Beretta Tomcat 32

[Capt Steve]

One of my brides friends came to me the other day seeking help getting rid of her brother in law's gun, a NIB Beretta Tomcat Auto with all of the paperwork and never fired. The BIL had bought it 7 years ago paying $436 + $35 for a second Beretta magazine and never used it. Now in a nursing home suffering from Parkinson's he obviously has no use for it.

I called the LGS where I have been shopping for years and described the piece asking as to its value {at this point I had not seen the original receipts and had no clue}. They said they had a nice stainless in nearly perfect condition for $329 and that this one being black {steel - not the aluminum models that had experienced frame cracking issues before being discontinued several years earlier} would sell for $300.

Being NIB {but sight unseen} with all the paperwork he offered $200. I conveyed this to our neighbors and he quickly said you can have it for $200 but I have 2, 50 round boxes of ammo that cost $30 a piece and asked if I would give him $50 for them. I asked if he would throw in the second magazine {like what is he going to do with it?} and he said sure... deal at $250, NIB with two mags and 100 rounds.

This will be a nice little pocket/CC piece that will get some miles when I am riding my Indian or the Rzr. I already had two nice holsters, an Uncle Mikes nylon and a nice leather IWB that it fits perfectly. I stripped it down to get familiar and lightly oiled it before reassembly. I am very impressed with the fit and finish of the Beretta but frankly not surprised. Hope to get a few rounds off tomorrow as I have a serious Rzr ride scheduled up into the mountains with some friends.

No luck lately posting Pics here as Photobucket continues to hold my account and pics for ransom but I'll keep trying.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have an early Tomcat. It has the smoothest trigger of any berretta handgun I have ever handled. The Tomcats are at their best in an ankle holster as opposed to pocket carry. Put it inside your left ankle and it is accessible when sitting, while driving, and even when standing (takes some practice!)

I use Winchester Silver Tip Hollow Points for a summer SD round. and the RWS ball ammo in the winter (be careful, this is the hottest 32 ACP ammo in the world!) My brother prefers Hornady in his 32's, but the STHP is far more accurate! (even with him shooting STHP's in his own guns!!!)

I believe the Tomcat is a great BUG or BUG2, but not so much of a first line of self defense!

Ivan

 

[6518John]

Put it inside your left ankle and it is accessible when sitting, while driving, and even when standing (takes some practice!)

You must be WAY MORE limber than me!!!

 

[DWalt]

Be extremely careful in removing the left grip. In fact I strongly suggest you don't ever do it. There is a tiny spring and detent plunger associated with the safety which can (and likely will) go flying and you probably cannot find them as they are so tiny. And replacements are difficult to find. It's also a bit of a female dog to re-install the safety. Don't ask how I know.

 

[Grayfox]

I just bought one of these a few days ago! Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Seems like a great little pistol though.

In the paperwork with mine was a notice card about suitable ammo. This is what Beretta recommends.
60 gr Winchester Silvertip
60 gr Speer Gold Dot
65 gr Federal Hydra-shok
Any 71 gr ammo with a muzzle energy less than 130 ft/lbs.
The card goes on to warn that using ammo which exceeds these limits will increase wear and tear.

I also remember reading about the frame issues a few years ago and recommend sticking with the designated ammo. Also, just being black does not mean its a steel frame. Mine is black, but is an alloy frame. A magnet won't stick to it.

 

[Capt Steve]

Shoots well...

Got a chance to shoot the new Beretta yesterday while out riding my Rzr and was nothing but impressed. I expected it to be snappy much like my .380 but the Beretta was very smooth.

The sights were accurate right out of the box, I was a little high with the first round but the next seven found that poor old beer can. It cycled the PMC 71 grain FMJ's just fine, I loaded 7 in the magazine and dropped one down the barrel enjoying having 8 rounds from a "mouse" gun.

 

[kaaskop49]

I've been tempted by this item more than once, but my J-frames keep getting in the way: "Not in our safe!". Also, when a carry piece has issues out of the gate, they stick in my head even if they've been dealt with. The ammo list also bothers me. If I buy a gun, I should be able to simply buy a box of that round and expect it to function. That being said, my Beretta Jetfire .25 has performed without a hitch. OP: enjoy your gun, you got a good deal.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Grayfox]

I've been doing a little checking and it seems that most commonly available 71 gr .32acp ammo is rated at 128-129 ft/lbs. So it would be safe in the Tomcat.
After checking my own .32acp ammo supply, I found that most everything I currently have on hand is safe in the Tomcat.
One glaring exemption being the S&B 71 gr FMJ which is rated at a surprising 176 ft/lbs.

 

[Mrnurse]

Have 2 950's in .22 and .25 . Beretta builds quality weapons. I spent a number of years as a ER RN and the old BS line a .25 or .32 wont kill is Nonsense.... Tagged many a Body...some DOA, Some a Hour or 2 after admit. Non of those Patients were shot in Church or Science class..... basic Dope dealers.

 

[Jessie]

Is this true in the inox too?

 

[JayFramer]

It's the best combat .32 yet. Congrats!

 

[Capt Steve]

Huh?

Is this true in the inox too?

If that question was NIB {New in the box} the answer is yes. it had never been fired, just gathered dust for 7 years.

As far as the prior comment about it being black but not necessarily steel...
Steel it is, I can pick it up, anywhere on the gun except the plastic grips with my little magnetic retrieval tool {Harbor Freight}.

 

[OldSarge21]

Inox is berettas way of saying stainless. I have the stainless Inox version. Desantis makes a nice zipper pouch holster with belt clip that holds the gun and spare mag but is very discreet. My 3032 has a beefier slide. One note about shooting these little guns; don’t high grip them. The slide will cut you in the web of your hand. Otherwise I really like them. Have one to my daughter for her purse carry as well.

 

[Delta Expatriate]

I too have had some thoughts about getting the Tomcat. I bought a surplus Beretta Model 81 Cheetah from Classic, and think the .32 acp is often an underrated cartridge. I like the round, and am looking for economy for shooting at the range. Some also think FMJ provides better penetration, and prefer it for defense.

From what I have read, European ammo is generally loaded slightly "hotter" than typical American ammo (at least as far as the .32 acp/7.65 Browning is concerned). I have since bought a supply of both some Fiocchi 73 gr. FMJ, and some Geco 73 gr. FMJ. The Fiocchi is rated 152 ft. lbs., and the Geco at 158 ft. lbs., according to the vendors' websites. Both of these (particularly the Geco) can be found at good prices from time to time, relatively speaking (in general, the cost of .32 acp is high, IMO). It appears this European ammo might not be best suited for the Tomcat (made by a European company).

I still like the Tomcat, though, and think Capt. Steve got a good deal.

 

[Gene L]

I carry a .32 sometimes, not a Tomcat but a PPK, and agree that it's under-rated for defense. Not the best round you can carry, but with the right ammo you can get enough penetration. There is a video on the .32 where the guy shoots several different rounds in gel. I carry only hardball in my .32s for reliability. Although in the video, he tests HP with mixed results. Look it up; very educational.