thinking about getting one for my wife..whats everyones take on this pistol?ups/downs?any info would help being i've never shot one and don't know anybody who owns one
beretta tomcat
- Thread starter HOLY DIVER
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Not a lot of Beretta info from within these forum walls, but you could post over in the Beretta Forum..
Not sure if it's the Tomcat, but one of their small guns seems to give a lot of owners grief.. and there's plenty of post about Tomcats in this regard IIRC.
Best chk here to be sure:
http://www.berettaforum.net/vb/index.php?
Ls
Not a lot of Beretta info from within these forum walls, but you could post over in the Beretta Forum..
Not sure if it's the Tomcat, but one of their small guns seems to give a lot of owners grief.. and there's plenty of post about Tomcats in this regard IIRC.
Best chk here to be sure:
http://www.berettaforum.net/vb/index.php?
Ls
My tomcat has been great once I found the right ammo, but I know others have not been so lucky. I guess most work but a quite a few do not.
I got burned on a tip up .22. The Kel Tec is my .32 of choice, if I wanted a .32. I've had great service from a P11, 9mm, and am tossing around getting a P3AT or the new Ruger 380. I'm going to wait a while and see how the Ruger shakes out, though, is brand new. Also, I'm hoping they'll offer it in stainless.
I have a Tomcat in stainless, Beretta calls it inox. Probably have ~500r through it. It has been totally reliable, very nice little pistol to shoot. Mine has not been ammo picky.
I used to have one of the 'alley cat' versions, and it broke the first time I shot it. Sent it back to Beretta, I think they basically put it back together and sent it back to me, because it broke again the next time I took it out.
The shop I bought it from gave me full value on a trade for something else.
I hear from others that the stainless ones have been more reliable.
It is a more pleasant shooting gun than my Keltec .32, but then it's larger, and heavier, too.
I used to have one of the 'alley cat' versions, and it broke the first time I shot it. Sent it back to Beretta, I think they basically put it back together and sent it back to me, because it broke again the next time I took it out.
The shop I bought it from gave me full value on a trade for something else.
I hear from others that the stainless ones have been more reliable.
It is a more pleasant shooting gun than my Keltec .32, but then it's larger, and heavier, too.
OP
OP
wrench how accurate is it?can you hit a 12inch target at 10yards?
what kinda ammo works best in it?
what kinda ammo works best in it?
I bought the first one I saw; mine is the matte blue standard gun, obviously early production.
The only function issue I ever had was when it was brand new. You could squeeze the trigger gently in single action mode and run out of room for the trigger to move before the shot broke. Only happened a couple of times. It's never malfunctioned in feeding or ejection. I mostly shoot Fiocchi ball and Gold Dot hollow points. I don't have more than a few hundred rounds through the thing after owning it for all this time.
I can keep my shots on a paper plate at 10 yards, shooting fast. It's easy to shoot and points pretty well.
The only function issue I ever had was when it was brand new. You could squeeze the trigger gently in single action mode and run out of room for the trigger to move before the shot broke. Only happened a couple of times. It's never malfunctioned in feeding or ejection. I mostly shoot Fiocchi ball and Gold Dot hollow points. I don't have more than a few hundred rounds through the thing after owning it for all this time.
I can keep my shots on a paper plate at 10 yards, shooting fast. It's easy to shoot and points pretty well.
Certainly accurate enough to keep them on a paper plate at 10y. The sights are small and terrible, though, not a target pistol by any stretch of the imagination. I do most of my shooting with it around 15-25'.
It is not ammo picky. I don't bother with HPs in .32, so all my shooting is FMJ. I've shot Winchester, Fiocchi, S&B, Dynamit noble, pretty much everything. Recoil seems less with the winchester, but they all work.
It is not ammo picky. I don't bother with HPs in .32, so all my shooting is FMJ. I've shot Winchester, Fiocchi, S&B, Dynamit noble, pretty much everything. Recoil seems less with the winchester, but they all work.
OP
OP
thanks for all the input guys!i guess the next thing i want to know would you trust a loved ones life with one?
i was going to say wife instead of loved one but then i thought better not there wife might drive them crazy lmao
i was going to say wife instead of loved one but then i thought better not there wife might drive them crazy lmao
I've carried various Tomcats over the years as my deep CCW ever since they first came out. All have 100% reliable w/Winchester Silvertips or FMJ and are surprisingly accurate for such a small pistol. IMHO the Inox is the best of the breed.
Tomac
Tomac
Tomcat/Bobcat
Both the the Tomcat/Bobcat share the same design features, which is tip-up barrels and no shell extractors. With that said, in the event of a FTF/FTE, you're going to have to tip up the barrel and dig the shell out with your fingers. If the shell doesn't want to come out, than you're going to have to use a ramrod and punch it out from the other side of the barrel.
In other pistols with an extractor (pistols in the same category: Kel-tec, NAA Guardian, the forthcoming Ruger LCP, etc.), ususally racking the slide will get the pistol back into business.
If that's the only pistol you're going to carry, do you really want to trust that design with a loved one?
Both the the Tomcat/Bobcat share the same design features, which is tip-up barrels and no shell extractors. With that said, in the event of a FTF/FTE, you're going to have to tip up the barrel and dig the shell out with your fingers. If the shell doesn't want to come out, than you're going to have to use a ramrod and punch it out from the other side of the barrel.
In other pistols with an extractor (pistols in the same category: Kel-tec, NAA Guardian, the forthcoming Ruger LCP, etc.), ususally racking the slide will get the pistol back into business.
If that's the only pistol you're going to carry, do you really want to trust that design with a loved one?
