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Cartridge of the Week: The 7.62x25 Tokarev

Talyn

SAINT
Founding Member
The 7.62x25 Tokarev
iu


The 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge (designated as the 7.62 × 25 Tokarev by the C.I.P.) is a Russian rimless bottlenecked pistol cartridge widely used in former Soviet states and in China, among other countries. The cartridge has since been replaced in most capacities by the 9×18mm Makarov in Russian service. The cartridge is in principle an enhanced Russian version of the 7.63×25mm Mauser.

Prior to the First World War, the 7.63×25mm Mauser C96 pistol gained in popularity worldwide. In 1908, the Tsarist army placed the C96 on a list of approved sidearms that officers could purchase at their own expense in lieu of carrying the Nagant M1895 revolver. Between 1914 and 1917, more Mauser pistols and ammunition were obtained as captured arms from German and Turkish forces. The Mauser and its cartridge were used on all fronts of the Russian Civil War and in the 1920s, during a period of relatively close cooperation between Soviet Russia and the Weimar Republic, the Red Army purchased batches of the smaller Bolo version as well as ammunition for use by its officers. Although a copy of the cartridge was being produced at the Podolsky Ammunition Factory, the Soviets eventually purchased a license and manufacturing equipment from DWM in Germany to produce the cartridge.

In 1929, the Soviet Artillery Committee made a proposal to develop a domestic pistol chambered for the Mauser cartridge. After considerable research and development, it was decided that the "Model 1930 7.62 mm pistol cartridge," essentially the Mauser round with minor modifications, was to become the standard caliber for Soviet pistols and submachine guns. Early versions of the Vasily Degtyaryov-designed PPD-40 submachine gun were marked for Mauser cartridge caliber 7.62 mm. Although dimensionally similar to the Mauser cartridge, so much so that both cartridges will chamber, load and fire in any of these weapons, the Soviets increased the power of the Tokarev cartridge powder charge significantly. As such, while the lower-power Mauser rounds can be safely used in any of these weapons, the Tokarev cartridge is not safe for use in weapons which were not designed for the added pressure. The Russians produced a wide array of loadings for this cartridge for use in submachine guns. These include armor-piercing, tracer, and incendiary rounds.

This cartridge has excellent penetration and can easily defeat lighter ballistic vests (NIJ level I and IIA) as well as some kevlar helmets, such as the American PASGT helmet. When fired from a carbine-length barrel, the cartridge may penetrate NIJ level II, but is sometimes stopped by the current standard armor NIJ level IIIA. (Level IIIA is an advanced version of the Level II that can stop faster bullets than Level II, but does not meet the Level III standard. NIJ standards factor in up to 1400 fps of bullet velocity; higher-velocity rounds can eventually penetrate them, but by definition, level III must be able to stop any 7.65 mm bullet).

Although most firearms chambered in this caliber were declared obsolete and removed from military inventories, some police and special forces units in Russia, Pakistan and China may still use it because of the large quantity of stored ammunition available. The bullet has various muzzle velocities around the range of 1,300 to 1,800 fps. A common velocity is around 1,450 ft/s with about 401 ft⋅lbf of energy. Given the wide disparity in ammunition manufactured in many different nations, ammunition is encountered that yields higher and lower velocities.

Some newly manufactured ammunition intended for commercial use has a velocity of approximately 1,560 feet per second. Wolf Gold FMJ tops out at 1,720 feet per second with 570 foot-pounds force as does PPU ammunition. Some of this ammunition, such as the Wolf Gold and Sellier & Belliot, use boxer primed brass cases that are reloadable.
 
I had a CZ52 chambered in this caliber for quite some time…it was a “truck gun”, as I paid all of $95 for it, two mags and a holster back 15 or so years ago when they first started showing up. Bought two spam cans of ammo for it at the same time ($85? Pretty sure it was under $100), cartridges wrapped in 8rd paper packets tied with string. It was hot stuff, chrono’d at north of 1600fps, iirc. Went through the door of a mid-80’s Chrysler 5th Avenue with no problems (another reason for it being a truck gun). Corrosive primers, of course, but I always cleaned immediately after shooting so it was never an issue.

