Beretta Tomcat

[GeorgeMG]

I picked up a Tomcat 32 acp a while ago. But haven't been able to find any ammo locally. Yesterday I found some hornady critical defense, so I bought 2 boxes. It is rated at 133 ft/lbs. I know the tomcat's are only supposed to go to 130 ft/lbs. Is the extra 3 ft/lbs of energy enough to crack the frame?

[Librarian]

I picked up a Tomcat 32 acp a while ago. But haven't been able to find any ammo locally. Yesterday I found some hornady critical defense, so I bought 2 boxes. It is rated at 133 ft/lbs. I know the tomcat's are only supposed to go to 130 ft/lbs. Is the extra 3 ft/lbs of energy enough to crack the frame?

Might be.

Another site posted this from Beretta

[SkyHawk]

If you have a thick slide Tomcat I would not worry about shooting 133ft lbs occasionally to validate the gun and defense ammo combo, and certainly not if SHTF.

You want to avoid Herters/S&B. For range use try and find Winchester, PPU or PMC. Honestly it is nice that you found Hornady defensive ammo at only 133ft lbs. Corbon runs 147ft lbs.

I hand load for my Tomcat if I can't find PPU. For defense I would not hesitate to run that Hornady.

[GeorgeMG]

If you have a thick slide Tomcat I would not worry about shooting 133ft lbs occasionally to validate the gun and defense ammo combo, and certainly not if SHTF.

You want to avoid Herters/S&B. Try and find PPU. Honestly it is nice that you found Hornady defensive ammo at only 133ft lbs. Corbon runs 147ft lbs.

I hand load for my Tomcat if I can't find PPU. For defense I would not hesitate to run that Hornady.

Yah, it's the new thick slide INOX. Thanks for the info, it was exactly the insight I was looking for. Very much appreciated!

[BucDan]

An interesting note, 7075 T6 1911 frames handle higher power, so why would 130ft/lb cracked this? Inadequate recoil spring?

[Che762x39]

I picked up a Tomcat 32 acp a while ago. But haven't been able to find any ammo locally. Yesterday I found some hornady critical defense, so I bought 2 boxes. It is rated at 133 ft/lbs. I know the tomcat's are only supposed to go to 130 ft/lbs. Is the extra 3 ft/lbs of energy enough to crack the frame?

How much shooting do you plan on doing?

I have a Seecamp 32 ACP and I only shoot it once or twice a year. So 10 or 20 rounds annually.

[SkyHawk]

An interesting note, 7075 T6 1911 frames handle higher power, so why would 130ft/lb cracked this? Inadequate recoil spring?

1911 is locked breech and these are straight blowback. These Tomcats also have a very short stroke. Also the recoil springs (there are two) are under each grip panel and the recoil is transferred to them via levers which transfers the direction of the slide force from horizontal to near vertical. They are also small springs

[Dan_Eastvale]

Amazing Beretta didn’t cover those cracks under warranty.
They claimed they did not compromise the gun

[TrailerparkTrash]

I’ve been shooting my Inox Tomcat for years with FMJs. Winchester and federal is all I’ve used in it. I had some old Hydrashocks for it too, but shot them all up as I think FMJ is a “better” performer as an “onion field insurance” piece.

If it cracks it cracks. No big whoop. It was fun while it lasted and never really a serious “defense gun” in my opinion. In fact, I swapped it out years ago in the safe for a .380 Colt Mustang Pocketlite “house gun.” It’s what’s in my pocket this very second.

The Tomcat is really an overweight chunk of metal in the pocket, with an inferior round. Although I’m sure it’s 70grain FMJ is better in the face than OC spray.

[Che762x39]

In 32 ACP I go with Winchester Silvertips (summer) or Winchester FMJ (winter).

[Jimi Jah]

I used mine to clear away people standing behind me. It would spit cases straight back into their face.

[Thirdeye]

Please update when you've had a chance to shoot it. I've shot about 200 rounds through mine and can count on 1 hand the number of magazines that didn't have a malfunction.
Mostly PMC 60 grain JHP, since that's all I could find in 32 acp.

[SkyHawk]

Please update when you've had a chance to shoot it. I've shot about 200 rounds through mine and can count on 1 hand the number of magazines that didn't have a malfunction.
Mostly PMC 60 grain JHP, since that's all I could find in 32 acp.

What type of malfunction was most common?

[Thirdeye]

What type of malfunction was most common?

Mixture of FTF and FTE. Usually get 1 or 2 per magazine.
Thinking it doesn't like the JHP, but I can't get my hands on any FMJ in the recommended sub 130 lb muzzle energy. I did run some S&B 73 grain FMJ, but was just as unreliable. 176 lb ft muzzle energy, so might have been too much for it to handle to cycle reliably? No cracks or anything

[sigstroker]

An interesting note, 7075 T6 1911 frames handle higher power, so why would 130ft/lb cracked this? Inadequate recoil spring?

1911's are locked breech, not blowback.