Beretta 8040 Mini Cougar F
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The Beretta 8040 Mini Cougar F and Beretta 8040 Mini Cougar F Inox are semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta.
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History
First appearing in 1995, the Beretta 8040 Mini Cougar F is a hybrid between the first and second generation Cougars. It is based on the Beretta 8040 Cougar F. It is fitted with the later magazine release button, but uses the original slide. It was designed to serve as a backup, concealed carry pistol.
Specifications
The sized down frame is made out of aluminium alloy. The barrel bore is hard chromed for reduced wear and ease of maintenance. The slide is either made out of carbon or stainless steel.
Intended market
The Beretta 8040 Mini Cougar F is a ultra compact 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 96, 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 96 series. The rotating barrel lockup reduces the recoil to a surprisingly low level and is very strong. Overall the Cougars are very reliable pistols.
Limitations
The Cougar series is not as capable at feeding different types of ammunition then the Beretta 96 series. The Cougar disassembly is somewhat more complex than the disassembly of a Beretta 96 series. The Cougars do not use Beretta 96 series magazines, which makes them less attractive to those that already own Beretta 96s. The closed slide does not enable the barrel to cool down as quickly as on a Beretta 96. The Cougars are heavy for their size. On the standard models, the Bruniton inside the slide wears away quickly and increases slide to frame play, a problem the Inox version does not have.
Technical data
- Type: Beretta 8040 Mini Cougar F/Mini Cougar F Inox
- Trigger system: Single-action or double-action
- Caliber: .40 S&W
- Capacity: 8 rounds
- Frame material: Aluminium light alloy
- Slide and barrel material: Carbon or stainless steel
- Grip material: Plastic or wood
- Barrel length: 92 mm
- Length: 179 mm
- Height: 115 mm
- Width: 38 mm
- Mass: 780 g
- Safeties: Slide mounted combined safety and decocking levers. Loaded chamber indicator. Firing-pin safety. Slide retention device.
- Magazine release: Lower trigger guard, reversible.
- Production years: 1995 - present day.
- Production locations: Beretta Italy
See also
External links
- View of the Beretta 8000 Mini Cougars (http://www.beretta.com/frame_tabellaprodotti_2002.asp?sgmt=20&Model=Cougar#)