.32 ACP Tomcat -- trustworthy gun?

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ArmedBear

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I used the Search function and what I found made me reluctant to buy a pistol that is otherwise a neat package.

Experiences?

Would you trust this gun for self-defense?

Is it very sensitive to proper grip? It seems it might be hard to hang onto it perfectly, so if it jams when not held firm, that would be a reason for not buying it.

Thanks for any info. (Still trying to figure out what to do with a gift card I got for Christmas.)
 
I've got one in stainless and have put a couple hundred rounds through it with no FTF or FTE no real problems of any kind. I keep it clean and lightly oiled (as with most guns) and carry it daily in a belt slide holster under my shirt. I would not hesitate in buying another one and have never had any problems holding or firing it comfortably, plus the tip up barrel is a cool feature and an easy safe way to check if theres a round in the chamber or not.
 
Beretta still lists it, though not the 2-tone version.

I'm not sure about .32ACP, either. It's got to beat a Derringer, though, and it's the same size with 8 rounds. That said, I probably have more use for an Airweight that I can also open-carry with snake loads.
 
See how it fits your hand, I could never get a comfortable grip on that tiny-chunky gun.

My Ket-Tec P32 holds and points much more naturally, unfortunately they aren't available in CA.
 
I have one that I carry either in a pocket holster (prints like a wallet) or in Thunderwear. I typically carry only as a backup to my .45 or 10mm.
Other than the occasional bite from the slide if your hand is too high, it is a pleasure to shoot.
Honestly, I would ideally like a .45 in the size of the tomcat with the capacity of my 10mm. But.......
 
I've not seen anything negative about the reliability of the Tomcat's. With all the nice compact 9mm's out there .32 ACP is really marginal as a defensive load IMHO.
 
The basic design does work...I've serviced the 22 and 25's many times...one guys was so old he wore the plastic grips smooth and then so thin they cracked. After cleaning out enough gunk and lint to fill an ashtray running mineral spirits through it touching it up installing new wood grips and touching up the finish it looks like a new gun nearly. That customer still carrys and shoots it. So I know it does work for some people...that said I dislike the recoil spring design and just find it hard to trust. I've shot the .22 and was un-impressed .25 and .32 are pretty crappy rounds IMHO -a .22 mag mini-revolver is probably about as good a pocket rocket. The Keltec .380 while ugly seems to be the pocket-rocket of choice these days. The beretta is too thick for what it really is comparatively.

If you want a truly well made pocket gun in a decent chambering check out the KHAR mk9 or (better yet for weight) PM9. Not cheap but well made and in 9mm Possibly a bit large to call a true pocket gun but a very good sub-compact. If you wann go cheap keltec has a singlestack 9mm out now about that size but nobody has em in stock right now. Like the Kahr it also will have a tilt locking design vs. blowback. Which I like...the kahr is twice the gun but it's also twice the price (I'm holding a MK9 right now I'm thinking about buying off a bud)
 
I've got two of 'em. The Inox is quite accurate, noticeably a tad better in that department that the blued version we own. I've found that these pistols are a bit finicky when dirty -- after shooting only a few magazines through 'em, operation becomes a bit ... shall we say, balky. You've gotta keep these pistols squeaky clean. My wife and I both like these (they're hers, really). Don't take the grips off without reading the manual first (this pesky little spring and pin that can pop out are hard to find in a dim garage).

The tip-up barrel is great for someone who can't (or doesn't like to) manage racking a somewhat stiff slide.

My opinion, the Tomcat is well made and more than suitable for its intended purpose with the caveat that it's not designed for lengthy range sessions and needs loving care. I trust mine (ours).
 
I want to second what "OLD DOG" said. The other thing with mine is that I had to find some ammo it liked and then it been fine.
 
Neat gun. I've owned a couple of Tomcats and both were reliable. But my Colt Mustang is about the same size, and 380.
 
