S&W governor is really worth it?

I don't think it's necessary to characterize people who disagree with the design as "uppity-ups" to validate your own decision, they are entitled to their opinion as much as you are yours. The fact of the matter is -- as near as I can tell it is fact by actually observing skilled shooters using these all-in-one guns -- is that they are, in fact, not as accurate as single cartridge-dedicated guns.

I have no use for one. Perhaps you do, your needs are different, and it's your money. You should be comfortable in your decision that the gun is right for your needs without bringing others down, IMHO.

FWIW I think the shotshell capability gets a bad rap. One of my coworkers has a video of him going 7-of-12 at the sporting clays range with it, I was quite surprised.
 
The issue is not that it may be a fun gun but that the 410 revolvers were hyped to untrained shooters as some superweapon based on the 410 loads.

The myriad problems of such guns as the 'best' SD guns has been discussed many times.
 
.....an answer to a question nobody asked.
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45/410 derringers have been sold for years... maybe even decades. Obviously there is a demand otherwise new guns wouldnt be introduced in several models by at least 2 more mfg'rs.


The .410 revolver thing is just silly.
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Read above. In general, taking a 1 or 2 shot SA gun and improving it to be multi shot DA doesnt seem silly to a lot of people



..... when the world figures out how nonsensical the Judge et al are you won't be stuck with an "Edsel."
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Its a multi purpose gun oure and simple. Whats nonsensical about multi-purposed?


..... using these all-in-one guns -- is that they are, in fact, not as accurate as single cartridge-dedicated guns.
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And even though an all-terrain tires do not perform as well as a dedicated application specific tire in that particular application... millions and millions of all-terrain tires are sold every year. Why? Because they are versitile.


By the way... I dont want one... but I do see the appeal of its versatility.
 
The .410 revolver thing is just silly. They are too big for CC, the .410 is a shotgun round, but a puny one...less effective for defense than a .357 or larger standard handgun. The idea of a "snake gun" never made sense to me. If you see a poisonous snake, unless it's in your yard, the proper action is to walk around it and both of you go on your way. So you can shoot .45's in it...but not very accurately. Get a good medium-frame .357--you can shoot .38's in it, and shot loads if you're determined to shoot snakes. Ammo is cheaper and widely available and when the world figures out how nonsensical the Judge et al are you won't be stuck with an "Edsel."
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People act like the governor doesn't "kill" or is self defence, You can CC it, I bought a shoulder holster.

I like it for the fact 3 (4 [45 gap]) calibers in one handgun, kit gun. It shoots good I seen some videos of the testings done. I already have a 357 and a 38 revolver, I don't want another one at this time. This makes it cheaper to shoot, 410 or 45acp/lc


but I do see the appeal of its versatility
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+1

I seen videos on clay shooting, that looks fun, its a S&W after all. If I don't like it I am sure I can get almost full value back.

It came to me that, if I was walking to my car and had to shoot, its a shotgun and I wouldn't worry to much as a heavy bullet flying and bounceing off the ground or something if I missed.
 
"And even though an all-terrain tires do not perform as well as a dedicated application specific tire in that particular application... millions and millions of all-terrain tires are sold every year. Why? Because they are versitile."

Poor analogy. It's a lot easier to have an extra handgun or two in the safe than to spend money on extra rims, space to store them, and time to swap a set.

Personally, I'd rather have guns that are not awkward beasts (which I find these guns to be), easy to handle (which I find these guns not to be), and accurate (on which I have found them "ok"). YMMV.
 
More input please?

I am between this Governor now and some 22lr handguns.

When I read "410 birdshot out of a handgun is worthless" I think of a bb gun shooting a BG.. :eek::rolleyes::confused: ... I am sure it would do damage >.< these are guns we are talking about NOT BB GUNS! I was reading tests and it makes it like it will only "cause a rash" and not harm them. :rolleyes:
 
The issue is not that it may be a fun gun but that the 410 revolvers were hyped to untrained shooters as some superweapon based on the 410 loads.
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Bingo. People think that they're buying an 'awesome' pocket shotgun.

I don't own one, but I don't know anyone who does who regards it as more than a novelty, or a kit gun at best, once they've shot them a while.
 
More input please?

I am between this Governor now and some 22lr handguns.

