Experience based Opinions on Stoeger Cougar in .40 s&w requested

[Jim NE]

Hi. Any opinions on the Stoeger Cougar in .40 S&W ? Anyone's 2 cents is welcome, but I'd prefer hearing from some folks who have direct experience with owning OR shooting this gun. (If you have 9mm version, feel free to comment.) And yes, I know it's made in Turkey.

Positive comments OR negative are appreciated. This will probably be the only .40 I'll own (if I buy it) as I prefer the cost and shooting characteristics of 9mm. I don't think it's a bad idea to own a .40, but this gun won't be at the range as much as my 9mm's. I've only heard positive things, but wonder if there are any negatives. Also, any better alternatives in the just under $400 price range? THANKS!

 

[2wheels]

I own the 9mm version and I've used it as a truck gun/nightstand gun and range plinker, might go to a friend to become his first CCW gun soon. Never had a chance to try out the .40S&W version.

Cougars in any caliber are some of the nicest all metal guns you can get for the money. Super reliable, accurate, very well made. The only "negative" in my book (if you can call it that) is that I dislike the slide mounted safety/decocker, it just bothers me when racking the slide.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Hum
Beretta designed gun
Built on Beretta's old tooling (shipped to the cheaper LABOR (not quality) of Turkey)
so..
it's the same gun as the Beretta 8040, just for a bit less, cause Beretta needed room to manufacture the PX4....

You guess what the results of this thread are going to be.
it's larger
clunkier than most pistols of similar class
BUT, is one of the softest recoiling pistols you will find.

 

[wbwanzer]

I've already got the Stoeger 9mm version pictured below. I added the Beretta grips because.......wait for it.......they fit perfectly because it's really a Beretta. No problems with mine so far. I like it.

I too am asking the same questions about the 8045 version of the Cougar. So far no negatives except that the grip is a little large. But I figure that helps spread out the recoil. I'll probably get the .45 after Christmas. BTW, go ahead and get the 8040. These guns are a real value.

 

[labhound]

As I have repeateldy said on numerious forums, the Stoeger Cougar in any caliber IMHO is the best buy for the money going today. I own an 8000 F and a 8045. I skipped the 8040 as I just didn't have a desire to own a .40 S&W gun. If you prefer the 8040, by all means buy it, you won't be disappointed!

 

[gearhead]

I had the Beretta 8040 in DA/SA with safety-decocker. It was a LEO trade. I had no problem with the gun itself but it was my first (and only) .40S&W and I decided I don't care for the caliber. The gun is well-made, only slightly heavy, has a decent trigger even in DA, and feels decently balanced.

 

[wristtwister]

I had the original 8040 Beretta Cougar, and don't see a whole lot of difference between them and the Stoeger. The Stoeger doesn't have night sights on it, but that's where I learned that if you do... when you can see the sights, you can't see the target.

The Cougar has a perfect grip angle, and the front blade comes up dead level with the back sight for me. I absolutely loved the gun, but like most of my "gun mistakes", I traded it for something else (a rifle, I think)... but my .40 S&W Cougar by Beretta was one of my favorite guns. It was a pain to reassemble, but more because I'm clumsy when I need a third hand, but I absolutely loved the gun and it shot great.

WT

 

[GLOOB]

Chunky little gun. But it carries nicely due to the grip angle. Between it and the lighter, thinner G19, the Cougar CC's slightly better for me, because it's like the gun is folded in half.

I personally found the SA trigger too heavy and the grip angle too straight. I'm ok with a 1911, but this is way beyond that, even. The rear sight felt like the Eiffel tower, due to the grip angle and high bore axis. I just never got very accurate with it. When I got an FNX-40, I never shot it again. Sat in a box for 5 months before I finally gave it to a friend.

Aside from the grip angle and trigger pull, it was a fantastic gun. Perfectly reliable and the ergos of the controls are perfect. It's also very innovative for its safety features. It has a passive firing pin safety with visual indication (a nub raises up above the slide when the trigger is pressed), a rotating firing pin manual safety, half cock notch, and a decocker. But blissfully no mag safety.

