Beretta Tomcat 3032 Cracked Frame

[clang]

So, a couple a months ago I pull out my Beretta Tomcat Alleycat to give it a lube and cleaning. I haven't shot it in a while because I don't reload .32 ACP and ammo is expensive. To tell the truth, I haven't shot it much at all since I bought it years ago, and when I did, it was with Walley World white box ammo.

Well, while I have the gun out, I decide to do a search on the internet about Tomcats and it led me to a thread here, which led me to one on berettaforum.net that discusses cracked frames and is complete with pictures. Guess what - my gun's frame was cracked in exactly the same place as everyone elses. I guess that explains the FTFs I was having on my last outing...

The recommendation on the forum was to call Beretta Customer Service, so I give them a call. I finally reach someone and his responce was - you got to send the gun in to Beretta. I mention that this appears to be a common problem and the Customer Service guy is non-committal, but repeats - just send the gun in. Will Beretta send me a shipper? - no they do not provide that service.

So, it's off to FedEx where it costs me almost $50 to send the gun via overnight delivery. I get a letter several weeks later from Beretta letting me know they received my gun along with info about Beretta's warrenty being one year and you will be charged a $70 evaluation fee plus additional charges for repairs if your gun is out of warrenty. Yes - it would have been nice if the Customer Service guy mentioned some of this when I was on the phone with him....

I get a call last week from Beretta and the person tells me my gun is no longer serviceable because of the cracked frame and it has also been discontinued, so no replacement parts are avaialble. But they would be able to send me an INOX Tomcat for $178. I ask a few questions:

Is there, or will there be a recall on the blued discontinued on the Tomcats do to the problem with cracked frames?

No.

Why did Beretta discontinue the model then?

I don't know.

The INOX Tomcat is bigger and heavier than the blued one. It's really a little too big for a pocket gun. Besides, I no longer have confidence in this model, can I get a discount on another gun instead?

No. This offer is only being extended on the INOX Tomcat. Your gun is out of warrenty, but Beretta is still extending this offer to you.

I told the Customer Service Rep that I would have to think about what I will do. She also said I can get my gun back if I sign some kind of document that says I agree the gun is no longer safe to shoot. Still haven't called them back yet, as I am not sure I want to spend another $180 on a gun that is going to remind me of this whole experience. I guess I can always buy it and turn around and sell it to recoup some of my losses....

If you happen to have a blued Tomcat, I have the following suggestions:

Do not count on this gun in a life or death situation. The frames are prone to cracking, rendering the gun unserviceable, even using standard pressure ball ammo.

Pull off the slide and look at the top of the frame. The crack appears on the right side, through to a small hole in the frame. There is a pic or two at berettaforum.net.

If you do have a cracked frame, Call Beretta and insist they send you a shipper - offer to pay for it. It's got to be much less expensive than FedEx. Beretta does not care how much it costs you to send a gun to them.

If your gun is less than 1 year old they will probably send you an INOX Tomcat for free. If your gun is more than 1 year old or you bought it used you may get the same offer I did. If you don't want to spend $180 plus shipping costs to Beretta, take your gun to a gun buy back program and get what you can for it.


If anyone knows how to get Beretta to replace an older gun for free - please share it with the rest of us. I've always been a fan of Beretta (especially their shotguns), but my experience with this Tomcat has really put a damper on my enthusiasm. It's going to be a long time before I even think about buying another Beretta.

Thanks,

clang

 

[searcher451]

I ran into a similar problem with the Tomcat and Beretta's customer service department. It took days to get through to a real person, weeks to get them to agree to look at the gun, and more weeks to finally return ... not my old gun, which crapped out after 66 rounds, but a brand new one. I also had to pay the shipping costs, never had a decent conversation with anyone at Beretta, in person or via email, that provided any sense of confidence, never had the sense that I was in good hands.

Sure, I was happy to get a new gun. But I'd expect as much from a product at WallyWorld, and without all the wasted time and hassle. No more Beretta for me ... or at least no more Tomcats and/or Bobcats.