When I read "410 birdshot out of a handgun is worthless" I think of a bb gun shooting a BG.. ... I am sure it would do damage >.< these are guns we are talking about NOT BB GUNS! I was reading tests and it makes it like it will only "cause a rash" and not harm them.
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I almost guarantee that a pellet from my 1250fps air rifle will penetrate deeper then #7's or #8's from a 3" judge.

if you don't believe me and think that "becuase its a GUN" will be enough to really do damage to somone deeper then superficial please watch this..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRlry5KH6I0

Now 00 buck on the other hand...
 
I am reading now people are shooting 45 GAP out of a Governor..
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This makes sense because a .45GAP case is essentially a shortened .45ACP case with a small pistol primer rather than a large one. You can reload .45GAP with readjusted .45ACP dies.

However, .45GAP may damage a Governor and void the warranty; it has slightly higher max pressure than .45ACP, 23k psi vs. 21k psi. This is the same as SAAMI .45ACP+P but I don't believe that S&W endorses the use of this cartridge in the Governor either.

OTOH the whole exercise seems rather pointless since .45GAP is slightly more expensive and a good deal harder to find than .45ACP.
 
"I almost guarantee that a pellet from my 1250fps air rifle will penetrate deeper then #7's or #8's from a 3" judge."

A .177 pellet going an estimated 800 fps. went about 2 inches in to my thigh about 30 years ago.
 
to be blunt, the answer is NO.

why? well the use of the .45acp cartridge eliminates FAST loading/reloading of cartridges. there is no way you can simply press the ejector up a quarterinch and pull an empty case out. you gotta deal with those crappy little moon cllip sections. and unless you manage to make sure you fire of both rounds on a single clip... your kinda screwed.

however the other major problem is there is no way to use .45 autorim with it.



DO NOT make fun of the judge because birdshot lacks penetration from the .410 shell. birdshot sucks period.
 
DO NOT make fun of the judge because birdshot lacks penetration from the .410 shell. birdshot sucks period.
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I agree, however I think the problem is the reduced velocity from the very short barrel.

I would really like to see what these loads are doing in real life..however I doubt anyone would be willing to risk their chrono to find out.
 
<<On aesthetics only, I couldn't buy a Judge or a Governor. Two of the ugliest revolvers I've ever seen. YMMV.
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Ha....I totally agree. Smith and Taurus have succeeded at designing a revolver that can compete in the ugly gun sweepstakes with the Glock.
 
why? well the use of the .45acp cartridge eliminates FAST loading/reloading of cartridges. there is no way you can simply press the ejector up a quarterinch and pull an empty case out. you gotta deal with those crappy little moon cllip sections. and unless you manage to make sure you fire of both rounds on a single clip... your kinda screwed.
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I don't think I'm with you here. :confused:

Why not empty all 6 chambers by supporting the cylinder in your left hand, pointing the muzzle skyward, and either pushing the ejector rod with your left hand thumb or whacking the rod with your right palm? This clears all six chambers instantly and positively.

Why would you need to pick individual cases out of the cylinder rather than emptying the gun? I shoot revolvers A LOT and I've hardly ever seen the need to do a partial reload. The few times I HAVE done it, I've just emptied the whole cylinder anyway.
however the other major problem is there is no way to use .45 autorim with it.
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True, but if you use .45AR, you probably handload, so why not handload .45 Colt instead?
 
The biggest problem with birdshot out of these short-barreled guns is REBOUND.

As in, pellets rebounding off a solid object as they don't have the velocity to penetrate and coming right back into your face.

That happened to me years ago when I was working for American Rifleman and we were testing a Thunder Five.

I was observing, and the tech guy was shooting. A load of No. 6 shot came right back into our faces.

I was hit several places, including one DEAD CENTER OVER MY EYE. There was a huge lead smear and divot on the safety glasses I was wearing.
 
More input please?

I am between this Governor now and some 22lr handguns.
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I thought you already "placed an order" for one.:confused: If not, I side with those who find the Governor (and the Judge) ugly and ungainly. If you still have the option, I'd go with a .22 handgun-lots more practical on many levels. Since you're concerned about snakes, one option might be a Ruger Single-Six with the auxilary .22 Magnum cylinder. .22 Magnums loaded with shot should bring down even a black mamba if your aim is true. :D :eek:
 
Poor analogy. It's a lot easier to have an extra handgun or two in the safe than to spend money on extra rims, space to store them, and time to swap a set.
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Ok how about this....

Instead of buying a dedicated pair of tennis shoes, running shoes, walking shoes, basket ball shoes... millions off cross-trainer shoes are sold because they are versatile.
 
But how often do you see serious tennis or ball players, or serious long distance runners, in cross-trainers?
 
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