S&W governor is really worth it?

[danez71]

A lot less frequently than I see people using a more versatile shoe.


Dont try to twist this around.


He didnt buy it for precision target shooting. He didnt buy it to shoot competition. He didnt buy it to hunt big game.


The guy wanted a versatile gun and is considering Govenor for its versatility.

Why is that so hard for some to accept and not criticize?

 

[jsk]

Nobody ever bought a gun simply because it was fun to shoot?

 

[MLeake]

danez71, if you read the OP's subsequent posts, he uses the argument that .410 is effective, because none of the people who argue against its utility for SD are willing to be shot with a short barreled .410 to prove their point.

When he just wanted a snake gun, that could shoot .45acp or .45LC at the range, then he just wanted a versatile, fun gun. No problem.

Unfortunately, he had to go down the "Oh, yeah, then stand in front of one!" road...

I doubt he'd stand still and let me throw a rock or a barbecue fork at him. That does not mean rocks or barbecue forks are good self-defense weapons, just that any number of things can inflict harms we prefer not to risk.

In another thread, a Judge owner asked forum members to prove their case with targets. He showed a 7 yard group from his Judge using .45LC. I responded with an over 20 yard group, that was tighter than his, from my 1911... at which point he said that my Baer wasn't a fair comparison. So I said I could do nearly the same with my M&P or PPQ if he wished... that thread just sort of died.

If people want a snake gun, Judge or Governor seem to work. If they want a fun gun, Judge or Governor seem to work. But for defense against humanoids, I don't know that I would call them more than adequate, based on what I've seen from their proponents. (IE, most of the group/target photos I've seen from posters saying "Look how good it is" have not been impressive.)

 

[carguychris]

But for defense against humanoids, I don't know that I would call them more than adequate, based on what I've seen from their proponents. (IE, most of the group/target photos I've seen from posters saying "Look how good it is" have not been impressive.)

+1. IMHO the other significant factor is chrono tests indicating velocities 100+ fps slower from a .45/.410 revolver than a 5" M1911 or 4" S&W M625 under the same test conditions. Velocities under 750 fps make effective bullet expansion iffy and result in muzzle energy figures closer to a hot 9mm Para or .38Spl load- significantly less than what most shooters would expect from a pistol round starting with "4".

I'm not generally obsessive about squeezing the maximum possible velocity and accuracy from a personal defensive firearm, but at the same time, I can't get excited by a handgun that's not very accurate AND fires rounds at unusually slow velocities AND is physically huge. Color me unimpressed.

 

[danez71]

MLeake

If you read his posts, he never claimed it to be a better than average or even good coice for SD. He basically says that it can also be used for that.

Lets take a look at what he actually says in his very 1st post in this thread"

I see the benifits of this because I can shoot cheap 410 rounds out of it and 45acp for self defence carry/range shooting.

Then he later says:

I read a lot of reviews this afternoon and alot of "upity ups" complain about it can't shoot for crap 410 doesn't work. LOL??? then you got the guys say go stand in front of it and tell me(then the upity ups shut up)

And...

People act like the governor doesn't "kill" or is self defence, You can CC it, I bought a shoulder holster.

So it seems that people seem to forget what he says in his 1st post and fixate on his replies to people that question the whole concept of using a versatile gun for... GASP... versatile purposes that include SD.


He clearly, in his 1st post, states

and 45acp for self defence carry/range shooting.

And what is the problem with this?

It seems there is an effort by some to discredit his choice by fixating on using 410 for SD when he clearly indicates that 45 would be his 1st choice for SD in the very 1st post of this thread and then only insinuates that 410 could also work.

 

[Glenn E. Meyer]

But if you want to use a 45 round as primary SD then there are better guns.

Does the gun have utility in SD, yes - as does a 45 LC SAA or a BBQ fork. But the Judge debates and PR clearly have indicated that some think it is a superweapon with the 410 loads.

If the OP realizes that it is not that and an OK but bulky 45 revolver, that's fine.

I have a NAA 22s that I bought for grins. Does it have utility as a SD gun, yes. But it's not optimal.

That's the debate, endlessly. It's an OK gun - for fun. The shot shells don't make it a superweapon. Unless you are a watermelon.

 

[seeker_two]

Can someone explain to me how a revolver that is capable of putting multiple .41"-.45" holes into a target is NOT an adequate choice for SD?.....

 

[MLeake]

I think we all said it's "adequate."

If all you want in life is "adequate," that's fine. Adequate is just great, for many things.

But for a defensive weapon, I'd rather have one that I can shoot accurately and quickly, that points naturally, and that carries well.

Based on what I've seen from both magazine reviews and posts by shotgun revolver shooters on TFL, the Judge/Governor don't seem to meet my criteria. I haven't shot either model, so I can't directly compare. I have handled a Judge, though, and I didn't like its balance, trigger, or build quality. Haven't laid hands on a Governor, but so far haven't seen any real reason to do so, either.

 

[Glenn E. Meyer]

At IDPA today, we had one stage had with two BGs partially in back of a no-shoot. Way to do it cleanly was two head shots each. Did it!

Now with a 410 load in a Judge or Governor, from the patterns I saw - I could easily put stuff in the head of the no shoot.

Of course, one could to that with a regular semi. You could say that you shouldn't take such a shot BUT weird things happen rarely. Two guys grab your kid or wife or husband. Do you let them be taken off?

I prefer to have a gun that is designed not to spread its shots. I ain't shooting at a duck. I've done a couple of shotgun classes where we made the hostage shot and at matches. It's a bear with even with flight control 00.

Why have a gun that is inherently inaccurate for the vaunted reason for it's existence? The 410 loads?

If I want to shoot 45s - then I prefer the easier to shoot and more accurate 1911 or Glock platforms (or some others I haven't tried in semis).

That's the point of this endless debate. A Brown Bess would be adequate also given the scenario.

But to push the guns for newbies, esp. as a solution to lack of training is the problem with 410 zealotry.