2WheeledSpeed

The Stoeger Cougar is a traditional double action/single action semi-automatic handgun with a steel slide and aluminum alloy frame, it is identical in every single way to the discontinued Beretta Cougar except for the name on the side. When Beretta stopped making the Cougar a while back (Partially due to high labor costs), they shipped all the machinery needed to produce the gun to Turkey where their subsidiary Stoeger produces it for hundreds of dollars less than the Beretta version originally was.

Same gun, same Beretta quality for a lot less money.

The current Stoeger Cougar comes in 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP, and a 9mm compact model. This review is on the standard 9mm model, which comes with two 15 round magazines. This gun is a little different than most semi-automatics you'll encounter as it operates with a rotating barrel rather than a tilting barrel. Since the rotating barrel stays aligned with the slide rather than tilting slightly upwards as in most other designs, it's theoretically a very accurate design. The only other current handgun I can name with a rotating barrel is the Beretta Px4, which is a direct descendant of the Cougar.

The accuracy I spoke of is not just theoretical, this is a very accurate handgun. Recoil is quite manageable, and follow up shots are fast. The grip is a bit thicker than my 1911s, but it's still comfortable. The sights are decent, your typical white 3 dot setup.

I carry and shoot mostly single action guns, like the 1911, so this Cougar is a bit of a departure for me. Learning to handle a double action trigger pull, and then transitioning to a lighter single action pull takes a little practice and I still don't quite have the heavy double action pull down. Though heavy, the double action pull is smooth and thankfully the single action pull is short and light, with only a little take up. I'm not a fan of the slide mounted safety/decocker, I'd rather have a Sig style frame mounted decocker as I don't feel a safety is needed on a double action gun like this, but I can live with it.

I think the Cougar is one of the best kept secrets of the firearms world. It's a reliable, well built, accurate handgun that is just as affordable as your Glocks, XDs, and M&Ps that have become so popular, and it's not plastic! I got mine used for about $300, but the MSRP depending on the model is only $450-$500. That's not a bad deal, considering you'll end up paying less than MSRP if you shop around.

My Cougar hasn't replaced any of my other handguns for concealed carry, instead most of the time I keep it locked in a safe in my truck ready to go should I need a backup gun if the SHTF while I'm away from home.