I bought the Tomcat in a black finish just the other day. I shot 60 rounds of the recommended 60 and 65 grain hollow points thru it. Not one problem at all. At 30 or so feet I hit a tin can over an over again. Gun is very accurate. I love it.
I just ordered another one for the other pocket
Tom
I just ordered another one for the other pocket
Tom
OP
OP
Old Dog
Member
Wife has two, blue and Inox. The Inox version is surprisingly accurate out to about 10 yards, even with the crappy sights. Tip-up feature is a good thing for someone who might have trouble racking a slide on a semi-auto.
Must be cleaned religiously after shooting -- after a handful of mags, the Tomcat will get finicky. Susceptible to lint and dirt, keep it clean (use a holster, pocket carry not so good without one).
Silvertips are a good choice for defensive ammo. Our feed pretty much everything and have been proven reliable.
Must be cleaned religiously after shooting -- after a handful of mags, the Tomcat will get finicky. Susceptible to lint and dirt, keep it clean (use a holster, pocket carry not so good without one).
Silvertips are a good choice for defensive ammo. Our feed pretty much everything and have been proven reliable.
I had a Tomcat 32. I may have put 100 rounds through it. As previously stated, the sights are tiny. However, I had no problem hitting what I was aiming at around the 10-12 yard range. That should cover most situations you would need to fire your weapon. It was not picky on ammo at all. I kick myself for getting rid of it!
As far as trusting the pistol with a loved ones life. Well, I'd rather have them carry a nice 9mm, at least.
But if your significant other won't carry a bigger gun, (caliber or size), and will carry the Tomcat, then I'd say it's a great gun. Much better than the one left at home.
Get a stainless one, clean and lube it well, try some different ammo types to find out if it (or you) has a preference.
Maybe once your wife gets used to carrying, you can get her into something else. The Tomcat can be a gateway gun
But if your significant other won't carry a bigger gun, (caliber or size), and will carry the Tomcat, then I'd say it's a great gun. Much better than the one left at home.
Get a stainless one, clean and lube it well, try some different ammo types to find out if it (or you) has a preference.
Maybe once your wife gets used to carrying, you can get her into something else. The Tomcat can be a gateway gun
I have one and it makes a great BUG, or jogging/light carry gun. I had the slide jump off the frame once after about 100 rounds. I took it back to the gunshop, and it has never malfed since, and I probally have about 400 rounds through it now. It has virtually no recoil and is uber easy to load. The silvertips seem to be the best ammo for it. It has acceptable accuracy, I can rapid fire it and hit the paper everytime at SD distances.
OP
OP
the slide "jumped"off the gun?now that does not sound good at all
that makes me think buy a GLOCK .380
that makes me think buy a GLOCK .380
Well it didn't fly off the gun, it just lifted up a little bit and would not go back into battery with the next round. Well a Glock .380 you will not find, they are not imported into the US.
Love my Tomcat
I have a Beretta Tomcat and it goes everywhere I go. It fits perfectly in my back pocket in an Uncle Mike holster. I have never, ever, had an issue with it. I shoot Magtech ammo in it (FMJ and HP) and it will do a reasonable group at 7 yards. I havn't tried it off a rest, that just seems silly for this little gun. I can keep all rounds in center of mass without much trouble. My daughter is 13 and it is her favorite gun to shoot. If you look at what I actually carry the most, then this is my #1 gun.
I have a Beretta Tomcat and it goes everywhere I go. It fits perfectly in my back pocket in an Uncle Mike holster. I have never, ever, had an issue with it. I shoot Magtech ammo in it (FMJ and HP) and it will do a reasonable group at 7 yards. I havn't tried it off a rest, that just seems silly for this little gun. I can keep all rounds in center of mass without much trouble. My daughter is 13 and it is her favorite gun to shoot. If you look at what I actually carry the most, then this is my #1 gun.
I got one for my wife awhile back; she has trouble racking the slide on an autoloader, so the tip-up barrel seemed like a good idea. Wrong. I put 66 rounds through it before the trigger crapped out. Of those 66 rounds, not a single magazine operated cleanly: FTE, FTF, you name it. Dealing with Beretta customer service also was a nightmare: weeks of no response, had to send the gun back on my own dime (yes, it was brand new), and a long time at the shope before it was returned. Hard to say whether it works or not: I'm frankly afraid to fire it again and know that I won't trust her life to it. I envy those who got one that works. This one was a mess from the get-go.
Is Tomcat the one chambered in .32 ACP or the .380?
Do they make a little 9mm with a tip-up barrel?
Do they make a little 9mm with a tip-up barrel?
zxcvbob, the Cheetah is the 380, and they do make a version of the Cheetah that has a tip up barrel, but as far as I know Beretta does not make a 9mm with a tip up barrel. In fact, I'd think a tip up barrel might be difficult to engineer in a 9mm due to locked breech mechanics.
My wife picked the Tomcat as her CCW choice and I picked the P3AT. Her Tomcat has the CT grips and has a very solid feel. My P3AT feels like it came out of a cereal box. HOWEVER, at the range, the KelTec works way better for me. No failures with the Tomcat, but it just seems harder to shoot accurately. A buddy of mine got bit by the slide holding it a bit too high. His opinion was in favor of the KelTec before the Tomcat bit him too. It seems like a fine gun, I just like my KelTec more. Your wife may like the feel of the Tomcat better. If you can find a range that will let you try both, I think it would be good.
I have a Tomcat and I like the little gun. I want to take it with me when I go mushroom hunting to take care of those slimy varmits that lurk in the grass.
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