Coonan .357

Semi automatic and single shot handguns, revolvers and other pistols

Coonan .357

Post by brett1868 » 23 Aug 2017, 10:08 pm

Been a bit slow in the pistol section so I thought I'd post some info on a recent purchase. I'm starting to become a bit of a 1911 fan boy but the lack of power in that style of pistol put me off until I happened upon the Coonan .357 on Hickok45's YouTube channel and fell in lust. A 1911 type styling with the punch of a .357 Magnum round that can also fire 38 Special +P ammo. PTA was duly lodged, Registry employee put out on compo with a back injury pulling my file and 11 days later the PTA was in my mail box. Whilst waiting for the PTA to be processed I approached my friendly gun shop, told them what I wanted and where to get it so it was ready to collect when the paperwork arrived.

Last Thursday afternoon I collected it before heading home for that new gun cleaning routine. Friday night, Wylie27 and I hit the range to break it in and to do the Barricades Pistol shoot. I had to buy ammunition for it cause I was fresh out of stock, it's against my religion to purchase ammo but a couple boxes of Blazer 158Gr JHP single use cartridges were begrudgingly purchased. I'd cleaned and lubed the pistol the night before as they are shipped dry and totally lube free for some unknown reason, makes a change from having to remove oil from new guns. Magazine loaded with 5 rounds and I managed a very tidy 4 shots into the 10 ring @ 10m but 5th shot was a flyer, I screwed it and blame the trigger :D The next 7 rounds were sent down range with the appropriate focus on trigger control and accuracy to check if I needed to adjust the sights...The picture shows that no adjustment was necessary :D .

Tried it out to 25 & 50m and it grouped reasonably well considering it was freehand and not off a rest,I'll use a rest and my ammo next time.

I shot the Barricade's comp with the Coonan for fun but had numerous issues with it failing to return to battery. This is not the fault of the pistol but my grip technique it in order to shoot it single handed. Once I changed my grip all was good, the Blazer ammo isn't the best choice for semi auto pistols being aluminium cased but probably good in revolvers. Managed a semi respectable 321/480 but way off my usual 400+. The 2nd relay was 2 people short so Wylie and myself shot again for fun, managed a 431/480 with the CZ which didn't count but I at least redeemed myself.

This model is the competition version which comes fitted with a compensator and adjustable sights, includes 2 magazines for 6 + 1, soft zippered storage case and the usual safety lock. Retails around the $3,490 mark if you can find one.

While it may resemble a 1911 it's NOT and none of the parts are interchangeable, not even the grips.


Thoughts...It's very comfortable in my hand as I like a larger grip, shoots extremely well and the compensator does an excellent job keeping the muzzle on target. I'm very happy with this purchase and it'll get plenty of range time :)

Wylie27 put a few rounds through it so hopefully he'll add his thoughts as well.

Photos and Video curtesy Wylie27

The Coonan .357 Semi Auto
http://www.coonaninc.com/product/357-magnum-compensated/
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IMG_3562.JPG (391.84 KiB) Viewed 7435 times


7 @ 10m with focus...the 2 patches were for the previous 4 rounds into the 10 :)
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IMG_3563.JPG (106.41 KiB) Viewed 7435 times


Breathes Fire
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IMG_3565.JPG (70.79 KiB) Viewed 7435 times

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IMG_3566.JPG (62.96 KiB) Viewed 7435 times


Video
https://youtu.be/TeruULHIu6E
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Supaduke » 23 Aug 2017, 10:30 pm

Very cool brett, nice aquistion. Im in the first steps of getting a H license. One more gun to add to the list of cool guns i would like to have.
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by GLS_1956 » 24 Aug 2017, 12:59 am

I don't remember ever seeing one of these in the flesh, so to speak. But I do recall reading about theme in the magazines. Glad to hear they work.
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Wylie27 » 24 Aug 2017, 8:40 am

It was a hell of a lot of fun shooting it!!

The muzzle flash was awesome and there was some great photography there to capture the flash! :)
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by wrenchman » 24 Aug 2017, 9:46 am

very nice there is a big cool factore with that gun
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by brett1868 » 24 Aug 2017, 1:18 pm

GLS_1956 wrote:I don't remember ever seeing one of these in the flesh, so to speak. But I do recall reading about theme in the magazines. Glad to hear they work.


I believe the early versions had grief with feeding but this one feeds flawlessly and if gripped properly stopped jamming. So far I've only put 90 rounds through it so still a little too early to see if there's any bugs with the design. The machining could be a bit better but the Dremmel will soon fix that and it's purely cosmetic rather then functional. I've since stripped and tuned the mags as one was bent out of shape in the box. I loaded 920 rounds on the weekend and will punch another 1580 out tonight / tomorrow so there's plenty of ammo to feed it next week :) I have 2 different loads for .357 with one being for revolvers and the other for the DE 357, compensators tend to lesson the recoil which is required to cycle the action. I use 15.3gr of AR2205 behind a CCI magnum pistol primer driving the 158gr Hornady XTP JHP's which is a hot load for a revolver but is perfect for the DE357 and hopefully a winner in the Coonan. Next Monday will be the next outing or maybe even tonight if I gat a chance :)
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by galaxy » 27 Aug 2017, 5:04 pm