My Ex had one as a carry piece and I shot it quite a bit testing ammo and my own handloads...................my conclusions are:

1. It is finicky about ammo - it likes hotter loads in order to feed properly. Factory Gold Dots and Win Silvertips work best of the factory ammo I tried.
2. The grips are crap. They vibrate loose everytime you shoot it and they will eventually break into pieces.
3. The flip up barrel is a very nifty design and great for those who have trouble pulling the slide or just like to carry a round in the chamber without having to be "locked & cocked".
4. It is reasonably accurate for it's diminuative size.
5. I have big hands and it would beat them up BAD after 3 or 4 clips worth of firing at the range.
6. Sections of the frame aren't up to a lot of firing with the hotter loads it prefers to shoot - I had about a 1/4" long beam section on the right side of the frame sliding area break off after a couple years of use. Fortunately the Ex got custody of that issue. :what: :evil:

Overall, I still liked the little thing, but I sure wouldn't pay the price they ask for it new. If I could pick up a lightly used one for $50 to $75 I might pick it up though
 
Try this one before you purchase anything

Beretta 8000 Cougar 9mm Pistol. I'm not much on a .380 to get someone off of me.

For my carry guns, a full-size GLOCK 21, backed up w/ a ROSSI 352 5-shot .38 SPL., both loaded w/ PPR - Winchester Silvertip - SMJ, comes in the silver box. :fire: Yes they are expensive. :what: No you don't have to shoot them at paper targets TONY :banghead: , save them, you might need them later on.
 
My first Tomcat seemed much more accurate than the second one that I presently own. Both are/were blued, the original model with plain sights. I haven't experienced the grip cracking, but I agree that they're obviously crappy. That said, remember that it was designed as a back-up and an occasional pistol, not something for extended range use.
 
I had a Tomcat for a while, and while it was accurate and fit my hand well, I couldn't justify having a gun that large for a cartridge that's so small. The trigger also bit my finger on a couple of occasions, which I didn't appreciate.

It was reliable, I had one stovepipe the entire time I owned it and no other issues. The flip-up barrel, as noted earlier, is very convenient, and allows unloading without damaging the round in the chamber.

I eventually sold it for what I had into it, and later I picked up a Kel-Tec .380 that I'm much happier with in almost every way. It's a much better pocket gun than the Tomcat, fires a more potent round, it's equally as accurate, it's smaller, and weighs a lot less. It doesn't feel as good in my hand as the Tomcat did, but that's the only tradeoff.

They're OK guns, and if the size of the round and the size of the gun suit you, I'm sure you'll be happy with your decision.
 
I agree, better choices can be made. You can get a 9 almost the same size, I'd rather carry the 9. I do own a seacamp, but it's a bit smaller than the tomcat, plus when I made the purchase 14 years ago, it was without question the best bang for the buck in small pistols. I would probablly get another seacamp in 380 now, if I didn't have the one I have
 
I had one for awhile. It bit my hand too much so I traded it off.

If you get one you should get the Inox version or one of the later models. The earlier models have a notorious weak spot inside the frame in an "H" shaped piece of metal under the slide. There are numerous threads on this subject. A quick inspection with the slide removed will tell you if it's one of the old ones or one with the thicker steel.
 
.32 ACP - not worth it, if it is the only handgun you want to have for self defense. But for collection purpose, even .25 is good.
 
for a recoil sensitive person it is a good gun, small enough to pocket or purse carry comfortably. 8 shots of .32acp isnt the best but like i said, its not intened for those who can handle a more substanial round.
 
I had a Tomcat for a year or so, and sold it to a friend without a CCW license. It was a nice gun, reliable and all, only complaints were (1) Mag release stuck out so far and was so easy, it popped the mag out when I carried it in my back pocket. (2) It was heavier and thicker than I thought it should be. and (3) The blowback action required a pretty hefty spring which made it difficult for my wife to rack the slide on. I now carry a KelTec P32 daily, and love it. No problems what-so-ever. I like it so much, I bought a P11 also and requalified with it last April for my CCW. I carry the P11 while riding in the woods or camping.
 
We just got my mother a brand new Tomcat because her wrists aren't strong enough to cycle the slide on most autos and she's more accurate with it than she is with her Cobra. I think it's a pretty good little blaster, though we've only run about 250 rounds through it so far.
 
I have had one for about a year.I carry in my front jeans pocket in an Uncle Mike's soft holster with the clip removed.I am pleased with it for its intended purpose.Remington,S&B and Fiochi fmj shoot nicely.I prefer fmj due to penetration. Byron
 
My PD disallowed it for OD/BUG use a few years back, since an unacceptably large number of them were experiencing severe reliability problems. I can vouch for it, since I went to OD/BUG training several times with officers who carried it, and I think I saw one gun do one course of fire without issue. Since then Beretta has, supposedly, fixed the problem, but I have no info on that. Tamara likes hers.

"Get a newer one as opposed to an older one" would be my advice.

Mike
 
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