My Stoeger Cougar Pictures

[Escoseis]

I bought a Stoeger Cougar 8000; 9mm for $329.95 a few days ago. Some of the pictures look like there is rust on the metal parts... but it is the camera. Not Rust.

I've included pics of my Beretta Cougar Inox 8000F for a comparison. Enjoy.

Right Side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StoegerBerettaRight1.jpg

Separate Components
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/Components.jpg

(2) 15round Beretta mags came with the Stoeger 8000. Here it is side by side the same 15round Beretta mag that came with my Cougar Inox.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StoegerBerettaMag.jpg

Frames are Identical
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/BerrLeftStoegRight-1.jpg

Slides are similar. Note the milling of the Black Stoeger slide has internal cuts to lighten the weight.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StoegerLtBerettaRt4.jpg

Locking blocks are identical, and I could swap them between pistols. A plastic recoil rod / system came with the Stoeger. I ordered a metal spring system from Beretta. This was unnecessary, but I did it for asthetic reasons.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StoegerLBerettaR3.jpg

The barrels are similar, but the Stoeger 9mm barrel was machined to a smaller outside diameter, just forward of the chamber. Otherwise, the chamber mouths, and locking lugs are the same.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/BerBarrelvsStoBarrel.jpg

It is possible to swap the slides and frames.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/SlideSwap.jpg


However, only the Beretta slide on the Stoeger frame would cycle to the locked back position. The Stoeger slide on the Beretta frame would not move rearward. Not even to open the chamber a milimeter rearward.

I don't have a clue why. I searched the parts over and over and could not visually detect a difference in their frames.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StegerFramepermitslockback.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StoegerSlideBerettaFrame.jpg


Another look a their frames. Stoeger in Black. Beretta in Inox.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/BerettaLeftStoegerRight.jpg


Frames again. I'm not a photographer... so in this shot, the inox frame looks larger, and the frame below the hammer looks machined differently. The error is due to lighting, their frames are identical.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/AftView1.jpg


Barells again. Beretta inox. Stoeger black.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StoegerLBerettaR2-1.jpg

Final look.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StoegerBerettaRight1.jpg

I don't have a pic, but the grip panels swap perfectly as well. Hope you find the photos interesting.

The Stoeger is very well made. Shoots as smooth and as acurate as my Beretta inox. My beretta was $599 and my Stoeger was $329.95. Quite a deal !!

[thurn55]

Great Pictures! I've always had my eye on a 8000 Cougar. Now, is the 8000s 15rd mag the same used in the 92-Series? Great if it is, because I already have eight 15rd 92-Series mags for my 92FS and five 10rd mags. Truthfully, I'd like a 8045 first. Does Stoeger still make it in .40S&W, .357SIG, and .45ACP? At $330, I could buy a pair of Stoegers in two different calibers and have fun!

[Escoseis]

The mags for the Stoeger and Beretta Cougars are the same.
Both are marked, "PB CAL.9 PARA - MADE IN ITALY".
And, along the front edge the mag is marked: "MOD. 8000 9 PARA"

Stoeger produces its Cougar in 9mm and 40SW.
I don't know about .45acp or 357sig. (Would be great).

I don't own a Beretta 92FS, so I am unable to say if cougar magazines are the same as those for the 92 series.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/saz/StoegerBeretta/StoegerBerettaMags.jpg

[anyplainjoe]

great pics and info!

[kmrcstintn]

IIRC, the mag catch cut out is at different heights for each type of mag

[Yamadad]

Great post :thumbsup:

[ShipWreck]

Nice gun. They are at a great price now! :thumbsup:

[BuckyP]

Originally posted by kmrcstintn
IIRC, the mag catch cut out is at different heights for each type of mag

That is correct, the mag catch hole is lower on 92 mags.

These new Stoeger Cougars are certainly a bargain to be had. I have two Beretta Cougars and I love them (my Cougar L is my full time carry). Glad to see they are using the L (lighter) slide on the full size 9mms.

[Wales]

Awesome post! I handled the .40 Stoeger today and was quite impressed with what it offered for the price. They DA trigger was very nice and smooth. I think I might pick one up in 9mm in the very near future.
~Wales

[Ruggles]

Nice job...now I want one too.......:supergrin:

[moeman]

This could be the #1 deal out there

[BuckyP]

Originally posted by moeman
This could be the #1 deal out there

It was my vote on the best deal under $400 thread. :banana:

[Sam White]

I've always thought the Cougar was a neat gun but the new Beretta versions were priced out of my league. Then they were discontinued before I could work a deal on one...

Today at the shop, I thought I saw a used Cougar for $350 so I asked to see it. Turned out it was a new Stoeger. After a couple of minutes I made a down payment on the 9mm version. One hell of a good deal on a new gun, in my book. The ones I saw in the store looked every bit as good as the Beretta I carry at work.

[epsylum]

Man, I am going to keep an eye out for one of these this weekend at the gun show. I havw wanted a Cougar for a while and if this really is almost exactly like the Beretta one, I need to get one.

[PX4MAN]

If you have a Sportsmans Warehouse nearby, they have the best price around here in Austin. I picked up a 9MM last night. They had the 9 and the 40 available for $329.00. The 9 comes with 2 - 15 round mags.:thumbsup:

[epsylum]

Originally posted by PX4MAN
If you have a Sportsmans Warehouse nearby, they have the best price around here in Austin. I picked up a 9MM last night. They had the 9 and the 40 available for $329.00. The 9 comes with 2 - 15 round mags.:thumbsup:

There is one in the state, but about 2 hours away. I live in Indianapolis (a big city surrounded by a whole state of farms and country side) and you would think it would be a large market for them, but I guess not. I should get an e-mail campaign going to get them to build one here.

[Nowhere Man]

Is the Cougar a DA trigger only?


Dave

[thalo]

Is the Cougar a DA trigger only?

No, SA/DA.

[weatherman]

Saw one at Sportsman's last night. It was a .40, but he has some 9mm coming. Gives me sometime to save my pennies. It was $329.00.

About a year ago i had a mini Cougar in 9mm. It was on clearance and I coludn't pass it up. Sold it because the grip seemed too short. Full sized one is much nicer.

[Lord Bodak]

Great pictures! I have one in .40 on the way from CDNN. I knew nothing about the Cougar until this month's Guns & Ammo. After I read the review I went looking for opinions on the Beretta version and everything I read was good. Definitely looks like one of the best deals out there now that Stoeger is building them.

[wingsprint]

Grab a Stoeger if you can, they getting hard to find. Best value in handguns period.