S&W SW9VE vs Stoeger Cougar

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JTH

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These are both 9mm semi auto pistols NIB. Academy has both pistols, the S&W is $299.99 and the Stoeger is $399.99. I believe the S&W has a couple more rounds mag capacity. The S&W is composite lower with metal upper. The Stoeger is all metal(I know the Stoeger is made in Turkey and is really made by a subsidiary of a Beretta with Beretta machining/tooling). If anyone knows anything about these two pistol and can give an opinion on which is the better pistol and the if $100 price difference is a deal breaker on considering a purchase of one or the other. Thanks
JT
 
i owned a sw9ve for about 2 years. the trigger is terrible on the s&w. however, it was very accurate and pretty fun to shoot.

have never shot a cougar. played with one at bass pro the other day and it felt like a well made machine. i was interested in one in .45 caliber as stoeger has decided to continue that production again.

most of the reviews i have read on the cougar have been good and i think i would go with it for 100 dollars more if i had to do it over again.
 
Given the Sigma's reputation, I think you are in fact getting a $299 pistol. However, I own the Stoeger, and feel that you would be getting a >$600 pistol. The "finish" element (i.e., the paint) of fit and finish is not that great, but the "fit" is. It is well put together, and its action and trigger are solid and slick. An $8 "D" spring lightens the trigger and makes it even better. For the $100 difference, you are getting at least $300 more in value.

You didn't mention intended use though--so be aware that the Cougar would be a bulky and heavy (32 oz?) carry weapon by today's standards.
 
Sigma

The SIGMA is a good pistol just a lot of pissed off glock owners giving it bad lip service. Crappy trigger YES, strong barrel and frame YES. Both are good pistols and would serve you well. I would go with the Sigma/SV and spend the dif on ammo. I own a Glock and love it, I also own an SV/40 and love that too.
 
To me it all comes down to which one feels better in the hand and which one you shoot better or you think you will shoot better.

To me pistols are very personal and subjective choices. They have to feel good in your hand to shoot properly. A $2000 gun that does not fit your hand is a $2000 gun that you probably will not shoot well.

The Sigma is really a $250 gun since there is almost $50 rebate. If you can stand the trigger and like the way they feel in the hand it is hard to beat a $250 gun that goes bang everytime you pull the trigger.

The Stoeger is a decent gun. They were a better value when you could get them for $300. IMHO when they start to push towards $400 i find them less appealing. I am not a fan of the rotating barrel because they require a bit more maintance and observation to keep them running properly. They need to be run wet IMHO. Still if they fit your hand then there is nothing wrong with them.

Both are reliable guns. The Stoeger is a bit more elegant in design and function. Personally I would save up some extra cash. At $500 there are a lot more options.
 
My SW9VE has proven to be an accurate and reliable handgun. I have not had any problems with my Sigma. Trigger smooths out the more you shoot it. If someone can't figure out the Sigma, get rid of it. Find something you can figure out. Trigger pull on my Sigma is not a problem for me.
 
The Stoeger Cougar is really starting to pick up a strong following. If it's possible, try to shoot a Sigma first and see what you think. Shooting a Sigma before buying is something I try to tell everyone. It's pretty much a love it or hate it gun. I hated mine. But I didn't know I hated it until I shot it.
 
Try both

I would try both by renting at a gun range.

Shoot a standardized self defense course with each gun and go with the one that works better for you.

The SIGMA is lighter which is important for concealed carry and has a longer sight radius.

The COUGAR is heavier which may be a plus for you when shooting it. Also, the COUGAR may recoil less.

I would take either one for a car gun. I would go with the consistantly higher scoring pistol for my concealed carry.

Both are well proven, reliable designs.

Jim
 
My vote is for the Stoeger Cougars. I own both the 9mm and .45 acp. Both are accurate, soft shooting, fit and finish is very good and both have been flawless. IMHO they're the best buy going today!
 
Sigma has had issues with the front sight coming off, I've personally seen about 70 and every single one was NIB, I had to ship them all back because S&W in their infinite wisdom will not sell them. They are a plastic sight staked on and is just a bad idea other than that no complaints on them. They are basically a copy of a Glock ( why Glock sued them ).

In saying that the Stoger is a solid gun but here's you problem. S&W I think is still doing the free mag thing so there is a bonus. The sights are the only issue I have so for the $100 you can get night sights, problem solved. Trigger is crappy but made it's made for SD not target.

For $400 you are getting really close to a used M&P which is a better choice than the two listed. It comes down to what you like best, same price I would buy a Stoger, but for $100 more that's a tough call.

If you buy the S&W and decide to trade it you'll get around $100-$150.
Stoger $100-$175
As with anything new it loses a lot of value. This is a rough guess a trade in but will be pretty close, the Sigma will sell faster and a dealer knows that.
 
Shoot, for 200, I'd be on the cougar like a fat chick on a hoho. For 300-400, I'd still prefer a used one to a new sigma, sorry but, no.
 
Got the 9mm Sigma last spring and like it.

Yep, trigger is heavy but for carry and no external safety its great. Just shot for qualification with a perfect score. Keep in mind I've limited experience with autos and only had 30 rounds prior through the gun. I've heard of people dropping them and knocking off the front sight but thats about it.

As far as price, SW is selling it a realistic amount since its a poly gun with a lot less manufacturing than a steel weapon. Glocks been sticking it to the consumer since day one and thats what the lawsuit was really about, not the fact that SW copied Glock or that its a crappy knockoff.
Heck, the Glock locking and recoil system was lifted from the Sig P220 series, something you don't hear much about :what:
 
I've got the Stoger 8040F, and I have trigger time on the SW40VE.

