I was delighted to discover the (previously Beretta now) Stoeger Cougar. The original machines were apparently shipped from Italy to Turkey I think. Pretty cool effort to maintain production standards. I LIKE THE PRICE NEW. Good reviews. I found one that I'll check out soon. Checked out the specs. I like the size but not the weight so much. Maybe a hair lighter. I've been warned that the safety is awkward ergonomically. Other than weight and that mention I'm pretty interested.

I need you guys to talk me out of it...or ok it. ;) That's been a helpful angle in the pursuit of good guns for me. I want a 9mm carry pistol with a 3-4" barrel, DA/SA, maybe SA. I won't get into great detail for the sake of my price cap. for $400 or less, (not $499 the XD is still possible), what little guys do you like NEW. Khar is in there but it's DAO I think. Great little piece though. Hard to turn away from. Hard to beat that new Cougar price. Less than the original Beretta's by far. Thanks for any advise. I know the options greatly open up "used" but just thought I'd ask the group in case i'm missing adiamond in the ruff.

Here's my Taurus snubby and my buddies new 40 S&W Taurus Millinium. If I was an auto kind of guy it's the one I would buy. I'm just not an auto kind of guy. To many buttons, safety's and stuff on those auto's for a simply guy like me.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/Preditor%20masters/100_7553.jpg

I like em all. I don't mind a safety but you're right some do have poor "buttons". Some are well designed of course. I like Springfield, smiths, cz, kimber. But that's expensive taste. Tone it down. When I'm smimming with the Benjies I'll have a gallery but until then it's frugal city. I like a short trigger pull so a SA option is a good thing. Some of those DAO are short too but I'm not savvy with which ones are.

Any thoughts on the Cougar? Also considering a little Bersa but maybe not. Probably not a Kel Tec. I'm lost in a shroud of web pages and data. Was just hoping yall could throw me some plain jane rex to help me clear the fog. There are a meriad of options in the $499 catagory. Feel free to say "suck it up" but if you do I want some good ideas.:rolleyes: So the question still stands, Fav economy carry 9mm. lay it on me.

Never mind. I'll keep up the homework. Thought you guys'd have some good advise. Generic question anyway. Tired of reading reviews.

I've never had a Beretta, but like the looks of the new ones. Have handled a SToeger and it looks to me to be a OK piece. The design is a bit dated, but that doesn't mean much, if you find it fits your hand and points well.

YOu might check out the SW M&P compact. I was looking at one a few weeks ago and noticed that SW was offering a $50 rebate plus two free mags. Excellent DA trigger.

Consider the Springfield XD in 9mm

I know better than to shop like this. I will save a little longer and choose without compromise. Used guns always seem to come with a compromise. I like the M&P. It goes on the short list. Good ideas. CZ 75 compact and the new P102(?) look like the right size. I wish..Say it again..IWISH the springfield felt better in my hand. I love the design and features. Doesn't feel as good as others. I really feeling the slim Smiths and Kahr's. The best feeling smiths/ well walthers were the PPK models but I want a 9mm. CZ is up there man.

Any further thoughts. Short list requires ergonomics 3-4" bbl, exposed hammer whenever possible. ANyone have a FAV gun that fits those rules?

MAngo,

I have both the Springfield XD Compact in 45ACP with a 4" bbl and the Taurus PT145 Millenium in 45. I prefer the Springfield XD for shootability, but for carrying, it is not as comfortable as the Taurus which has a shorter bbl and more rounded edges and corners. Overall, I think the Taurus is a better deal for concealed carry as it is accurate enough at self defense ranges and much more comfortable to carry around. My advise is whatever pistol you decide on, make sure the barrel is 3.5" or shorter. It makes a difference.

How's about the Springfield Lightweight Champion....

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1600/682422/9250908/283141808.jpg

Have you thought about the Ruger SR9? I know a couple of the local shops around have these for under $400.00.

Sig 228???
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1600/682422/9250908/293185501.jpg
tho they tend to be wide..

...
Any further thoughts. Short list requires ergonomics 3-4" bbl, exposed hammer whenever possible. ANyone have a FAV gun that fits those rules?
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Here's a dark horse. The new Kel Tec 9mm. Not sure... I think it has an exposed hammer. It's very small, thin and conceable, US made and reasonably priced. The downside is the trigger pull. Better than the old Kel Tecs, but still a bit long. It's a value and a good pocket gun.

