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.

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 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.

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

The 8000, 8040 and 8045 are available in a Mini variant weighing 140 g less than the respective models and with a grip that is 25 mm shorter.

Accompanying the basic 8045F was a kit consisting of a special edition case, lapel pin and charcoal laminate grips with inlaid cougar medallions.

Some of these pistols were converted to a "G" model (decock only) by various agencies but were not offered in this configuration from Beretta USA.

[3] In 2006, Stoeger Cougars began being sold in 9×19mm, .45 ACP, and .40 S&W, made in Turkey on Beretta factory tooling.

Stoeger also added a more compact-sized Cougar pistol to their production line, which has a reduced magazine capacity of 13 rounds and MSRP is US$50 less than its full-size counterpart.