Have been considering the Beretta Tomcat as good, easy to use backup pistol. I have had great experiences with the .25 Jetfire and Bobcats, but have heard some bad things about Tomcat. Just wondering if this is as durable and reliable as the older Beretta models?
Beretta Tomcat
- Thread starter CCantu357
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No, not at all.
I own 9 Berettas and am a HUGE Beretta nut. But even over at the Beretta Forum website, where all the Beretta fanatics are - all of us know that the tomcat should be discontinued.
No one says that 100% of them crack. But even after some attempted minor redesigns by Beretta - a good percentage of them get major cracks in the frame. Some people have their gun replaced by Beretta under warranty, and then the next 1 or 2 replacements do it again w/i the first 1-2 range trips.
You will inevitably get some tomcat fans here that will say they like theirs. Like I said - 100% of all the tomcats do nit do this, But anyone who is interested enough in Berettas to participate in enough Beretta related topics on various forums KNOWS that this is a HUGE issue for Tomcat owners
I own 9 Berettas and am a HUGE Beretta nut. But even over at the Beretta Forum website, where all the Beretta fanatics are - all of us know that the tomcat should be discontinued.
No one says that 100% of them crack. But even after some attempted minor redesigns by Beretta - a good percentage of them get major cracks in the frame. Some people have their gun replaced by Beretta under warranty, and then the next 1 or 2 replacements do it again w/i the first 1-2 range trips.
You will inevitably get some tomcat fans here that will say they like theirs. Like I said - 100% of all the tomcats do nit do this, But anyone who is interested enough in Berettas to participate in enough Beretta related topics on various forums KNOWS that this is a HUGE issue for Tomcat owners
I like mine (inox). I've only put a couple hundred rounds through it, the hot ones, Fiochi and S&B. If was going to crack I wanted to find out right away. I've had no cracks and no failures. Keep in mind this isn't what I would consider a "Range Gun". Even if the frame cracks the gun will still function. That being said My Kel-Tec P-32 at half the weight, half the price and softer shooting is a winner. No pocket gun looks as cool as the Tomcat though.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I'd bet that Beretta has some polymer pistol in the works to replace the Tomcat, if the recent intro of the Nano is considered a clue. I'd guess a .380 ACP though.
iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns
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Gotta say I really love my Tomcat, which is a .32acp. I don't shoot it every time I hit the range, but that's only because the ammo is a bit pricey compared to it's physical size. I've shot hundreds of rounds through mine with ZERO failures of any kind, and haven't experienced the frame crackage that has been mentioned here. One thing I must say is that this gun is surprisingly accurate for such a short barrel. I can consistently hit playing cards at ten yards with this lil guy! The shells fly directly over my head when shooting my Tomcat, which I think is funny, never had a problem with them hitting me though. This gun seems to have no extractor, can anyone tell me if it does? Fits in a front pocket very easily, and i like that it's single stack. I carry mine with JHPs. Here is a photo of my Tomcat 
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Seems to . . .
Of course it has no extractor. I don't know if any gun with a tip up barrel can have an extractor. Works without one as long as the chamber doesn't get fouled up, huh?
J_McLeod
Member
I've had one for a few years. Two, really since Beretta replaced the first one after about 200 rounds. One day at the range I removed the mag and part of the frame came with it. It was reliable, and reasonably fun to shoot, but I don't like it as a carry gun. It's too wide for what it shoots. If you get something that big it might as well be a PF9 or LCP, which I also have and they are easier to carry. I'm currently looking for another home for mine.
Super Sneaky Steve
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It's really too bad that the Tomcat has so many problems. I love my Bobcat but it's unreliable. If I could get a reliable centerfire version of it, it would be my favorite gun.
They should make a new one from the ground up.
They should make a new one from the ground up.
FIVETWOSEVEN
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My mom had a Tomcat but it kept stovepiping the last still live round. We believe it was just a magazine spring that was too strong. Either way, I don't like the idea of a gun that is going to catastrophically fail. My mom now has a Bobcat that is perfectly reliable as long as the chamber is clean. It will go about 5 magazines worth of CCI Mini Mags till the chamber needs a quick scrub.
I've found it to be unreliable with bulk ammo but perfectly reliable with CCI Mini Mags. Keep the chamber clean as well.
I've found it to be unreliable with bulk ammo but perfectly reliable with CCI Mini Mags. Keep the chamber clean as well.
I love my Bobcat, and I like Beretta's in general.
But...in the past I've had two Tomcats. Crummy little guns. First one disassembled itself in under a few hundred rounds. A month at the Beretta spa later, it broke for good on the first mag.
Didn't learn my lesson, bought another one that lasted all of six months, same issue.
Dealer took it back from me, was probably embarrassed.
Won't buy a third.
But...in the past I've had two Tomcats. Crummy little guns. First one disassembled itself in under a few hundred rounds. A month at the Beretta spa later, it broke for good on the first mag.
Didn't learn my lesson, bought another one that lasted all of six months, same issue.
Dealer took it back from me, was probably embarrassed.
Won't buy a third.
MICHAEL T
Member
Tomcat to thick, heavy , and crap trigger. P-32 kelTec better choice all around. less money also.
Shadow 7D
Member
Considering that the P32 weighs as much as my wallet loaded, is smaller and holds more rounds.
I think it's a cool looking gun, but not what I'd choose for CCW
I think it's a cool looking gun, but not what I'd choose for CCW
Thanks for the input. I too love the little Beretta, but the Tomcat seems to fail to live up to the name. My grandfather carried a Jetfire on the job (police) as a boot gun and served him for well for 25 years. Always joked about how small the .25 was but he figured 8 of those rounds in a BG's face beats a funeral.
MachIVshooter
Member
I had one (Alley cat), and it always functioned fine. But.....it's about twice as thick and more than double the weight of a P32, and snappier in the recoil department. It's long gone, still have my P32.
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