Stoeger Cougar - What's Your Opinion?

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hornsmoker

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Anybody have one?..what's your opinion of them? I understand the Cougar was formerly made by Baretta, but is now imported by Stoeger and made in Turkey. I haven't handled one, but it's a fine looking pistol. I'm interested in knowing more about this rotary bolt. Does this operate just like a shotgun's bolt? No extractor, right? I also read that this helps to reduce recoil. If this is highly regarded [reliable, etc], I may set my sights on getting one early next year.
 
Stoeger is owned by Beretta. The guns are made in Turkey on Beretta's old machinery. I held one. They are decent, but I prefer the PX4. The Stoegers are a lot cheaper, though, and a bit smaller
 
My wife bought one for her first gun. She wanted a Beretta Cougar but ended up with the Stoeger. It seems every bit as nice as the Cougar I use to own.
 
I also recently held one at a store and it inspired me. I think I'm going to get one next year. It seemed to be every bit as high quality as the Beretta but about $200 cheaper.
 
I bought one two weeks ago. Mine is the 40 S&W. It has a lot less recoil than my Beretta 96.
 
1911austin, how has it been for reliability? Any FTF's or FTE's? Would you describe this as full size or slightly smaller?
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Only about 300 rounds (mix of Gold Dots and WWB) thru it so far with zero problems. It is compact in size.
 
I'd like to check one out myself. I saw an ad for them over the summer in a flyer from a newspaper, iirc it was for a sporting good store about an hour (or so) from where I live. Price was low, low enough that if I had the money (and the time) I would have at the very least gone and checked one out in person, but since I didn't have either, I didn't. :p

Now for the life of me, I can't remember what store it was, or even which of the little towns it was located in, so can't go see if they still have any at their low low price! :banghead:

Haven't seen one in any of the shops I ususally go too, going to have to keep my eyes open for them next time I go to a show. ;)
 
I'm a Beretta fan but I not a Cougar fan. I've always liked the Cougar's ergos but I'm just not a fan of the Cougar's rotating barrel.
 
The rotating barrel is one reason I bought my Cougar. Is there something I should know?

I have about 4000 rounds through my Cougar .40S&W, with no problems. I almost want to go get another one, for that price.

Bill in SD
 
I've never heard of any issues, and Beretta uses the same design in the PX-4. If there were serious problems, I doubt they would've gone to the trouble of designing a new pistol around it, or continuing manufacture of the Cougar in another country like they're doing.
 
Stoeger Cougar 8000

I have shot 800 rounds through my Stoeger Cougar 9MM and it performs like a champ. This is a very smooth, fun gun to shoot. Minimal recoil, shoots to point of aim. For the money, I feel that it's one of the best deals on the market.
 
Excellent Mid Size Gun

I just bought one at a local retailer in the small town where I live and I paid $359, but I was extremely happy with that price. After looking for the last several weeks for a 9mm Double Action to add to my limited collection and only finding either pretty beat up used guns in this price range or new guns that were way too expensive I found this gun. I had read reviews on the gun so I figured it was worth a try and I have to say I am happy with it.
Its not really a compact gun, but it is surely smaller and lighter then my stainless steel 1911 and fits my large hands very well. I havn't had the chance to shoot it a lot, but I did make a quick range trip and shot a mix of CCI ball ammo and federal hollow points and not one problem.

I have to say that so far its a very fine gun, fit and finish are excellent. I have had no experience with Beretta guns in the past, but if this is typical of what they produce, I am impressed, especially considering all the negative comments on the current military sidearm.
 
I bought a Beretta Cougar wholesale many years ago and it was a lot more then what you are talking about. I love mine, shots very well and carries nice. Recoil is light from the rotating barrel and it hits what I point it at. What else could one want in a pistol?
 
A bud of mine got the stoeger last week, and it ate up 300 rounds during the first trip to the range, no failures. I wasn't terribly impressed with accuracy, but it's a $320 gun. Can't expect everything at that price.
 
A bud of mine got the stoeger last week, and it ate up 300 rounds during the first trip to the range, no failures. I wasn't terribly impressed with accuracy, but it's a $320 gun. Can't expect everything at that price.
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If there is an accuracy issue with the Cougar it is most likely operator error, no offense intended The only two differences between Beretta's Cougar and a Stoeger Cougar is the name stamped on the side of the gun and that the workers who make the Stoeger Cougar speak Turkish not Italian. Beretta shipped all the original machinery to make the Cougar from Italy to Turkey, along with the project supervisors to assure that same methods, workmanship and quality control used for the Beretta would be practiced at Stoeger. The rotating barrel is inherently a far superior and accurate design over the tilt barrel which is why Beretta used it in the Beretta Storm. Because the barrel rotates rather than tilts as in most other semi autos, much tighter tolerances can be used making the barrel more stable. Additionally because the recoil energy is used to rotate the barrel rather than coming straight back into your arm as tilt barrel autos do, alot of that force is diverted thereby reducing recoil. Stoeger Cougar is not a cheap gun by any means. At the original $800 plus asking price it was a most excellent deal. A truly innovative top of the line gun with excellent performance reliability, superior fit and finish in a distinctively Italian package. It is one of the finest production guns made IMO. At the Stoeger price it is an absolute steal and probably one of the very best deals anywhere as you really are getting a top of the line gun at half the price. Just because it costs under $400 does not make it a cheap gun by any definition. This is a case of paying less and getting more. Best thing is the Beretta USA supports it and backs up the warranty
 
Excellent Gun!!...

Own eight pistols (CZs, Sig, FNH, Couger) and IMHO the COUGER is an excellent gun for under $400!!... Have put in close to 1000rnds...ZERO problems, FTFs, jams, etc... its a great shoot, very accurate, fits my hand perfect and (all metal) has that 'solid feel' (like my CZs). If you can get one in that $325-350 range 'jump-on-it'... its a bargin and you won't be disappointed!!... Only thing that takes alittle getting used-to is the breakdown/cleanup... its alittle 'funky'/different with that rotary barrel but its NO problem.
 
Only thing that takes alittle getting used-to is the breakdown/cleanup... its alittle 'funky'/different with that rotary barrel but its NO problem.
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Detail strips can be fun with all the little springs and stuff. On the bright side, careful disassembly helps you notice all the little details, like the pin-hole that one arm of the trigger bar spring goes into to hold it in place.
It really is a marvel of work and a steal at the price.
 
Started using the Stoeger Cougar .40S&W as my truck gun due to cost of replacement should that ever be an issue. Shot possible last quals with it. I don't seem to be very recoil sensitive and compete with the 96. Do like the Cougar, just wish I could find some Farrar rubber grips for it as Hogue doesn't have them at this time.
 
I've owned my Stoeger Cougar 8000 for a year now and will never get rid of it. I recommend one to anyone that is on a budget but wants the best value for their firearm-dollar. Great performance and great price. I got mine for $275 at a gun show and have been happy with it ever since.
 
Have 2...

Posted earlier... have two (I'm sellin one in the THR Classifieds...daughter wanted one for HP then after 300rnds said it's "too heavy", now wants a 'poly')... Anyway, it's a great shoot and VERY ACCURATE... heavy-all metal feel, great hand-fit and cleans-up real easy. Saw a Beretta Couger at the range, looked at it real close, took it apart... IDENTICAL!!... you're just savin' $200 with the STOEGER!... Interested in one, drop me a PM.

GZOh
 
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