[pistolwhipped]

Read an article about the Beretta Cougar F 8000 in Combat Weapons rag that says this is the perfect carry weapon.
A search of THR gave me nothing. What do ya know about this weapon ?
Anybody own/shoot/hold one of these ?

[SelfProclaimedExpert]

Why would a gun as thick and tall as a Beretta 92 be "the perfect carry weapon". It's the size of a decent duty holster gun.

[Marko Kloos]

Those rags have a new "ultimate" or "perfect" carry gun every month.

The 8000F looks pretty good, but "perfect" is a bendable word. Perfect for pocket carry? Ankle carry? LEO holster carry? IWB?

[pistolwhipped]

Hmmmm
This shows how little I know of Berettas. This Cougar that I speak of is a so called Mini Cougar.
Let me try to post a picture with specs.

www.ableammo.com/mall/guns_pistol_beretta_cougar.asp

The "mini" in this picture has a mag extention, but it has a rather short grip.

[genie]

ever since trinity used them in the first matrix movie -- (the rooftop scene where neo calls for help and she mutters, "dodge this.") -- i think they look really nice. i want one :)

[berettaman]

I haven't got a chance to see the article but from what I understand from other boards is that it's the Cougar 8000 L.It's been available in europe for many years.The 8000 L is shorter in the grip by about an inch and the slide is lighter with a re-contoured design.Some of the guys over at the beretta forum have one and seem to like it.

God forbid Beretta makes a gun that makes a "gun rag" cover.How dare they not put another of the 6 trillion Uber-Tactical,anti-terrorist gettin',S.W.A.T. approved,greatest gun ever made 1911!Gun Of The Year:D

[Delmar]

A friend of mine has had a full sized Cougar in shorty forty for a few years-not a bad pistol, but it sure likes the hand loads to to upper side of middle. It seems to be a bit skinnier than a 92, and the rotating barrel lock is different. Recoil doesn't seem quite as snappy as the standard config Beretta's. Of course, mags are kind of pricey but anything with a small production I would guess to be that way too. He has put a couple of thousand rounds through it and it seems to be pretty reliable.

[Mastrogiacomo]

There's nothing thick or shabby about the Cougar -- one of the more reliable and accurate guns you can get AND Italian made. Check it out in the shop, if it feels right -- get it -- Berettas don't disappoint....

www.berettaforum.net

[SelfProclaimedExpert]

What do you mean "nothing thick". What handgun don't you consider thin?

[PCRCCW]

Ive seen them and thick is the work Id use..maybe not compared to a Hi Point or a Glock...but they are thicker than my CCW's.
Other than that its a nice gun.........Shoot well

[Hemicuda]

Uum... I carry the Beretta Mini-Cougar 8040F (same as the 8000, but in .40 cal) DAILY... in the "mini-Cougar" package you get a decent length barrel, with a shortened grip (corresponding 10 round mags DO fit, and mine came with a slip-on pinky rest for the longer mags)

if you can tolerate the "dropped pinky", then the Mini-Cougar IS probably just about the "perfect" CCW gun... (this from a S&W Autoloader fan!)


the thing is EASY to conceal, and ergonomically "sweet!" I love mine...

[danbh]

I have an 8045 cougar and I love it takes some getting used to and has a very lite trigger. I have run about 2500 round thru it in the past year and a half very stable and feels great in the hand...:)

[George Hill]

ever since trinity used them in the first matrix movie -- (the rooftop scene where neo calls for help and she mutters, "dodge this.") -- i think they look really nice. i want one

Nope. Trinity uses Beretta model 84 Cheetahs.
http://www.madogre.com/Interviews/Guns_of_the_Matrix.htm

[Skunkabilly]

George is right, they are .380 Cheetahs....

When I saw the 'perfect carry gun' on that gun rag, I wanted to bust up laughing. This from a Beretta fan.

[XLMiguel]

I had an 8045 for a while. Nice enough gun - reliable, accurate, felt good in hand, good fot/finish - but I realy didn't care for the slide mounted safety, and it was a bit blocky for a 'compact'.

Re: the mini - I don't quite get the point of cutting down the grip and then turning around and making up the difference with and extended magazine. Yeah, I know you have the 'versatility' of using the shorter, lower capacity mag, but all you really get is a blocky, stubby gun that you can't get a full grip on :rolleyes: Why bother?

It all comes down to what works for you. Go find a rental or a freind with one and give it a whirl. It just didn't work for me