 

[hardluk1]

I have a tomcat that is a early model i think ,around 15 years old. I have shot hundreds and hundreds of rounds in it.Probably closer to 800 rounds threw it in those years. No +p rounds but then again i did call to see whats up and got some dinky doo that told me corbons are +p and they are NOT. so !!! I guess i will just keep shooting it as a ccw gun like i have and see if it ever dies. Was told that most euro ammo is a higher pressure ammo as the 32 acp is concederd a basic load there, not a mouse load like here.

 

[paradox998]

I had two Tomcats crack. Both after 60 rounds, WWB ammo. PITA dealing with Beretta. Finally got them to send me a 92fs. Would never buy another Beretta. They have known these guns had problems for years and keep selling them. Good luck dealing with them.

 

[Quiet]

Reason I stayed away from the Beretta Model 3032 was because it had a 5000 round life span.

IMO, the Kel-Tec P-32 is more durable.

 

[denfoote]

What is with the Eties??

The 7.65mm Browning round has been a European standard cartridge forever!!
Everybody and his French poodle has made guns chambered for this round at one time or another since it came out in 1899!!
Fer God's sake, even the Poles got it right!!

You would think the Italians would be able to engineer the metallurgy for a low power round that has been in existence for 110 years without having to resort to modern stainless steel!!

Damn, I realize now how correct I was to trade off that 92FS for a Browning High Power!!

 

[kanook]

so Beretta has a gun that the frame cracks and they want to charge you to exchange it because it is out of warranty and you had no idea about this. Ruger has a recall for a problem that might not even happen and everybody knows about it and they fix or relace the gun for free.

 

[clang]

That's the reason for this post - to get the word out.

It's good to know how different companies stand behind their products.

 

[surfinUSA]

I'm a big fan of the Beretta 92 and 84/85 series guns and I really like their o/u shotguns (just wish I could afford those). However, there customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

People here talk **** about Glock and Smith and Wesson and although I rarely needed customer service on one of their guns they treated me great.

My G19 was an E series I sent a letter to see if it was part of the unspoken recall and glock sent me a new frame. Keep in mind I just made a general inquiry, I have never had any problem with the gun and probably never would have.

I've sent a couple of S&W revolvers in that were purchased before their lifetime warranty was started and without fail they end up replacing some part that must have been out of spec at no charge me and the guns have come back good as new. You should have seen the M27 3.5 inch I sent in to be refinshed. I doubt that the gun looked or worked that good the day it originally came from the factory (thats one I should havenever sold).

But the bottom line cold hard facts are, that your gun was broke and it was out of warranty and basically the end of Beretta's obligation to you. It would have been nice if customer service was more forth coming with that information before encouraging you to incur the expense of sending the gun back to them.

 

[Confederate]

When I saw your post, I was going to add that replacing your present Tomcat would only mean that it would crack again. It's inexcusable that Beretta would not stand behind its product. It didn't stand behind the 92 when the slide was sailing off the frame and hitting people in the face and they aren't standing behind the Tomcat. You're paying about cost for the new INOX Tomcat, and why should you have to do that when it's Beretta's fault?

I also don't like Beretta because they give you only one magazine and then a crummy lock. I'd rather have the extra mag. They can keep the lock.

I love my Berettas, but will never buy another as I don't care much for the company's attitude. I'd buy a gun that had a good reputation and came with two magazines. Under the circumstances, you really have no choice but to go with the INOX. It's your best bet unless you want to file a class action lawsuit (which is an option).

 

[Runningman]

I had two bad experience with Beretta two for two. I'm done with them. One was a Tomcat with a cracked frame lasted about 50 rounds.

Then there was a Beretta Cougar in 40 S&W I bought new. It was the most inaccurate pistol I've ever owned.

I for one can see why Beretta does not stand behind their products.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I for one can see why Beretta does not stand behind their products

They don't care about you they got the US Goverment bent over and getting rich screwing US with their military junk.

 

[Crawford]

Thought I would resurrect this thread since I am going through the same experience.

