For those in the know and who own one of these what are your impressions? I'm looking into my first handgun as I wait for my RPAL to be approved and it was a hands down decision on a Russian WW2 TT33 until these showed up. Just really want to know if these are as well built and as sturdy as their TT33 Russian counterparts. How reliable are safeties? Can they stand up to hot full house loads? Will be an ATC pistol for the time being until I can afford something better suited to the task. Obviously would never carry a TT33 with a chambered round but would one be able to safely rely on the safety on these newly manufactured Zastavas? Any info on these pistols would be greatly appreciated.
Zastava M57
- Thread starter jongun
- Start date
i was wondering the same thing. for the extra $50-100, is the zastava better than the surplus russian or polish TT33?
I wouldn't want anything less than a 44 (4.2 629 would would be perfect) but the one thing the 7.62x25 has going for it at least is penetration. not directly comparable i realize but i've met more that a few inuit who reliably use 243 for polar bear defence
I wouldn't want anything less than a 44 (4.2 629 would would be perfect) but the one thing the 7.62x25 has going for it at least is penetration. not directly comparable i realize but i've met more that a few inuit who reliably use 243 for polar bear defence
Zastava is awesome!@
I have a m70a, and my does it run smooth,
The canada models still have the safety usually,
plus 1 extra round for anyone counting.
I would wonder if your shooting the surplus ammo or factory or reloaded,
if shooting dirty surplus, get a tok, if your reloading or buying the factory rounds Id say go for the zastava
I have a m70a, and my does it run smooth,
The canada models still have the safety usually,
plus 1 extra round for anyone counting.
I would wonder if your shooting the surplus ammo or factory or reloaded,
if shooting dirty surplus, get a tok, if your reloading or buying the factory rounds Id say go for the zastava
i cant comment on the Zaztava, but the Unissued Polish Tok i would feel comfortable as a defensive pistol as i have come very proficient with many rounds of surplus down the pipe! The 7.62x25 has a velocity compabable to 357 Mag, as long as your comfortable with the gun, that to me is one of the top component in any carry gun! I wish the Polish Tok had a saftey though , as i would use it for CDP, or defence carry if it were legal.
On another point, Smith & Wesson has just com out with a L frame 5 shot 44 mag with 4.2" barrel, veryy compact carry, fits great in the hands! Should be easy to carry on your belt with out getting in the way compared to a N frame.
A tok is the poor mans old pick up truck, looks like hell, springs are gone, but the 4 wheel drive take it anywhere
cheers mate, Dale Z!
On another point, Smith & Wesson has just com out with a L frame 5 shot 44 mag with 4.2" barrel, veryy compact carry, fits great in the hands! Should be easy to carry on your belt with out getting in the way compared to a N frame.
A tok is the poor mans old pick up truck, looks like hell, springs are gone, but the 4 wheel drive take it anywhere
cheers mate, Dale Z!
Looking at the TEC guns it shows they have no safety therefore I don't think I can justify the extra $100 for the NIB Zastava. Would be so sweet it if it had the factory installed safety like the ones made for the American market(will inquire). I'd be feeding my pistol hand loaded ammo using mostly gas checked lead bullets for cheap plinking with a possibility of some commercial round nose soft points for working the bush. Already have money invested in the 7.62x25 round(mold and dies) so that's why I'm pretty well set on the Tok or a variant.
Hmm it does appear your right, its worth an email, but trade ex is usually really good about using their own photos that they take, and that is the side its on...
The tok round is awesome, as you clearly know lol but I agree, if it doesnt have the safety upgrade, and its not a long term carry gun, I'd say your money is better saved and just put into a tt33.
Plus parts and magazines are alot easier to find for the tokarev.
If you want a set of 7.62x25 snap caps let me know, I have a brand new pack that I forgot I had ordered and didnt arrive til after I sold my tt33, be happy to mail em to you!
The tok round is awesome, as you clearly know lol but I agree, if it doesnt have the safety upgrade, and its not a long term carry gun, I'd say your money is better saved and just put into a tt33.
Plus parts and magazines are alot easier to find for the tokarev.
If you want a set of 7.62x25 snap caps let me know, I have a brand new pack that I forgot I had ordered and didnt arrive til after I sold my tt33, be happy to mail em to you!
From Keg Island Research regarding TT-33 (& variants) safeties:
To complicate the issue of safe handling of the TT-33, the Gun Control Act of 1968's import points system (supposedly a gun safety regulation) has resulted in numerous sub-variants of the Tokarev on the US market over the years, primarily differentiated by wildly varied changes made to these weapons' safety features, and most often these safeties are both poorly designed and poorly fabricated.
Because these import - compliance safeties are almost invariably unreliable, difficult to use effectively, ugly and historically inaccurate, it is very common to encounter TT-33s on the used market which have simply had their add-on safeties removed and thrown away. Sometimes the holes left in the guns (usually in the frame) have been carefully welded up and cosmetically repaired. More often they're just ugly little holes that collect lint.
Many will assume that removal of such add-on safeties is irresponsible. Nothing could be further from the truth. The simple fact of the matter is that the lack of standardization of the design resulting from these add-on safeties makes it difficult to effectively build public consensus on how to safely handle these guns, and the fact that these safeties are generally poorly designed and unreliable means that they present inherent safety risks of their own. Add to this the likelihood that some owners will mistakenly assume that the modified guns are on-par with modern handguns in their safety features, and you may begin to get an idea of what a bad idea all of this legislative messing around with gun design really is.
Luckily we don't have to put up with a mandated bodge-job.
To complicate the issue of safe handling of the TT-33, the Gun Control Act of 1968's import points system (supposedly a gun safety regulation) has resulted in numerous sub-variants of the Tokarev on the US market over the years, primarily differentiated by wildly varied changes made to these weapons' safety features, and most often these safeties are both poorly designed and poorly fabricated.
Because these import - compliance safeties are almost invariably unreliable, difficult to use effectively, ugly and historically inaccurate, it is very common to encounter TT-33s on the used market which have simply had their add-on safeties removed and thrown away. Sometimes the holes left in the guns (usually in the frame) have been carefully welded up and cosmetically repaired. More often they're just ugly little holes that collect lint.
Many will assume that removal of such add-on safeties is irresponsible. Nothing could be further from the truth. The simple fact of the matter is that the lack of standardization of the design resulting from these add-on safeties makes it difficult to effectively build public consensus on how to safely handle these guns, and the fact that these safeties are generally poorly designed and unreliable means that they present inherent safety risks of their own. Add to this the likelihood that some owners will mistakenly assume that the modified guns are on-par with modern handguns in their safety features, and you may begin to get an idea of what a bad idea all of this legislative messing around with gun design really is.
Luckily we don't have to put up with a mandated bodge-job.
The safeties on the Zastava M57 are done at the factory and the pistols are designated M57A. I've seen videos of fellows handling the M57A and the safeties appear to be pretty well done compared to the "bodge-job" on milsurp TT33s and their variants.
Lucky for us!
I agree that it's awesome we aren't subjected to the law requiring us to have safeties but it would be advantageous to have a safe reliable safety on an ATC pistol so you could walk around with one in the pipe and not have to worry about having to rack a round into the chamber. Definitely wouldn't want to rely on one of those crappy after thought safeties the Americans have on their TT33s.
