Bubba tok

Kjm1971

Kjm1971

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Alberta
Had a $10 orphaned tokarev frame, so have been working at trying to make it a decent gun to shoot. Still have some smoothing to do, and thinking I should do something with the front strap, but tried it out today, feels and points better. As I say, still some smoothing and blast before cerakote, has a coat of krylon on it just so it didn't look really odd at the range.

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So you modified the frame? Looks good- but we need more pics! And more details on the process, too. It looks like a good story involved in that.

At first I thought the re-profiled backstrap looked ungainly and possibly unwieldy in smaller hands, but I tried with my TT33 using my left thumb as a substitute for that swell, and what a surprise-

It completely changes that slightly upright TT grip angle to something much more like what we're used to today, and it just felt very good in the hand. And suddenly your TT didn't look quite so odd, either.

Very interesting, and when it costs you essentially nothing to start out, then why not?
 
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stevebc said:
So you modified the frame? Looks good- but we need more pics! And more details on the process, too. It looks like a good story involved in that.

At first I thought the re-profiled backstrap looked ungainly and possibly unwieldy in smaller hands, but I tried with my TT33 using my left thumb as a substitute for that swell, and what a surprise-

It completely changes that slightly upright TT grip angle to something much more like what we're used to today, and it just felt very good in the hand. And suddenly your TT didn't look quite so odd, either.

Very interesting, and when it costs you essentially nothing to start out, then why not?
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I was going to copy the angle of a 1911 back strap originally, but as I messed around(I cut a few wood pieces as profiles and taped them on) I found this felt the best, it snugs it into the hand well, and pushes your grip up higher to the bore axis, but right in to "hammer bite" area so that's why the short ducktail on it. I also undercut the trigger guard as much as I could(not much) but that gave a bit more room and a wider edge for the middle finger to push against. Small changes but it makes it feel much more contemporary to shoot. I like 7.62x25 but find the tt-33 to be not very enjoyable of a platform. One day I'll find a orphan slide and will contour it to be a bit less fugly, and cut in some decent sights.
 
Kjm1971 said:
I was going to copy the angle of a 1911 back strap originally, but as I messed around(I cut a few wood pieces as profiles and taped them on) I found this felt the best, it snugs it into the hand well, and pushes your grip up higher to the bore axis, but right in to "hammer bite" area so that's why the short ducktail on it. I also undercut the trigger guard as much as I could(not much) but that gave a bit more room and a wider edge for the middle finger to push against. Small changes but it makes it feel much more contemporary to shoot. I like 7.62x25 but find the tt-33 to be not very enjoyable of a platform. One day I'll find a orphan slide and will contour it to be a bit less fugly, and cut in some decent sights.
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Yeah, I figured hammer bite was a concern. And I share your thoughts on how that slide doesn't look right.
 
Butcherbill said:
My biggest gripe with shooting a tt is the slim grip, I started to make new grips out of wood but stalled on the project. I need to finish them over the winter.
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There was a picture here a while back of a TT with a set of aftermarket rubber grips... but I never found out who made them or who sells them. They looked like they'd work really well.
 
stevebc said:
There was a picture here a while back of a TT with a set of aftermarket rubber grips... but I never found out who made them or who sells them. They looked like they'd work really well.
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I know the ones you mean and I'm sure they work well, the only thing I don't like about them is how they change the overall sleek look of the Tt33. Which is one thing I love about it, it's so nice to look at like it came from the factory. Thicker grips will be the ticket for me, I don't know how people with big hands comfortably shoot it. I've got normal sized hands and I feel like I'm always adjusting my grip on it while shooting it which isn't the best, that and the thin blade of a trigger.

I put 200 rounds through it one trip to the range one time and my trigger finger pad was pins and needles for 2-3 days from the damn thing lol.
 
Butcherbill said:
I know the ones you mean and I'm sure they work well, the only thing I don't like about them is how they change the overall sleek look of the Tt33. Which is one thing I love about it, it's so nice to look at like it came from the factory. Thicker grips will be the ticket for me, I don't know how people with big hands comfortably shoot it. I've got normal sized hands and I feel like I'm always adjusting my grip on it while shooting it which isn't the best, that and the thin blade of a trigger.

I put 200 rounds through it one trip to the range one time and my trigger finger pad was pins and needles for 2-3 days from the damn thing lol.
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Yeah, that's an issue I noticed with mine.
 
Kjm1971 said:
Had a $10 orphaned tokarev frame, so have been working at trying to make it a decent gun to shoot. Still have some smoothing to do, and thinking I should do something with the front strap, but tried it out today, feels and points better. As I say, still some smoothing and blast before cerakote, has a coat of krylon on it just so it didn't look really odd at the range.

temporary image upload
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It turned out very nice! I like what you have done with it. Mine is original and fun to shoot, even though I cant hit much with it.
 
stevebc said:
Yeah, that's an issue I noticed with mine.
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Haha, no ####! I'm glad it's not just me then, I try not to shoot it for long periods of time now. Seems to help to keep my trigger finger from getting numb like that one time. I really do enjoy shooting it, great little compact pistol that packs a good punch. I always thought it would make a good carry pistol, it sure is a hot little round that 7.62x25.
 