I acquired a 3032 from the original owner a few weeks ago. I don’t know the year of manufacture but the serial number is DAA243xxx. I think the original owner bought it for CCW back in 2003 or so. I did a little research and found the cracked frame problem. On checking my newly acquired pistol, it has a cracked frame. But, since I already fired 30 or 40 rounds through it before finding the crack, it’s my problem to deal with, not his. So, I sent it back to Beretta last week. I just got their form letter stating that I may be charged $70 for inspection, and am now waiting the 2 to 3 weeks for further response from them.

From clang’s post that started this thread, Beretta told him: “…. I can get my gun back if I sign some kind of document that says I agree the gun is no longer safe to shoot.” I am curious what would happen if you refuse to sign such a document. I don't know how they can legally keep you pistol and not return it. However, if they return it and you possibly sell it to someone else who then gets injured firing it… While you might be held partially responsible, I am sure no jury in the US would let them off easily. This looks to me like they have themselves a legal conundrum. I wonder how they plan on handling it.

I am very curious why there has not been a product liability law suit filed against them or some enterprising attorny hasn't started a class action suit (at least I haven't yet found one on the internet).

 

[Lonestar49]

...

That's easy.. They simply keep the gun (without signed document) and let owner hire a lawyer and BUSA stands firm, for a long, judicial time, and cost, for the owner, paying for his lawyer, and the ever-ongoing, lawsuit, month, after month, after month, until the owner see's the light..

5 months down the judicial road, lawyer fee's now reaching 3k, and the gun is, was, only worth 400 bucks, on a good day..

Mathematics don't lie and Big_Beretta guns/lawyers, know this..

OMMV,


Ls

 

[mec]

when the tomcat first came out, some guy sent his in for repairs several times. he said that a beretta employee told him that the gun was made to carry but not to shoot very much and the "platform' is designed for 800 rounds. This caused a lot of stir on the net and a lot of back-pedaling and denial by beretta.

 

[skoro]

After reading this thread I am SO glad I didn't purchase that Beretta PX4 last year...

 

[Rex B]

I offered my wife (almost) any pistol in my safe, she had to have a Tomcat.
I sure hope it doesn't crack.

Has anyone tried to TIG weld the crack?
I know a very good welder who's a wizard with that TIG machine

 

[Cav]

Reply from BUSA

This from the horse's mouth:

"Although the cracks pose no safety risk to the user, it is standard procedure within the firearm industry to consider an obviously cracked frame as having reached or being near the end of its service life. For this reason, if a frame shows cracks visible to the unaided eye, we recommend replacement of the frame. Due to the amount of work involved in removing all parts from the damaged pistol and putting them on a new frame, it is more cost effective to simply replace the pistol."

If there is no safety risk, why sign a release?:banghead:

 

[joe_security]

Based on this, I would not buy any Beretta products. Troops over seas have had issues with the 9mm pistols. The one exception might be the model 84 .380, people seem to like these. A family member purchased a "Tri tone" 3032 tomcat. It appears to be a satin nickel(silver colored) frame, a blue slide and a stainless barrel with the word "stainless " stamped into the top of said barrel. Has anyone else seen one of these, or did the seller switch the slides from a blue pistol ?

 

[BushyGuy]

i had one i got rid of mine, i traded it in for a Remington 870 express 12 gauge.

After learning the frame cracking problem i didnt hesitate to get rid of it i only put about 100 rounds thru mine and yes the bullets are expensive especially the silvertips.

 

[wamj2008]

The only Beretta I own is a Model 1935 in 7.65. That thing is a tank. They don't make em like they used to.

 

[Ed Harris]

Agree on the M1935 Beretta being built like a tank.

So are my M1903 Colt Pocket and CZ27.

 

[w_houle]

Does this affect the Taurus version, too?

 

[MICHAEL T]

My Dealer has a new blue in his case. Came in last week. If their disconnected Where did it come from he gets the a Blue one every few months.

 

[Cav]

Still in catalog

They are still in the Beretta catalog.

I would like to know the measurements on the new versions. Are they the same as the Inox? I would happily mic mine. Does anyone out there have a new edition or Inox to measure?