Beretta Tomcat..?

[Shanghai McCoy]

Been thinking that as I age and with the arthritis in my wrists a tip up auto might be a good idea.
Any thoughts on the Beretta Tomcat version? I see them mostly in 32 acp out there.

 

[unclenunzie]

A tip up would address some of the issues, particularly not being able to charge the pistol by racking the slide. By my experience though the Tomcat design is inherently snappy for a 32 when compared to a locked breech pistol, and suffers from frame cracking. You might try a Keltec P32 with ball ammo, which might work for you.

I would recommend considering a wheelgun as an alternative. The Kimber K6xs and the Ruger LCRs have modern relatively easy trigger pulls, and with the 38 special you can get target wadcutters that will still be effective while having low recoil. If you go this route the heavier KLCR (357 mag) will be even easier on the recoil with the same wadcutters. S&W is always recommendable as well, but you might need a trigger job to lighten it while keeping reliability.

If you want an auto, maybe something larger in 380 that is not blowback would work. I do not personally have any locked breech 380s or 32s except the pocket Keltec/ruger pattern. The Smith EZ series is designed specifically for what you are looking into...

 

[Boattale]

My ex wife had one. She liked it a lot. I was always a little scared she might use it on me during an interesting divorce. But she never did.
If I ever wanted a .32 I would surely look into one.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I've had three. Not fun to shoot. All unreliable feeders. First one cracked the frame. Last one was rupturing cases thanks to ramp misalignment and setback.
Absolute garbage, IMO.

Get the M&P .380 EZ. Excellent shooter, reliable and ergonomic.
I don't even like M&Ps and I love this one.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Thanks Gents.
That pretty well answered my question.

 

[bigchicot]

Ruger Security 380 is very nice and easy to rack.

BC

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I wish Ruger would chamber its LCP II in .32 ACP.

I carry a 10-shot LCP II .22 LR, loaded with Federal 29gr Punch, as a BUG when I carry a revolver.

A 6-shot Ruger LCR .327 Magnum revolver, loaded with Federal 85gr JHP, is sweet to shoot. It has a decent double action only trigger.

I carried an early Tomcat .32 as a BUG on patrol in the mid-1990s. I had a problem with misfeeds that I troubleshot as being caused by a burr on the breechface at the firing pin hole. I used a small sharpening stone to remove the burr and it was 100% reliable after that. I don't recall it having a sharp or snappy recoil.

 

[ukwolfeman]

S&W M&P Equalizer is the ticket. Been thinking about having one around just in case.

 

[Rule3]

I like them, pretty nice gun.

 

[swoter]

Carry one in a pocket holster every day. Never had any trouble with it.

 

[Tallball]

I had a Tomcat and didn't like it.

Heavy and bulky. Stiff trigger. Hard for me to shoot accurately. Ammo sensitive.

A KelTec P32 is the best "carry" 32acp for me.

 

[Targa]

I have a Tomcat .32acp and really like it but I bought it mainly because I wanted to add to my Beretta collection, I don’t carry it for self defense. It’s a pretty little gun and the tip up barrel is just really cool…. Shooting it is an absolute joy with very little recoil, it is definitely a get off me gun.

 

[EMC45]

Had one years ago. Felt like I was carrying an M9. It is a big gun. Shortly after the KelTec P32 came out and then the P3AT came out, and I realized a gun that shape/size wouldn't work for me for the capacity and caliber. This is before all the issues cropped up too - cracked frames, reliability etc. I just couldn't do it and it got sold.

 

[halfmoonclip]

A tip up would address some of the issues, particularly not being able to charge the pistol by racking the slide. By my experience though the Tomcat design is inherently snappy for a 32 when compared to a locked breech pistol, and suffers from frame cracking. You might try a Keltec P32 with ball ammo, which might work for you.

Spot on, as is the rest of unclenunzie's post.
I've had two, always thought they were a little snappy for caliber, and bulkier than they need to be. It's always fun to field strip one, and make your friends find the recoil springs.
Got the second one just for grits and shins, but became weary of the ammunition caveats, even though standard ammo (or my reloads) didn't seem to exceed them.
There are so many good things about the tip up barrel for administrative handling; wish they could soften the recoil.
Moon

 

[Ray P]

Thanks Gents.
That pretty well answered my question.

I know your needs are met, but like Nicely-Nicely Johnson at the Salvation Army Mission, "I wanna testify!"

I have four .32 caliber handguns: a Tomcat and a vz61 in 32ACP; and a Ruger sp101 and S&W 341 in 32 H&R Magnum.
The 32ACP Tomcat is very comfortable to carry, easy to load, and with the tip up barrel breach, no slide racking required. It is about as accurate as you could hope for with that tiny sight radius.

That said, I carry the S&W 341 far more than the Tomcat, and I have more rounds downrange with the SP101 than the other two. Recoil in the 32H&R mag guns is very manageable, and using 32 Long ammo keeps recoil on par with the 32ACP.

I also reload for both cartridges. Both work fine with the same 71gr plated round nose Berrys over w231 or titegroup.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

^^^
Thanks for the information, I appreciate the various input from those who own, or have owned,one of these pistols.
It seems that there are some who like them and some who don't.

