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Post by MLB on Jan 17, 2007 13:08:32 GMT -5
On the radio the past couple of days they've been hyping up this bit "Clearance Sale" coming up at the local Gander Mountain. Up to 40% off they say (on the crap no doubt.) Regardless, as today is the day before the "big sale", I figured I'd reconnoiter the selection. Lets see, your typical new big bore revolvers, some less than interesting mid frame revolvers, boatload of High Standards, Ruger Marks, used Sigs. Lookie here; A Walther P5 (used). Looks to be in good shape. Not a very stunning price at $540. It's not the P5C I've been lust.. um.. keeping an eye out for, but it seems to be in very good shape. At 40% off I may not be able to help myself. We'll see tomorrow. On my way around the corner towards the door (takes a while to get past all of those Glocks), I get chatting with the counter guy. Start discussing several of the offerings at that end. He shows me the Beretta Neos something or other. It's plastic and I must have shown some lack of interest as he picks up a nearly identical looking Stoeger Cougar 8000 and hands it to me. See review below. This one is all steel and has a good balance in the hand as opposed to the Beretta version which was topheavy as polymer framed handguns tend to be. The only thing that threw me was the decocker. Actually, it wasn't working correctly. I checked the chamber and racked the slide. The hammer stayed back. As I pointed to a safe direction and went to try out the trigger, the hammer dropped. Now what's up with that! I could have sworn that my finger hadn't quite touched the trigger just yet. Try again, hammer stays back, but then drops if you touch it. "This is not good" I say to the counter guy. He agrees. We notice however, that the safety is on, and the hammer shouldn't stay back (sort of like the ppk/s). So, it was indeed safe as the firing pin was blocked. I'd imagine it will wear in to the point that the hammer will drop every time as it should, and not stick back as if cocked. It did give me pause though. Fun morning. www.gunsandammomag.com/ga_handguns/steoger8k_121106/ |
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Post by TMan on Jan 23, 2007 8:56:55 GMT -5
The thing I found interesting is the rotating barrel. I don't have a gun that has one of those. It allows for a very tight fit between the barrel and the slide. That was one of the things with the S&W 952: the bushing is really tight and makes it difficult to get the barrel back into the slide. Since the article was written, there has been a price increase.  According to their web-site, the price as of this morning 01/23/07 is $370. ( www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/cougar8000-specs.tpl ). I sent an e-mail to my dealer yesterday telling her to get me one if they are available. I may have to wait awhile. Hopefully, it will be less than the 2 years I waited for the Taurus PT1911. |
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Post by 5ontarget on Jan 23, 2007 15:03:14 GMT -5
I don't have a gun that has one of those. What better reason do you need to buy one? (apparently none!) Glad you took care of that glaring deficit in your collection.  |
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Post by MLB on Jan 23, 2007 16:21:55 GMT -5
I feel a bit guilty. If my count isn't off, that's about 4 firearms that I've mentioned that have ended up in TMan's arsenal. I've really only recommended one of them though, and I'm careful not to mention anything off-the wall; like a Gyrojet..... oops.
I like the idea of a rotating barrel as opposed to a tilting mechanism for accuracy's sake. I'd imagine the benefits of the tilting barrel design (easier feeding) need to be addressed in the Stoeger though.
On paper, there should be no difference though. Both the Browning and rotating barrels need to lock up tight to be "precise". The only advantage I see with the rotating barrel is that it is locked up at the muzzle as well as at the locking lugs. Maybe that helps.
Either way, both designs shoot better than me ;D
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Post by TMan on Jan 23, 2007 17:00:23 GMT -5
...The only advantage I see with the rotating barrel is that it is locked up at the muzzle as well as at the locking lugs. Maybe that helps... That is the whole point and one of the problems with the Beretta/Taurus 92 design is that there is nothing in the front. Some of the ones I've looked at have a barrel that you can move around with your finger while the pistol is in battery. There is someone that has come out with a bushing that can be put in the front and helps some. I have to do something about my 8+ lb trigger pull on the Taurus PT92AF before I tackle anything else on it. The blow-back design like the H&K P7 is more precise too. I don't shoot well with it though because having to squeeze the cocker screws up my grip and trigger finger control. |
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Post by 5ontarget on Jan 23, 2007 23:08:06 GMT -5
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Post by TMan on Jan 24, 2007 8:08:33 GMT -5
Well, this year isn't off to a good start:
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Post by 5ontarget on Jan 24, 2007 15:02:05 GMT -5
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Post by TMan on Jan 24, 2007 21:46:49 GMT -5
Thanks 5OT, but the last thing I paid MSRP for was the BMW Z8, and at the time it was selling on the secondary market for $40K over MSRP.
