If this is going to be a carry piece...I would get the Cougar.

 

The Cougar is a bit more blocky & has more bulk.
However it is better shooter!
The Centution is slimmer, has more holsters options available.
The locking block wear/failure is not a concern. It's a round count replacement
part. Beretta suggests replacement at 30k rounds fired. Unless this was
a competion or Military weapon,.....there is NO way the round count is even close to that!

Me personally,........I'd get the Cougar. They are darn fine shooters.
I believe it's Beretta's most under rated firearm ever produced!

 

The Cougar is a bit more blocky & has more bulk.
However it is better shooter!
The Centution is slimmer, has more holsters options available.
The locking block wear/failure is not a concern. It's a round count replacement
part. Beretta suggests replacement at 30k rounds fired. Unless this was
a competion or Military weapon,.....there is NO way the round count is even close to that!

Me personally,........I'd get the Cougar. They are darn fine shooters.
I believe it's Beretta's most under rated firearm ever produced!

I agree!

But to answer the locking block question, yes it is just a drop in piece that requires no tools or fitting to install.

Also, I am sure you already know, but the PX4 Storm is basically a "plastic" Cougar with the rotating barrel. I have 2 of them and think they are great.

Here is a link to someone selling 3 - PX4 .40 for $375 each http://www.berettaforum.net/vb/showthread.php?t=69838

 

My Beretta 92FS Centurion is my softest shooting gun. It has earned a permeate place in my collection. its just a pleasure to shoot, all day or all night. Also very accurate I love my Glocks but they don't shoot as smooth as that Beretta.

 

A guy in Murfreesboro has a 92FS with 5 mags and holster for $475. If I had the cash I'd offer $425 for the gun and mags, don't really need the holster. I could have my Nephew pick it up for me of course the guy will probably not have it by the time I get the funds but then again I'm sure there's deals like this coming around all the time. Just have to keep an eye out.

 

Just wonder which action would hold up better since both would be Police turn ins and have a few rounds on em'.

I've owned both and both are great guns. The Cougar is the more robust of the two. Consider that the Cougar action was also available in .357 Sig and .45 ACP, neither were options for the 92 action. If you do get the 92 and it's well used, you might want to change out the locking block, especially if it's a defense gun. As stated, it's a drop in part, but get the whole kit as different blocks require different plunger pins. I've only broken one locking block, and it took 70K+ to do so. I've heard others say the gun still worked, but when mine broke, the gun was completely out of action.

 

I have both and I like the Cougar a little better than the 92 , but they are almost the same with accuracy . The Cougar has less recoil .

 

I really like both, that's why I'm having a hard time with this decision. The 92FS(aka M9) would have a ton of parts and mags thru government channels if the SHTF, not sure if I could get much for the Cougar BUT the Cougar, being 40S&W would have a better local ammo availability since more of the Law Enforcement Agencies use that caliber.

Like I said, I may see if the guy would take $425 for the 92FS and 5 mags. New locking block kits are only $35 bucks so that'd be easy enough to replace if it needed it.

 

I own an 8357 and 8045F Cougar and several 92 and 96 Berettas at this time. I like them both, but they each have their stronger points. The 8357 Cougar is more concealable and the 8045F is...a .45 even though it is a bigger weapon that the other Cougars. I have a factory .40S&W barrel for the 8357 also. Both are very accurate and reliable.

The 92FS and 96 Berettas are just as accurate and reliable but share a common frame for the most part. All newer 92FS frames can accept a 96 complete upper making them a dual caliber capable weapon and all 96 Berettas can accept a 92FS upper. In a real pinch, they can all use the same mags. Parts and mags are easily available and fairly cheap since they use so many of the same parts that the U.S. Military uses. The complete uppers and mags are not difficult to find or expensive to obtain so buy a complete upper to make a combo pistol. I like the ability to switch from 9m/m to .40S&W whenever depending on the ammo that I choose to shoot. Beretta even marketed a combo set a few years ago with both 96 and 92FS uppers and extra mags in a case.

Either style of Beretta that you choose is a win-win situation for you. They are supurb weapons systems.

 

Yup, narrowed it down to the Beretta. Until you see the next thing that strikes your fancy. You might as well put all of your choices on a roulette type wheel and spin it, once you get your money.

 

I really like both, that's why I'm having a hard time with this decision. The 92FS(aka M9) would have a ton of parts and mags thru government channels if the SHTF, not sure if I could get much for the Cougar BUT the Cougar, being 40S&W would have a better local ammo availability since more of the Law Enforcement Agencies use that caliber.

Like I said, I may see if the guy would take $425 for the 92FS and 5 mags. New locking block kits are only $35 bucks so that'd be easy enough to replace if it needed it.

I have to carry .40 at my job and I hate it . To me its too snappy and it just aint my cup of tea, but I LOVE the Cougar .
I say Just bite the bullet and get a NEW Stoeger Cougar in 9mm for around $420 at a local gun shop . I have 3 of them and they are a DREAM . I have 2 in 9mm and one in .45 which is my avatar pic on here .

 

I have to carry .40 at my job and I hate it . To me its too snappy and it just aint my cup of tea, but I LOVE the Cougar .
I say Just bite the bullet and get a NEW Stoeger Cougar in 9mm for around $420 at a local gun shop . I have 3 of them and they are a DREAM . I have 2 in 9mm and one in .45 which is my avatar pic on here .

I may buy a 45 cal one tomorrow. I managed to track down a set of new rubber pierce grip panels for the 45 cougar - they haven't been made and are very hard to track down. I only like rubber grips on my handguns, and I wasn't going to buy the gun unless I could find the grips.

 

Don't worry about the locking block. I bought my Beretta 92FS because it was THE military pistol. Parts are available and are fairly easy to replace. I've only had to replace springs and extractor on mine. Mine is a 1998 made pistol and I bought it in 1998. It is a little heavy, and big, for a fifteen round 9mm pistol. The 92FS is a wonderful, accurate, pistol, I've just converted to Glock overtime because it's lighter and easier to maintain.

The Cougar would be easier to conceal carry, since it is lighter and smaller overall. The 92FS can be concealed carried, I have done it with my Serpa holster mainly in the winter. Beretta no longer makes the Cougar, but Stoeger does. Stoeger, I believe, bought all the machines from Beretta (IIRC). I'm accustomed to paying $50 for new Beretta 92FS mags, about $15 for LEO used mags. I'm not certain how much Cougar mags are.