NRA Gun of the Week: Coonan Compact Pistol

Published on January 16, 2016
Duration: 3:58

This video reviews the Coonan Compact, a 357 Magnum semi-automatic handgun built on an M1911-style platform. It highlights the unique magazine design required to handle the 357 Magnum's higher pressures and rimmed cartridge, featuring a steep-angled follower and ribbed interior. The review notes the wider grip frame and all-steel construction contribute to a weight comparable to a full-size 1911, offering controllability with the powerful cartridge. Standard 1911 controls are present, along with low-profile 3-dot sights and a skeletonized trigger. Disassembly is noted as bushingless, requiring a pin or paperclip.

Quick Summary

The Coonan Compact is a 357 Magnum semi-automatic handgun built on an M1911 platform. Its unique magazine design, featuring a steep-angled follower and internal ribbing, is engineered to reliably feed the powerful 357 Magnum cartridge. The pistol boasts an all-steel construction and a wider grip frame for enhanced control.

Chapters

  1. 00:18Introduction to Coonan Compact
  2. 00:24Coonan Inc. Background
  3. 00:33Challenges of 357 Magnum
  4. 00:45Magazine Design Innovation
  5. 01:09Magazine Capacity
  6. 01:181911 Platform Adaptation
  7. 01:24Compact Model Overview
  8. 01:27Grip Frame Width
  9. 01:35All-Steel Design and Weight
  10. 01:47Semi-Automatic 357 Magnum Handgun
  11. 01:53Controls and Ergonomics
  12. 02:15Sights
  13. 02:22Beefy Construction
  14. 02:29Differences from Standard 1911
  15. 02:31Bushingless Design
  16. 02:38Disassembly Procedure
  17. 02:47Grip Accommodations
  18. 02:52Skeletonized Trigger
  19. 02:54Slide Lock Design
  20. 03:03Standard 1911 Style Platform
  21. 03:07Magnum Cartridge Utilization
  22. 03:12Shooting Experience
  23. 03:17Target Audience
  24. 03:23Where to Find More Info

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Coonan Compact unique among 1911-style handguns?

The Coonan Compact is unique because it's chambered in 357 Magnum, a powerful cartridge not typically found in semi-automatic 1911s. This required significant engineering, particularly in the magazine design, to handle the higher pressures and rimmed case.

How does the Coonan Compact magazine handle the 357 Magnum cartridge?

The magazine features a follower with a very steep angle to ensure reliable feeding of the 357 Magnum cartridge directly into the chamber. Additionally, ribbing on the inside of the metal magazine helps control the cartridges as they feed upwards.

What are the key physical characteristics of the Coonan Compact?

The Coonan Compact has a wider grip frame than a standard 1911 to manage the 357 Magnum's pressures. Its all-steel construction results in a weight of 39 ounces, comparable to a full-size 1911, contributing to shootability.

What are the disassembly instructions for the Coonan Compact?

The Coonan Compact is a bushingless design. Disassembly requires a pin or paperclip inserted into a hole in the full-length guide rod to lock the spring, allowing the slide to be removed from the front.

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