Beretta Mini Cougar .45, with pics.

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George Hill

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The Cougar is now safe and sound here at home. At the gun shop where I had it transferred through, I inspected the little pistol while the clerk handled the paperwork. I had the initial impression that I had made a huge mistake.
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This Cougar was the worse feeling Beretta I had ever encountered. I shook my head, but took the gun home. Once home I immediately stripped the gun down. Inside, the gun was not just bone dry, but fouled with carbon like the inside of an M-16’s bolt carrier. No wonder it felt like crap.
Cougar2.JPG


Once I got the gunk scraped out, (I think it was like dried orange juice or something) cleaned, inspected and lubed properly with FP-10, the gun felt like a real honest to goodness Beretta. The barrel was absolutely filthy inside. I don’t think this Cougar has ever been cleaned. Ever.
Cougar3.JPG


The previous owner of this unit was rough on her, abused and neglected her. The owner must have been a rough cop or just a filthy slob. She needed some love. Luckily she cleaned up real nice. There are some scars… I can’t do anything about that. We all have our scars. The overall package is very nice.

She’s a hot little Italian, curvy and sexy. Feels good in the hands. Handles very well for the subcompact frame. Points naturally. I’ve yet to shoot it. I don’t have time to do so today, dang it! Maybe tomorrow morning.

The gun is an odd unit thanks to the rotating barrel and a closed slide... but the gun is all Beretta inside and out. Many things are very similar to the 92 series and I instantly felt right at home with it. The controls are all easily reached and well placed. I don't see any problems that way. Some say the Beretta 92 series is just too big. I disagree. I don't think many people that slam the 92 for that would say anything about the Cougar. I don't think it's too big at all.
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The muzzle end is monolithic, brutal, and unyielding in it's appearance... but that's the business end of it. From the operators perspective the gun looks dead sexy. The sights are functional, but nothing special. I am thinking of getting some Express 24-7 sights for it... and some wood grips would be nice too. The factory plastics are too cheap for such a fine Italian... Like vinyl seats in your Ferrari.

I'm packing the Cougar in my ten dollar belt slide holster I got 6 to 8 years ago, and it fits perfectly in it. Not only that, but it conceals very well too. I'll have to look for a real hoster after I blow through plenty of ammo... fiscal priorities and all that. I think many people have the impression that Berettas are more bulky than they really are. The guns thickness isn't really a problem at all, and thanks to the Mini Cougar's short grip, printing is not a concern at all. I'll review this gun more after I spend some more quality time with her.

For those wondering about the ammo, I picked up a box of CCI Blazers when I paid for the transfer fee. The Blazers are not reloadable and for that reason some people scoff at it. However during some ammunition testing, Blazers were found to be the most consistent ammunition shot per shot. It might be cheap, but it's excellent quality. Not only that, but it has very good energy levels. I have some other ammunition I will test with it... some 230gr JHPs from a couple different makers, Triton, Federal, some reloads... But this 3.6 inch barrel is making me think about using 200 grain loads instead.
 
A few years ago I put a few rounds through one at the IDPA nationals at the Beretta display and was VERY impressed. The recoil impulse is different and better. I was going to buy one in 40 if I could get a 357 bbl also. I couldn't, so I ended up with the G32.

It was/is pricey for me; but, is probably worth every penny. I would still like to have one. Maybe some day.
 
I was one of those people that used to think Berettas were just way too big. However, I handled a bunch this past weekend, and have changed my mind. I could easily reach the trigger in DA mode, and operate the safety and mag release with minimal hand shift. I think the Vertec feels even better than the original.

How's that Cougar balance? It seems like that's an awfully big nose for a subcompact grip.

Chris
 
I like the Vertec myself. If I find a "deal" on a Mini Cougar 45 I will buy one myself. They balance nice and recoil isn't bad for the size.
 
You got rid of your 696 for that?

Ok. At least it's a .45 ACP Beretta.

It does fit in with the thread asking about broken Berettas, although I never knew until reading it that MadOgre was an angry poster child for the company. ;)

That being said, I get to go to my yearly M9 qualification tomorrow. As much as I dislike the gun, at least I get to go shoot up some free 9mm. :D
 
What's to dislike about the Beretta 92?
If your an actual shooter, and not just a vehicle for it, it's one of the top 9MM's you can get.
Retail for a new one of these suckers out here is almost 800 dollars... but not that that matters... I like them. That's all that matters. Is there anything else that matters?

