The Beretta Cougar 8000 Series semi-auto has developed a formidable reputation as a reliable, potent weapon. First designed primarily as an undercover gun, the Beretta Cougar 8000 is now carried by growing numbers of police officers as their official duty sidearm because of its superior ergonomic design, low recoil and inherent accuracy.
Going back to the drawing board to make a compact as good as the 92FS. Matching the standards of the most acclaimed pistol in the word was the task faced by the Beretta design team. There was no easy solution, since the 92FS- with its open slide design- could not simply be reduced in size. The answer was a brilliant adaptation of a proven locked-breech system with a rotating barrel. By taking the greatest possible advantage of the superior way a locking system with rotating barrel absorbs energy, this design made it possible to create a pistol that is compact and easy to conceal and operate. Yet, it efficiently handles today's high-powered 9mm and. 40 caliber ammunition.

Inherent accuracy is built in.The Cougar's short recoil, straight in-line feed system delivers exceptional reliability and accuracy. When the Cougar is in battery, the positive lock-up of barrel to slide assures perfect alignment of barrel and sights. Upon firing, the barrel travels and rotates with axial movement. By channeling part of the recoil energy into barrel rotation, and by partially absorbing the barrel and slide recoil shock through the central block before it is transferred to the frame, the Cougar achieves unusually low felt recoil. The result is superior accuracy and quicker recovery for second shots.

The Cougar delivers major firepower in 9mm (Model 8000), and .40 cal. (Model 8040) in F, D and G operating systems. The Cougar is also available in Inox versions with stainless steel slide, barrel and other key components and internal parts. The Cougar is one of the most ergomically advanced pistols in its class. All edges are rounded or beveled and carefully finished to make the Cougar virtually snag-proof and exceptionally easy to draw and conceal. The user-friendly, contoured frame and grips make the Cougar exceptionally easy to control during firing. By taking hand anatomy and instinctive hold into account, the Cougar accommodates smaller hands and also protects larger hands from being pinches by the slide.

The New 8000/8040 Mini Cougar F couples concealability with serious firepower. Fully one inch shorter in the grip and weighing in at more than two ounces lighter, the Mini Cougar is even more compact than the full size Cougar. Yet it has all of the same performance and safety features of its big brother and offers 10 +1 firepower in 9mm and 8 + 1 in .40 caliber. An optional full capacity extended magazine is specially contoured to aid controlability and provide full 15 round* (9mm) and 11 round* (.40 caliber) capacity. The Mini Cougar is also available in D and Inox stainless steel models.
8000 Series Cougar Pistol Specifications
model caliber Magazine
Capacity		 Action Overall Length
(mm/in)		 Barrel Length
(mm/in)		 Overall Width
(mm/in		 Overall Height
(mm/in		 Sight Radius Weight
Unloaded
(gr/oz)
8000 Cougar F (Standard & Inox) 9 mm x 19 15* Single/Double 180/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 140/5.5 132/5.2 925/32.6
8040 Cougar F (Standard & Inox) 40 S & W 11* Single/Double 180/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 140/5.5 132/5.2 920/32.4
8000 Cougar D (Standard & Inox) 9 mm x 19 15* Double/Only 180/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 140/5.5 132/5.2 910/32.0
8040 Cougar D (Standard & Inox)   11* Double/Only 180/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 140/5.5 132/5.2 905/31.9
8000 Cougar G (Standard & Inox) 9 mm x 19 15* Single/Double 180/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 140/5.5 132/5.2 925/32.6
8000 Cougar G (Standard & Inox) 40 S & W 11* Single/Double 180/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 140/5.5 132/5.2 920/32.4
8000 Mini Cougar F (Standard & Inox) 9 mm x 21 10/15** Single/Double 179/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 115/4.5 132/5.2 785/27.6
8040 Mini Cougar F (Standard & Inox) 40 S & W 8/11** Single/Double 179/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 115/4.5 132/5.2 780/27.6
8000 Mini Cougar D (Standard & Inox) 9 mm x 19 10/15** Double/Only 179/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 115/4.5 132/5.2 770/27.1
8000 Mini Cougar D (Standard & Inox) 40 S & W 8/11** Double/Only 179/7 92/3.6 38/1.5 115/4.5 132/5.2 765/26.9
* Maximum magazine capacities for pistols are shown in chart above. Consult local authorities for magazine capacity restriction that may apply in your locale. ** Increased capacity figures are with use with optional extended magazine.