Reloading/Reworking 7.62x25mm Tokarev Cartridges

[UnrulyCitizen]

Hey guys, I'm sort of new to this whole thing so I have some questions. I am expecting a Mauser C96 to come into my possession eventually, but 0.30 Mauser is impossible to find or outrageously expensive, but Tokarev ammo is not. I'm aware that you should never shoot 7.62x25mm out of a C96 (especially not mil surp rounds) but I had the crazy idea to just rework the Tokarev rounds to the correct powder charge. The dimensions of the cartridges are almost identical and I think that they can basically be swapped, except for that powder charge; I was wondering if anyone has ever tried removing just enough of the old powder to lower the pressure with no additional materials required. I'm talking about just emptying the rounds and refilling it with less of the same powder and if anyone has any tips, tricks, or a recipe for that I would be super grateful. This might be an extremely stupid idea, but I thought I would ask since it can't hurt and I would prefer not to absolutely #### my gun or blow my hands off. I appreciate any feedback, thanks.

 

[Fox]

The Tokarev ammo out there cheap will all have corrosive primers, not sure if this is what you want to deal with in your C96.

What you can do is get a set of Lee dies, which you would need anyway to load up reduced loads, then get some brass, primers and bullets for the tokarev, just load them at 30 mauser loads.

There is a guy out west who has brass cheaper than I have seen anywhere else, PM me if you want his info. I have been told to get the Lee Factory crimp die as well for these cartridges, I had to delay getting anything to load tokarev but that is on my list.

Campro makes the proper bullet, it is cheap, I do not know if they are site sponsors but PM me and I can point you to those bullets as well.

I would be worried about breaking down surplus as the dimpled crimps on the steel cases crack a lot, probably would on disassembly too.

 

[M1-Garand]

I reload for my C96, but have done what you are thinking of.
I shot some of that 7.62x25 surplus ammo over the Crony, using the M57, approx 1700 fps, way too hot to my liking, so pulled the bullets and weighed the powder charge, abt 10 grains.
Used 5 grains instead, Crony again, 1250 fps, shoots OK in the M57 so I used them in the C96, about the same velocity.
And like the previous poster said, it is corrosive ammo so you have to wash the barrel out with hot water.

BTW, I use a small handheld steam cleaner (Hot Shot) with a rubber hose on it, just fill it to the top with water, when hot stick the hose into the chamber , pull the trigger and it shoots a mixture of boiling water and steam down the barrel, gets rid of the corrosive salts immediately.
Also the barrel gets very hot, so it dries fast, and you can do the regular cleaning routine after that.