Beretta Tomcat, frame problem fixed?

JERRY

JERRY

Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2003
Messages
3,841
I've scrolled the pages on Gunbroker lately and see a lot of Beretta Tomcat .32s; many of them new. They are asking premium prices for these guns so I'm wondering if they ever fixed the frame cracking problem that they said came from using ammo that met SAAMI specs but was still too powerful for the Tomcat. Anyone know the answer?
 
I don't know that they "fixed" the problem. They introduced a wider slide and also a recommendation to limit ammo to 130 ft-lbs muzzle energy. But there's still a lot of message traffic on the gun boards of fairly recent posting dates about cracked frames. I didn't come across any definitive answers. I have a 3032 Inox Tomcat, though I haven't shot it much, but haven't had any problems. I don't know how you can know if the one you're considering is the wider-frame version, but if you stick with Inox at least you know you're getting a more recent version. And stay away from hot loads when shooting. You'll probably be OK.
 
I can’t for the life of me understand why in 2022 this is an issue. It’s not like we haven’t been making .32acp firearms for around 123 years now… if they discovered the problem and made an effort to re-engineer the slide to fix it, why not do it again until they get the job right? It can’t cost that much. If a P32 or a Seecamp can run without cracking then why can’t a comparatively hefty Beretta?
 
Read the caveats when I bought my most recent version. It was American made, and had the thicker slide. Were we to clock actual ammo from the gun, with its short barrel, I suspect most of it would stay under the 130'lbs power rating. In the short barrel (2.5" KelTec), using my older loads, I was only generating 114'lbs. Even Privi, generally a little warmer, is only producing 139'lbs in the longer 3.5" Walther.
Ended up trading mine away, so I can't offer empirical evidence. It wasn't causing a problem, but it wasn't answering any questions, either.
How much evidence is there of damage with the newer slides? How much do owners actually shoot their pistols? Maybe we're worrying too much.
Moon
 
I got the "improved" model. What folks ignore is that even with the crack on the frame, the pistol is still safe to shoot.

Mine is built like a Swiss watch. Accurate as heck, even with the pitiful sights. Love me a tip-up barrel. Only .32 I own (or will ever own). Used it for a back-up for a time. Cool little piece. I'm kinda a fan...
zzzz.jpg
 
If you look closely at the frame above the trigger pivot hole, you'll see a very thin strip of metal. That is where the crack will happen if it happens. The strip of metal can interfere with slide movement, so folks have filed it away. I did that with mine and continued to shoot it but only with the approved less than 130 foot pounds ammo. Hasn't been a problem for me but I don't shoot it that much. I'm officially not recommending this. Its a shame the design didn't scale up robustly from 22.

Mine is the original thin slide version, bought used.
 
I bought a Tomcat knowing that Beretta really didn't correct the issue. Now I'm not defending Beretta as I do believe limiting ammo to lethargic energy levels is a cop-out on their part, but I've concluded that many people don't understand the meaning of 130 ft pounds or less as warned by Beretta. It's not 130 or less calculated from the Tomcat's short barrel, it's what it is rated at by the ammo manufacturer. I fired several brands of 130lb rated ammo through my Tomcat which calculated to 108lb of energy from the 2'4" barrel, so that's the max I reload to. I recall reading on another forum someone reported that 73gn Fiocchi rated at 160lb energy and 1000fps only produced between 120lb and 130lb of energy through their Tomcat and was safe to use in their opinion. I could be wrong, but I think we can conclude that more than a few of the reported cracked frames are the fault of the owners.
 
Old Dog said:
I got the "improved" model. What folks ignore is that even with the crack on the frame, the pistol is still safe to shoot.

Mine is built like a Swiss watch. Accurate as heck, even with the pitiful sights. Love me a tip-up barrel. Only .32 I own (or will ever own). Used it for a back-up for a time. Cool little piece. I'm kinda a fan...
View attachment 1082993
Click to expand...

I wanted one from the first I heard of them. The tip up barrel is great. I find the slide on my Kel Tec P32 is a bear to rack, and the Seacamp is about as bad. I thought of getting the Beretta in 25 ACP so it would not have frame cracking, but I don't want another ammo size to buy and if 32 is borderline for defense, what is 25?

Maybe I will still buy the 32 Tomcat if I can figure how to ensure it is the improved one with the fatter slide. Of course I don't like that it has a safety, so maybe am better off with the Seacamp and Kel Tec. Does Beretta make larger pistols with the tip up barrel?
 
Last edited:
aaaaa said:
... Does Beretta make larger pistols with the tip up barrel?
Click to expand...
One or two of the 80 series has a tip-up barrel, I don't recall which, but for example here's really nice 86 in .380 on GB:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/934962551
If memory serves there's another model, or maybe the same model, in .32 but I couldn't find any examples. I presume they're really rare. I think they've been out of production for some time. If you find one, be prepared to be a big spender.
 
My Tomcat had a terrible trigger. It was reliable with FMJ ammo. I didn't shoot it that well. The tiny Kel-Tec is WAY better for actual carrying. The Beretta is gone, but I still have the Kel-Tec.

