Beretta tomcat 32ACP

[Electraclyde]

I am considering a Beretta tomcat 32ACP as a pocket carry. Due to age and arthritis, I do not want this a .380.
Had a bodyguard 2.0 and could not rack the slide.
Anyone have any experience with the tomcat?

 

[s&wchad]

I don't have one, but I've looked at the Tomcats. The nice thing about these Berettas is you don't need to rack the slide. You can insert a loaded magazine, tip-up the barrel, insert a cartridge, snap it down and you're ready to go. You can also cock the hammer for the first shot, if the DA trigger pull is too heavy.

I have a Glock 42, but I rarely carry it and usually pocket a J frame .38. I consider .38/9mm to be the minimum defensive cartridge and bigger is better, but anything that is reliable and you can shoot well is better than your fists.

 

[glenncal1]

I have had one for years. INOX model. Solid little gun, easy to operate with pop-up barrel. Some of the early guns had issues with frame cracking. I don't think that is still an issue, but you might want to do a little research. Especially if looking at used guns.

 

[Imissedagain]

Definitely research the Tomcat frame/slide issues. That includes the newer ones.
Also read about the recommended ammo to use.
We have a couple of
Bobcat 22LRs.

 

[Grayfox]

I had one for a while. Yes, ammo is limited to certain pressures due to the frame issues. There was a card that came with mine warning of this. Generally American made ammo is good to go. However, avoid the hotter European stuff. As I understand it, they have now fixed this problem by beefing up the frame a little.
Its also kind of an odd size. Just a little too big for the pocket, but really too small for a holster. Just kinda awkward to deal with.
I had a problem with the shape of the trigger. When firing the bottom corner of the trigger would dig into my finger rather sharply. It was quite uncomfortable. I suppose I could have just rounded that sharp corner off, but since I rarely carried it, I just sent it down the road. YMMV.
There are lots of good .32acp pistols out there. Just look around a bit.

 

[BB57]

This comes up every few years. I like mine, but you do need to pick your ammo carefully. With a suitable load it is quite reliable and makes a great pocket carry or ankle holster gun.

Post in thread 'Beretta Tomcat'

Jul 8, 2022

It’s one of those guns that some folks love to hate, both for the caliber and for the reputation the Tomcats have developed for frame cracks.

The Beretta Tomcat is an upsized and beefed up descendant of the Beretta .25 ACP Jet Fire and .22 Short Minx in their progressive Beretta 950, 950B and 950BS versions.

The major problem is that some American made .32 ACP and European made 7.65 Browning ammunition can exceed the recommended limit of 130 ft pounds.

For example, the 60 gr CorBonload develops 1000 fps out of the short barrel of the Tomcat and that puts it at 133 ft pounds.

It...

• BB57

• 

 

[zeke]

Had one, but didn't like how the trigger pull /grip interaction pulled the aim (pointing) off. Even considering it's very short range use.

 

[tomahawk223]

just got a .32 myself, as greyfox said it is an odd size. I like it for the loading and unloading not having to rack the slide. only put half a box trough it for now as the ammo is costly so not enough to give a rating yet. I also have the M21 from the late 80's I bought new back then. that one is more pocket friendly.

 

[Bald1]

I’ve had one for 20 yrs. Great little gun. I put Crimson Trace laser grips on it probably 12-15 yrs ago when they were all the rage. My wife likes shooting it. Surprisingly accurate for such a small gun.

 

[Seaburry]

I have one. Love the tip up barrel. Very ammo sensitive. Right or wrong never got to trust the reliability so it lives in the gun safe. Just my opinion but Ruger 380 max is light years ahead. Wk

 

[Twobravo2]

I am considering a Beretta tomcat 32ACP as a pocket carry. Due to age and arthritis, I do not want this a .380.
Had a bodyguard 2.0 and could not rack the slide.
Anyone have any experience with the tomcat?

