Need Advice on Beretta Tomcat

[mefrank]

My wife owns a Beretta 3032 Tomcat stainless which she loves. The problem is she can't rack the slide. It is very hard for me and I am pretty strong. I keep it clean and lubricated. Does anyone have this particular problem? I was thinking maybe the wrong spring was installed at the factory. Any advice to fix this problem would be appreciated

[Librarian]

It's a tip-up.

You mostly don't need to rack the slide.

The 3032 features a tip-up barrel design typical of the classic Beretta small-frame pistols. Thanks to this design, you never need to rack the slide and you can load that first round directly into the chamber.

http://www.beretta.com/en-us/3032-tomcat/

[mefrank]

Yes I really like the tip up barrel and you are right you hardly ever need to rack the slide. To get a conceal weapon permit you need to be able to and it would be nice to just be able to rack the slide. The blowback design of the gun is not it. I have a Bersa 380 with the blowback design and it racks smooth as silk no effort at all. There has to be some defect

[Librarian]

Try some lubricant on the slide rails and work it for a while; mine loosened up some.

And, your CCW issuing agency ought to know better than to require racking the slide on such a gun - but that would require they actually knew something about guns, not always the case.

[c4jesus]

Note to the issuing agency that the design of the Tomcat is specifically intended to prevent any need to ever do so. It even says so in their literature. http://www.beretta.com/en-us/3032-tomcat/ Tip Up Barrel paragraph.

[JDay]

Try some lubricant on the slide rails and work it for a while; mine loosened up some.

And, your CCW issuing agency ought to know better than to require racking the slide on such a gun - but that would require they actually knew something about guns, not always the case.

More likely it's the class instructor.

[mefrank]

That is true about not racking the Tomcat. This instructor is a great instructor he just wants you to know and be familiar and at ease with the weapon. I will try the lubricant and multiple racking

[Can'thavenuthingood]

Wife has one also.
If you cock the hammer then rack, its much easier.

Vick

[BrokerB]

It was made as a tip up for the women folk.

Why in the hell would an instructor demand that? Is a person with a disability not allowed to protect themselves?

[Jimi Jah]

What do they do with disabled CCW applicants? Automatically reject them if they can't pull a slide on a pop up barrel?

My wife has the Tomcat just because of that feature. She was going to buy a nice Seecamp used, but that stiff bugger she could not pull.

In the required 'safe handeling' demonstration they only required her to pop the barrel and load a snap cap. Why would that be any different for a CCW application?

[Wordupmybrotha]

Wife has one also.
If you cock the hammer then rack, its much easier.

Vick

^this

[Can'thavenuthingood]

Is there a statewide standard for qualifying for CCW shooting or is it a county determination?

Just asked the wife and she said all she had to do was load it and shoot.
No requirement to rack the slide in Kings county.

The Tomcat being a tip up she loaded a cartridge, snapped the barrel closed, inserted mag, cocked the hammer and fired.
Instructor watched all this and didn't say anything about rack slide first.

Vick

[Rosereader]

Technique also helps. If she is having difficulty make sure she uses both arms to their full potential but pushing forward on the frame with her dominant hand whilst racking it with her off hand. Also, using your whole hand to grip the slide rather than just a couple of fingers makes a big difference. I can't say whether she is or not though, as I simply lack the information.

As others have said though, cocking the hammer first makes a big difference (one less spring you have to fight). You can try wearing the spring out to make it easier, but that's a pain.

Still odd that she isn't permitted to use the Tomcats selling point.

[mefrank]

I want to say Thank You to all the kind people that responded with tips. i pulled the hammer back, handed it to my wife and said see if you can rack it. She did with no problem. What an easy fix, you would never know by my question I have owned guns for 60 years