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 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. 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. A deactivated Tomcat was used by actorPierce Brosnan in the James Bond filmDie Another Day.
Specifications
The Beretta 3032 Tomcat is a simple blowback pistol with a single- and double-actiontrigger mechanism. It also features a tip-up barrel. 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 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 muzzleenergy 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. The significant increase in the power of.32 ACP ammunition is often attributed to consumers demanding more and more powerful sub-caliber cartridges. This, in turn, results in ammunition that is believed to produce greater "stopping power" against assailants. 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.
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. For a short time, a titanium-framed model was also available. Previously, Beretta offered a variant of the Tomcat possessing tritiumnight sights referred to as the "Alley Cat," which was discontinued in the late 2000s.
