Beretta Autos

[SHusky57]

Between the Beretta 8000 (Cougar) and the Beretta 92FS, is there any appreciable difference in accuracy or quality?

I appreciate the safety mechanisms on Beretta DA pistols, and my PX4 is absolutely splendid. I was thinking about picking up a Cougar by Beretta or Stoeger in .40 SW, .45, or 357 sig just for something new.... but I have had my eye on the 92fs for awhile. The Cougar would just make a much better CCW.

Also, is there any way, with the safety on, for a Beretta to negligently discharge? I am no expert smith, but it seems mechanically impossible (I am still trying to think of a way this could happen).

 

[dogtown tom]

Having fired a friends Stoegar Cougar, I bought my first Beretta Cougar last March. I picked up a second Beretta Cougar earlier this month.

I've never been a fan of the 92- it's just too big for me. That, and I'm just not enamored with the exposed barrel.

I put the Cougar ahead of the 92 as far as concealability, but both are fat compared to a Browning Hi Power. And freakishly obese compared to my Kahr CW9 and PM9.

Remember the Stoegar Cougar is made on Beretta machinery, Stoegar being a Beretta subsidiary.

There are quite a few varieties of Beretta Cougars:
8000F
8000D
8000G
8000 Mini
8000L
8000LType P

And that's just a few of the 9mm varieties.

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

The Cougar tends to be a bit more accurate. Though you have to be a really good shooter to notice an appreciable difference.

While the Beretta 92FS is a rather large pistol, to me it fits it's purpose, which is full-sized service pistol.

If you look at the tests the US military put it's prospective pistols through, the Beretta more than proved it's capability as a solid shooting platform.

 

[SHusky57]

That's surprising that the cougar would be more accurate with a barrel more than 1" shorter than the 92fs. Do you think it's the rotating barrel system? I have the PX4 which is basically the same thing but a polymer frame instead of aluminum.

Is the .45 single-stack?

 

[Boats]

The .45 is a single stack trapped in a double stack mag tube.

I love Beretta, but they have a lot yet to learn about properly packaging the .45ACP round.

The best Beretta going is the PX-4 in 9mm. That is a well designed delivery system for the parabellum.

 

[dakotasin]

barrel length has nothing to do w/ accuracy.

 

[WC145]

I have a 8000D Mini Cougar and recently traded away an M9 and shooting side by side I found the Cougar easier to shoot fast and accurately but I attribute it to fit more than anything else. Shooting slow or off a rest I found the M9 to be more accurate but that was probably because of the single action trigger, my Cougar is DAO, no safety.

I'd say buy whatever fits you better for the use you have in mind. IMO, you can't go wrong either way.

 

[SHusky57]

Well, I already have the PX4 and love it. The M9/92FS would be a range gun/collector piece.... the Cougar would be CCW.

They all have similar controls and reasonable prices (for now). I would like an HK, or possibly a Sig, but I can pick up a Beretta for $200-400 less and I think it's near the same quality.

 

[WC145]

Well, I already have the PX4 and love it. The M9/92FS would be a range gun/collector piece.... the Cougar would be CCW.

They all have similar controls and reasonable prices (for now). I would like an HK, or possibly a Sig, but I can pick up a Beretta for $200-400 less and I think it's near the same quality.

I went from and HK USPc to the M9 and then the Cougar, and to be honest I don't feel like I'm missing out carrying a Beretta vs the HK. Fit, finish, reliability, are all equal in my experience. I think the HK and M9 are both a bit more utilitarian compared to the Cougar, which has a deeper, "richer" look to it. But I suppose that is to be expected given the intended market for each. I still have a full size USP 9mm that I got from a friend and I've never shot, I like carrying and shooting the Cougar. I doubt my opinion matters, but I'm a LEO and can carry anything I want and I'm carrying the Cougar over everything else that's out there.

 

[punkndisorderly]

The only Beretta I have direct experience with is the 92/96. Mine have never given me any problems at all. Total reliability. The only negative I could say about them is that their grip is very large and gives people with small hands problems. It's borderline too big for me. It seems to kick more for it's given caliber, probably because the bore rides kind of high.

The people I shoot with have several Beretta's other than the 92's. Either they love them and have zero problems, or they have lots of problems and hate them. Seems kind of hit and miss with the other Berettas.