1911 Question

[Woodnut]

I read and interesting article yesterday about a .357 mag 1911. I guess I am a little behind the times, but I didn't know they made them. Has anyone had any experience with them, and are they worth the money?. It was a very interesting article in Shotgun News, in case anyone wants to read it. They had some very good points on the gun. Then I realize that a lot of it is advertising.

[Helix_FR]

No Kidding. I wasn't aware that the 1911 could feed something as long as the 357. Are you sure it wasn't the 357 sig. I've seen a couple of those.

[permafrost]

They used to make one called the 357 Coonan Arms. Looked like a 45 platform, but I'm sure the grip area was expanded. Always wanted one. don't know if that's what your refering to, or not.

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by permafrost

They used to make one called the 357 Coonan Arms. Looked like a 45 platform, but I'm sure the grip area was expanded. Always wanted one. don't know if that's what your refering to, or not.

That's the one I was refering to. I had just forgotten the name. I think the artical said it was first introduced in the mid 90's.

Helix_FR, I just looked up the artical to be sure, and yes it is a .357 Mag. The frame has been enlarged to accomadate the Mag length. The artical is way to long for me to copy, but I'm sure you might could bring it up on the web. The artical was printed in the April 20, 2011 issue of Shotgun News.
It says there are 18 components that are exactly the same and will exchange with the mil spec 1911.
I will do a little research after awhile and see if I can find a link for you. I warn you tho, it is a long read, but to me it was worth the time.

[Woodnut]

Here ya go. This is a link to the artical. There's not any pictures that I could find on the web. But this is the exact artical that got my attention.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+or...s.-a0255603141

[ka64]

Try this sight for Pictures.

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/usa/coonan-e.html

[lonewolf204]

I'd like to try one of these!

[American Leader]

Thanks for the pics ka64!

[Woodnut]

Thanks for the pics ka64! I was going to look them up but we have had company all afternoon and you beat me to it. Thanks again. I would sure like to shoot one of these guns. Just once, at least. But I would not buy one until I had a full range report and had a chance to shoot it myself.

[Helix_FR]

Thats kinda cool. Always been a fan of the 357 anyway. Since they did a redesign it all makes sense now.

[ka64]

Originally Posted by American Leader

Thanks for the pics ka64!

Originally Posted by Woodnut

Thanks for the pics ka64! I was going to look them up but we have had company all afternoon and you beat me to it. Thanks again. I would sure like to shoot one of these guns. Just once, at least. But I would not buy one until I had a full range report and had a chance to shoot it myself.

My pleasure Gents.

[JLA]

Like a beefed up, purpose built, .38 spec target conversion for the 1911. Except POWERFUL.. I dont think it would be all that different handling from an AMT automag .30 carbine, without the 7 foot barrel of course..

[TheGunClinger]

http://coonaninc.com/ Here you go Carl. I think that they are back in business. My FFL has one. Prety cool.

[Woodnut]

Thanks Clinger
Very interesting link, even tells price and a lot of other information, not that I am going to run out and buy one for $1250 bucks, but all and all if it is what they say it is, it might not be a bad price. But I betting there will be bugs for a while.

[mncarpenter]

I saw several at various tables at the gun show i went to last weekend. They all seemed to be brand new, look like a well made pistol.

[Bigbill]

I wonder how it handles the stout magnum loads if we shoot them alot? When we get near 1,500 fps remember we have pressure and flames blowing off on both sides of the cylinder too besides the longer flame comming out of the barrel on the revolvers its like having a pressure relief system with the cylinder gap. In a pistol the barrel and chamber will take the brunt of the pressure and i think this is why the auto mags in the magnum calibers were so large. I like the thoughts of having a magnum power in a 1911 pistol but right now the 10mm being said to be equal to a 41mag in power has my interest. But I have hammered two new 1911's in 45acp shooting stouter rounds apart in the past. This is why i'm leary of a magnum powered pistol. My new ccw gun is a S&W M58 in 41mag revolver. Bill

BTW; When i seen a guy brought into the ER room with 5 shots of 45acp in him and he lived i reloaded my 1911 in 45acp with the soup bowel speer 200gr hollow points to the max when i carried the 1911. Of course shooting at the range all the time practicing with them took its toll on the 1911. There was no internet nor anyone to talk with about installing a stronger recoil spring back then too. Stupid me.....

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by mncarpenter

I saw several at various tables at the gun show i went to last weekend. They all seemed to be brand new, look like a well made pistol.

I was a vender in a gun and knife show in Slidell, LA two weeks ago and there were none there. I would like to hold one just to see how it feels. They have really caught my interest.

[H-D]

feels huge like a desert eagle I'll stick with the 10mm delta elite it kicks enough for me and I dont load em extra hot

[Woodnut]

Welcome to the forum Neighbor. Hadn't seen you on before. Tell us bout yourself.

[H-D]

I;m up in Meridian Ms. sell motorcycle parts got a house full o' younguns and I joined this forum to read your write up on making 1911 grips so far I've destroyed 2 sets but I'm trying again tomorrow with some birds eye maple

[1911 man]

I used to own a coonan arms, And it jammed constantly

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by 1911 man

I used to own a coonan arms, And it jammed constantly

Now that's the information I have been waiting on. (not bad information, but people that have owned them and had them at the range) Thanks for that. Like I said before, the gun really has my interest, but I am afraid of problems, and you for one have already encountered some.
I just felt like there would be a lot of bugs and fixes to be made on this gun.

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by H-D

I;m up in Meridian Ms. sell motorcycle parts got a house full o' younguns and I joined this forum to read your write up on making 1911 grips so far I've destroyed 2 sets but I'm trying again tomorrow with some birds eye maple

I am so glad you are starting to make grips. It is an art that is being lost to the computer age. Which is one reason I try to help people along the way. Since you are not that far away from me (2=1/2 hrs) maybe you come visit my shop and let me give you some pointers. I would be honored to have you. But for now if you want to ask questions, and I know you have a bunch, everyone does. You can call me anytime at 228 255 0822, and I will try to put you on the right track. At the present time I have 3 guys that I am helping along the way. In the past, I gave Hotsights from OK some instructions for a short while and he is building some really professional grade grips with the inlays now. I have not heard from him in a while, but if you read my post on "how to customize your 1911 grips", you can follow along from his first attempt to the last ones he posted. Quit remarkable.
I said all that to say this. I will help you in any way I can. I really enjoy seeing people working with their hands and enjoying it as much as I do.
Thank you so much for your interest, and don't forget you can call on my anytime. I would really appreciate it if you would email me a picture of what you have done so for, email them to cwgrips@gmail.com That way I may can see first hand the help you might need.

[Double D]

Originally Posted by 1911 man

I used to own a coonan arms, And it jammed constantly

While I do consider this good info, why not elaborate a bit. You can type in ANY gun made for review and get mixed results. So, when your gun jammed constantly, were you using stock magazines? Was the feed ramp polished and free of burrs? Did it do it every time with every type of ammo or just hollow points? Did you keep the gun lubed and clean? If shooting reloads, did you measure case length? Was your ejector working properly? Did you try to resize your ejection port? Just a few things to consider before overall clasifying a gun a jamomatic.

I read many reports on taurus and others that jam all the time, but I have 4 tauruses that operate flawlessly. So, normally a gun that jams can be fixed with a little care. If the gun didnt jam, would you have liked it? Was it built well? Just curious. Thanks