User Panel
Posted: 8/21/2017 5:44:44 AM EDT
Well i am wanting to buy a revolver and the judge and governor is catching my eye.
I have shot the judge but its been forever ago. I know the governor can run .45 acp as well. but for range shooting the judge in 6" has me liking it plus its a 3" shot shell. I got some options 1. Get the judge and a 1911 probably gonna be close to a grand total? 2. Get just the judge and save extra money 3.get the governor or 1911 only? 4. Ksg 12 or 24 if its out yet? Collection so far 12gauge shot gun Glock 22 Bolt .22 Ar-15 |
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Why either?
Not a very good revolver and real shitty shotgun. Better served by getting a Ruger that shoots .45(or old colt or S&W) and forget about the shotgun stuff. |
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I'd go with the S&W Governor, higher quality gun. Perfect for the ranch, 410 shells for snakes and 45LC for larger animals.
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I used to eschew these pistols... But after watching Hickock45 do a video of him driving by and shooting a staged car jacker... I realized they are great for that purpose. Then he hits 50+ yard gongs with .45acp's with it round after round and I thought, this Governor concept is actually pretty cool. I would go Smith & Wesson forever over a Taurus anything OP. However, I have not heard anything bad about the Judge. YMMV...
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I used to eschew these pistols... But after watching Hickock45 do a video of him driving by and shooting a staged car jacker... I realized they are great for that purpose. Then he hits 50+ yard gongs with .45acp's with it round after round and I thought, this Governor concept is actually pretty cool. I would go Smith & Wesson forever over a Taurus anything OP. However, I have not heard anything bad about the Judge. YMMV... View Quote .410 birdshot on paper looks terrifying, but if you've got a motivated attacker or your window is up or they shield their face with an arm, it's going to sting, and they're going to bleed, but then you're depending on pain compliance vs physically disabling them. |
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Thank you for the replies i had a sneaky suspicion that the judge may not be a good idea. But I like the price of it.
. I haven't had a chance to get my hands on the governor yet. I am hoping if work goes the way my schedule looks I will have friday off. So I will be able go to a gun store and look around. |
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I might be wrong but is the judge a five shot while the smith holds six? The ability to shoot 45 Colt shotshells and Acp in moon clips makes the smith superior by far.
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Dad has one of the 4-inch barrel aluminum frame Judges. It's been a reliable handgun, light weight and easy to carry. Fairly accurate with 45 Colt despite the fixed sights. It's far from the best revolver going but with #8 shot its hell on snakes. Snake are one of the few areas where it really shines. Hard to beat if for a light weight close range snake gun. For just about any other job you would carry a handgun for there are better options.
More of my ramblings, mostly on shooting 410 Buckshot and Slugs in a Judge. http://mcb-homis.com/judge/index.htm |
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I thoroughly enjoy my governor. Great for desert hiking, and fun as hell to shoot.
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I've worked on several judges and had friends have to work on some. Usually rough machining, sometimes burrs in the cylinder ratchet/pawl area. .410 birdshot on paper looks terrifying, but if you've got a motivated attacker or your window is up or they shield their face with an arm, it's going to sting, and they're going to bleed, but then you're depending on pain compliance vs physically disabling them. View Quote Paper has nothing to do with it. Shotshells are capable of doing horrific damage at carjacking distances. |
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. Paper has nothing to do with it. Shotshells are capable of doing horrific damage at carjacking distances. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I've worked on several judges and had friends have to work on some. Usually rough machining, sometimes burrs in the cylinder ratchet/pawl area. .410 birdshot on paper looks terrifying, but if you've got a motivated attacker or your window is up or they shield their face with an arm, it's going to sting, and they're going to bleed, but then you're depending on pain compliance vs physically disabling them. Paper has nothing to do with it. Shotshells are capable of doing horrific damage at carjacking distances. Bird shot is a poor performer for self defense from a shotgun when fired at 1100-1200 fps and payloads more than twice as heavy as a 410. From a Judge/Governor you going to be down in the 700-800 fps range with ~1/2 oz of shot. Leave the shot shells for the snakes. |
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For a easier to carry pest gun for a farmer or rancher there is some utility.
