SOLVED! - Norinco Tokarev in 9mm - Feeding Problems

[Andy]

My 54-1 feeds 7.62x25 slick as can be, but switch to the 9mm barrel and the round gets jammed half-way in. If you drop the round into the chamber, it fires and ejects just fine, but won't feed.

I've heard of others with the exact same problem and wonder what the remedy is.

 

[ian_in_vic]

I'll bet the 9 gets stuck right around where the neck ends on the 7.62. I think it's possible for a 'smith to smooth the throat the way they do for a GI 1911 to feed short fat bullets, but really, the gun wasn't designed to be a 9mm.

 

[Halger280HVMag]

My 54-1 works fine with 9mm after obtaining a spare recoil spring and shortening it by a few coils. The 9mm has less steam than the 7.62X25.

Does your gun feed the cartridge correctly if you slingshot the slide?

 

[Andy]

Thanks guys. I am fortunate to have two Toks (a Russian TT-33 and a Norinco 54-1). The TT-33 feeds both 7.62x25 and 9mm (even 38 Super length) well, and the 54-1 only feeds the 7.62x25. By swapping every possible combination of barrels, mags and slides between the two frames, I've narrowed it down to two things:

#1- the extractor in the 54-1 binds the rear of the 9mm as it is being fed; and
#2- the feed ramp of the 54-1 has a flat spot between the part in the frame and the part on the barrel.

What I need to do it open up the space between the extractor and the breech face, and smooth the transition between the feed ramps by grinding away a bit on the frame side.

 

[Andy]

Removed the extractor and opened up the front edge where it contacts the cartridge rim by about 0.005", and presto - feeds like a champ!

I still intend to smooth the feed ramp. Then I rechamber to 9x23.

 

[762shooter]

Don't get carried away "grinding" on the feed ramp. Take a piece of 5/16" dowel, wrap some fine emery cloth aroung it and use it like a file, be careful not to loose the curve of the ramp, just smooth it out and give the feed ramp a nice, consistent slope. Once any irregularities or roughness is gone take the worn emery cloth, put some oil on it and polish the feed ramp.

Regarding the extraction issue, don't take anything off the face of the slide. If you have to do anything make small, careful changes to the extractor, reassembling and trying frequently until it functions properly.