I have one, an INOX version that my dad used to carry before he passed away. He was a retired federal LEO and active instructor in his retirement. He could have carried anything he wanted and an INOX tomcat is what worked best for him. He carried a custom 1911 most often, but the Tomcat was with him anytime he was wearing shorts, quick trips to the store, etc. I have shot it and I like it a lot. That said, I am a fan of Beretta's and Have the Large, Medium, Small, and Baby sizes of their pistols.

I think it is heavy for what it is. Personally, a Smith 342 is my go to for lightweight carry. It's not fun to shoot, but I can qualify with it easily. Oh, and the frame cracking issue was only with the blued guns. To my knowledge, that was never an issue with any of the INOX ones.

 

[BC38]

I have one of the improved versions with the thicker slide.
Supposedly, much less prone to the cracking issue, but they still warn against ammo exceeding 130ft-lbs energy.

 

[Tex1001]

>>>>>There are lots of good .32acp pistols out there. Just look around a bit.

<<<<Snip

Best 32 auto out there is the Kel-Tek, hands down.
Locked breech mitigates recoil. Preloaded DA hammer for decent
trigger pull.
If I were limited to a 32 Auto this would be my hands down choice.

 

[BC38]

<<<<Snip

Best 32 auto out there is the Kel-Tek, hands down.
Locked breech mitigates recoil. Preloaded DA hammer for decent
trigger pull.
If I were limited to a 32 Auto this would be my hands down choice.

I certainly can't argue with any of that.
But FWIW, the standard P3AT is the exact same size and carries only 1 less round of the more potent 380 ACP ammo.
I have both a P32 and a P3AT. For "light" carry - when concealment is the #1 consideration, I choose the P3AT with a magguts kit that gives me the same 7+1 capacity as the P32, but in a better SD round.
JMO, and YMMV.

 

[Tex1001]

I also hae a P3AT that I carry as a backup.
I was led to understand that Clyde didn't
want a 380..

 

[Bald1]

The KelTecs I have shot had minute of barn accuracy at 10 yds.

 

[BC38]

The KelTecs I have shot had minute of barn accuracy at 10 yds.

Ok, that hasn't been my experience. Both my P32 and P3AT shoot minute of pie plate at 7 yards.
But your experience is your experience.
What works for me doesn't necessarily work for anyone/everyone else.

 

[Bald1]

Only time I could hit a pie plate was when I threw the KelTec because I was fed up with the jamming

 

[BC38]

Only time I could hit a pie plate was when I threw the KelTec because I was fed up with the jamming

Sounds like maybe you got a lemon - or I got lucky and got a couple of good 'uns...

 

[Cartwright Jones]

I am considering a Beretta tomcat 32ACP as a pocket carry. Due to age and arthritis, I do not want this a .380.
Had a bodyguard 2.0 and could not rack the slide.
Anyone have any experience with the tomcat?

I own one if that counts for experience. The Tomcat is SWEET! With a tip-up barrel, no need to rack it to load or unload a cartridge! The fixed barrel makes it accurate enough to drive nails at 15 yards if you have the suds to aim it. It's not light nor compact by modern standards, but that chunky feel is what makes it feel solid in the hand. At around 16 ounces there are lighter .32s and .380s, but the Beretta offers double-action, double-action with the hammer at half-cock - lighter, and single-action with the thumb-safety on. You can insert a full mag, then tip up the barrel to load it.
Mine has been 100% reliable in feed and function.
There are smaller .32 autos, my Seecamp is much smaller and about 6 ounces lighter than the Beretta, so why don't I carry my Seecamp more? Because the Beretta holds a solid 8 rounds, points perfectly, and gives me the confidence of knowing it's chamber status. I normally carry mine in a shoulder bag set-up, so 16 ounces versus 10 ounces is of little matter.
Beretta makes beautiful guns and they work.
A .32 ACP will "make your day" as they say. Before the modern insanity, the .32 auto was a standard police caliber in Europe, and there were many revolvers chambered in the less potent .32 S&W. For those on the fence there is a fascinating video of a guy in Brazil who used a 5-shot .32 revolver to resolve his grandson's anger issues. Seeing that, I have ZERO doubt as to the efficacy of the .32 auto.

Granddad pumped five .32 slugs into the dude and settled ALL his problems with the world!