Mixed bag of 357 mags

gdawg

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Had these out today.

I'm always amazed at how reliable and accurate the Coonan is. I've never had a hiccup with it. No wonder these are developing a bit of a following in the US.

The long barrelled 686 seems a bit ungainly but easy to shoot well with that length and weight up front.

I haven't shot the Manurhin a lot. The finish on these things is amazing - beautiful but also very robust. Sadly didn't shoot it as well as the others. Those factory Nill grips are nice to look at but not that comfortable to shoot, for me anyway.

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I probably would have ended up with a Coonan eventually if the government trusted me enough to let me buy one, lol. They're cool guns.
 
Had these out today.

I'm always amazed at how reliable and accurate the Coonan is. I've never had a hiccup with it. No wonder these are developing a bit of a following in the US.

The long barrelled 686 seems a bit ungainly but easy to shoot well with that length and weight up front.

I haven't shot the Manurhin a lot. The finish on these things is amazing - beautiful but also very robust. Sadly didn't shoot it as well as the others. Those factory Nill grips are nice to look at but not that comfortable to shoot, for me anyway.

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You didn't get the factory rubber grips with the Manurhin ? 357 is a great caliber . I remember reading an article from a gun writer . he was on the Texas Border patrol back in the day . Skeeter Skelton may he rest in peace. he carried a 45 acp in his waist band under a jacket but he said if he felt he was going to have trouble he took two 357 revolvers with him loaded with hot stuff . very interesting fellow . that 686 looks like it has an 8 inch barrel on it . the only revolver I have had issues shooting was a 41 mag a guy at our club let me shoot may years ago with hot loads. very hot loads and the factory wooden grips . I was a new shooter . not fun.
 
I always wanted to try a Manurhin. I read about them in American Handgunner about 30+ years ago and they sounded very interesting. They were available in many barrel lengths from 2.5" to 8" I believe. I think the fixed sight 3" barrel .357 was issue to French Gendarmerie for a while in 70's and 80's and they co-manufactured one with a Ruger frame.
 
You didn't get the factory rubber grips with the Manurhin ? 357 is a great caliber . I remember reading an article from a gun writer . he was on the Texas Border patrol back in the day . Skeeter Skelton may he rest in peace. he carried a 45 acp in his waist band under a jacket but he said if he felt he was going to have trouble he took two 357 revolvers with him loaded with hot stuff . very interesting fellow . that 686 looks like it has an 8 inch barrel on it . the only revolver I have had issues shooting was a 41 mag a guy at our club let me shoot may years ago with hot loads. very hot loads and the factory wooden grips . I was a new shooter . not fun.

Yes I have the rubber grips too. They are quite a different design but apparently effective, so I'll give them a try. I'm sure it won't improve my shooting but hopefully it will be more comfortable.

Even the factory 41 mag ammo seems to be the same or hotter than standard (e.g., AE, S&B) 44 mag ammo these days. That would be a handful for sure.
 
I always wanted to try a Manurhin. I read about them in American Handgunner about 30+ years ago and they sounded very interesting. They were available in many barrel lengths from 2.5" to 8" I believe. I think the fixed sight 3" barrel .357 was issue to French Gendarmerie for a while in 70's and 80's and they co-manufactured one with a Ruger frame.

That 3" model would have been nice. They made a number of different variants of the MR73 and other models. There are some good write ups on the MR73 (e.g., https://larvatus.livejournal.com/520133.html).
I liked that Ruger collaboration - the MR88 or SX88. Calgary Shooting Center had them in. Wish I picked one up.
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Had these out today.

I'm always amazed at how reliable and accurate the Coonan is. I've never had a hiccup with it. No wonder these are developing a bit of a following in the US.

The long barrelled 686 seems a bit ungainly but easy to shoot well with that length and weight up front.

I haven't shot the Manurhin a lot. The finish on these things is amazing - beautiful but also very robust. Sadly didn't shoot it as well as the others. Those factory Nill grips are nice to look at but not that comfortable to shoot, for me anyway.

View attachment 758748

Wow!!!!
 
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