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Beretta Cougar mod.8000/8040/8045 pistol (Italy)

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Caliber: 9x19mm Luger (mod 8000D, also .40SW in 8040F and 9x21 in mini 8000F; .45ACP in 8045)
Overall Length: 179 mm
Barrel Length: 92 mm
Weight Unloaded: 770 g
Magazine capacity: 15 rounds (9mm), 11 rounds (.357 and .40) and 8 rounds (.45)

Beretta 8000 series pistols, also known under the Cougar name, first appeared on the market in 1994 as a more compact alternative to bulky, full-sized Beretta M92F service pistols. Cougar pistols were originally developed for the then new .40S&W cartridge, and latter were adopted to other calibers, such as 9x19mm Para. .357 SIG and .45ACP. These pistols offer good compromise between concealability, ease of carry, accuracy and firepower. These pistols are well suited for both police duty and for civilian self-defense.

Cougar 8000 series pistols are recoil operated, locked breech semiautomatic pistols. These pistols use relatively rare rotating barrel locking system, in which the barrel rotates on recoil to unlock itself from the slide. The rotating motion of the barrel is controlled by the stud on its bottom, which follows the cam track in the steel frame insert. To decrease peak recoil and stress to the frame, the insert is mounted on the recoil spring and is buffered. The frame is made from lightweight aluminum alloy. The basic version of the Cougar pistol is the F model, with double action trigger with exposed hammer, and ambidextrous safety/decocker levers, located on the slide. Alternative is D version, which is double action only, and thus have spurless hammer and no safety/decocker levers. Cougar pistols use double-stack magazines in 9mm, .357 and .40 caliber models, and single stack magazines in .45 caliber models.

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