I found out that the PX4 Storm also has the rotating barrel locking. I'd looked at one before and wasn't too impressed. Of course I wasn't that impressed with the S&W M&P, but I now own one and it is my favorite Tupperware. I'd say it was my favorite striker-fired, but I like the old Colt 22. I don't know why the trigger feels so good on the Colt. The grip angle is similar to the Beretta Neos.
I'm not in too much of a hurry to get the PX4. Actually, what I'm in a hurry to get is the remaining $26k of windows for the house. That is probably going to have to wait until I get the "income tax refund". That won't happen until April 15th because we don't pay real income tax, just a hypothetical income tax, which is what we would pay if my wife was working in the US.
Based on the article, the Stoeger sounded like a really good deal, and I wanted to jump on it.
Incidentally, my dealer mentioned today that the Taurus PT1911 in stainless should be available soon. I have first dibs. ;D
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Post by MLB on Jan 25, 2007 17:06:44 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure the Storm and the Cougar are very similar, except the Beretta is plastic and the Stoeger is steel.
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Post by TMan on Jan 25, 2007 20:37:26 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure the Storm and the Cougar are very similar, except the Beretta is plastic and the Stoeger is steel. Thanks, I didn't realize that. Fortunately, I haven't yet ordered the Beretta because I've been in computer hail today because suddenly both print servers have stopped working. None of the computers can get to the printers. I'll check with someother of the local dealers. It seems like I saw a Stoeger 40S&W at one of the local dealersl. I'd much rather have steel than plastic (except on my roof). No rush, I do have other things to shoot.  |
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Post by "DoubleAction" on Feb 7, 2007 15:05:46 GMT -5
A few years ago one of the members on the Handgun Review forum was looking for a recoil spring for his Colt All American 2000. Both of us contacted Wolff Springs and Colt for the spring and was told they did not have it, and did not expect to ever have it. I went over to another forum to talk to an acquaintance who had once worked in the Colt factory. What he told me about the All American and it's rotary barrel helped reinforce my own impression of the pistol. www.gunsandammomag.com/ga_handguns/steoger8k_121106/I have back issues of popular gun magazines, with writers giving high marks for the Colt 2000 and it's rotary barrel concept when first introduced. I know the price is attractive for one who don't require much in a handgun, but I'm far from being convinced the rotary barrel design will ever approach that of the tilt barrel system. I did notice how the gun writer attempts to put the tilt barrel at a disadvantage over that of the rotary barrel. Although he does mention the barrel tilting, he fails to mention it's pivoting point in the bushing. His attempts to provide misleading facts for one design over the other seems to be focused toward first time gun buyers looking for something under $400. in a market where pre-owned N.I.B. or Reconditioned Sig Sauers are being fetched for $500. or less. |
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Post by TMan on Feb 8, 2007 20:02:42 GMT -5
Good link DA; it reminds me of the one that MLB put in the initial post on this thread. I guess by the time you read though all my drivel you are completely lost. ;D
I found out that CDNN has the Stoeger, but when I called them, they only had it in 40 S&W. He said that they are expecting 9mm's around the middle of the month. I'll check with them before I head back to India. Actually, I can call them from India; it only costs $0.02/minute via Skype to call anywhere in the US from outside the US.
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Post by TMan on Aug 10, 2007 18:21:57 GMT -5
TaDa - guess what I picked up today at the local gunsmith's? The Stoeger Cougar 8000 in 9x19mm for $339.
It came with a plastic case and two 17 round magazines. I already have the PX4 Storm, but this pistol is metal and much heavier. The recoil on the PX4 is very light; I expect this to be much lighter. Not the trigger.
I tried the trigger in the store and I figured it to be around 4 lbs. It was very crisp. I think my finger needs to be recalibrated. When I got home, I checked with the trigger gauge and it read 7lbs 4oz. Now the PX4 was 7lbs too, but it was creepy. I could put up with the weight, but not with the gritty creep, so I had to fix it. I don't think I'll bother working on the trigger on this until I get to the point that I haven't got anything else more pressing to work on (currently I'm working on the Ruger Mini-14 trigger.)
MLB, I checked the safety/decocker, and it is working properly. I guess I'll just never get used to putting on the safety and have the hammer fall. I'll never forget the first time it happened to me with the Ruger P90. They ship these guns with trigger locks. They should also include toilet paper.
Well, I need to go plant a bed of moss rose.
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Post by MLB on Aug 10, 2007 20:42:48 GMT -5
Glad to hear that the decocker and trigger are looking promising. Sheesh, hard to believe that it's been six months since I looked at that thing. The one I looked at is gone and they haven't replaced it since. Looking forward to your comments.
The P5 they have is down to $500 now... Tempting.
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Post by Callahan on Aug 11, 2007 0:49:07 GMT -5
I'll never forget the first time it happened to me with the Ruger P90. They ship these guns with trigger locks. They should also include toilet paper. Funny. I felt the same way. Still have not done it indoors! |
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