HISTORY
The Tomcat is related to Beretta’s M9 (or Beretta 92), which followed the Colt 1911 as the U.S. Army’s handgun of choice for over three decades beginning in the 1980s. With its exposed barrel, hammer, and safety positions, the Tomcat clearly mimics the M9, also a single/double-action semi-automatic with an exposed hammer. Beretta knows what works and carries its successes into each design.
Related: Beretta’s Baby Pistols – 21A Bobcat, 950, & 3032 Tomcat
MY IMPRESSIONS
My sample for testing is a brand-new handgun. Lifting it from the box, I notice its solid feel and obvious lack of polymer construction. This little pistol weighs less than a pound yet is made of steel and aluminum. The new hardwood grips are checkered and are slotted to match my index finger and thumb as I grip it. This is a departure from the old Tomcat with its hard plastic flat grip panels.
I like the new version immediately. The Covert model’s dark brown wood grips are quite attractive and feel warm in my hand. The receiver grip forward and rear surfaces are deeply grooved to further aid holding the gun. Overall, the feel of the Covert pistol is a bit fatter in my hand. This is a good thing. Even the small .32 ACP generates kick and should be held firmly.
Other features of the Tomcat make it a safer gun to shoot and handle. I like the exposed hammer. Like a double or single-action revolver, it allows me to cock or lower the hammer at will, giving me the final fire control. Notice the safety lever on the left rear side. It will lock the trigger, slide, and hammer movements with one click.
Carrying this little gun in a pocket or purse is much safer with this catch engaged. Like a double-action revolver, the heavy pull of the Tomcat’s trigger makes it less likely to discharge accidentally.
Tip-Up Design
The most distinctive feature of any Beretta 'Cat pistol is its tip-up barrel design. Originally intended to avoid pulling the stiff slide back, it is also an important safety feature. The barrel can be released and tipped up at any time to inspect the chamber and verify if it contains a loaded round.
The Tomcat (and Bobcat) pistol has an important feature that must not be overlooked. It does not have an ejector. Unlike the Beretta 92 9mm pistol, there is no provision to remove a loaded round or empty brass case from the breach by pulling the slide back. It must be pulled out manually. This design requires the use of high-velocity ammunition to blow the empty case from the chamber at discharge.
Underpowered ammo will likely not eject and cannot be ejected by pulling the slide back as in full-size handguns. Because I carry my Tomcat primarily for the unlikely need for self-defense, I always load it with high-velocity, high-quality cartridges. Keep this in mind before purchasing a Beretta ’Cat.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 14.5 ounces
- Overall length: 5.42 inches
- Height: 3.7 inches
- Width: 1.25 inches
- Barrel: 2.9 inches, forged steel muzzle, threaded 1/2X28 TPI with protective cap
- Magazine: Steel, seven-round capacity
- Action: Single/double action
- Trigger: Single action 5.5 pounds, double action 9.5 pounds
- Materials: Forged aluminum frame, steel slide
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MSRP: $649
TO THE RANGE
It is summertime at Area 51 in Arizona, and I have arrived early to stay cool. The aliens have left plenty of targets of opportunity, including many 2-liter root beer bottles. Today I am shooting PMC Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) 71-grain ammo supplied to me with the gun.
Loading the gun is done by first tipping the barrel forward, loading a round into the chamber, then loading the magazine into the grip. Snap the barrel down, and the gun is ready to fire. Notice that the magazine is steel with precision-formed feed lips, steel follower, and strong magazine spring. It is well-made. Not having fired this gun prior to today, this will be a good test of reliability.
My first target is a water-filled jug that when hit, leaks water slowly. Next, I zero the gun on the steel plate and find the tiny sights difficult to see. However, the Tomcat points naturally and it keeps most of the hits centered nicely. Time to shoot some 2-liter root beer. I am pleasantly surprised to see the first bottle go “spurter” as the tiny 71 FMJ slug goes through both sides. Root beer nearly wets me from 10 yards away. This is fun!
Two more jugs go down, and it is time to check the pistol. Tipping the barrel up reveals one loaded round in the chamber and dropping the magazine shows one left there. This is a safe pistol that is easily checked.
Only one failure to feed was encountered today prior to testing the suppressor. This is not unusual for a new gun with less than 50 rounds fired.
QUIET TIME
Who would think of suppressing the Tomcat? Beretta knows that there are over 1.5 million registered suppressors in the United States and that a fast majority of states allow them. So why not add a threaded muzzle to the old Tomcat to protect the user’s hearing? Good idea, Beretta!
Although the pistol is designed for covert carry, attaching a suppressor for practice sessions allows more practice in areas where noise is a problem. With a suppressor, hearing protection can be reduced from muffs to just a set of foam ear plugs. Did you know that adding a suppressor to any semi-automatic handgun will improve its functioning by increasing back pressure? It is true in my experience.
It is apparent that the 3-inch barrel is fairly accurate at 10 yards but makes the gun’s report very loud. Luckily, I have my SilencerCo Hybrid suppressor. The Hybrid is 8 inches long and weighs about a pound. It is not intended for the tiny Tomcat, but I want to try it anyway.
With the Hybrid attached to the muzzle, the gun looks ungainly and is muzzle-heavy. I also quickly notice that I cannot see my sights, as they are blocked by the suppressor. Shooting instinctively, I can hit the steel gong repeatedly and take out the last root beer jug at over 10 feet away. Dumping another magazine shows that the suppressed pistol is very reliable and spits out those 71-grain slugs easily. This is quite a nice surprise!
PROS & CONS
