NRA Gun of the Week: Coonan Compact Pistol

by
posted on January 16, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Designed and developed by gun designer Dan Coonan, and eventually produced by the Minnesota firm bearing his name, the Coonan pistols were chambered for the .357 Mag. cartridge. First the Model A, followed by an upgraded Model B, quickly gained a following for this well-made pistol. The Coonan Compact pistol is a somewhat smaller and easier to carry version of the full-size Coonan Classic. At 39 ozs. and measuring 7.7"x5.4", it is still a pretty hefty pistol likely to find use more as a sportsman’s gun, or even as a home-defense pistol, than as a concealment piece. Learn more in this NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by Joseph Kurtenbach.

Specifications

Manufacturer: Coonan Inc.
Model: Coonan Compact
Action: recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol
Caliber: .357 Mag.
Slide: stainless steel
Frame: stainless steel
Sights: three-dot; drift adjustable rear, dovetailed and pinned post front
Magazine: detachable box; six-round capacity
Barrel: 4”
Rifling: six-groove, 1:16” RH twist
Trigger: 4-lb., 7-oz. pull
Weight: 39 ozs.
Accessories: owner’s manual, loading tool, spare magazine, ear plugs, trigger lock, zippered case
MSRP: $1,535

For more on the Coonan Compact pistol, please enjoy the following articles:

Review: Coonan Compact 

Review: Coonan Compact .357 Mag. Pistol

Latest

Untitled 1 7
Untitled 1 7

Headed for Houston? Check Out We The Free’s Limited Edition Guns

We The Free has partnered with Fusion Firearms and Ranger Point Precision on two limited-edition firearms—its way of thanking you for supporting the NRA, Second Amendment and becoming a paid subscriber of We The Free.

I Have This Old Gun: Japanese Type 97 HMG

The Imperial Japanese army learned important lessons during the fighting in Manchuria, and these contributed to the development of its Type 97 machine gun, chambered for a heavier, harder-hitting cartridge.

Skills Check: The Event Horizon Drill

The Event Horizon drill is designed to pull attention away from consequence and return it to process by removing the shooter’s ability to visually reward or punish themselves shot-to-shot.

Ruger HSS Reassembly Aid Going Out of Business

If you've ever struggled to reassemble a Ruger Standard Model pistol, Hammer Strut Support offered an easy, patented solution for decades, but the company recently announced it would be closing its doors.

Taurus RPC: The Bull Does a PDW

Taurus is joining the PDW market with its 9 mm-chambered RPC, a large-format, semi-automatic pistol with plenty of capacity.

Weird Guns & The People Who Like Them

Whenever an unusual firearm crossed the table at Tam's local gun shop, there was always a buyer for it.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.