Take down and reassembly is easy enough, but it does take a few extra steps. The barrel has full support of the case, as far as I can tell, and it has conventional rifling.

Oh, the finish sucks.

 

[wbwanzer]

I would rate the finish on mine (pictured above) as equal to either of the CZs that I've owned. I see no problem with it.

 

[Lawyer with a Gun]

I own one, and I love it. The grip is a bit large, but that, along with the all metal costruction, make it comfortable to shoot. Friends who have shot it have enjoyed using it.

It was my primary carry gun for several years and I still carry it on occasion.

 

[txgunsuscg]

Used to own one in 9mm. I liked it based on the fact that I was trained on the Beretta 92, and the Stoeger had all the same controls, but in a much more concealable package for me. Good gun, plenty accurate, worked great for me. I ended up selling both the Stoeger and the Beretta, but only because my priorities lay elsewhere, not because of any fault with the gun.

 

[Jim NE]

Very much appreciate all the help with your collective experience. Thanks

Anyone else with any experience with this gun (or 9mm or .45 version)? Please feel free to comment positive or negative.

 

[johnmichael]

Stoeger Cougar 40 cal.

Don't waste time----go ahead and get it. Like you, I have a ton of 9's because I really like them but I have a Stoeger Cougar 8045 which I absolutely love. I replaced the grips w/rare molded rubber Pearce's. Specifically concerning the 40 caliber, you will be pleased to learn that this weapon was originally designed (out of the box) to be a 40 caliber handgun! To me that is a real plus for those desiring a 40 caliber. Like you, I have one 40 cal. but it is a Sig Sauer P239 which I also really like but if you factor in the money difference, I would buy the Stoeger. Concerning those who feel that a Stoeger is not really a Beretta, I would say bologna! They are every bit a Beretta! Beretta snobs cannot get past the names Stoeger and Turkey. I have another Turkish handgun----Armalite AR-24 which is really a Sarsilmaz and it is great. Well build, accurate, aattractive and the best CZ clone out there! I know you'll like your Stoeger 8040 so why haven't you bought it yet?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I owned one for about a year and a half.

I liked mine a great deal. I was quite surprised by how accurate it was for a low cost gun. I recently sold it to my dad however. After about a year I realized I just didn't care for the muzzle flip that the .40 S&W cartridge generated. I have no problem with the push of recoil, but muzzle flip irritates the heck out of me. I was always able to make a really good accurate first shot, but the muzzle flip really slowed me down on follow up shots. That was the fault of the cartridge though, not the gun. I sold it to my dad, who shoots it really well, and put the money into a FNP-45. I just enjoy shooting that .45 acp a lot better.

The Cougar is a great gun, and I would buy one again in 9mm or .45. I often see threads where people are looking for a low cost "car or truck gun". I think the Cougars would be a great choice for this duty.

If I ever get into .40 S&W again, it will be in a full size Beretta 96, a Baby Dessert Eagle, or a Sarsilmaz K2 by EAA. If I really want to get out of hand though, I may look at a Sig 226 with a compensator.

Good luck, and for the money, the Stoegar Cougar is one of the best values out there IMO.

 

[re_volt]

Cougar 40

Really like this gun. It's my only 40 cal. The rest of my guns are 9mm and a 38. Can not really tell the difference as far as muzzle flip is concerned, from my other 9mm. The rotating barell and the weight of the metal frame probably helps. So far I have close to a thousand rounds through it without amy problem. The DA is smooth although a little too long and the SA is nice and crisp. If you haven't bought it yet, I suggest you do. Now I am waiting for a good deal for a cougar in 9mil.

 

[triplebike]

The Stoeger Cougars are probably the best value handgun series available today. 1000's & 1000's of rds fired through my 8000 & 8045. Neither one has ever had any malfunction whatsoever.

Beretta cougars sold for $700+ in the early 90's, you can get the Stoeger for just about half that.

 

[Dr_2_B]

Ugh, re volt! That's revolting. Please tell me you change out those grips after Saint Patty's day.