S&W Governor .410 / .45 Shotgun Revolver

@Joe Dear Joe,
Self Defense means different things in different places. My AMT 45DAO Backup is about as pure a self defense weapon as anything known. But it too has drawbacks. It was made so sloppy as to be completely reliable, for card table distances. Now you can't let a wolf, or black bear, get up that close. Out here in the Idaho Panhandle, we are more likely to be accosted, head on, by the four legged predators.

S&W has been taking way too many shortcuts, lately. Their sliding shoe safety was pretty good at holding a hammer mounted firing pin off of a primer, but these new Governors and their other Scandium framed revolvers, use frame mounted firing pins. So some detritus, can get in between the hammer and the firing pin, in an exposed holster. You won't be bothered by this in an apartment or home defensive situation, but carrying one, out in the mountains, invites problems.

The transfer bar system seems to be the way to go, and yet Freedom Arms, et al. don't want you to carry a live round under the hammer. My AMT's hammer has no spur, so it hides in the back of the slide. But many police armorers demanded that it also be carried with an empty chamber, and this doomed the back up concept.

The Governor, as is, seems to be a good multi dwelling defensive weapon, Up in the mountains, I think some more tuning would be golden. It's one competitor seems to me to be the solid stainless, Taurus, chambered in 45 Casull. Not that I'd want that flame thrower round in a snubbie, but it seems to me to be a step up from the earlier S&W M-696, in 44 Special. F.A. gave me a loading for my old 2nd Gen. Peacemaker, using their 300 gr. bullet, over Dupont 700 powder. It was almost a +P Colt load.

Right now, my Go To revolver is a Lipsey's Ruger 44 Special, with the short barrel, and a Millet red dot sight, in a Jack Wiegand mount. If I can get a laser equipped Governor to work at half the range of my Ruger, I will grab one, later this year. But the AMT is ultra handy, and surprisingly quick. But it's awfully limited in accuracy. Seven yards is about it.

Around here, defense with a sidearm, starts out at about 70 yards, and ends up at arm lengths. So the lasers are a really good idea, but aren't legal to take any game with. They must only be used on dedicated self defense firearms. This is why I queried you on your feelings about the Governor's limitations. I would rather keep a Big Game legal, red dot, on my Ruger 44 Special, for this reason. The little AMT, doesn't even have a laser available, as it's a discontinued item.
Thanx in advance, Dave T.

@Joe Dear Joe,
Self Defense means different things in different places. My AMT 45DAO Backup is about as pure of a self defense weapon, as anything known. But it too has it's drawbacks. It was fitted so sloppy, as to be completely reliable, for card table distances. Now you can't let a wolf, or black bear, get up that close. Out here in the Idaho Panhandle, we are more likely to be accosted, head on, by the four legged predators.

S&W has been taking way too many shortcuts, lately. Their sliding shoe safety was pretty good at holding a hammer mounted firing pin off of a primer, in a 38 M & P, but these new Governors and other Scandium framed revolvers, use frame mounted pins. So some detritus, can get in between the hammer and the firing pin, in an exposed holster. You won't be bothered by this in an apartment or home defensive situation, but carrying it on your hip, out in the mountains, invites problems.

The transfer bar system seems to be the way to go, and yet Freedom Arms, et al. doesn't want you to carry a live round under the hammer. My AMT's hammer has no spur, so it hides in the back of the slide. But many police armorers demanded that it also be carried with an empty chamber, and this doomed the back up concept.

The Governor, as is, seems to be a good multi dwelling defensive weapon, Up in the mountains, I think some more tuning would be golden. It's one competitor seems to me to be the solid stainless, Taurus, chambered in 45 Casull. Not that I'd want that flame thrower round in a snubbie, but it seems to me to be a step up from the earlier S&W M-696, in 44 Special. F.A. gave me a loading for my old 2nd Gen. Peacemaker, using their 300 gr. bullet, over Dupont 700 powder. It was almost a +P Colt load.

Right now, my Go To revolver is a Lipsey's Ruger 44 Special, with the short barrel, and a Millet red dot sight, clamped in a Jack Wiegand mount. If I can get a laser equipped Governor to work at half the range of my Red Dot Ruger, I will grab one, later this year. But the AMT is ultra handy, and surprisingly quick. But it's awfully limited in accuracy. under seven yards is about it's effective range.

Around here, defense with a sidearm, starts out at about 70 yards, and ends up at arm lengths. So the lasers are a really good idea, but they aren't legal to take any game with. So they must only be used on dedicated self defense firearms. This is why I queried you on your feelings about the Governor's limitations. I would rather keep a legal red dot on my Ruger 44 Special, for this reason. The little AMT, 45 ACP, doesn't even have a laser available, as it's a long discontinued item.
Thanx in advance, Dave T.