Beretta 3032 Tomcat

The Beretta 3032 Tomcat and Beretta 3032 Tomcat Inox are semi-automatic pocket pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta. They are chambered in .32 ACP (a.k.a. 7.65 mm Browning) and are small pistols, designed for concealed-carry and use as backup weapons. The Beretta 3032 Tomcat builds on a long line of small and compact pocket pistols for self defense manufactured by Beretta.[2] The allure and popularity is commonly attributed to the loading procedure, which does not require the user to "rack" the slide to chamber a round, but rather place a round in the tip-up barrel before the magazine is inserted. This is especially popular for those with weaker or smaller hands.

Beretta 3032 Tomcat
"Inox" variant shown with banana for scale.
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originItaly
Production history
DesignerBeretta
ManufacturerBeretta
Produced1996–present[1]
Specifications
Mass410 g (14 oz)
Length125 mm (4.9 in)
Barrel length61 mm (2.4 in)
Cartridge.32 ACP
Feed system7 round detachable box magazine

A deactivated Tomcat was used by actor Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond film Die Another Day.[3]

Specifications

The Beretta 3032 Tomcat is a simple blowback pistol with a single- and double-action trigger mechanism.[4] It also features a tip-up barrel.[4] It is fitted with a frame-mounted thumb safety. This safety acts as a slide stop when engaged. The frame is made of aluminium alloy while the slide and barrel are carbon steel in the standard version and stainless steel in the "Inox" variant.

A document included with all Model 3032 Tomcat pistols warns that the owner should never use ammunition that exceeds 130 ft⋅lbf (176 J) of muzzle energy. Notably, even normal factory .32 ACP cartridges have become significantly more powerful in recent decades, and can well exceed the 130 ft-lb limit of the pistol's initial design, one that Beretta continues to use to this day. Representatives of Beretta USA have often recommended that owners purchase their .32 ACP ammunition online, so that the muzzle energy is properly verified in specification charts. Use of any ammunition that exceeds this rating may cause irreparable or prohibitively expensive damage to the firearm, most commonly manifesting as a crack on the frame. However, contrary to common belief, this is not considered a defect in factory materials, but a problem caused by ammunition and the consumer's neglect of the factory parameters.[5]

Notably, the design omits an extractor mechanism, thus, the firearm relies solely on the blowback energy of the cartridge to extract and eject spent casings.

Beretta recommends caution when removing grip panels, as the safety mechanism is retained underneath with spring tension. Parts can be lost during improper removal, making the firearm inoperable until repaired. The barrel should also not be completely removed from the assembly, which may cause frame damage.

Beretta 3032 Tomcat with magazine.
Beretta 3032 Tomcat tip-up barrel.

Variants

The model 3032 Tomcat is available in an "Inox" variant, with stainless steel barrel and slide and the frame anodized for a similar aesthetic.[6] For a short time, a titanium-framed model was also available.[4] Previously, Beretta offered a variant of the Tomcat possessing tritium night sights referred to as the "Alley Cat," which was discontinued in the late 2000s.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Model 3032 Tomcat Historical Information". Beretta USA. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. 3032 Tomcat Archived October 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine at Beretta International
  3. "James Bond gun collection stolen in London raid". The Guardian. 27 March 2020.
  4. Ian Hogg (2004). Pistols of the World. Krause. p. 40. ISBN 0873494601.
  5. "Model 3032 Tomcat ammunition" at Beretta USA". Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  6. Massad Ayoob (2005). Gun Digest Book Of Beretta Pistols. p. 161. ISBN 0873499980.
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