Cougar slide release options

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

gasnmyveins

Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
11
I find myself really liking the Cougar for a number of reasons. The exposed hammer, so I can decock it myself and not have to trust a decocker. Half-cock capability, much desired for the negation of the home vasectomy option. SA/DA. 2nd strike capability. Reasonably high capacity. Anybody making good higher capacity mags to fit it and be carried as spares? Supposedly great accuracy. Low recoil. On and on and on and ........
The thing is, I have to shift my grip somewhat to work the slide release and mag release, which can't be good if it's hitting the fan. I've got pretty decent sized hands, too, so I'm sure I'm not the only one. I'd think somebody out there has marketed something to help out with this. Maybe an extended slide release, or something.
The next question is, is it even going to matter? I'd think everything should be within easy reach, myself.
Google didn't really help much at all, I guess because the original cougar never really took off.
Thanks, Gas.
 
Man, those look like great prices if they really are 40 odd dollars normally. I was kind of wondering about something with maybe 18 rounds or so, though. Obviously not necessary, it's only 3 rounds after all. I just figured that if I buy a spare or two anyway I might as well try for even higher capacity that 15 rounds.
Still, if the 15 rounders cost $20 and I could get 18 but it cost me $40 something, I think I'd just get 4 15s instead of 2 18s.
Thanks.
 
Gunclip Depot

For spare mags, try Gunclip Depot for the best prices I have found. I have several for my Stoeger Cougar and they work flawlessly. As to an extended slide release, I am not sure what is available, don't need one, but David Olhasso would be the first choice for a supplier if he does one. Great weapon for half the price that Beretta charged for it. Feeds anything I've put in it and is accurate as all get out. You can get the Elite II extended mag release from David Olhasso as well for the 92/96 series, it works in the Cougar.
 
If you can operate mag releases and slide stops without shifting your grip at all, you may find yourself inadvertently operating them while shooting. Your options are: shift your grip as needed; trip the stop with the thumb of your support hand (I like this with 1911s and S&Ws); or forget it altogether and pull back the slide with your support hand, releasing the slide to fly forward and chamber the round. The problem with the latter two techniques is that they require both hands.
 
I know Sigs are not safe if you decock without using the decocker. Is the Cougar different?
 
If you can operate mag releases and slide stops without shifting your grip at all, you may find yourself inadvertently operating them while shooting.

You know, in retrospect that's pretty obvious. I wish I would have realized it beforehand.

I know Sigs are not safe if you decock without using the decocker. Is the Cougar different?

I'm guessing it's like my old winchester 30-30. If I slip, it goes off. In my mind, what it comes down to is whether I choose to trust myself or someone else. Myself to let the hammer down without letting go of it, or someone I don't know to make a foolproof design. I've heard a couple of stories of pistols going off accidentally when the decocker was used. On the other hand, I know I can control how the hammer goes down. It's big enough to get a good grip on it and it's not hard to let down.
Odds are that using the decocking lever is safer, but I just can't bring myself to trust something that important to machinery that I'm not directly controlling. What if my particular decocking assembly is the ONE assembly to erroneously get through qc when the tolerances weren't within spec? Call me old-fashioned, but I just can't make myself do it with a round in the chamber.
 
Last edited:
I'm guessing it's like my old winchester 30-30. If I slip, it goes off. In my mind, what it comes down to is whether I choose to trust myself or someone else. Myself to let the hammer down without letting go of it, or someone I don't know to make a foolproof design. I've heard a couple of stories of pistols going off accidentally when the decocker was used. On the other hand, I know I can control how the hammer goes down. It's big enough to get a good grip on it and it's not hard to let down.
Odds are that using the decocking lever is safer, but I just can't bring myself to trust something that important to machinery that I'm not directly controlling. What if my particular decocking assembly is the ONE assembly to erroneously get through qc when the tolerances weren't within spec? Call me old-fashioned, but I just can't make myself do it with a round in the chamber.
Click to expand...

I have shot a range-rental Cougar in .40 S&W a few times... nice gun. IIRC, the decocker on it is exactly the same as the one on my M9: there is a "transfer plunger" (my term, not sure what it is officially called) that is mounted in the pivot for the decocker. When the hammer falls, it strikes the transfer plunger which in turn strikes the firing pin. It is the mechanical link between the hammer and the firing pin itself.

When you rotate the decocker lever down to SAFE, the pivot and transfer plunger rotate upward into slide. The transfer plunger is fully OUT of the path of the hammer when the hammer falls. And, for all intents and purposes, it it failsafe; I mean, if the decocker rotates, the transfer plunger is going to rotate up and out of the way as well. Plus, you have the regular firing pin safety in place.

I'd consider the Beretta system 100% safe. You could always ease the hammer down after you release it *with the decocker,* (I do this sometimes) but pulling the trigger and thumbing the hammer down seems like asking for an accident, since you are bypassing both the decocker AND the firing pin safety.
 
There's an idea. I haven't bought one yet, or even found a range that rents them, so I haven't had much of a chance to really try different things out. I like what you're describing, though, and if I get one I will do my best to do it that way. The last, and I mean absolutely LAST, thing I want is an accidental discharge. If I can use the decocking lever and ease the hammer down manually, that's the best of both worlds to me. Thanks for the advice. This is what makes the internet such a great thing.
 
You should try one out before worrying about the changes you'd make to it. Chances are good you won't need to change anything at all.

My Cougar is DAO so decocking is not an issue for me but, FWIW, I've never heard of a decocker failure on any pistol. I know the one on my M9 functioned as advertised.
 
I'd love to try one out, but nobody around here is renting them. I'm kind of up the creek on that score.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top