For the gun guy who has 50 guns of all types and wants "something different" to play with at the range there could be some giggle value. For any serious use , not so much . Keep in mind these are weird sized handguns with funky chunky balance and feel. There are so many interesting used guns out there for 1/3 the cost you could buy several and in the end have more fun and a better shooting experience. If you just want something weird to play with go for it. Just keep in mind there isn't a one gun covers all bases out there |
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I take it you don't have much experience with shotshells. Bird shot.....BB? #4? #9? All birdshot, all vastly different. Would a skeet load of #9 be a good defense load out of a revolver barrel? Probably not except at very close range, but I'd bet my farm that you won't allow someone to try it on you, will you? Here's some of that "poor performance" from a shotshell: http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/12gasubfloor.jpg http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/12%20ga%20subfloor%20exit_zpsj4evmgjg.jpg View Quote Show me one good study/expert that says shotshells, with any size bird shot from BB down to #12, from any shotgun (let alone a short rifled barrel Judge/Governor) are a good choice for self defense. Those picture you show are 12 gauge from a full length barrel. Not only does the 410 shot shell hold less than half as much weight of shot the shot is going much slower as I indicated in my above post. 1200 fps to 800 fps is a 33% lost of velocity and a 55% reduction in energy for each pellet. I can probably find more stories if I look but there are countless stories of people being shot with bird shot are relatively short ranges and surviving it. Shot in the upper body and head and survived: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas/articles/2017-04-24/turkey-hunter-in-kansas-mistakenly-shoots-brother-and-friend As for snake medicine a Judge or Governor with 410 shots shells and relatively small shot (7.5, 8, 9) is a good choice probably one of the best choices in handgun form but for two legged critters there are few worst choices than shots shells in a Judge or Governor. |
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You're are still getting the Show me one good study/expert that says shotshells, with any size bird shot from BB down to #12, from any shotgun (let alone a short rifled barrel Judge/Governor) are a good choice for self defense. Those picture you show are 12 gauge from a full length barrel. Exactly, in response to your absurd notion that: "Bird shot is a poor performer for self defense from a shotgun when fired at 1100-1200 fps...." Studies? How about 45+ years of shooting/killing things with shotguns? You can't get that in a youtube video. Not only does the 410 shot shell hold less than half as much weight of shot the shot is going much slower as I indicated in my above post. 1200 fps to 800 fps is a 33% lost of velocity and a 55% reduction in energy for each pellet. Right. 1/2 oz. = 218 grs. At 800 fps and close range, it's the rough equivalent of a 45 ACP target load. So why don't you set up a mock carjacking and let someone shoot you with a .410 revolver at arms-length distance? After all it'll just sting, according to you. BTW, when you quote energy figures, you establish fact that you simply don't understand that energy has NOTHING to do with terminal ballistics. I can probably find more stories if I look but there are countless stories of people being shot with bird shot are relatively short ranges and surviving it. Shot in the upper body and head and survived: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas/articles/2017-04-24/turkey-hunter-in-kansas-mistakenly-shoots-brother-and-friend I didn't catch how far the victims were when they were shot, or whether they even survived. I did notice however that they were still in the hospital at the time of the article. I can find stories of people surviving wounds from .38's, .357's, 44.'s, .45's, et al, but that doesn't mean they're poor cartridges for self defense. As for snake medicine a Judge or Governor with 410 shots shells and relatively small shot (7.5, 8, 9) is a good choice probably one of the best choices in handgun form but for two legged critters there are few worst choices than shots shells in a Judge or Governor. Again, experience trumps "probably". I've killed several dozen rattlesnakes on and around my property over the last 12+ years, all with handloaded shotshells firing 1/4 to 1/3 oz. of #9 shot at a mere 800-850 fps out of 3" to 4" revolvers. View Quote |
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Well I bought the judge in 3" shot shells
Turns out .410 has some defensive loads? http://www.winchester.com/Products/New-Products/Pages/pdx1-410.aspx Also I noticed but i am betting that its ammo related used Remington 3 and 2.5 3 was to long (stuck out 1/8" or less but enough to be seen. 2.5 fell out easily vs the Winchester 2.5 and 45lc Winchester 2.5 fit perfectly So rocking 3" federal in 7.5 shot (thats all they had gonna buy some bigger shot for it or defensive rounds) |
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Well we shot my judge yesterday, I already knew what kind of gun it was prior to and wasn't going to be a nail driver.
