Coonan 357 magnum

[Dieselhorses]

Coonan 357 1911 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWnKh0nekPY)

Maybe I've been out of the loop a little but this gun amazes me that it can shoot wheelgun rounds in it! Think the only other pistol manufacturer that chambers 357 mag is Magnum Research (Desert Eagle)? Correct me if I'm wrong. Looking into buying one and was wondering if the "con's" outweighed the "pro's". Tried to find another discussion about this-if there is please point me to it.

[JBinMN]

I would like to help ya out, but unfortunately, other than I think they are made here in MN, I do not know a lot about them. I would be interested as well in hearing(reading) about them here from those that have one or used to have one.

One other thing I should mention is that I would sure love to own one, but it is highly unlikely that I will ever do so...
;)

[Dieselhorses]

Just found out one of the "con's" is that they start at 1500.00+ ! (One day)

[lefty o]

you have definately been out of the loop, theyve been around a few decades now. expensive though.

[Groo]

Groo here
I have a compact [4in]
Other than a bigger grip [for the longer case]
you can treat it like a 1911.
They are tight, good triggers accurate BUT you MUST use full powder loads [ standard has a lighter spring for 38+p but needs broken in first]
Not for the new shooter [they say so] but not as bad as you might think]
The closed breach adds a fair amount to the speed of the load and the fire rings [yes it does] are impressive...
Much more the thing than a DE [ same size as a 1911 about] and can take cast.
Negative is ,,, Much Wampum......

[NyFirefighter357]

I want one. One day!

[EMC45]

I shot a full size and a midsize at my local range. A guy had both of them. They are fire breathers. Felt like my teeth were getting loosened when I shot it. It was fun

[tazman]

This will get you a bunch of you tube videos about the Coonan.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=coonan+357

From everything I can see about that pistol, I will stick with my 686.

[psweigle]

I have the coonan classic, it shoots fantastic. My favorite range toy of all. Took me 2 years to save tbe money for it. Worth every penny.

[NSB]

I had two of them back when Dan Coonan was actually the owner of the company and producing the guns. I don't know how the new owners' (not so new anymore) quality is, but the originals were great. You do not have to shoot full power loads out of them. You simply have to match the spring to the load like any 1911 type gun....same springs actually. I shot one in Team Challenge Matches for two seasons until I realized you didn't need that much power to knock the plates over. Both of mine were compensated. The second one I had would shoot an inch for five shots at 35 yards on a pretty regular basis. I would almost always run the precision event with that gun. Once I wised up, I got a Les Behr in 38Super and life got a lot less loud and abusive. FWIW, I also shot a couple of deer with them. As stated, not cheap. Still, not as expensive as the Briley/Behr 38Super.

[Cougar Hunter]

The word in the firearms community was that Coonan has gone tits-up. Lots of discussion of this on the 1911Forum. Unless someone has done some CPR on the Company since May this year, I wouldn't be to hopeful about their return to solvency. This doesn't do me any good as I own one.

Edit add, I was trying to post a pic of my Coonan Classic stainless but its not working at the moment....

[reddog81]

Their website has gone defunct and has had the same warning about how they're not going out of business for about the last year...

I've been interested in one for awhile, but between the cost of the gun and the prospect of loosing large quantities of .357 brass in an auto-loader has always kept me away. My LGS was contacted about becoming a supplier a few years ago and they met with sales rep who supposedly couldn't get the guns to function for more than 1 or 2 magazines without a malfunction.

[Sig556r]

Howd't stack rimmed ammo on a straight mag?

[Cougar Hunter]

I was able to add a pic:
This should explain the magazine question....
I really like the pistol. I had issues with the slide cracking early on, but sent the slide back and Coonan replaced it under warranty. From what I've read on the net, Coonan slides cracking isn't un heard of. They seem to crack in the same spot. Mine has been ok since.

248798

[psweigle]

Mine runs flawlessly. And as far as the rimmed case in a stack magazine, isn't a 22lr a rimmed case? They have been using them in magazines for a very long time. The 357 is just bigger!

[Walks]

I shot one way back in the Day.
Miculek is right it really twists to the left, a Lot more then a std 1911. And the mag restricts you to a short overall cartridge length. If you were to shoot cast, it would have to be a short TC or RF.

And since Coonan is belly up ? No warranty...

If you can still find one. And the Mags are proprietary too.


I HATE THIS TABLET.

[psweigle]

Mine shoots cast just fine. As long as it's within max oal, its not an issue. I use the lee 158gr round nose at the same goal as all my other 357's shoot.

[Dieselhorses]

>>psweigle<<
Probably gonna do what you did and save up for one, just really “fancy’s my interest” and not too hard on my eyes. So we got revolvers, crack barrels, lever action and semi-auto 357 mag. guns. Just seems like an extremely versatile cartridge. Thanks for all the reviews!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Texas by God]

Peter kokalis wrote it up in Shotgun News a few years ago and he had nothing but praise for it. And that man knows guns.

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[Dpmsman]

I have both the 5" and 4". I have to admit I'm much better with the 357 mag cartridge in a revolver. I have to really watch how I press the trigger on the Coonan or I start to pull my shots. I have only had the compact out once. It wouldn't lock open after the last round fired after a few mags through her. The slide was not properly hardened and the slide stop notch had rounded over. I sent it back and they replaced the slide but i haven't shot it since. Buy the way the compact model will toss empties a country mile!!!

[LUBEDUDE]

I’ve owned both the Coonan and the 357 D.E. Both were great guns. My brother talked me out of the Coonan, which I immediately regretted.

The D.E. Got stolen. I only bought the D.E. due to price. I thought it would be disappointing to shoot since the 44 was top dog at that time. But to my amazement, the 357 was really a joy to shoot. That gas operated gun was a real pussycat.

The Coonan? Well, what’s not to like about a 1911? (Yeah, I know it’s not a pure 1911)

[DocSavage]

Fired a Coonan ages ago when they first came out,gun didn't fire more than a couple of rounds with out a ftf. They owner was shooting it dry no oil/lube of any kind I suspect the slide and frame were different types of stainless and was galling.

[NSB]

I believe galling is reduced when you do use different grades of stainless steel.It's caused when using the same stainless steel. FWIW, neither of my two Dan Wessons had any, I repeat ANY problems with failure to feed, fire, or eject. They operated flawlessly. I had eight Chip McCormick Shooting Star mags and all worked perfectly. Like any auto it needs to be clean and oiled.

[LUBEDUDE]

There were some galling issues in the early years of the 44 Auto Mag. The problems were alleviated using a certain synthetic lube. My brain can’t think of the name right now. But I do picture in my mind a grey bottle and the name starting with the letter F? I want to say that it’s F-10, but that comes in a black bottle. Maybe they changed it?

[Dpmsman]

I’ll have to say that my classic model has been 100% reliable. No complaints there and I do believe it to be a well made firearm I just can’t shoot it as well as I would like.

[Intel6]

Another fan of the Coonan here, had mine since the 90's. I shoot mine quite a bit and it is always fun! I have a .38 special conversion for it (just a mag and lighter spring) but I just use a lighter spring (same as 1911 springs, just shorten a bit) and shoot lighter loaded .357's. I hav so much .357 brass it is just easier that way and I can use the regular .357 mags.

[Meatpuppet]

Got one at an estate sale. Shoots like a laser beam and has a great trigger. I have never had a Fail to Fire or Fail to Feed using full power loads from 135gr to 180gr. Sometimes I load up 158gr with slower buring VV N110 and shoot at the indoor range..... The fireball gets everyone's attention.

Im trying to find a 3rd magazine.