First appearing in 1998, the Beretta 8000F Cougar L Type P is a second generation Cougar.
Specifications
The Beretta 8000F Cougar L Type P models are fitted with a modernized slide and an improved magazine release button. The frame is made out of aluminiumalloy. The barrel bore is hard chromed for reduced wear and ease of maintenance. Both the slide and the barrel are made out of carbonsteel. The slide is coated with Bruniton.
Intended market
The Beretta 8000F Cougar L Type P is a service pistol designed for law enforcement and the US concealed carry market.
Design advantages
The combination of front barrel bushing plus straight recoiling barrel enables the Cougar to achieve good accuracy out of a compact package. Like the Beretta 92FS, Cougar Fs are fitted with a decoking safety, that disables the trigger and makes the pistol safe to handle, clean and carry. The Cougar series closed slide provides better protection from dust and dirt compared to a Beretta 92 series. The rotating barrel lockup reduces the recoil to a surprisingly low level and is very strong. Overall the Cougars are very reliable pistols, that meet the recent NATO pistol standards.
Limitations
The Cougar series is not as capable at feeding different types of ammunition as the Beretta 92 series. The Cougar disassembly is somewhat more complex than the disassembly of a Beretta 92 series. The Cougars do not use Beretta 92 series magazines, which makes them less attractive to those that already own Beretta 92s. The closed slide does not enable the barrel to cool down as quickly as on a Beretta 92. The Cougars are heavy for their size. The Bruniton finish on the inside of the slide may wear off, which results in increased slide to frame play.