Remington .410 3" stuck past chamber 2.5" fell out with ease Went and got Federal 3" fit perfectly but once fired would not cycle due to open flap sticking in barrel.. had to force cylinder out... 45lc horrible, had to hold way below target a good bit to hit the target at 20yrds (or around it) less recoil then I thought.. I am either gonna keep this thing, or kick it once i get some coin back in either 1911 or another revolver I like it but I don't like how low I have to hold it lucky my g22 is pretty decent in accuracy |
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You'll have to forgive me for not being intimidated by your mean little emoji's. View Quote #4 birdshot only gets 4 inches of penetration from a Taurus Judge at nearly point blank range. There are better choices, many many better choices, for self defense (from two legged critters) than shot shells from a Judge. Even from a shotgun bird shot is for birds not self defense. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhZf_x8Esms |
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nhsport pretty much nailed it above, I want one but am waiting for a used one to show up cheap. I would prefer the Governor, at least you only have to explain away one poor decision vs two if you buy a Taurus.
Unless you are traveling to the snake dimension or solely working your own property where fear of two legged varmints is close to zero, I think you are better off with a revolver shooting .44 or .45 and load the first two cylinders with snake shot. |
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I've worked on several judges and had friends have to work on some. Usually rough machining, sometimes burrs in the cylinder ratchet/pawl area. .410 birdshot on paper looks terrifying, but if you've got a motivated attacker or your window is up or they shield their face with an arm, it's going to sting, and they're going to bleed, but then you're depending on pain compliance vs physically disabling them. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
I used to eschew these pistols... But after watching Hickock45 do a video of him driving by and shooting a staged car jacker... I realized they are great for that purpose. Then he hits 50+ yard gongs with .45acp's with it round after round and I thought, this Governor concept is actually pretty cool. I would go Smith & Wesson forever over a Taurus anything OP. However, I have not heard anything bad about the Judge. YMMV... .410 birdshot on paper looks terrifying, but if you've got a motivated attacker or your window is up or they shield their face with an arm, it's going to sting, and they're going to bleed, but then you're depending on pain compliance vs physically disabling them. |
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I might be wrong but is the judge a five shot while the smith holds six? The ability to shoot 45 Colt shotshells and Acp in moon clips makes the smith superior by far. View Quote |
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I wouldn't be shooting anything but the mildest 45 Colt loads in one of those revolvers.
For the .410 shells to fit, the cylinder bores must be machined horribly oversized. This is not a good recipe for shooting anything but the very lowest pressure 45 Colt loads. So, IMO, when listing all the wonderful and useful capabilities of the Judge, one should scratch the ability for shooting 45 Colt. For all those bird shot self defense folks. Look at the ammo oracle section of this website. There is a wealth of information including gel tests. You might receive an education regarding appropriate self defense loads for shotguns. |
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Why either? Not a very good revolver and real shitty shotgun. Better served by getting a Ruger that shoots .45(or old colt or S&W) and forget about the shotgun stuff. View Quote |
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Because it's fun, and most of us are probably way past need on guns. My Judge is one of my last choices for self defense but it's high on fun. What's not to like in a shotgun revolver? View Quote |
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Because it's fun, and most of us are probably way past need on guns. My Judge is one of my last choices for self defense but it's high on fun. What's not to like in a shotgun revolver? View Quote I owned a Governor at one time when I was young and dumb, it's not a practical gun at all. |
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Well we shot my judge yesterday, I already knew what kind of gun it was prior to and wasn't going to be a nail driver. Remington .410 3" stuck past chamber 2.5" fell out with ease Went and got Federal 3" fit perfectly but once fired would not cycle due to open flap sticking in barrel.. had to force cylinder out... 45lc horrible, had to hold way below target a good bit to hit the target at 20yrds (or around it) less recoil then I thought.. I am either gonna keep this thing, or kick it once i get some coin back in either 1911 or another revolver I like it but I don't like how low I have to hold it lucky my g22 is pretty decent in accuracy View Quote |
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OP has 4 guns. If I had 4 AR's I would feel like I was low on AR's. I owned a Governor at one time when I was young and dumb, it's not a practical gun at all. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Because it's fun, and most of us are probably way past need on guns. My Judge is one of my last choices for self defense but it's high on fun. What's not to like in a shotgun revolver? I owned a Governor at one time when I was young and dumb, it's not a practical gun at all. |
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