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Tomcat frame cracking still?
- Thread starter JERRYS.
- Start date
I think their idea was that a heavier slide would slow it down and lessen the stress on the frame. By all accounts, that was only partially successful, if that much. I'm with those who are enamored by the concept but unwilling to take a chance on a pistol that has proven unequal to handling an anemic caliber.
Tomcat
Mine cracked the same location as younggun. From everything I have read that's the same spot on every Tomcat that has had a cracked frame. As long as the frame does bend up it shouldn't have any effect on it continuing to function. Some have cut a small piece from the location and have continued to fire it many times with no problem. I stopped carrying it as I just didn't want to risk a problem in the unlikely event I was in a s.d. situation. The heavier slide hasn't solved the cracking problem. As much as I liked it it just didn't seem prudent to rely on it.
Mine cracked the same location as younggun. From everything I have read that's the same spot on every Tomcat that has had a cracked frame. As long as the frame does bend up it shouldn't have any effect on it continuing to function. Some have cut a small piece from the location and have continued to fire it many times with no problem. I stopped carrying it as I just didn't want to risk a problem in the unlikely event I was in a s.d. situation. The heavier slide hasn't solved the cracking problem. As much as I liked it it just didn't seem prudent to rely on it.
Tomcat
I liked the trigger. Yes it was a bit chunky and had a bit of weight which I was ok with. It still carries good as a pocket gun(for me anyway). The cracking thing though is something else. Good point about the Keltec. Here's a pistol that's a good 8 oz. lighter and it has no trouble shooting Fiocchi or S&B ammo which both have a pretty nice pop. If it didn't crack and could handle hotter ammo which I would want it a .32 I would still being carrying mine.
I liked the trigger. Yes it was a bit chunky and had a bit of weight which I was ok with. It still carries good as a pocket gun(for me anyway). The cracking thing though is something else. Good point about the Keltec. Here's a pistol that's a good 8 oz. lighter and it has no trouble shooting Fiocchi or S&B ammo which both have a pretty nice pop. If it didn't crack and could handle hotter ammo which I would want it a .32 I would still being carrying mine.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Plastic-framed guns use metal inserts at the bearing points. Without them, the frame wouldn't be strong enough. Plastic is weaker than metal.
Plastic-framed guns use metal inserts at the bearing points. Without them, the frame wouldn't be strong enough. Plastic is weaker than metal.
I never would have thought that kel-tec makes a better frame than beretta....
I was leaning towards the Tomcat. Mainly because of its being made by Beretta. But his cracked frame thing is no small issue. It is dangerous. And a fatal design flaw. So that fairly did it. Then someone mentioned a double feed or some such malfunction in relation to the tip up barrel. And the awkwardness and time to clear the malfunction and get the gun back in service. I'll take a pass.
Bill DeShivs
New member
The 3032 Tomcat and, to a lesser degree the 2021 Bobcat are based on the Beretta 950 series.
The 950s are about as reliable as you can get, and are known as one of the finest pocket pistols.
The Tom/Bob cat series stretches the limit of the 950 design past the point of utter reliability.
Beretta's first modification was the little model 20. Designed in Italy, it was simply double action modification of the .25 cal. 950. They worked well.
Then, they stretched the action to take the .22 lr cartridge in the model 2021.
Reliability suffers greatly in these guns. Some run fine, but many suffer various reliability problems.
To quickly jump on the .32 auto bandwagon after the popularity of the Seecamp and the introduction of the .32 acp Silvertip hollow point ammunition, Beretta again modified the 2021 design to handle the .32 acp cartridge. While the gun is attractive, accurate, and even reliable-it's poor little thin aluminum frame just can't take the abuse of the more powerful .32 acp. Most of the guns don't break, but a sizeable number do.
The 950s are about as reliable as you can get, and are known as one of the finest pocket pistols.
The Tom/Bob cat series stretches the limit of the 950 design past the point of utter reliability.
Beretta's first modification was the little model 20. Designed in Italy, it was simply double action modification of the .25 cal. 950. They worked well.
Then, they stretched the action to take the .22 lr cartridge in the model 2021.
Reliability suffers greatly in these guns. Some run fine, but many suffer various reliability problems.
To quickly jump on the .32 auto bandwagon after the popularity of the Seecamp and the introduction of the .32 acp Silvertip hollow point ammunition, Beretta again modified the 2021 design to handle the .32 acp cartridge. While the gun is attractive, accurate, and even reliable-it's poor little thin aluminum frame just can't take the abuse of the more powerful .32 acp. Most of the guns don't break, but a sizeable number do.
Tomcat
There was a very limited run of titanium framed Tomcats. I have not read of any of these having an issue like the blued and stainless ones. If your still interested in the Tomcat you can see if you can pick up one. They come up for sale occasionally on sights like gunbroker.com. If it's having a tip up barrel that you like you can look to get one of the 950's that Bill D. Described above. They are excellent with a solid reputation. They are also known as the Jetfire. I had one a long, long time ago. No issues. They are single action, smaller than the Bobcat and Tomcat. I believe they came in .25acp and .22 short. I had a .25. They also can be found occasionally online or at your local gun shop.
There was a very limited run of titanium framed Tomcats. I have not read of any of these having an issue like the blued and stainless ones. If your still interested in the Tomcat you can see if you can pick up one. They come up for sale occasionally on sights like gunbroker.com. If it's having a tip up barrel that you like you can look to get one of the 950's that Bill D. Described above. They are excellent with a solid reputation. They are also known as the Jetfire. I had one a long, long time ago. No issues. They are single action, smaller than the Bobcat and Tomcat. I believe they came in .25acp and .22 short. I had a .25. They also can be found occasionally online or at your local gun shop.
