Am I An Idiot (for buying a Tomcat)?

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Cosmoline

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I thought I did well picking up a used Tomcat blued 3032 for $250, but subsequent research on the Beretta forum makes me wonder if I have a real lemon. It's one of the older models, and it seems these have a notorious habit of frame cracks at a certain weak spot. Now the good news is this one isn't cracked, and it appears to have been shot quite a bit with Winchester Silvertips.

My question is, does anyone have one of these that they've put more than a thousand rounds through without problems? I can either baby it and shoot only Silvertips and similar mild US loads, or I can run it through a test with a few hundred rounds of Fiocchi and other hotter European loads. If it breaks, I can send it in for replacement. Beretta apparently knows about the problem and doesn't kick up a fuss. But if I'll be safe just shooting light loads out of it I can stick to them.
 
Shoot it till it breaks then go buy a Kel Tec P-32 which you should have done to start with. Smaller lighter better trigger and best customer srervice in industry. Good luck when you need Beretta service.:eek:
 
I can't stand keltecs, unfortunately. Though they do seem to be the better mouse gun. I'd need new hands to shoot them.
 
I carried a Tomcat for a long time before the Keltec P32 ever came out. I don't have a tremendous number of rounds through mine, but have had no issues with it whatsoever.

I got the P32 because it was a lot thinner and easier to put in a pocket, to the Tomcat hasnt been out of the safe in several years now. However, I would have no qualms about carrying it again if needed.

I wouldnt worry about it. I suspect you will die before it does.
 
I have one with about 1200 rnds thru, mostly a mix of Silvertips, Fed hydrashoks and Classic FMJ, and Gold Dots. I, too, had an early production model that ran fine for the first 5-600 rounds, then I tried some Corbons, which promptly split the slide. I sent it off to Beretta, and two weeks later I had a brand new one, no questions asked. Corbon said their stuff was within SAAMI specs, though it was pretty snappy. Both took about 100-150 rounds to smooth-out and become fully reliable, and both became prone to stovepipes after a 100+ rounds and no cleaning. Tomcats are good little guns, but they like to be kept clean, lightly lubed and a pocket holster is a real good idea. HTH.
 
If you stick to the light loads, it may never stress enough to break. But if this is a CCW piece, I wouldn't trust anything but the hottest FMJ I could find to penetrate deep enough to hole something vital. You should probably either just shoot it 'til it breaks, or even send it in for replacement now.
 
Cosmoline,

If you are I'm one, too.

I just got the inox version but have not been out to test it yet...will be a while.

Have two Beretta 21As (also inox) and no problems with either one. The Tomcat is the same design so I do not expect problems with it, either.

The manual does NOT recommend hot European ammo...as I found out AFTER I got the gun...due to excessive wear...I assume slide-battering of the frame. So I am going to stay with Wolf Golden, Aguila or Winchester 71-grainers FMJs.

Using lower-powered ammo in it is NOT any real compromise since penetration figures with this stuff compared to the higer-powered stuff is almost the same:

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm

Close enough for what I want it to do so to me it's a non-issue.

The inox version Tomcat has a very beefy slide while the frame may be the same size as the earlier models (but I don't have one to compare). In fact, the frame of the inox Tomcat appears to be IDENTICAL to the inox 21A in size and thickness. Consequently, in response to earlier Tomcat models having reports of cracked frames -- and INSTEAD of beefing up the frame -- I suppose Beretta beefed-up the Tomcat slide in order to soak up more recoil (it's heavier) and thereby saving the frame from excessive battering.

That's my guess.

Don't know if they changed the tempering of the frame.

Anyway, prior to reading the owner's manual, I WAS going to use Fiocchi 73-grain FMJs or S&B FMJs in it -- both very hot as typical of European ammo -- but I won't now. I'll stay with the milder loads named above.

As I said, penetration is almost the same -- difference is negligible -- and that's all I care about since I will not be using any HP ammo whatsoever.

-- John D.
 
Actually, the word on the Beretta forums is that the Inox is excellent. My mistake was getting an early issue 3032.

I'm leaning towards just using it as I would have anyway and if it breaks it breaks.
 
Just use the milder Wolf, Aguila and Winchester (and others in this power range...about 130 fpe and 900 fps) ammo. No need to deliberately beat your gun up, is there?

I used to have a Beretta 21A in matte finish. Then I got the inox later on. Comparing the two, yes, the inox versions seem more robust whether we are talking 21A Bobcats or 3032 Tomcats.

-- John D.
 
Tomcat

Mine has had no issues--probably don't have 1,000 through it, though. Mine is the INOX which may not have the same weakness.

P.S. I don't think you're an idiot. Its a nice gun. I find it a little heavy/thick for pocket carry which is why I got a KT P32, but since you don't like KTs, its a good choice.
 
I got the Tomcat over the KelTec partly because the former is SA/DA while the latter is DAO...as are other choices like the Seecamp and NAA Guardian. DAO guns don't work for me very well.

But the KT sure is small and light. I plan to get one eventually but will only carry the Tomcat.

-- John D.
 
Love it, but it feels a little wimpy (w/c might be good)

Picked one up last weekend -- put a couple hundred flawless rounds through it (after greasing it up). Works wonderfully! Odd, though, it feels just like the bobcat .22 with minimags. I expected it to slam like the keltec, but it just pops!

I'm sure it'll last a lot longer then the keltec though; it REALLY feels solid.
 
They are good guns and made well. They feel good shooting. I got rid of mine a long time ago because it shot low and left--always, even from a rest. Also, I found that the tip up barrell was prone to come loose too easily and that bothered me. Otherwise I liked the gun. They conceal excellently.
 
Going to a "hot" round is not going to gain you much. Stick with what works well.
 
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Cosmo;
I have an old one that has been used in "mouse gun matches" It has been back to the factory a few times for slide and frame cracks. The factory sent me a pistol with a new slide the first time then a new frame. They reused the old barre and told me not to send it in again. I would agree that it was never sold with mouse gun matches in mind but it one me more than it's puchase price. Most people would be astonished at it's accuracy at 25 yds. Mine is currently laid up it's miniscule safety spring gone AWOL. A new one would be great with a spare magazine or two. You have the capability to fire 15 rounds or more with good accuracy, might be useful at times.
 
I had a Tomcat for a short while. I couldn't hit the side of a barn from inside the barn. I thought it was me so I had 4 friends give it a test drive. All 4 had the same results. I am talking could not keep 6 round in center mass at 12 feet. Ran about 800 rounds through it before selling.
 
I too carried one before switching to a P32. I ran probably 400 rnds through mine without a bobble. My concerns were (1) Weight, sat heavy in my backpocket which is where I carry, and (2) When I sat down on it, the slightest pressure would disengage the mag release, and I would find it about 1/4" out. Not enough to be real noticeable, but a real embarrasment in a bad situation. I sold the gun to my Boss, who dry fired it a few times and broke the firing pin. I finally got a new one from a dealer in Dallas and replaced it.

Also, because the hammer spring acts as part of the retarder system for the blowback design, the trigger pull was STOUT!
 
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I like my Tomcat more than my P32 because at least I can get a grip on the Tomcat with my large hands.

Some seem to think Aguila is not hot ammo. I beg to differ - this stuff is much hotter than most of the American brands. I would not practice with Aguila in my P32 or my Tomcat - it would only be used in an emergency.
 
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