Beretta Bobcat or Tomcat?

[Autodidactic]

BTW, as mentioned, limp wristing is a real thing with these guns. Light slides, stiff recoil springs, smallish grips that can move in your hand . . . gotta hold on tight with a stiff wrist.

It is, but these guns have much more grip and mass than let's say a LCP. I'd argue they suffer less grip problems than the even thinner/smaller/less mass pocket pistols such as polymer ones.

 

[chicharrones]

It is, but these guns have much more grip and mass than let's say a LCP. I'd argue they suffer less grip problems than the even thinner/smaller/less mass pocket pistols such as polymer ones.

True about grip size and “gripability”, but my experience has been that a pocket sized locked breech gun is more tolerant of a slight limp wristing than a small blowback action gun.

 

[SwampWolf]

In terms of reliability, no matter the pistol, it's been my experience that centerfire ammunition is generally always more likely to fire (less likely for the primer to fail to detonate) than rimfire ammunition. I love .22s for lots of reasons but extreme reliability isn't one of them.

 

[Autodidactic]

True about grip size and “gripability”, but my experience has been that a pocket sized locked breech gun is more tolerant of a slight limp wristing than a small blowback action gun.

Interesting point.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Have a long experience with the tip-barrel Berettas, going back to 950s; a .25 to carry, and a .22 short for practice. They were amazingly accurate little guns; head shot a copperhead with the .25, and 100 yd bobbing balloons (we'd toss 'em off an abandoned rr bridge, and pop them in the river; we could correct for shell splash, and never lost a one). Still have the .22; wish I'd kept the .25.
The .22 Bob worked reasonably well when clean, and the Tom ran okay with my reloads; neither was serving any real purpose; the Tom was just one more home for .32 reloads.
The tip barrel is the real claim to fame with these guns; easy to load, easy to make safe.
Moon

 

[aaaaa]

I have been salivating over the Tomcat. I think the tip up barrel is ultra cool. One of my local gun shops has a beautiful Bobcat (.22 caliber) with wood grip for $500. I'd probably have walked out of there with it but really wanted the .larger caliber Tomcat.

Hey, what other Berettas have the tip up barrel? I may have other options for that?

The Bobcat says Made in USA but I thought this was an Italian gun company?

 

[Autodidactic]

I have been salivating over the Tomcat. I think the tip up barrel is ultra cool. One of my local gun shops has a beautiful Bobcat (.22 caliber) with wood grip for $500. I'd probably have walked out of there with it but really wanted the .larger caliber Tomcat.

Hey, what other Berettas have the tip up barrel? I may have other options for that?

The Bobcat says Made in USA but I thought this was an Italian gun company?

The Tomcats are great, I have one. I'd like a Bobcat in .22 as well. Keep an eye out for a used one. I found mine for $215, which is unheard of. But, I see them more often for 3-400 used. My Tomcat is made in the US too. I think it's to get around the import restrictions?

 

[Cornhusker77]

I know I've said this before, but my experience with the Tom cat and Beretta in general was terrible.
They sell faulty guns (frame crack) and refuse to fix or replace.
This was several Years ago and I was disappointed to hear the same problem still exists.

 

[Autodidactic]

I know I've said this before, but my experience with the Tom cat and Beretta in general was terrible.
They sell faulty guns (frame crack) and refuse to fix or replace.
This was several Years ago and I was disappointed to hear the same problem still exists.

I've heard the same, but, I've also heard the frame area in question is non-essential and some people simply remove that small section.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I've heard the same, but, I've also heard the frame area in question is non-essential and some people simply remove that small section.

That's what I did.
I guess my problem is more with the customer service or them lack of it.
They basically told me "too bad so sad" and that wad the end of the discussion.
Worst customer service I've ever experienced

 

[glassman]

Bought the tomcat in 32 acp many years ago. The frame cracked after not too many rounds through it. Beretta replaced the gun free of charge with an Inox version. I still have it although I haven't shot it much. The ammo for this little thing is pretty expensive.

 

[rust collector]

I have had good luck with my Beretta rimfires, all previously owned, but I am not a high volume shooter. I bought a used M21a a few years ago, and have had no problem with it (other than a point of impact about 6" left of center). I am sorry to read of frames cracking.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I have had good luck with my Beretta rimfires, all previously owned, but I am not a high volume shooter. I bought a used M21a a few years ago, and have had no problem with it (other than a point of impact about 6" left of center). I am sorry to read of frames cracking.

Seems to only be in the tomcat

 

[aaaaa]

Seems to only be in the tomcat

Yeah, the Bobcat being a .22 ought not be much of a stress to the frame, which presumably is the same as with the Tomcat.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Yeah, the Bobcat being a .22 ought not be much of a stress to the frame, which presumably is the same as with the Tomcat.

The 22 bobcat is closer in size and dimension to the 950 and 88 jetfire. The tomcat is wider and a tad taller.

 

[Autodidactic]

That's what I did.
I guess my problem is more with the customer service or them lack of it.
They basically told me "too bad so sad" and that wad the end of the discussion.
Worst customer service I've ever experienced

sorry to hear that. Seems like they could have fixed this issue given its .32 acp.

Here’s mine with new Altamont grips.

 

[average gun guy]

Bobcat - no experience. Tomcat - experienced the frame crack. Sticking with PX4 Storm subcompact, which devours everything I have fed it.

 

[Old Dog]

Zero issues with my second-gen Tomcat. (Other than it's a .32) Shoots well, reliable, trigger, meh. But built like a Swiss watch and kinda cool.

 

[average gun guy]

They made the slide heavier to slow velocity. I don't know if that truly qualifies as a design change but from what I've read it didn't completely resolve the issue.

I can speak from experience - it didn't.

 

[Peepsman]

My 21A has been flawless for the 30 plus years I have owned it. original wood grips blued. Beautiful little gun. It has less than 500 rounds total through it, but has fired everything from Stingers to stock ammo. The only problem was the low powered ammo shells would be thrown back at you instead of to the right. I carry it in a pocket when dressed formal. Better a 22 than nothing. Thinking of selling or trading it in soon though for no other reason than looking for something new.

 

[mavracer]

I've had multiples of both I love the design. I finally settled on a blue 21a. With the Tomcat's ammo limitations being 130 ft lbs according to Beretta I just don't feel the juice is worth the squeeze.

 

[defjon]

My 21A has been flawless for the 30 plus years I have owned it. original wood grips blued. Beautiful little gun. It has less than 500 rounds total through it, but has fired everything from Stingers to stock ammo. The only problem was the low powered ammo shells would be thrown back at you instead of to the right. I carry it in a pocket when dressed formal. Better a 22 than nothing. Thinking of selling or trading it in soon though for no other reason than looking for something new.

I can tell from your post you'll regret it if you do.

 

[Peepsman]

I can tell from your post you'll regret it if you do.

You might just be right defjon.

 

[Mark 40]

Peepsman, I agree with defjon, if you've got one that runs that reliably, you've got a yourself a keeper.

 

[halfmoonclip]

The more recent Tom I had (US made, but not in Maryland...) had caveats about ammo velocity which made less than no sense for the average shooter. Standard CYA word salad. It ran reasonably well, and I found some finger extensions for the magazine that made it feel much better in the hand. Bought it entirely on a whim, and traded it away without regret.
Still have the .22 950, and some of my cache of .22 shorts to feed it...some find their way into the magazine of my Rossi gallery gun...with shorts, you can load it on Sunday, and shoot it all week.
Moon