I would also recommend the Beretta 950 Jetfire. Mine is in .25 caliber which is the most common. If it is American made it can be carried cocked with the safety on which is the way I do it. It is very light and fits nicely into my right hand pocket. The pistol holds 9 rounds. It is surprisingly accurate for something of this type. At 25 feet I can put all 9 rounds into a paper plate and I am no great shot.
Best of all it is completely reliable. I shoot mine every time I go to the range and so far have put nearly 1000 rounds through it without any trouble. Fiocchi ammo works the best.
I bought mine on Gunbroker and they are always available there.
Best of all it is completely reliable. I shoot mine every time I go to the range and so far have put nearly 1000 rounds through it without any trouble. Fiocchi ammo works the best.
I bought mine on Gunbroker and they are always available there.
Bill DeShivs
New member
All the 950 Jetfires were .25s. The .22 short 950s were the Minx. The Minx was available in the regular barrel length and with an extended 3.5" barrel as the Minx M4.
All the 950 pistols are exceptionally accurate.
All the 950 pistols are exceptionally accurate.
Doc Intrepid
New member
In the "for what it's worth" category, I've owned 3 Tomcats/Alleycats, and love them.
I've had problems with one of them. Bought the first 3032 in 1993, owned it for around fifteen years or so, no problems at all. Sold it and bought an Alley cat when my eyes began getting bad enough I couldn't see the front sight. That big tritium sight on the Alleycat was the answer. On the second or third trip to the range, the sidewall cracked out on the starboard side of the pistol - not the frame - the slide itself fragmented. I was shooting Fiocchi .32, a common enough FMJ target load around here.
Sent the pistol back to Beretta. They called me, said it couldn't be repaired. But, they said, they'd be willing to sell me a brand new Tomcat for $132 (IIRC). So, I bought the new one for whatever their loss-leader price was that year. Before they sent it back, I had them remove the barrel from the Tomcat and send it back also. Then when it arrived, I pulled the new barrel and replaced it with the Alleycat barrel. That was around 2008. It's been firing steady since 2008 without any issues. I love the pistol. The only real problem is that it's pretty chunky to be carried in trouser pockets. Outer jacket pockets? Fine, or also in a IWB holster just behind your belt. Those work also. But in general it's chunky for a pocket gun, and small for a holster gun. But mine at least shoots like a dream, very accurate and reliable.
YMMV.
I've had problems with one of them. Bought the first 3032 in 1993, owned it for around fifteen years or so, no problems at all. Sold it and bought an Alley cat when my eyes began getting bad enough I couldn't see the front sight. That big tritium sight on the Alleycat was the answer. On the second or third trip to the range, the sidewall cracked out on the starboard side of the pistol - not the frame - the slide itself fragmented. I was shooting Fiocchi .32, a common enough FMJ target load around here.
Sent the pistol back to Beretta. They called me, said it couldn't be repaired. But, they said, they'd be willing to sell me a brand new Tomcat for $132 (IIRC). So, I bought the new one for whatever their loss-leader price was that year. Before they sent it back, I had them remove the barrel from the Tomcat and send it back also. Then when it arrived, I pulled the new barrel and replaced it with the Alleycat barrel. That was around 2008. It's been firing steady since 2008 without any issues. I love the pistol. The only real problem is that it's pretty chunky to be carried in trouser pockets. Outer jacket pockets? Fine, or also in a IWB holster just behind your belt. Those work also. But in general it's chunky for a pocket gun, and small for a holster gun. But mine at least shoots like a dream, very accurate and reliable.
YMMV.
I have four Tomcats, three wide slides and a thin slide in new condition. I shoot them a lot and no cracks. My theory has been and talked about extensively on the Beretta Forum in length. My Theory is that the crack is not caused by recoil, because I shoot everything in my guns. It's caused by slamming the slide closed on an empty chamber. The recoil springs are over sprung for this gun and the force of that slide hitting the front lugs of that guns frame is very hard. It pulls the frame forward and stretches it, cracking it right there, at it's weakest and thinnest point. Every time that slide is not feeding a round and flying forward without slowing down slide speed, it puts stress on this area. I never sling shoot my slide and I always use the tip up barrel to load. I never run dry of ammo and I always count my ammo when practicing. I am always feeding a round for this reason and it works. Another fellow on line proved this theory. He cleaned his Tomcat and it was fine, he then sling shot his slide forward without a round slowing the slide speed and his frame cracked right there. Does Beretta have a design flaw in the Tomcat yes, but the guns are awesome.
Tomcat
Cocojo that's the first I have ever heard of this. Interesting theory. As far as ammo what do you use? Ever use Fiocchi or S&B? I wish I had better luck with my Tomcat and Bobcat. I really liked the tip up barrel and I never had any issues with the Tomcats I had as far as jamming. They always went bang. Liked the trigger and low recoil and pretty good accuracy. Do you have any idea why they stopped making the Tomcat in titanium?
Cocojo that's the first I have ever heard of this. Interesting theory. As far as ammo what do you use? Ever use Fiocchi or S&B? I wish I had better luck with my Tomcat and Bobcat. I really liked the tip up barrel and I never had any issues with the Tomcats I had as far as jamming. They always went bang. Liked the trigger and low recoil and pretty good accuracy. Do you have any idea why they stopped making the Tomcat in titanium?