Beretta Tomcat Really Discontinued?

G

GeoJelly

New member
Greetings - I have wanted to get a Tomcat for some time and finally am close to having the money to get one. I checked the BUSA site and it's still listed - but the (overpriced and scratched) listings on GBroker indicate that they are discontinued. I would really like to get a stainless one - does anyone have the final answer on the Tomcat line? TIA ...
 
I think they're making limited runs of the Tomcat these days, but I don't believe that it has been discontinued. It's still listed as a current product on Beretta's website.
 
AustinTX said:
I think they're making limited runs of the Tomcat these days, but I don't believe that it has been discontinued.
Click to expand...
+1. According to the folks I've talked to at a couple of LGS's, Beretta's small-caliber pistols seem to be released in batches, and consequently go through periodic supply droughts.

If you see the pistol on Beretta's website, it's probably NOT discontinued- we're probably in one of the droughts and dealers simply can't get any Tomcats from their distributors right now. The sellers on GB are probably NOT privy to inside information from Beretta; they're likely spreading rumors to drive the prices up. :rolleyes: (This is a common gambit on online auction sites that's NOT limited to GB and/or gun stuff.)

I recommend going to a LGS that handles a lot of Berettas and asking the manager if he/she can order a Tomcat right now.
 
Last edited:
Whew! I know they're rather popular, so it didn't make sense to me that they'd be discontinued. I'm used to feast-or-famine supply cycles from CZ - I can wait on the Tomcat.
 
Tomcats seem to show up in batches at the LGS around every other year. Beretta is like S&W for revolvers -- they tool up, make a bunch, and then switch production to something else for awhile.
 
Available or not I will never touch another Tomcrack again. I had two with the frame cracked (blue/not stainless) on the right side by the trigger pin. Beretta offered no help. Sold both for parts.

Yg
 
The first one was purchased in early 2000 (brand new).
The second was about 5 years ago (like new in box and the first owner does not remember if he ever fired it. There was absolutely no sign of usage).
The first one lasted longer than the second (cracked within the first 50 rounds). Beretta offered no help since both were out of the warranty period. Yes, I purchased lot of things and don't use them immediately. Regardless of time, it should not have cracked frame within the first 50 rounds.

I am not trashing Beretta. I still have a few of them but I highly recommend stay away from the Tomcrack.

Yg
 
I think Beretta should discontinue the Tomcat -- or redesign the part of the frame with the thin little strip of aluminum that always cracks.

That said, the little strip that always cracks doesn't affect the function of the gun. If you bought one of these without knowing about this problem, and you're warranty is up, you don't have to throw the gun away when (not if) the strip cracks. People continue to fire the guns for hundreds or thousands of rounds afterward with no problems.

Since that little strip apparently performs no essential function, I can't understand why Beretta doesn't just redesign it out of the gun.
 
Wow - Good info from all - Thank-you! I really like the way the stainless Tomcat's look - but I had no idea about the cracked frame problem. I would like to get a small .32 so it sounds like the NAA may be a better deal in the long run ...
 
My understanding is the Inox model does not have the problems with the crack. I also understand Beretta made a later wide slide model, blued/black, that did not have the cracking problem. At one time I knew the difference in width but can no longer remember. I do remember posting the information a couple of years back. You may want to do an internet search in case you do not want the Inox version.

I have had no problems with mine. I won a Beretta 84F in a recent auction which also had two Tomcats up for auction. They seem to be readily available.
 
I've had two over the years, plus my wife's. Not a huge fan. If you really like the .32 go for it. But I enjoy my G26 for concealed much more, so does the wife. I see the Tom Cat for sale all the time in local stores, you looking for used or new?
 
My understanding is the Inox model does not have the problems with the crack. I also understand Beretta made a later wide slide model, blued/black, that did not have the cracking problem. At one time I knew the difference in width but can no longer remember. I do remember posting the information a couple of years back. You may want to do an internet search in case you do not want the Inox version.
Click to expand...

I'm no Tomcat expert (since I have no interest in ever owning one), but my impression from owners' posts on the Beretta forum is that none of those changes have eliminated the problem.
 
They are nice little guns (have one in 22) but I like it mostly for pocket carry. I like the Beretta model 81 for shooting. I also carry a little NAA 32 for daily pocket carry.:)
 
On the Beretta forum there are countless threads on this topic.

The bottom line appears to be that Beretta increased the thickness of the frame of later-production Tomcats, beginning with the INOX version. This lowers the probability of the crack but does not eliminate it. It is essential when shooting a Tomcat not to use "hot" .32 ammo -- you can google the specifications that Beretta recommends for Tomcat ammo.

It is unclear whether the late-model Tomcats with the thickened frames will still crack if you use the ammo that Beretta recommends.

The Tomcat is absolutely not intended to be a range gun. It is probably OK to use it for occasional range use, i.e. familiarization, and a CCW gun. But I wouldn't put thousands of rounds through my Tomcat.

Sometimes the crack affects operation and sometimes not. There are threads where users reported cracks that did interfere with the slide action of the gun. I have not experienced the crack myself so no comment.

I prefer my Sig P238 for a pocket gun. It is bigger, but it is an infinitely better gun.
 
Part of being a Beretta nut is realizing that, like any company, they occasionally miss with their designs. The 9000 is an example, and so is the Tomcat in my opinion. I may still own one at some point because they're nice looking, but there are lots of better options to rely on for carry. Lots and lots.
 
The Tomcat pushes the basic 950 series design too far. I have an early model, and it's kind of cute. It functions well and is accurate. That said-for a .32 it's pretty big and heavy. The NAA is small, but extremely heavy. I have one of those, too.
If you want a .32 pocket gun, the Keltec P32 is still the king.
 
Thanks Bill for your insights and I agree that your NAA is better (Seecamps are still elusive). My concern is for arthritic hands or carpal tunnel sufferers who can't pull a DA trigger on a revolver and don't have the ability to pull the slide on a pistol. The tip-up barrel of the Berettas are ideal for those folks.
 
I hadn't even thought of a Keltec - I'll have to do some Googling. I've seen a couple of reviews of the NAA's. One reviewer complained that it would stovepipe the last empty - then someone else said they are designed to do that. The (rare) times that I do carry now - I use an S&W MP Bodyguard with built-in laser. I wish one of the LGS's had a Tomcat so I could compare the two - maybe the S&W isn't that much bigger. I've always liked Beretta's though - and a stainless 3032 would at least look pretty good next the Smith!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top