Talk me out of it... .32 Tomcat

L

lumpymike1

Joined
Sep 3, 2004
Messages
476
So the more I see of the Beretta Tomcat, the more I want one. Maybe it is the way that it slips into my pocket. Maybe it is here sleek Italian looks, maybe it is because like most italian women she will break my heart.

Anyway..

I want something small at pocketable, it is going at a good price locally (under $500), and it would fill the niche for when I don't want to carry my glock 30 or 26.

I have read a lot of the reviews and know about the slide issues, hence am looking at the stainless Inox version.

Any major reason I shouldn't?

Not a whole lot of choice for pocket guns in my area...
 
You ask for input...okay being the devil's advocate....

And I'm assuming you want it for personal defense? If so then why not go with another smaller 9mm instead since you already have one (G26) so you do not have to stock up with another more expensive cartridge which is harder to find in bulk in order to train and practice (one defensive type class will consume 500 rounds easily). Finding 500 to 1000 rounds of .32 is a real chore and it is going to be very expensive. Whereas finding a case of 9mm to take to a class or to practice with is affordable and easy to find.

Also since it has a tip up barrel design you now have to learn an entirely new manual of arms than your GLOCK or other semi autos. For example you'll need to learn an entirely new manual of arms just to clear a Phase II malfunction. The mag release is in a totally different location. It is a totally different design. And for defense I would surmise you'd want to train to respond under stress with similar defense equipment would you not?

For me, not knowning much about self defense and firearms, it would make more sense to stick with a consistant platform rather than learn and master a totally new system. It seems you're more smitten by the looks and prestige than its fighting capablity. There is nothing wrong with that but "feeling" safe is not the same as "being safe".

There are a number of smaller firearms on the market in your price bracket.

Can't fault a person for "wanting" a firearm. But if you want it as a serious defensive tool and you already have a G30 and G26 it would make more since to go with a similar platform with a similar cartridge as in your G26 for training and economics. Go price a couple hundred rounds of .32 which is what you're going to need anyway just to run it through its break in paces and personal qualification for proficiency.

I used these same arguments with my sister in law. She just insisted the .32 Tomcat was the ideal defensive handgun. So she bought it. Then she took it to a two day level one Defensive type class with my wife and I. And after about 250 rounds by 1500 on the first day, she parked it and borrowed one of my wife's GLOCK 19s instead. She sold the Tomcat and bought herself a GLOCK 19. She never complaints about carrying her G19 everyday because she knows she isn't going to get any simpathy from my wife and I! Clint Smith said it best "Handguns are not meant to be comfortable, but comforting"

Well...you asked to be talked out of it.
 
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I say get one if you like it. I have one and have had no complaints about its performance. The Tomcat is a well-made, light and handy little pistol. Recoil is very controllable compared to many .380's, reliability is very good, it is easy to load and use, and the pistol is quite accurate considering its size. Drawbacks are the slide issue, and a heavy DA trigger pull. Some folks also find it to be a bit wide and chunky, but I have found it to easy to conceal well. Ammo is readily available in a number of different bullet configurations - from FMJ to hollowpoints. For defensive use I would load it with European rounds like Geco and Fiocchi, which tend to be hotter loaded with a heavier bullet (1000 FPS - 77 Gr.) than American rounds. (typically 65 - 71 Gr. @ 800 - 850 FPS)

TR Graham
The Glocksmith
 
lumpymike1 said:
I want something small at pocketable, it is going at a good price locally (under $500), and it would fill the niche for when I don't want to carry my glock 30 or 26.

I have read a lot of the reviews and know about the slide issues, hence am looking at the stainless Inox version.

Any major reason I shouldn't?

Not a whole lot of choice for pocket guns in my area...
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I don't know where you live but, that price seems high to me (any niche price gouging in your area?). For what you describe, I would pick a Kahr auto. They are heavier but, follow the Glock style action and function, are relatively small and don't outline like a Glock, and best of all carry a 9mm chambering instead of a 32ACP.

I'm not going to beat the caliber thing to death but, how many different types of ammo do you want to keep around the house? You already have a 9mm so, that seems like a good choice to me.
 
Buy it. You won't be disappointed. A mouse gun in the pocket is better than a Glock you left at home. Most people who encounter problems attempt to feed hollow points. The only hollow point it feeds reliably is Remington. The ogive is more like that of hardball ammo.Part of the reason for the popularity of pocket guns stems from the Seecamp 32.
It was designed for Winchester silvertip ammo and had a surprising one shot stop rating of over 60%. 32 ammo is easier to find than .380 and less expensive.
 
I've wanted a Tomcat for years. Can't own guns here, but I'd pick one up if I could. I like the Kel-Tec P-32 too.
 
omaha-beenglockin said:
Never owned one myself---but the internet rumour mill is very harsh on these pistols as being a POS.
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Mine is not good, and is not reliable. There are many better alternatives IMO, which are also lighter and thinner in the pocket. I much prefer the .32 and .380 offerings from Kel-tec and Ruger. JMO.
 
I've owned a Tomcat for years. Mine is not an Inox. To tell you the truth, I bought it used from a cop friend of mine. He had to return it to Beretta TWICE before the thing worked right.