(Oh, and extra points for the "Guys and Dolls" reference Ray.)

 

[Pistolay]

A tip up would address some of the issues, particularly not being able to charge the pistol by racking the slide. By my experience though the Tomcat design is inherently snappy for a 32 when compared to a locked breech pistol, and suffers from frame cracking. You might try a Keltec P32 with ball ammo, which might work for you.

One thing to note about the P32. I also have arthritis and greatly reduced hand strength, and the P32 is not an easy gun to rack. I can't just grab the slide and casually pull it back. I have to really wail on it. My blowback PPK is much easier to rack.

 

[TTv2]

I wish Ruger would chamber its LCP II in .32 ACP.

I carry a 10-shot LCP II .22 LR, loaded with Federal 29gr Punch, as a BUG when I carry a revolver.

A 6-shot Ruger LCR .327 Magnum revolver, loaded with Federal 85gr JHP, is sweet to shoot. It has a decent double action only trigger.

I carried an early Tomcat .32 as a BUG on patrol in the mid-1990s. I had a problem with misfeeds that I troubleshot as being caused by a burr on the breechface at the firing pin hole. I used a small sharpening stone to remove the burr and it was 100% reliable after that. I don't recall it having a sharp or snappy recoil.

I've wanted Ruger to make the LCP II in .32 as well because I think it's a better trigger, sights, and probably grip than the Kel Tec .32. Even tho it'll be a few oz more, I think it's worth it to further cut felt recoil and I doubt a few more oz is going to make a difference in the way carrying it feels.

The .32 LCR, especially the new Lipseye's lighter .32 H&R model, does get me thinking tho. It may be a bit bigger and heavier, but it doesn't lose much capacity compared to the 7+1 pocket .32 autos and the .32 Mag even in a snub hits a lot harder than .32 ACP does.

I'm likely buying a P32 this weekend, so that means Ruger is probably going to release an LCP II in two more weeks.

 

[Pistolay]

I've wanted Ruger to make the LCP II in .32 as well because I think it's a better trigger, sights, and probably grip than the Kel Tec .32. Even tho it'll be a few oz more, I think it's worth it to further cut felt recoil and I doubt a few more oz is going to make a difference in the way carrying it feels.

My thoughts exactly. If Ruger does do this, I'll buy one, and if it meets my expectations, I'll slowly swap over my P32s for a couple of Rugers. I like the KelTecs, but there's no getting around the fact that they're very cheaply made. One of mine has been 100% through almost 600 rounds, but the other one needed a new grip to replace a bad hammer block right out of the box (they sent that to me), was good for about 350 rounds, then had to go back for a dead trigger.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

For what it's worth, I actually shot my last Tomcat back to back with the .380 EZ. These are rapid fire double-taps at 7 Yds-

YMMV, of course, but the targets speak for themselves.....

 

[Balrog]

I have had a Beretta Tomcat since the 90s. It is a nice enough gun, and has always been reliable. The question is, why would you carry it? It is heavier than many 380 autos, and is bulky in the pocket (thick). 32 ACP is outclassed easily by 380 auto. 32 ACP also has the potential for rim lock, which I have never experienced, so maybe that is more of a theoretical concern, but its not a problem with 380.

All things considered, the S&W Bodyguard 2.0 and the Ruger LCP II Max are both better choices for daily pocket carry. Lighter, same recoil, 380 instead of 32, and more ammo capacity.

 

[halfmoonclip]

and a vz61 in 32ACP;

Oh, no! Another damnfool with a Scorpion! I have a tax stamp, and wire stock for mine, not to mention a .22 conversion. Not quite sure what role it fills, just a really neat contraption.
Have a bunch of old .32s, reload the caliber, and they are just fun to shoot.

32 ACP also has the potential for rim lock, which I have never experienced, so maybe that is more of a theoretical concern, but its not a problem with 380.

Lot of debate about rim lock, here, and over on the Walther board. Full length FMJ rounds are harder to misload in the magazine, and the European casings (with more taper above the extractor groove) are reputed better. My brass is a dog's breakfast of about anything, and I haven't noticed a difference.
Now hollow points/shorter length are a different question. Personally, think that blowback guns (say, the PPK) have enough slide inertia to drive past a rimlock; the softer sprung locked breech guns, maybe not so much.
Moon

 

[Ray P]

Oh, no! Another damnfool with a Scorpion! I have a tax stamp, and wire stock for mine, not to mention a .22 conversion. Not quite sure what role it fills, just a really neat contraption.
Have a bunch of old .32s, reload the caliber, and they are just fun to shoot.
(snip)
Moon

Working on my 922 list now, but a wire stock and SBR stamp are my future goals.

Found a source for US-made grips!

It would.be great if Franklin Armory made a US sourced binary trigger. I've asked, but no interest.

 

[JERRY]

For the asking price, I would pass and simply get something else. I say this mostly because it does not have an extractor and they are still susceptible to the frame cracking.

 

[halfmoonclip]

For the asking price, I would pass and simply get something else. I say this mostly because it does not have an extractor and they are still susceptible to the frame cracking.

The lack of an extractor was really not an issue, and the newer guns have a stouter frame. They're fun for grits and shins.
Moon