Coonan Classic 357?

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Damon555

Damon555

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I hope you guys don't mind....This is cross posted for maximum exposure.

It appears that the major players in the gun industry have been focused on pumping out cheap, inexpensive products these days...From the Ruger American line of guns to the Remington pocket pistols we are seeing cheaper and cheaper versions of our classic firearms.

In an effort to buck this trend I have decided that I will save my pennies a little longer and try to purchase more firearms at the upper end of my comfortable price range....of course with fewer guns in my collection as a result. What I would like to do is maximize the value of my small(ish) collection of guns.

Which brings me to the Coonan......Ever since their reintroduction I have been interested in them. Can anyone with first hand experience comment on the current "Classic" model 357? Everything I see about them online makes me want one.....I need something interesting to have in a holster when I'm pulling the trigger on my Tommy gun....not something you see every day....Are they worth it?
 
That's my current want..and was my "target" for my 50th in August.

Were it not for a boat that needed quite a bit of engine repair, a kitchen refrigerator quitting on me and needing replacement with the $ 2100 one the wife fell in love with, and of course $750 bucks worth of new tires on the toy hauler (all in the in the past 8 weeks!) I would be able to reply with a range report! :uhoh:

Hopefully we both will soon get a chance to write about new Classics :thumbup:
 
Take a look at hickok45 on youtube. He shot one and his reviews are good and entertaining to boot.
 
I have one of the originals...the slide was sent to Novak to have night sights added.

I changed out the grips and bushings for thinner panels. It helps me with control. Because the 357 Magnum is much longer than a 45 ACP, the grips and magazine are longer in the anterior to posterior dimension. If you have average to large hands, it will work. Medium to small hands and you’re out of luck.

Recoil is mild. I reload for the 357 Magnum so I had to ensure enough power to allow the semiautomatic to work. I never use 38+P in it.

It’s a great gun. Well worth the money.
 
I put about 100 rounds thru a new one at an indoor range in August shooting factory ammo. Nice feel to the recoil with a nice concussion but a large muzzle flash. I had one fail to fire, so not 100% reliable in 100 rounds. The grip feels different and bigger than a 1911 to accommodate the longer 357 case. Easy to get good grip with weak hand for two handed shooting. Double taps were slow. Probably no need to double tap with a 357.

I shot a 3 inch, 7 round group off hand at 25 yards. The RO said that was the best group he'd seen with the Coonan. Very popular gun to shoot at the range, he said. Accuracy was on par with my Rock Island 45 ACP but not as good as my Kimber and Tanfoglio 45 ACPs.

I was convinced walking in that I would buy one for hunting. After shooting I wasn't sure what exactly I would use it for. Just to have one is a good enough reason, but in the end I decided not to buy.
 
I rented one at a range a couple years back and loved it. Very accurate, mild recoil for full power .357, great ergos and trigger. I want one.
 
I had one for a time, I sold it to a friend and he's still shooting it.

We both liked, he's shot it a lot more than I ever did and is happy with it.

DM
 
Thanks guys! The pic would have been better if the Q-tip I had used to lube the gun hadn't of "linted" up the darn thing. Time to hit my army buddy up for the real deal gun cleaning Q-tips again. Tonight she goes on her maiden voyage....I plan on shooting the snot out of it! I've got plenty of 357's loaded up!
 
The Coonan functioned perfectly.....It might possibly be the coolest handgun that I have ever shot! The recoil is no worse than my 45 ACP 1911 even when shooting full house 357 loads.....but the muzzle blast is a sight (and sound) to behold.....just incredible! Everyone at the range just had to see what all the racket was about.

If you have the means and are even remotely interested in this type of gun I highly recommend you get one while the gettin's good.....
 
Damon555 said:
I hope you guys don't mind....This is cross posted for maximum exposure.

It appears that the major players in the gun industry have been focused on pumping out cheap, inexpensive products these days...From the Ruger American line of guns to the Remington pocket pistols we are seeing cheaper and cheaper versions of our classic firearms.

In an effort to buck this trend I have decided that I will save my pennies a little longer and try to purchase more firearms at the upper end of my comfortable price range....of course with fewer guns in my collection as a result. What I would like to do is maximize the value of my small(ish) collection of guns.

Which brings me to the Coonan......Ever since their reintroduction I have been interested in them. Can anyone with first hand experience comment on the current "Classic" model 357? Everything I see about them online makes me want one.....I need something interesting to have in a holster when I'm pulling the trigger on my Tommy gun....not something you see every day....Are they worth it?
Click to expand...

These are seldom seen in second-hand market. I have handled & examined only one and can tell you it is very high quality firearm.
 
Damon555

Very nice! I tried one of the older versions out years ago but as CDR_Glock mentioned not a good fit for those of us with smaller size hands. Let us know how it does at the range.
 
I have had one of the first versions since the late '80's and it's been a great gun. Did have one problem with light strikes after a couple hundred rounds that was caused by a too weak mainspring. Easy to fix and it's been a solid performer since.:)

Oh...one thing....be sure to use grease on the slide/frame interface being as they're both stainless and can gall if they're not properly lubricated. Once things wear in the need for grease goes away, but I always felt it better to grease it up just to keep things happy.
 
The gun is unbelievable. I've had a few malfunctions messing around with different recoil spring weights shooting really light 38 special loads but never a hiccup in its factory configuration. The finish is very durable and cleans up easily. I've grown fond of the grip size....a little bigger than a standard 1911 but they fit very well in my average sized hands.

I think this pistol was a great investment. It will be a real classic some day that my kids and eventually grand kids will enjoy also.
 
I fired one ages ago it didn't feed reliably but that was because the owner did use a lube of any kind. To bad though it was a blast to shhot
 
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