Mine works fine. No problems so far. Very accurate for a mouse gun. Good sights for a mouse gun. My trigger pull isn't bad. Frame hasn't cracked yet. Have not heard of any frame cracking issues with Inox version, and I've researched this a lot.

Gun is kinda heavy for what it is. But, I agree, I like the way it looks. It also handles pretty well for a small pistol. I have a G26, too, and this thing is much smaller than that, or even a Kahr PM9.

I like the tip up barrel feature. The mag release button location isn't ideal, but is not a deal breaker for me.

I've thought of selling mine, but I shoot well with it. Besides, can't get Kel-Tecs, Ruger LCP, or even Taurus .380 in the People's Republic where I live.

I say buy it.
 
First, I own many Beretta products which I love.

I own a Tomcat and I never carry it.

Pros:
1. Tip-up barrel design is good for someone who has trouble racking the slide on a semiauto to chamber the first round.
2. Built like a tank.
3. Reliable enough.

Cons:
1. Built like a tank. Too heavy and too large.

Personally, I would rather carry a compact .38 revolver for the weight and size (plus no slide to rack).

If you want a pocket pistol, go with the polymer .380 options. They are thinner and lighter. I have two Keltec PATs and I carry one every night when I walk my dog.

By the way, I have the .22 version of this tip-up barrel design and I like it.

The newer stainless models look nice and would be preferable in a pocket pistol.

M.
 
I won't talk about caliber, or what other people said. They already said it.

I really like my Kahr PM9. It's small, light and shoots 9mm like most of my other handguns.

And it fits in my pockets (most of them anyway).
 
If I were you, I'd look for a good used Walther PPKs in .380.
 
I've been trying to talk myself into a pocket auto for years, but all the problems people seem to have with the small .380 always scares me away. But I think the Micro Desert Eagle is going to be the one for me. Everything I have been able to find and read about it says it has a much much lower occurrence of jams then everything else in it's class and that the fit and finish is top notch and it's made right here in the US. Of course it's also the most expensive of the pocket .380's, but it sounds like it's worth it.
 
remmmm said:
I've been trying to talk myself into a pocket auto for years, but all the problems people seem to have with the small .380 always scares me away.
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Be sure you are comparing apples to apples. The vast majority of compact pistols are cheap .32 and .380 models. You get what you pay for. If you compare a like number of similar cheap (made to the same quality and engineering standard) full size pistol your reliability numbers are similar.

Small compact semi-auto pistols are a little harder to make and are harder for novice to intermediate skilled shooters to shoot well. Full size semi-auto pistols are a little easier to make because manufacturers have longer frame rails, longer bearing surfaces, etc. to work with which allow for a little more foregiveness in design tolerances. And for some reason, most people in general, spend more money for a full size pistol then they will on a compact carry piece. That's why you see such large numbers of cheap "affordable" compacts being sold to the masses versus more premium (expensive) full-size major name brand semi-auto's.
 
i would prefer a keltec P32, they are smaller/thinner/liter/hold more ammo and i have had excellent luck with mine, if i was wanting something PPK'ish i woulod go with a kahr PM9 FWIW vs any .32 or .380.

to me the tomcats awfull large and heavy for a .32.
 
Another vote for the Kel-Tec here. I consider .380 to be a "marginal" self-defense caliber. Anything smaller is probably a waste of time and money. The Kel-Tec in .380 is a good, solid, inexpensive pistol, and you won't be disappointed.

Whichever of these little things you end up buying, be sure to practice with it. They're pretty challenging to shoot accurately, and considering that you'll most likely want to make any shot a head shot, it's a good idea to be very proficient with it.
 
I get Polish P64s (9x18 caliber) for about $160 each. They should be in the areas of $200 retail if you shop around. These are a very well made Polish military and police pistol for the 9 Makarov cartridge which 'walks' right along with a 9 parabellum power wise. Mag holds six so seven rounds on board with one in the chamber. The P-64 is a Walther clone, double and single action, all steel, small, powerful, and easy to conceal. It breaks down merely by lowering the trigger guard and in about 3 seconds.

I carry mine off duty. My reasoning is this: if I have to use it, it will be taken in evidence for a year or more and very possibly forever. I can bear losing a $160 pistol with a lot less pain than something much more expensive. I've shot mine a bunch and it functions flawlessly. The power of the 9 Mak round will surprise you if you've never fired one and ammo is widely available and cheap compared to 32. Look 'em up on Google for specs and so on. The standard Makarov pistols are another option, about the same price but a bit larger than the P64. Just my $0.02.
 
Samael said:
Whichever of these little things you end up buying, be sure to practice with it. They're pretty challenging to shoot accurately, and considering that you'll most likely want to make any shot a head shot, it's a good idea to be very proficient with it.
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Someone correct if I'm wrong, I'm not a gun expert, but I believe I've read and been told you don't want to try for a head shot with a lighter round because it's more likely to deflect, plus if you aim for the center of the chest you have a bigger target and are more likely to at least hit something with a short barrel compact pistol.
 
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