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
The Lever Action Supreme Rifle: Henry's 21st Century Lever Gun
The Henry Lever Action Supreme Rifle (LASR) is a step away from the company’s traditional-styled lever-actions, providing a number of features that carry the lever gun into the 21st century.
The Seekins Precision SIC: A Modular Rifle for Special Operations Use
Originally designed for a SOCOM military contract, the Seekins Precision SIC is designed for anyone who wants extreme long-range accuracy.
I Carry: Taurus TX9 Compact in a Galco Holster
In our latest "I Carry" segment, we pair the new Taurus TX9 Compact with a leather Stow-N-Go holster from Galco, Inc. This compact, concealed-carry kit is rounded out with an Xolotl automatic knife produced by CRKT.
The Armed Citizen® March 13, 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.
Review: Canik USA MC9 Prime
Canik USA built out its concealed-carry handgun lineup with the MC9 Prime, which is a larger, yet still slim, CCW gun that sits in the same category as other upsized micro-compacts.
U.S. Army Awards Mossberg Contract for Additional 590A1 Pump-Action Shotguns
The U.S. Army has awarded O.F. Mossberg & Sons a contract for approximately $11.6 million dollars to supply the U.S. Army with additional Mossberg 590A1 pump-action shotguns.
Interests
250 Years of the U.S. Army: Bolt-Actions & Semi-Automatics on the Battlefield | An Official Journal Of The NRA
- WATCH: The Enduring Precision of NRA’s Long-Range Nationals | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
- 250 Years of the U.S. Army: Bolt-Actions & Semi-Automatics on the Battlefield | An Official Journal Of The NRA
- 250 Years of the U.S. Army: Rifle Muskets, Trapdoors & Early Bolt-Actions | An Official Journal Of The NRA
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