The two biggest differences are grip and trigger.

Trigger: SW has a long, uneven, and heavy DA pull. It feels the opposite of refined, but I understand it can be substantially improved quite easily. Cougar has the traditional DA/SA pull. It's crisp, but the SA pull is pretty darn heavy.

Grip: SW grip is thin, thin, thin. If you have small hands, you may like it.
The Cougar grip is large and very round. And the grip angle is extremely upright. It feels a lot like holding a hammer. This is probably my main gripe with it.

If I didn't already have a brace of Glocks, I might consider the SW (at those prices) as a first and only handgun for range and CCW. I have the Cougar for the novelty and because I got a good deal - $299, 98% condition, 2 mags, case, manual, and original box. I was surprised how well it carries, for its size. The upright grip angle does help for concealment and comfort in appendix carry.
 
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I know you didn't mention the Ruger SR9, and perhaps that was on purpose. But I see them in the $375-$400 range pretty frequently, and I think it would be a great alternative to consider if you aren't already.

17+1 capacity, light, low recoil, very reliable, well made. In my experience, it is comparable to the Glocks, M&Ps, XDs, etc... that run in the $500-550 range.
 
When I was purchasing my 1st 9MM semi auto, I looked at both. I went with the Stoeger Cougar 8000, (their going for $369 NIB where I live) I fired over 2500 flawless rds through it. I traded it (got $300 in trade for it) & purchased the Stoeger 8045. The 8045 has been as flawless. I can't say enough as too how good the Stoeger's are. They are an accurate, unbelievably reliable, very well designed handgun. As another poster has said with the Stoeger your getting a 6-7 hundred dollar handgun for about 400 bucks.

The Stoeger is NOT a clone of the Beretta Cougar, it IS the Beretta Cougar with the Stoeger name on it.
 
Not sure if the SW rebate is still available on the Sigma.
Click to expand...

If not wait a month or so and they will have a new one. LOL It seems like they are always coming up with another version soon after the old one expires.
 
I had an SW9m, which I believe is the small version of this Smith. It was, perhaps, the worst handgun I have ever owned. Fail to feeds, fail to eject, it was too much to forgive in a carry gun. I traded in back in on a Taurus Millenium and was much happier. In my opinion, if you are going to buy a S&W autoloader, buy an M&P. Just my $.02...
 
Here's what I have, so far

I didn't get to shoot a lot in the past but now where I live I can shoot everyday. I'm not very pistol educated. I read all the time but there's a world of difference between reading and some actual shooting time. I have a pretty decent array of ChiCom semi auto rifles and the only pistol I have at this point is a Norinco Tokerev. The Tok is a tough pistol. I've been considering getting my CCW. I think it would be wise to have a high capacity pistol in either a 9mm or 45 ACP and several back up magazines. I didn't know the Stoeger Cougar came in a 45 ACP until I went to their website. The Stoeger Cougar was a considerably heavier pistol, it just felt better holding and gripping it. But it's size would be a tough for consealment carry. I have no reasons to feel I need to have a pistol on my person. I mainly want a travel pistol.
I'm at the point I have enough weapons and ammo to start a small war. I've tried to keep my weapon/ammo choices to 7.62x39, 9mm, 12 ga., 22LR.
My Remy 870 Police Issue, covers most HD situations. So my next 2 purchases will be a pistol but in addition I also want a Draco AK pistol. Another 22 rifle or pistol sure wouldn't hurt either

My budget has prevented me purchasing high end weapons, this is what I've collected since the early 90's;
1 MAK90 - 12 mags mix of 20/30 rnd. capacity
1 Norinco SKS
1 Remington 870 12ga.
1 Hi-Point 9mm Carbine
1 Winchester Model 72 .22 rifle(a vintage rifle that at probably 100 years old is dead on accurate with iron sites. Shoots shorts, longs and LR's)
1 Norinco Tokerev pistol
Ammo- 1300 rnds-7.62X39
1100 rnds 9mm-FMJ ball ammo, 50 rounds HP(leary to shoot these in the Tokerev but the Hi-Point Carbine will handle them
300 rnds 12 ga bird shot, 30 rnds. 00 buck shot-need more
1000+rnds of 22 LR
Thanks guys,
JT
 
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I have a Sigma 9ve and a 40ve. They are both outstanding guns. The 40 had a great trigger out of the box. The 9ve had a terrible trigger out of the box. It was about one hour of easy gunsmithing to make the 9ve trigger very usable. I've never had a problem with the front sight on either gun after many thousands of hours of carry.

I have not handled a Cougar but own several all steel guns. CZ 75B, CZ 40-P, Smith 5906 and Smith 4046 among others. I have concealed carried both of the Sigmas and all of the steel guns. If your intention is to conceal carry your new purchase I would choose the Sigma hands down.

For me anyway, my two Sigma's are way ahead of anything else I have for carry. They are light weight. They have rounded edges. The grip is very friendly for drawing from an IWB holster. Both are very accurate and reliable.

The Sigma gets a lot of criticism because it has a revolver like trigger and the trigger is sometimes very stiff. My 9ve's trigger was so stiff just before sear release that you almost couldn't shoot the gun. But as I said above it was easy to fix. The trigger is still revolver like although it has a shorter travel than the typical revolver.

Bottom line, the Cougar for the range and the Sigma for carry.
 
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