Cougar M8045 Inox - ArniesAirsoft

Author

Bob the Angry Potato

Registered: September 2005
Posts: 698

Review Date: 20/9/06

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	Powerful, accurate, well built, very realistic, and nearly perfect as a skirmish sidearm and a collector's piece.
Cons:	Delicate finish, mags (used to) leak with Propane

Review- Western Arms Cougar M8045 Inox

Rating- 9/10

This review�s going to be tipped a little off-course, as this gun has been used before I bought it (however well maintained), and it has had a Flow Restrictor installed. For all you 134A users out there- sorry 

When the gun first arrived, it was great- it looked and felt amazing. So, my first instinct was simple- take the motherfucker apart.

The gun takes apart like a regular Beretta- you press a button on the right-hand part of the frame, and rotate a catch. Unlike the conventional 9mm Beretta, though, this only rotates about 45 degrees before stopping, after that you�re able to take the slide off, no problem, by pulling the entire thing forward.

Once this is off- this is the odd bit- it�s nothing like the conventional Beretta. The barrel is completely internal and the slide isn�t open, and there�s a 2-piece assembly- the recoil spring and block, and the barrel and the rest of the slide. It�s a bit of a pain to put them back together (the first time), but after doing it twice, you could do it with your eyes closed. How to take the barrel and mechanism out, I have no idea. It�s very well put together, and there�s no hint of any way- my gun didn�t come with a manual, so that�d probably explain it. Snowman can do it, though, so I�m sure there�s a way.

As for the frame, this is the main similarity to the Beretta (the slide reeks of Hi-Capa or 1911, mainly because it�s a .45). The frame�s built in generic Beretta style, except for the much bigger grips (not for the small handed, definitely) and small differences here and there. The black plastic grips, emblazoned with the Beretta logo on the center of either side, will come off via 2 screws in each one (which use an ordinary Philips head, or a dime, whichever�s on hand).

Upon putting the gun back together (the rotating barrel function�s neat, it only rotates a bit but it�s pretty nice).

As for aesthetics, the finish is amazing- it�s showpiece quality. Mine has some minor (and a few major, on the frame) scratches from years of circulation and use.

As for accuracy- it�s pretty accurate, and on Propane, it�s pretty powerful. I have no tool to adjust the HopUp (it comes with a tiny hex key for that, which mine didn�t have), but the last people who had it seemed to have done that.

I�m guessing the velocity�s over 310. Seems that way to me, at least- grouping pictures should be up soon.

The gun has KICK to it. Seriously, more then hard-kick or metal guns- each shot, I can see the barrel shoot up for a second in front of my hand. It�s a joy to shoot- even though I bought the non heavyweight Inox version, this gun doesn�t hold back.

Other functions this has is a working decocker and a gas transfer system (you can decock the gun by pulling the trigger, and pushing the hammer forward slowly with your thumb), which I find useful as hell.

On the downsides,

The mags, at least for me, were a bit leaky. This has been since remedied by soaking the inlet valves in silicone oil, and storing the mags � full. However, I�m using Propane- with 134A, I�m sure there�s no problem.

This gun WILL get at least a bit scratched up in harsh conditions- if you�re going to be running around in skirmish conditions with it, I advise you be careful. Outside, it�s built like a tank- I doubt any (if not some) dirt will get in, there�s very few gaps for it to. But if you�re using it as primarily a showpiece- go for it. I, personally, don�t mind the scratches- but that�s just me.

The gun looks and feels metal- it fooled one of the last owners, who had no idea if it was or not until telling Airsoft Canada members the markings on the slide and frame of the gun. Feeling it myself, it weighs just as much or more then pot-metal guns you find around. With the mag in, it weighs (at least, it feels like) more then my full metal HFC M190.

Skrimming with it, it's a VERY accurate gun- duelling a Glock-wielding opponent, on several occasions, landed far more many hits.
It stings quite a bit, and gets quite a bit of range on it, despite lacking the tools to adjust Hop-Up.

My second Beretta Cougar Inox is payed for and arrives in a week or two, I honestly can�t wait.

PenGun

Registered: October 2004
Location: Dublin
Posts: 549

Review Date: 3/8/07

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	Finish, weight, power, accuracy, rarity
Cons:	No hop-up adjustment? Mags may need care if using Green

Well, typical WA excellence all around again.
Western Arms have to be the only airsoft brand that you can pick up off the shelf and not need to upgrade a single thing. They look good and shoot well from the start.
I have the black SCW version of the Cougar (you can tell the versions by the serial numbering...MC for SCW and MR for Magna R...I think!).
The performance on 134a is very snappy, power being similar to the WA Beretta 92F, if not a little better.
Accuracy is also very good: I can keep most rounds within the black at 5 yards, which is about 40mm across or 1.5 inches.
Pretty good stuff!
Blowback is quite fast and loud (think BAP! instead of POP!)and you'd be hard pressed to see the slide move so I think I'll stay off the Green for the moment!
The barrel unit features a slide buffer which probably evens out the recoil impulse on 134a and is essential if you want to use propane with the stock plastic slide.
Green is actuallly quite terrifying to use...I keep expecting the slide to come apart!

Update!
The mag seems to get leaky if Green is kept in it for long periods, but apart from this no other issues have arisen Smile

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