Stoeger Cougar 9mm Review

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steelyblue

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I went to the range today and tested out my new Stoeger Cougar today. It functioned flawlessly! I shot 150 rounds through it and it is a fine gun. It is worth every bit of the $349 I paid for it. I used WWB as I shot it alongside my new Kimber 9mm. The Kimber shot better groups, but I believe it is due to the trigger. Next time I will only take the cougar. I need to work on the trigger pull. When I concentrated, all the bullets hit their mark. I will be beating this gun up a lot in the future.
 
thanks for the review i am glad that you like it, and it sounds like the couger is a great value. i have been wondering about them for a while and i keep hearing good things about them.

btw where are the pics man?
 
Stoeger Cougar

steelyblue: I want one. Having researched for a year at different sites; all but 2-3 have expressed your experiences. Dang fine unit.
Follow up with your experiences. and Thanks
 
I have the .40 cal version. Got it for the same price ($349). The Cougar definitely ranks very high among my favs. Accurate, comfortable, carry-able, aesthetically pleasing. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone.


-T.
 
Interesting...I was at my dealer's shop just last night and purchased a Stoeger Cougar. A bit more expensive here in Washington State...charged me $ 369 for it. Wow...what a tight, finely made auto! What a price! It was the jewel in the whole case full of 9mm compact and full size autos. Truly....I got a Ferrari with a Chevy price in this Turkish made Beretta. Now...I must admit, I'm not all that familiar with 9mm. I usually carry Corbon DPX in every weapon I own with the exception of my M1 Garand, from my P3AT, GP100, 642 and PT145...etc.

Looking at the instruction book, however, Stoeger has a warning against + P ammo. Hmmm, guess that means I might have to look for something other than 115 grain Corbon DPX. I realize that the 9mm is a high pressure round...might not want to push the package here...eh? I usually follow instructions to a T...but...maybe I could use regular ammo for practice and carry the + P. Suggestions/Recommendations?
 
They all say no +P to cover their butts. I've never seen a manual say that it is OK to use +P. They all say "use only factory ammunition loaded to SAAMI specs". I believe it is to avoid a lawsuit if someone is injured. BTW my camera sucks, but here it is with my other girls:
 

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From the current S&W pistol manual:

“Plus-P” (+P) ammunition generates pressures in excess of the
pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures
may affect the wear characteristics or exceed the margin of safety
built into some revolvers and could therefore be DANGEROUS.
This ammunition should not be used in Smith & Wesson
medium (K frame) revolvers manufactured prior to 1958.
Click to expand...
 
Sorry, I wasn't including revolvers. My 686 was more than adequate to accomodate the +P loads. I never read the manual since it was used. I have used +P in my Kimbers, even though the manual says "no". I haven't had any mishaps. I'm not advising anyone to go against the manual, though.
 
I have used +P in my Kimbers, even though the manual says "no". I haven't had any mishaps.
Click to expand...
Most of the time it just wears the springs out faster. A new spring should be alright. However if +p are all you shoot I would increase the spring lbs rating. An under power spring will batter the frame and cause increased wear.
 
Like with any firearm +p ammo will accelerate wear and tear on a gun; any gun. However, as a Beretta and Stoeger Cougar owner I would say that they are more than durable enough to withstand a normal/moderate amount of +p shooting. I wouldn't worry about it a bit.
 
I just took one home last week. My only complaint is that I haven't had a chance to bring it to the range yet. It looks and feels like an exceptional piece of clockwork and I don't regret dropping $399 on it.
 
Actually, the poly guide rod and spring that comes with the Stoeger is superior to the metal one.

According to Beretta, the early production Beretta Cougers did come with a metal guide rod. The reason they replaced it with a poly rod was for all around improvement. Note that the poly rod is fluted...not solid. This way dirt, grit and grime have some place to go and do not accumulate on the outside of the rod which made the old metal prone to jam. The poly rod just holds the spring in line and does not take much trauma/force when pistol is firing.
Bottom line: This extraordinary pistol does not need after market devices...and those kind of improvements lead to less reliable and malfunctioning weapons.
 