Butcherbill said:
Haha, no ####! I'm glad it's not just me then, I try not to shoot it for long periods of time now. Seems to help to keep my trigger finger from getting numb like that one time. I really do enjoy shooting it, great little compact pistol that packs a good punch. I always thought it would make a good carry pistol, it sure is a hot little round that 7.62x25.
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I found it a little too hot. Went through a box and a half of the S&B 7.62x25, and decided I'd had enough, so I began reloading for it.

I use a larger bullet (110gr) and it feels more like a 9mm now.

Best word I've heard to describe the 7.62x25 is "snappy".
 
Butcherbill said:
I know the ones you mean and I'm sure they work well, the only thing I don't like about them is how they change the overall sleek look of the Tt33. Which is one thing I love about it, it's so nice to look at like it came from the factory. Thicker grips will be the ticket for me, I don't know how people with big hands comfortably shoot it. I've got normal sized hands and I feel like I'm always adjusting my grip on it while shooting it which isn't the best, that and the thin blade of a trigger.

I put 200 rounds through it one trip to the range one time and my trigger finger pad was pins and needles for 2-3 days from the damn thing lol.
Click to expand...

stevebc said:
Yeah, that's an issue I noticed with mine.
Click to expand...

Butcherbill said:
Haha, no ####! I'm glad it's not just me then, I try not to shoot it for long periods of time now. Seems to help to keep my trigger finger from getting numb like that one time. I really do enjoy shooting it, great little compact pistol that packs a good punch. I always thought it would make a good carry pistol, it sure is a hot little round that 7.62x25.
Click to expand...

I've tried to tell people that the TT-33 is prone to trigger slap, and just gotten blank stares in return. That's what's causing the numb trigger finger effect.

It isn't super noticeable at first, but like you say, put a hundred rounds through it, and you'll start to notice the effects of it.
 
Kjm1971 said:
Had a $10 orphaned tokarev frame, so have been working at trying to make it a decent gun to shoot. Still have some smoothing to do, and thinking I should do something with the front strap, but tried it out today, feels and points better. As I say, still some smoothing and blast before cerakote, has a coat of krylon on it just so it didn't look really odd at the range.

temporary image upload
Click to expand...

Looks great , I sure liked the idea of a beavertail on the tokarev and I do think it’s time someone came out with a good comfortable solution for the small grip and hammer bite. The tok is an accurate little shooter and I sure would shoot it more with something like that. I would like to hear more about how you did these mods too.
 
grelmar said:
I've tried to tell people that the TT-33 is prone to trigger slap, and just gotten blank stares in return. That's what's causing the numb trigger finger effect.

It isn't super noticeable at first, but like you say, put a hundred rounds through it, and you'll start to notice the effects of it.
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Wearing gloves helps to avoid it when I want to shoot it for longer periods, I've thought of trying to make some type of trigger pad that makes the trigger wider at the front instead of being blade like.
 
Attilathecanuk said:
Looks great , I sure liked the idea of a beavertail on the tokarev and I do think it’s time someone came out with a good comfortable solution for the small grip and hammer bite. The tok is an accurate little shooter and I sure would shoot it more with something like that. I would like to hear more about how you did these mods too.
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I First cut some wood dowels to what I thought I would like as a rear profile, taped them on and adjusted until I settled on a final idea. I then traced it out on a piece of 4130 steel that I have, cut the rough shape with a band saw, then used files to shape it to fit the existing backstrap curve and shape of the back of the frame, and tig welded it into place. Once both pieces were tigged into place, I just started filing until it was in the shape I wanted. The only difficult bit was tigging across the top of the beavertail near the rails without distorting the rail ends. Cutting the groove for the hammer was, again, with a file. That part was fiddly but not hard. I did also take some material off the top backside of the hammer so it runs in the groove tighter without the beavertail being too low and getting in the way of the higher grip position. I also undercut the triggerguard and extended the "grooves" that go from the trigger opening towards the grip to be longer and deeper so it's a smoother transition into the triggerguard for my finger. I cut the laynard loop off the left side of the frame and tigged it closed as well so it's more lefty friendly. Final shaping and smoothing is just with progressively finer sandpaper strips. Once I'm satisfied I'll sandblast it lightly and cerakote it FDE or black. Although not valuable, the slide and barrel are from a number matching 1945 so until I find a mismatched slide I'm leaving it alone. When I do find one I plan to reshape it to be more angular at the back, more of a 1911 slide look and put in a set of nowlin cut sights I have laying around. Outside of the tig, it's just files and sandpaper and a selection of good music playing in the garage. I fitted a new nighthawk barrel into one of my 1911's a few weeks ago, and that was a more difficult task than this with endless cycles of carbon smudge, assemble, cycle, disassemble remove material, repeat.
 
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