Friend has a real, absolutely pristine Russian TT38 with a great story attached to it…his grandfather was a MP stationed in Berlin right after WW2; back when the Russians were still kinda our allies…seemed you could trade 5 cans of Spam (or maybe C-rats? Can’t remember exactly) for a TT38, holster, and two LOADED magazines from his Russian counterparts…

The magazines are unloaded, but he still has all 16 original rounds. It looks like it’s never been fired…it has been though, for certain, once. The first time it was likely fired was after the grandfather’s passing, using modern non-corrosive rounds.
 
I wouldn't mind having a pistol chambered in that round.


 

I wouldn't be that interested in an original, but a more modern/updated would fit the ticket. Any good choices as far as best 1 too buy (reliable and safe)?
 
The 7.62x25 Tokarev
iu


The 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge (designated as the 7.62 × 25 Tokarev by the C.I.P.) is a Russian rimless bottlenecked pistol cartridge widely used in former Soviet states and in China, among other countries. The cartridge has since been replaced in most capacities by the 9×18mm Makarov in Russian service. The cartridge is in principle an enhanced Russian version of the 7.63×25mm Mauser.

Prior to the First World War, the 7.63×25mm Mauser C96 pistol gained in popularity worldwide. In 1908, the Tsarist army placed the C96 on a list of approved sidearms that officers could purchase at their own expense in lieu of carrying the Nagant M1895 revolver. Between 1914 and 1917, more Mauser pistols and ammunition were obtained as captured arms from German and Turkish forces. The Mauser and its cartridge were used on all fronts of the Russian Civil War and in the 1920s, during a period of relatively close cooperation between Soviet Russia and the Weimar Republic, the Red Army purchased batches of the smaller Bolo version as well as ammunition for use by its officers. Although a copy of the cartridge was being produced at the Podolsky Ammunition Factory, the Soviets eventually purchased a license and manufacturing equipment from DWM in Germany to produce the cartridge.

In 1929, the Soviet Artillery Committee made a proposal to develop a domestic pistol chambered for the Mauser cartridge. After considerable research and development, it was decided that the "Model 1930 7.62 mm pistol cartridge," essentially the Mauser round with minor modifications, was to become the standard caliber for Soviet pistols and submachine guns. Early versions of the Vasily Degtyaryov-designed PPD-40 submachine gun were marked for Mauser cartridge caliber 7.62 mm. Although dimensionally similar to the Mauser cartridge, so much so that both cartridges will chamber, load and fire in any of these weapons, the Soviets increased the power of the Tokarev cartridge powder charge significantly. As such, while the lower-power Mauser rounds can be safely used in any of these weapons, the Tokarev cartridge is not safe for use in weapons which were not designed for the added pressure. The Russians produced a wide array of loadings for this cartridge for use in submachine guns. These include armor-piercing, tracer, and incendiary rounds.

This cartridge has excellent penetration and can easily defeat lighter ballistic vests (NIJ level I and IIA) as well as some kevlar helmets, such as the American PASGT helmet. When fired from a carbine-length barrel, the cartridge may penetrate NIJ level II, but is sometimes stopped by the current standard armor NIJ level IIIA. (Level IIIA is an advanced version of the Level II that can stop faster bullets than Level II, but does not meet the Level III standard. NIJ standards factor in up to 1400 fps of bullet velocity; higher-velocity rounds can eventually penetrate them, but by definition, level III must be able to stop any 7.65 mm bullet).

Although most firearms chambered in this caliber were declared obsolete and removed from military inventories, some police and special forces units in Russia, Pakistan and China may still use it because of the large quantity of stored ammunition available. The bullet has various muzzle velocities around the range of 1,300 to 1,800 fps. A common velocity is around 1,450 ft/s with about 401 ft⋅lbf of energy. Given the wide disparity in ammunition manufactured in many different nations, ammunition is encountered that yields higher and lower velocities.

Some newly manufactured ammunition intended for commercial use has a velocity of approximately 1,560 feet per second. Wolf Gold FMJ tops out at 1,720 feet per second with 570 foot-pounds force as does PPU ammunition. Some of this ammunition, such as the Wolf Gold and Sellier & Belliot, use boxer primed brass cases that are reloadable.
Thanks for good articles Talyn,
Been interested in both the caliber and Tokarev pistol's for quite awhile. Though the 7.62x25 ammo can be difficult to find sometimes, it's available if looking long enough in right spots.
 
5.7 isn't lacquer coated; it's brass.

A lot of steel used to be lacquered, but not so much anymore, as far as commercial ammo is concerned.
It has some kind of coating for function (extraction). Not sure what it's coated with. Both FN and American Eagle are coated.
 
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