Riding the wave from its .380 ACP reboot, Beretta USA followed up with the reinvention of its popular 3032 Tomcat, now named the 30x Tomcat. This tip-up barrel semi-automatic pistol is destined for deep concealment. It is also a boon for those who suffer from dexterity issues. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the company’s range day in early 2024, and after putting a few rounds through the Tomcat, I knew I needed to get some more time with it.
Beretta released three inaugural versions of this pistol, each with a catchy name nodding to the spirit of preparedness. I left my request open to the first-available option and received the “Do It Yourself” variant. No, it’s not a pistol kit requiring assembly; rather, the name is a nod to concealed-carry practitioners being their own first responders. This edition features a slightly longer threaded barrel and a set of suppressor-height sights. At 16.5 ounces, it has a fair bit of heft, yet is still light enough to be considered a pocket pistol.
The action of the Tomcat family is unusual in the concealed-carry market. Depressing the button found directly below the slide tips up the barrel from the frame. The user can now place a round directly into the chamber before inserting the eight-round detachable box magazine. Just like any other semi-auto, when the gun is fired, the slide will blow back, ejecting the spent case and stripping a fresh round from the magazine upon its return. The tip-up barrel circumvents the need to rack the slide to chamber a round or to unload the pistol, but the magazine still allows a decent number of rounds to ride in the gun.
The rest of the controls are straightforward, albeit improved. The 30x features Beretta’s new Trident Trigger System, which boasts a pull-weight reduction of around a third of its predecessor’s. It has a double-action/single-action trigger, but the reduced pull weight carries over to both modes. I tested this claim on a Lyman digital trigger gauge and can corroborate it. After breaking in the gun, the trigger was still a touch heavy compared to some other concealed-carry pistols, but it was undoubtedly smooth and featured a prominent wall, a clean break and the complete absence of any overtravel.
The Tomcat’s magazine release is reversible for those who need or want it on the other side. Southpaws will have to make their peace with the safety being on the left side, however, as there is no provision to change it nor any means to flick it off from the other side of the frame. I would carry this in double action with the safety disengaged anyway—a century of revolvers being carried in this state must count for something.
Just as the 80x retained its parent chambering, the 30x does the same, except this time in the pint-sized .32 ACP cartridge. Although ammo choices for this round aren’t as vast as they are for .380 ACP, there are plenty of worthy self-defense and practice options on the market. Hornady makes a 60-grain XTP round that is mild to shoot and designed to expand at the slower velocities inherent to this cartridge. Speer makes a load in this weight featuring its bonded Gold Dot bullet that has proven itself in countless self-defense incidents. For practice, Remington offers a 71-grain full-metal jacket option from its affordable UMC line, so there’s no excuse not to get to the range at regular intervals to ensure proficiency should you ever need to defend yourself.
I began my range day by group-testing each round over a chronograph to build a realistic accuracy expectation. As compact pistols aren’t built to win bullseye competitions, I was pleasantly surprised by what the gun could produce. I enjoyed uninterrupted feeding, firing and ejection, but there is no denying that the gun is picky when it comes to accuracy. All would serve just fine in a defensive or training scenario, but I feel it’s important to point out that if you find your 30x shooting lackluster groups, try some other brands before calling customer service.
I also practiced drawing from a Tuff Products pocket holster and found the gun’s design met its “snag-free” claim without fuss. I also used this opportunity to run the pistol in double-action, which was indeed smooth. Follow-up shots were swift, particularly when you factor in the minimal recoil associated with this chambering and the fact that your second shot comes from the single-action state. Overall, I was pleased with its performance.
Wrapping things up, I feel that Beretta did an excellent job of updating this classic without a complete departure from the features that made it so popular in the first place. Also, kudos for breathing life back into the .32 ACP segment of the firearms world. I feel it still has a place as a backup cartridge and does an excellent job of bridging the gap between rimfire and centerfire. This is especially useful when training new shooters. Lastly, adding more tip-up firearms to the display case is always desirable, as those who can’t rack a slide typically can’t squeeze a 12-pound trigger (so often found on the revolver options), either.
