Any comments on the Beretta Couger 8000

S

Sportcat

New member
In my continuing search for my first gun, I have come across the Cougar 8000. It appears to meet my needs in several areas: 9mm, not too big, not too small, has a nice recoil system (nice feature for my wife), hi-cap mags are available, and is made by a solid company.

Does anyone have any comments or personal stories about the 8000?

By the way... I'm looking for something for home defense, as well as something to take to the range every few weeks.
 
I have an 8040 - the Cougar in .40S&W.

I really like it. It's not NRA Bullseye accurate, but it's accurate enough that after a year of shooting with it weekly, I was still getting better.

It has, for my hand, the perfect grip, and it's a joy to shoot. Which my KelTec P11 is definitely not.

It's a very nice compromise between the utra-compact lightweight pistols like the P11 and the heavier and bulkier designs like the M1911. Enough mass to make the recoil almost pleasant.

And it's nicely rounded, everywhere it needs to be. Unlike the combat pistols, it's not going to catch on something when you draw it from deep concealment.
 
I have shot a Cougar before but it was the 8357 in 357 Sig. I liked the feel and grip of it and I have always liked the 357 Sig cartridge. Then I shot it and couldn't hit the plate rack at 10 yards. Trigger was heavy and inconsistant. There were about 3 distinct different stages in the trigger pull. I reloaded and I even used the table as a benchrest but only hit 2 of 6.

This gun was a demo at the Beretta bay at the 2000 IDPA Nationals. The Beretta guy said there was nothing wrong with the gun and that I just didn't shoot very well. MMmmmm..... Maybe, but I don't think it was me.

I had been shooting in competition that morning and was doing just fine. I had just shot demo guns from Wilson Combat and S&W and didn't have any problem with either hosing down the plate racks on their demo bays. Plus I had also just shot the Beretta Elite at the same demo bay without much problem, although the trigger on it was unimpressive also. I think it was the Cougar that wasn't doing it's part.

I realize every gunmaker has one slip through QC now and then. But you would think the ones they demo at such an event would be a shining example and not a poor one. It sure left a bad taste in my mouth in reference to the Cougar. I also checked the trigger on another Cougar there at the demo table. I didn't shoot it but it also had a horrible trigger.

I just don't think the Cougar line is a quality representation of what Beretta is capable of making. Beretta triggers have almost never been that great right out of the box but they are quite servicable and can be slicked up to be very good. With the examples of the Cougar I have seen, it will take a lot of work.:barf:
 
Couger 8000 D

I would like to consider the DAO Couger for a new carry gun. I guess the don't make a SA that can be carried cocked & locked. I don't like a long hard 12# DA trigger pull. How much can a gun smith reduce the trigger pull? How much will it cost?
 
I have the 8045. It feels like a 92 series in my hands, although the grips are more suitable for smaller hands. The trigger has been good on mine - all my Beretta's are fine. I guess spd522 got a bad one. Reliability has been excellent.

Jack, why don't you look for a Beretta Billenium. From what I understand, it has a frame mounted safety and is SA.
 
jack_the_sailor,

The D or DAO series of Cougars have a much lighter trigger pull than the respective DA pull on the standard DA/SA Cougars. Beretta uses a lighter hammer spring on the DAO series which brings the trigger pull down to 8-9 lbs. rather than 12 lbs. If you still want some work done on the Cougar the place to go is Langdon Tactical Technology. Action job will run you about $125 I believe. Here is the website:

http://www.langdontactical.com/

Hope this helps.
 
Well, I carry the 8040F Mini-Cougar... (40 cal Cougar with a short grip for concealment)

it's pretty accurate, and shoots like a dream... I would definitely reccomend this line to anyone...
 
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