Besides, I've said it before... I'm a gun-slut. I have thing for pistols. Beretta has quickly moved up to the top floor. Right up there with SIG.
 
It looks like one of those pistols you see lying in a puddle at the scene of a shooting in downtown Detroit.

I hope it was cheap.


Newton
 
I only shot 120 rounds of various loads... but most of them were 230 grain Blazers. Fed and fired all with no problem. Even with mixed mags. Slide even locked back every time. No fault at all in any function.
Accuracy was Minute of Coke Bottle, all the way out past 15 yards easily.
I didn't shot for groups to measure... I had no way of doing that given only flat desert and a few soda bottles. However I have a feeling that this Cougar will group very well. 20 Ounce bottles out to where they are getting hard to see in the snow makes for a challenging target, especially when they are clear and you've blasted the red label off. Yet this Cougar hunted them easily.
Sights are dead bang on. Point of aim, point of impact with everything. Of course they were all 230 grain loads, so the energies were all pretty similar.
I'll have to take this to a range where I can bench it and really see how accurate it is... but it has already made a good showing in my opinion.
The recoil felt different from other .45's. Kinda softer... same .45 push... but the recoil pulse felt different. Like it had a shock buffer in it or something. I get the impression it could handle +P's with no problem. The recoil spring feels heavy... 23 pounds maybe?
Not much of a testing... but I was strapped for time.

Downtown Detroit? Please.
 
They hold 6 rounds, so you can roll 6+1, the full size mags hold 8.

This is the only downside to the gun. Looking at the mags, there has got to be a way to get these things to hold more rounds. I mean heck, there are other guns with mags the same size that hold 10. This weird (perhaps retarded is the technically correct word) magazine issue puts the gun in a direct comparison with the SIG P245 because of the capacity. No one really slams the SIG for it's capacity, so perhaps it's unfair to hold this against the Beretta... but the Cougar really should be able to hold more rounds. I think this is what has made the Cougars a slower selling item here in the US.
 
I like your little cougar. How's the weight when fully loaded? Just curious. My 96 is pretty heavy, one of the reasons I like it. Recoil is negligible.
 
I thought they were short double stack mags? I guess they are single stack??? I didn't know they were 6+1 round guns with the regular mags.

I still like the small grip size for CCW....

*edit* Ok, I just looked and found they're single stack, I don't know why I thought they were double...
 
George, I know I'm showing my age here...

What's to dislike about the Beretta 92?
If your an actual shooter, and not just a vehicle for it, it's one of the top 9MM's you can get.
Click to expand...

My first issue sidearm was an M-38, aka. S&W Model 10 M&P. No problem, it was there in the event I got shot down, and the old wheelgun was definitely reliable and accurate, regardless of how hard-hitting the .38 Special round was. I enjoyed qualification day, and looked forward to it every year.

Then Uncle Sam saw fit to take that away from me, and gave me a 1911A1. Different manual of arms, but all was hunky-dory in short order. It was my friend during Desert Storm, and when I got back, I bought 4 of the darned things for myself and my wife. Qualifying expert was a piece of cake, I ended up helping my fellow aircrew who couldn't quite make the expert score during that timeframe.

But the writing was on the wall, and sure enough, along comes that which cured all of the Department of Defense's ills, the M-9, aka. Beretta 92. I had no choice, so I've overcome the DA/SA transition as required, and qualified expert with it every year since I was handed my first one. I can make it work, and when or if the time comes, I will rely on it if shot down. But that's as far as I want to go with it, I have absolutely no desire to own one personally or shoot one recreationally. When I retire in the next 2 years, my association with the M-9/Beretta 92 will have come to an end.

But in defense of all things Italian, I will start looking for my 3rd Fiat Spyder 2000 once they change the color of my ID card. :D
 
The mags are double stacked... but a narrow double stack. Kinda like VW's new narrow V6. If you look at the last witness hole... you can see there is room in there for at least 2 more rounds... And this is the flush 6 round mag. The full sized 8 rounder is the same way. You should be able to get at least 2 more rounds in there too.
I think Beretta could design a new follower and that would do it.
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Great gun and even better thread.................ROFLMFAO! :D

Bring it down to civilization and well go shoot it. K? The 40 Cougar I shot was pretty nice.............never could figure out the funky corkscrew lock up though........who knows?

Great read........keep it up. You say you need leather for it? It will take at least a week to get it right and at least a box of shells.........er...........never mind :rolleyes:

Shoot well.
 
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