I just purchased my Stoeger and you get a one year warranty. Register on Stoeger web site on line. All support goes through Stoeger (Beretta) USA out of Pocomoke, MD.

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/cougar8000.tpl

This is one quality weapon...just pulling back the slide gave me a warm and fuzzy. I love fire arms...and I still am pinching myself on the price of this all metal jewel.
 
Most of the time it just wears the springs out faster. A new spring should be alright.
Click to expand...
The springs have no idea what kind of ammo is used to cycle them. If they do then you have coil bind and the gun is going to crack in short order.

However if +p are all you shoot I would increase the spring lbs rating. An under power spring will batter the frame and cause increased wear.
Click to expand...
In some firearms it can actually increase wear. Not all of them are designed to take force equally well in both directions. Over springing can also make the gun short stroke (weak grip, light ammo) or outrun the magazine. It can also increase felt recoil and increase muzzle flip.
 
The one year warranty will be extended to three years if you register your warranty when you first buy your Stoeger. It can even be done on line.
My experience with warranty work was excellent from the Beretta location in Maryland, which does Stoeger's repairs under warranty. I had to have my extractor replaced and it was a total turn around of 14 days, I did have to pay one way postage on returning the slide, about $7 dollars with insurance.

I love this 9mm pistol, it is the best investment in weapons that I have ever made.
 
JHansenAK47, Thanks for the link on that metal GR. I may try it and if the gun ever locks up, I'll still have the old one. It's only $15! Do yall know what the best mags are, or should I go for the cheapest? I'm asking, because I'm a 1911 guy.
 
a friend of mine have the smallest couger in 40cal and it wont get through a clip without jamming
i told him to send it back but he hasnt yet
 
Have both 9mm and .40. Both are excellent in fit, finish and function. No problem with either shooting all brands and types (fmj & jhp) of ammo. Two of my better purchases.
 
I think the Stoeger Cougar is hands down the best buy in handguns right now. Very high quality at a great price. Mine has been 100% reliable thus far, and has good accuracy. It's become a very frequent carry piece.:cool:
 
In some firearms it can actually increase wear. Not all of them are designed to take force equally well in both directions. Over springing can also make the gun short stroke (weak grip, light ammo) or outrun the magazine. It can also increase felt recoil and increase muzzle flip.
Click to expand...
Ya, if you put too many lbs or usually shoot +p and decide to shoot regular ball. Point being you need to get the right lbs rating. Besides +p wears out guns faster by itself.
The reason they replaced it with a poly rod was for all around improvement. Note that the poly rod is fluted...not solid. This way dirt, grit and grime have some place to go and do not accumulate on the outside of the rod which made the old metal prone to jam.
Click to expand...
I sure the fact it was cheaper than a steel captured guide rod had nothing to do with it. I've never gotten it that dirty. I'm sure they made the best polymer rod they could though.
 
Actually...it cost Beretta more money to re-design and re-tool for the poly rod. Honestly, if you pay $11 retail for a metal rod...what do you think Beretta pays for mass manufacturing in the metal rod? They did not change that to make such a minisucle profit...they did it for improvements. Once they changed it on their Cougar...Stoeger kept the improvement when the manufacturing line was moved to Turkey. I've also heard that the change to plastic guide rods was because if in the right situation and your guide rod bent your gun would be inoperable with a steel rod but it wouldn't matter at all with a plastic one. I dunno...I see too many people add on too many after-market products to auto pistols and I, for one, do not like anything that could make mine unreliable or prone to malfunction. I actually ordered one of these steel rods (they are slightly different than the original Beretta Cougars metal rod)...I like to think I remain open at the top, but if I have no problems with the weapon...I will not fix something that is not broken. The only two things that are poly on this weapon are the guide rod and the magazine release button. I do not beleive there have been any problems with them.
 
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