FEG in Hungary made some nice PP and PPK clones. My PP clone in 32acp is a good shooter. My FiL bought himself one after he shot mine.
 
Last edited:
Yes, still an issue.
My Tomcat Covert just cracked the frame. I had bought the gun new and it has never fired a round close to 130 ft-lbs. The hottest ammo it has seen produced just over 100 ft-lbs.

However, shooting suppressed probably increased the back pressure and thus the slide velocity. I’m going to smooth the broken area and continue to shoot it.

On the other hand, I have an original Tomcat that I bought in the mid ‘90s, with the skinny slide. It is still just fine.

Here is what the crack in the frame looks like. 7E0E392E-C61A-4809-920B-140D92C248DB.jpeg
 
JERRY said:
I've scrolled the pages on Gunbroker lately and see a lot of Beretta Tomcat .32s; many of them new. They are asking premium prices for these guns so I'm wondering if they ever fixed the frame cracking problem that they said came from using ammo that met SAAMI specs but was still too powerful for the Tomcat. Anyone know the answer?
Click to expand...
JERRY said:
I've scrolled the pages on Gunbroker lately and see a lot of Beretta Tomcat .32s; many of them new. They are asking premium prices for these guns so I'm wondering if they ever fixed the frame cracking problem that they said came from using ammo that met SAAMI specs but was still too powerful for the Tomcat. Anyone know the answer?
Click to expand...
Partially fixed with thicker slide.
wiscoaster said:
I don't know that they "fixed" the problem. They introduced a wider slide and also a recommendation to limit ammo to 130 ft-lbs muzzle energy. But there's still a lot of message traffic on the gun boards of fairly recent posting dates about cracked frames. I didn't come across any definitive answers. I have a 3032 Inox Tomcat, though I haven't shot it much, but haven't had any problems. I don't know how you can know if the one you're considering is the wider-frame version, but if you stick with Inox at least you know you're getting a more recent version. And stay away from hot loads when shooting. You'll probably be OK.
Click to expand...
I have a non Inox, new version. Matte finish. No crack, but I’ve used only ammo below 130 Ft pounds.
Speedo66 said:
Is Beretta doing the right thing and covering the problem under warranty?
Click to expand...
No apparently
amd6547 said:
The Tomcat is a pistol I should like. I love Beretta’s, and I love my 21a Bobcat. Fan of the 32acp, too. But the frame cracking issue kept me from buying one.
I went with a Keltec P32, instead, and I’m very satisfied with it.
Click to expand...

halfmoonclip said:
Read the caveats when I bought my most recent version. It was American made, and had the thicker slide. Were we to clock actual ammo from the gun, with its short barrel, I suspect most of it would stay under the 130'lbs power rating. In the short barrel (2.5" KelTec), using my older loads, I was only generating 114'lbs. Even Privi, generally a little warmer, is only producing 139'lbs in the longer 3.5" Walther.
Ended up trading mine away, so I can't offer empirical evidence. It wasn't causing a problem, but it wasn't answering any questions, either.
How much evidence is there of damage with the newer slides? How much do owners actually shoot their pistols? Maybe we're worrying too much.
Moon
Click to expand...
There are posts of new version owners with cracked frames. But one I read they said they used ultra hot ammo such as +p Buffalo Bore.

Here’s something else, I think Beretta means ammo that would be 130 ft pounds out of the 3-4 inch test barrels, not a Tomcat. They specifically state to not use ammo that is rated as that power out of fuller sized guns. There’s still higher pressure, etc.

Old Dog said:
I got the "improved" model. What folks ignore is that even with the crack on the frame, the pistol is still safe to shoot.

Mine is built like a Swiss watch. Accurate as heck, even with the pitiful sights. Love me a tip-up barrel. Only .32 I own (or will ever own). Used it for a back-up for a time. Cool little piece. I'm kinda a fan...
View attachment 1082993
Click to expand...
I agree, I like them. Cool little guns.

As you noted, apparently the cracked area is non-essential and the guns work.
 
I just bought a brand new Beretta Tomcat and there is a card in the box that says not to shoot any ammo that is more than 71 grain bullet and more than 130 ft-lbs muzzle energy. Maybe this is the solution to the frame cracking--prevention. There is a lot of .32 ACP ammo out there that exceeds the 130 ft-lbs by a huge margin. I have PPU which is 71 grain and 128 at the muzzle.
 
That has been the case for a very long time. The newer versions have a heavier slide to reduce stress on the frame.
 
aaaaa said:
I just bought a brand new Beretta Tomcat and there is a card in the box that says not to shoot any ammo that is more than 71 grain bullet and more than 130 ft-lbs muzzle energy. Maybe this is the solution to the frame cracking--prevention. There is a lot of .32 ACP ammo out there that exceeds the 130 ft-lbs by a huge margin. I have PPU which is 71 grain and 128 at the muzzle.
Click to expand...
It’s exactly what the solution is, and exactly why they put that insert in. I have a Tomcat, and put only sub 130 ft pound cartridges through it. Important note, they mean 130 ft. pound out of the manufacturer test barrels such as 3-4 inch, not Tomcat. So out of ours it’s more like 100 or 110 ft pounds.
 
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