Stouger Cougar 8000 -- recent purchase, continuing report...

[rikilii]

I just bought a brand new Stouger Cougar 8000 for my wife (yeah right). I got it at Tanners in Jamison. Great place, prices and people.

It's my first time buying a brand new gun, and it's our first semi-auto. I picked it because of the great price ($369), good reviews, and mainly because it fit my wife's hand perfectly. It's a medium-sized gun with a good weight so it's easy for her to handle at the range. She has small hands, so she had a hard time handling our S&W model 66 .357.

We went straight to Classic Pistol and put 55 rounds through it, including 5 rounds of Remington Golden Saber 147g (which I bought for my defensive load--not cheap stuff at $1/shot). My thumbs are bloody nubs from loading the magazines, but the springs seem to have soften very quickly. First time around I could barely get 5 rounds in them, now I can load them the whole way.

It ran flawlessly. I don't think I'd carry the thing, as it's a little thick and heavy, but that's not what we bought it for (I had a used PM9 and a used PM40 in my hand at the store, both around $420, very tempted...). This baby's staying in the nightstand drawer and/or handgun safe in the dresser for when the bad guys show up to visit.

I'll keep this updated with my continuing impressions, but feel free to ask if you have any questions or if you'd like to put some lead through it some time.

[Paradigm]

Glad you like it, man!

I have one myself and carry it daily, no problems.

[rikilii]

Glad you like it, man!

I have one myself and carry it daily, no problems.

How/where/in what do you carry it?

[Paradigm]

How/where/in what do you carry it?

Open carry, right side at 2:30 or 3:00, Fobus paddle holster.

[Maquis]

Did Stoeger buy the Cougar from Beretta?

I love one in .45..

[photoshooter]

Stoeger is owned by Beretta. I've read many times on the web that Beretta shipped the machinery and tooling for the Cougar to Turkey which is where Stoeger manufactures them. I had researched buying one of these for a while and read mostly very positive things. I happened to stumble onto a used Beretta Cougar so I grabbed that instead. Ironically the used Beretta cost me more than the new Stoeger. At under $400 I think it's a great bargain.

[Paradigm]

Did Stoeger buy the Cougar from Beretta?

This:

Stoeger is owned by Beretta. I've read many times on the web that Beretta shipped the machinery and tooling for the Cougar to Turkey which is where Stoeger manufactures them.

It's the same gun with a different logo. Same fit, finish, accuracy...

I love one in .45..

Unfortunately, you can only get the Stoeger Cougar 8000 (9mm) or 8040 (.40 S&W). No other calibers, no subcompact like with the Beretta Cougar.

Someday, someday...

[Maquis]

Ah, too bad Stoeger isn't doing a .45, sounds like a great deal so far though.

[Curmudgeon]

Ah, too bad Stoeger isn't doing a .45, sounds like a great deal so far though.

That is strange. The Beretta Cougar cambered in .45 is what Mrs. Curmudgeon is shooting. She loves it. ;-)

[Maquis]

That is strange. The Beretta Cougar cambered in .45 is what Mrs. Curmudgeon is shooting. She loves it. ;-)

Yeah that's what I thought, though maybe Stoeger is marketing globally where .45 isn't as popular as 9mm?