brand revolver is that you’re not afraid to go hammer & tongs on it.

I removed about 0.007″ from the recoil plate before the clips would drop in and turn freely with ACP cartridges in place. The firing pin still sits below flush and headspace has not changed significantly, so there should be no negatives with this modification for standard-pressure 45 Colt or 410 shot-shells. It did require a complete tear-down and I slicked things up a little, while I was in there.

I don't really need one in 454 but it would be nice if the Public Defender would handle Ruger-level 45 Colt loads. I am disinclined to attempt this, myself.

 

[pete2]

If you just gotta have one get the S&W. Both are just gimmicks in my book, but if it turns you on why not? I have shot the S&W with 45ACP, I was surprised that it was accurate for SD purposes.

 

[rodfac]

I knew this would be a free for all...many thanks to all who have contributed to this time worn debate...a million laughs.

My own take on either?....Only Glock could make an uglier handgun...and usefulness in any real sense of the term?...you must be kidding.

Either is a marketing scam of monumental proportions! Best Regards, Rod

 

[Opinated]

I bought a Judge for the novelty of it. Fun to shoot. The accuracy with 45 has been good for me. No regrets.
I found a place that custom loads ammo that offered "nickle-plated lead BBs" and loaded them in 3" 410 shell. None hit the target at 50 feet. And the primer backed out after firing, locking up the cylinder after the second shot. Other shells did not do that. But the effective range for shotshells is apparently quite short.

 

[cdbeagle]

Bought a Judge for skeet. Usually shoot 20 or 21. Had to sell it because the other skeet shooters were being shamed so bad. Never shot any .45's out of it since it was a dedicated skeet gun.


And if you believe that story you deserve to have to own a Judge or a Governor. I have shot a Judge and for me personally it is one of the biggest rip-offs in firearms history. The only application I could ever see for one is to apply the saying that any gun is better than no gun.

If you are an owner and find good utility in your Judge or Governor that is great. I'm serious. They are just not for me.

 

[Sarge]

You using AA trap loads, Beagle?

Seriously... I don't kid myself about what these guns will or won't do. They are OK defense guns with the 00 buck loads to about 10 yards and good with 45 Colt to about 25. They are a real decent snake gun.

An elefunt gun, bear gun or match gun, they are not.

 

[Sevens]

I have never shot or owned a Judge.

I bought a Judge for the novelty of it. Fun to shoot. The accuracy with 45 has been good for me. No regrets.

This sounds 100% rational to me. I would be willing to bet that it would be fun & enjoyable to goof around with. Since that's mostly what I do with handguns anyway, I can see a use or even a "need" for a Judge.

As a defense tool, I can find -thousands- of better choices. Would it work if pressed in to a defensive role? Well, I would give it a shot rather than a stick or a rock or my paws, but if specifically chosen as a defensive tool against human attackers, I think it's a radically poor choice.

Some time ago, I used to praise Taurus for this invention of this concept-- they built something that many people wanted to purchase. I love the idea that a gun company is willing to make & market something that people want, even if I believe the idea behind it (generally) is flawed. So many companies are far too stodgy to try goofy ideas, Taurus does it all the time.

That opinion? I have revised it. I still give Taurus credit for trying odd things in hopes of finding a market and selling guns, but I have to ratchet it way, WAY up-- for what Taurus has now done is to actually create enough of a market for this "low purpose" concept so as to actually make one of the world's oldest & most successful gun makers actually build a version of it simply because they were convinced of a sales market and an opportunity to sell something.

Smith & Wesson isn't "easily convinced" to do... anything. Taurus' wacky invention actually pushed the stodgy old S&W to make the Governor.

That's a major accomplishment.

I don't see me ever spending money on a Judge, but there's no way I can't give 'em credit for that thing. And as I quoted above, if you want to have FUN with a handgun and the Judge delivers that fun, then you hit a home run when you bought it, and you are far from a sucker if that revolver delivers for you.

 

[Z400ACDC]

I bought mine a few years ago for a snake gun. It is easier to carry than a shot gun. I would not try to carry it for SD because it is to big for me. I would not trade my Sig for the Judge in a gun fight because of the ammo limit. With the newer ammo that is made for SD, the Judge can do the job. As for accuracy, I can shoot the Judge as well as my other revolvers.

 

[chiefr]

I do not care for either shotgun. If given the choice between the S&W and the Taurus. S&W is the obvious choice for not only reliaibility, but resale value as well.

 

[Cousin Toad]

Maybe a better option

I would like to S&W come out with a 625 revolver at the Governor's price point and construction with the scandium frame and fixed night sights and not at $200 plus dollars more MSRP.

Possibly a compact version of said revolver with 5 shots vs 6, but still cut for moon clips just slightly more compact.

I "kind of like" the Judge/Governor concept, it is neat but not enticing enough for me to drop the coin on it.

 

[Shadi Khalil]

The judge could be a decent range toy if it didn't have such an awful trigger and horribly narrow grips