I have one on the older ones and it has digested hundreds of rounds w/out burping. Carries well. If they made the new one in 40 SW, I'd be tempted to pick one up as an extra stash gun around the house, truck or garage. At this point I don't own a 9mm and don't want another caliber in my menagerie.

Have you looked at the FNH 5seven?

granted, it's small at 5.7x28, but the gun holds 20 + 1 rounds, and the ballistics are incredibly nasty!

oops, missed the $400 price tag. Nevermind on the 5.7 FNH, it runs about $850.

Leverite,

What is the new Kel's model #? I'm iffy on Kel Tec but I'll look. The site looks the same but maybe it's there. I've left the Cougar behind. Coming around on the Px4. Even the small carry version. The full size uses the rotating barrel technology which I like. Px4 is a nice gun to hold too. Not a bad price either. I need to sort out if I want a truely small concealable piece or a good wearable full size. I think the latter.

I've got a Beretta Cougar 8045. Mine is the "Cat Pak" with the special grips and locking aluminum carrying case with Cougar emblazoned on it. I paid $560 for mine new. This gun has been mine go to gun. I love the balance, feel and recoil is totally tolerable with it. Its never hiccuped and just been a good pistol.

I've really been eyeing a used Cougar at a local gun store that is selling for $399. My current 9mm carry gun is a S&W SW9VE. If that Cougar was a .40 I would have bought it already.

Tip: as with all Berettas, DO NOT purchase anything but factory magazines for it. ProMags are junk.

when did you buy the cougar and why not a Px4? Was "Cat Pak" their gun "package"? Glock and Sprinfield sell gun "packages". (I'm sure most manufacturer's do). I'll check out your Smith. In the back of my mind I want a 40. All of the models I like come in 9 and 40. Inconsequential at this point. Just wanna decide on a good model. Preferably a brunette, 5'7", maybe Italian.:rolleyes:

I bought my Cougar a few months before the PX4 came out. The Cat Pak gun isn't any different, it doesn't even have any engraving, just special grip panels (wormwood with cougar medallion) and a nice hard aluminum case.

The SW9VE and SW40VE are both about $330 or less, available in blue/black or stainless/black (mine)

Here are mine:

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/mattsbox99/IMG_0124.jpg

when did you buy the cougar and why not a Px4? Was "Cat Pak" their gun "package"? Glock and Sprinfield sell gun "packages". (I'm sure most manufacturer's do). I'll check out your Smith. In the back of my mind I want a 40. All of the models I like come in 9 and 40. Inconsequential at this point. Just wanna decide on a good model. Preferably a brunette, 5'7", maybe Italian.:rolleyes:

The PX4 is an Italian masterpiece. I almost bought one last year, but it is a full size auto and not a mid size carry gun. There is a subcompact on the way (there was a review in G&A), but I haven't seen it yet in the shops. The subcompact does not have the rotating breech lockup the the full size has. That may be an advantage, depending on your POV. If you can find a subcompact PX4, it would also be worth considering.

Yup, That Px4 carry is awesome. Personally I like the idea of the rotating breech. You can find it if you follow the links to the right of the screen on the Beretta pistol's page. They lead to some specialized Px4 pages among other things. That little Px4 looks sweet. I'd like to handle one. Lever, why'd you choose against the Px4?

Matt, You got the smith for $330 new? Amazing. I like the ergonomics of that design. Hows the trigger? I'd probably get the stainless slide model if I picked one up. Thanks for the pix.

Yup, That Px4 carry is awesome. Personally I like the idea of the rotating breech. You can find it if you follow the links to the right of the screen on the Beretta pistol's page. They lead to some specialized Px4 pages among other things. That little Px4 looks sweet. I'd like to handle one. Lever, why'd you choose against the Px4?

I was very tempted and almost picked up a used one on GUnbroker. But, I have enough full sized autos...I really would like to see the new subcompact PX4, though.

I actually got the smith for $309 new, and it came with an offer to get two more magazines for free (they are $39 each) I've just recently seen several around town for $334 to $369, the more expensive ones have a light and large plastic S&W case, rather than the small one that normally comes with this gun. I'm really thinking about picking up a .40 S&W one with the light... but I think my next purchase is going to be a Ruger Charger, might just have to get both... I really miss my Beretta 96... 'twas a good gun.