Description

The Beretta 3032 Tomcat is a simple blowback pistol with a single- and double-action trigger mechanism.^[3] It also features a tip-up barrel.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.