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
NRA Gun of the Week: Coonan Compact Pistol
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
Three Hidden Joys of the Rifle
There is a particular jolt of joy when a shooter nestles behind a perfectly stable rifle and puts the ideal bullet exactly where intended.
New For 2026: Smith & Wesson M&P15 AXE
The new Smith & Wesson M&P15 AXE is not only the latest in the company's series of AR-style rifles, it marks the first S&W rifle to be chambered for the .300 Blackout cartridge.
The Armed Citizen® July 27, 2026
Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.
Making Sense of Conflicting Court Rulings on the AR-15
Various and often conflicting judicial rulings on AR-15s tees up this critical constitutional issue for the U.S. Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear cases challenging bans of these popular semi-automatic in the coming term.
Skills Check: The Meltdown Drill
Our drill this month trains you to acquire a multi-round-durable grip from the start and continually pressure-test it under time and transition stress, holding you to an all-clean-hits standard.
EAA Corp. Acquires Manufacturing Facility in Tennessee
European American Armory’s recent acquisition of a large manufacturing facility in Mountain City, Tenn., is further evidence that the firearm importer plans to establish a domestic manufacturing presence.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
