Beretta 8000

Beretta 8000 Cougar
Beretta 8000 D Pistol
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
Used by	See Users
Production history
Manufacturer	Beretta
Specifications
Weight	900–925 g 2.03 lbs 800 g (8000L) 850 g (8000L Type P)
Length	180 mm (7 in) 183 mm (7.2 in) (8045)
Barrel length	92 mm (3.6 in) 94 mm (3.7 in) (8045) 102 mm (4.0 in) (for the LAPD)
Caliber	9×19 mm (8000) .357 SIG (8357) .40 S&W (8040) .45 ACP (8045)
Action	Recoil operated (locked breech)
Feed system	(8000) 15-round magazine (8000L) 13-round magazine (8357/8040) 11-round magazine (8045) 8-round magazine
Sights	Iron sights

The Beretta 8000 (Cougar) series pistols are manufactured by Beretta of Italy.

They first appeared on the market in 1994 as a more compact alternative to the full-sized Beretta 92 service pistol in order to offer a compromise between concealability, ease of carry, accuracy and firepower.

Originally developed for the .40 S&W cartridge, which was a new cartridge at the time, it was later also manufactured for other calibers, such as 9×19 mm, .357 SIG and .45 ACP. These pistols are suitable for use by police and for civilian self-defense.

Cougar 8000 series pistols are recoil-operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistols. These pistols use a 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.

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 9 mm, .357 SIG and .40 caliber models, and single-stack magazines in .45 caliber models.

The 8000 series is available in several calibers and in either "F", "G" or "D" configuration.

European models were offered in .41 Action Express and 9×21mm.

The F specification is the basic version with double-action trigger, exposed hammer, and ambidextrous safety/decocking levers (located on the slide).

The D specification is double-action only ("DAO") with a spurless hammer and no safety/decocking levers.

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