Hey Brett, I was the RO on Barricades that night. One complaint about the muzzle flash from the guy in the next bay but I enjoyed the light and sound show. Doesn't count unless it rattles the fillings in your teeth.
Interestingly that was the second Coonan I saw that month, and only the third I have ever seen.
Now you just need to man up and grip it properly.
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Carter » 28 Aug 2017, 3:58 pm

Is that an integrated brake on the front?
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by brett1868 » 28 Aug 2017, 4:29 pm

galaxy wrote:Hey Brett, I was the RO on Barricades that night. One complaint about the muzzle flash from the guy in the next bay but I enjoyed the light and sound show. Doesn't count unless it rattles the fillings in your teeth.
Interestingly that was the second Coonan I saw that month, and only the third I have ever seen.
Now you just need to man up and grip it properly.


If that flash upset them I'll bring the 460XVR next time just to really piss them off. Was fun listening, pop, pop, pop...BOOM, pop, pop...I was shooting the 460 some months back and 2 guys left, complaining about the noise to the boys on the counter. I think they're still laughing about it, ffs is a range, gun fire is loud so get over it.
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by brett1868 » 28 Aug 2017, 4:31 pm

Carter wrote:Is that an integrated brake on the front?


Yes, its actually screwed on then a grub screw to stop it coming lose. Coonan say not to remove it as is may damage the barrel thread but I don't see a need anyway as it strips and cleans same as any other 1911 style.
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Daddybang » 28 Aug 2017, 4:41 pm

That's gonna have to be banned under the military appearance laws....It looks like a flamethrower!!!! :D :drinks:
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by brett1868 » 28 Aug 2017, 5:04 pm

Daddybang wrote:That's gonna have to be banned under the military appearance laws....It looks like a flamethrower!!!! :D :drinks:


It'll be right, I'll keep it with my other prohibited firearms :D
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Wylie27 » 28 Aug 2017, 5:12 pm

Galaxy was it the guy on the left complaining? If so that was me lol.

Messing with Brett is the key to beating him ahaha :)

I fired two mags worth and it was fun..

:)
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by brett1868 » 28 Aug 2017, 6:48 pm

Wed & Thurs next week are looking awesome, Rimfire Silhouette on Wed and Barricades on Thursday. I'm thinking Wylie27 can shoot the Coonan and I'll break out the Desert Eagle. Both are 357Mag with compensators....lets see if we can double the complaints :)
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Wylie27 » 28 Aug 2017, 7:15 pm

Hahahahah sounds like a plan lol
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Gun nut. » 01 Jan 2018, 10:13 am

Had my Coonan now for 6 months. Absolutely love it! It's fired around 400 of my reloads with no issues to date. I would own this over a desert eagle anyday.

Image

Image
CZ 527 .223 varmit
Tikka T3 .308
K98 .308
Norinco JW-25A .22
Brno no.2 .22

Coonan .357 semi-auto
Ruger GP100 .357
S&W 617-1 .22
S&W 686-3 8 3/8
Colt rail gun 1911 .22
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Daddybang » 01 Jan 2018, 1:02 pm

Gun nut. wrote:Had my Coonan now for 6 months. Absolutely love it! It's fired around 400 of my reloads with no issues to date. I would own this over a desert eagle anyday.

Image

Image


Bloody nice photo!! :thumbsup: :drinks:
Is this what Johnny Cash meant by "A burning ring of fire"?. :lol: :drinks:
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Gun nut. » 01 Jan 2018, 1:14 pm

Yeah, I guess so.
CZ 527 .223 varmit
Tikka T3 .308
K98 .308
Norinco JW-25A .22
Brno no.2 .22

Coonan .357 semi-auto
Ruger GP100 .357
S&W 617-1 .22
S&W 686-3 8 3/8
Colt rail gun 1911 .22
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by juststarting » 01 Jan 2018, 3:25 pm

Supaduke wrote:Very cool brett, nice aquistion. Im in the first steps of getting a H license. One more gun to add to the list of cool guns i would like to have.


I'll race you :D
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by brett1868 » 03 Jan 2018, 8:48 pm

Gun nut. wrote:Had my Coonan now for 6 months. Absolutely love it! It's fired around 400 of my reloads with no issues to date. I would own this over a desert eagle anyday.


Excellent pictures, gotta love that ring of fire. My 460XVR throws massive fire donuts as well. I was considering some different grips but after shooting it more the factory grips are feeling much better. Great to hear that I'm not the only one loving the Coonan :)
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by Echidna » 02 Mar 2018, 4:04 am

Which dealer did you purchase it through?
I have a few DE's and love to get a Coonan .357
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Re: Coonan .357

Post by brett1868 » 02 Mar 2018, 9:33 pm

Echidna wrote:Which dealer did you purchase it through?
I have a few DE's and love to get a Coonan .357


I ordered mine from Magnum Sports at Roseville Chase in Sydney but any dealer should be able to order one in for you. I've got a few DE's as well and I bought the Coonan cause it was a semi auto and much lighter then the DE. I still love the DE, especially with a factory 44Mag load :)
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