The pistol seed is planted..... and starting to take root!

ShadNuke

ShadNuke

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Winnipeg
I am seriously considering a Tokarev for my first pistol. Their price, and simplicity is what draws me to them. I have been doing some reading, and been looking for any types of upgrades that can be added to them. The question is though, are these goodies available to us Canadians? I have seen some gorgeous add ons in the way of grips, and such, but I am handy when it comes to woodworking, so making my own custom exotic wood grips isn't out of the question. Have any of the Tokarev owners here in CGNland done anything crazy to their pistols? I would like to know if anyone has had theirs coated, or polished. What have you added in the way of grips, or compensator if any. I'd love done more ideas, because in the next month or 2 I'll be looking into getting my first Tokarev!



Thanks in advance :D
 
A bit of a warning before you get the Tokarev. If you will be shooting surplus ammo make sure your range allows steel core pistol rounds. My range just recently banned steel core pistol and rifle ammo so I will have to get a membership at Silverdale to use my 2280 rounds.
 
When you build your custom grips make sure that you have plenty of clearance for the horseshoe linkage from the trigger to the fire control mechanism. Believe it or not, that linkage moves up and down when the action cycles, not just front to back when you tug the bang switch. Custom grips built too tight to the linkage can cause strange cycling problems and the occasional two-for-one trigger treat.

Also, keep your eyes on ebay every now and then. This dude from Bulgaria named Georgei (or something like that) make a batch of compensators which work quite well. Nice two slot design, bushing replacement type, long enough to cycle the action with the muzzle against a firm surface.

Enjoy!
 
Dyspnea said:
They is new production 7.62x25 available if you cannot use surplus ammo.
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There is but it's fairly rare and likely quite expensive when you find it.

Before you leap into buying a handgun stop and consider that simply standing around and perforating paper gets old pretty quickly. So pretty soon you'll likely be lured into the various styles of action handgun shooting. And when that happens you'll quickly find out that steel jacketed or steel core surplus ammo is not seen in a kindly way when you're shooting at some club's steel knock down targets and leaving craters in it due to the steel content.

Also the Tokarev design is a single action only (SAO) that has no safety to allow it to be holstered safely. Not a great way to start out.

I actually really like Tokarevs. The gun is truly an inspired design with the lift out action unit and other features. But it's simply no good for the usual action shooting events that require the use of a holster if you want to compete without a pretty serious handicap. Namely having to draw then rack the slide to chamber a round.
 
BCRider said:
Also the Tokarev design is a single action only (SAO) that has no safety to allow it to be holstered safely. Not a great way to start out.
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The TT-33 has a half-#### safety that is just as safe for holstering on a loaded chamber as any other. If your pistol doesn't lock the trigger and slide rock-solid on half ####, it is broken.

Now whether the rules of your game allow this, is a different story. Also calibre is a consideration; IPSC has a minimum calibre of 9mm in all divisions (?), so even though the 7,62 round would qualify for ‘power factor,’ it is too small.

So no, the Tokarev won't be allowed to play (some) tactical games.
 
Having one I am not sure if I'd buy one again. They are interesting pieces of history and pretty elegant in their simplicity, but sourcing some spares can be a bugger, and that surplus ammo is too damned hot to begin with. I think I'd spend a hundred bucks more and get one of the nork 9mm guns if I was to have a cheap pistol do over. Reloads with cast bullets and free range brass are even cheaper than surplus.

At the very least, shoot one first so that you know what you're getting into
 
Get 2 or even 3, you won't regret it. There is no cheaper center fire handgun on the market right now, that has lots of ammo available and by the way not all 7.62x25 surplus ammo is steel core. Do your research before buying surplus ammo. Plus it has a historical value as well. Its been used in all conflicts of 20th century since ww2 and still being used.
As for modifications, its really not needed, it will still shoot the same.
 
good gun for the price. i recommend the canam 1911A1+1000/.45 for $499 deal over this for a beginner. clean the tt33 after cleaning and if shooting surplus make sure the range allows steel core
 
If your serious about a Tokerov, buy one of the NIG(new in Grease) Polish Tokerovs, they are $100 bucks more than an refurb Russian, but well worth it! I bought 3 from P&D, awsome service, and they sent me three amazing cond. Tok's I have ever handled!
The Polish Tok's are early 1950's production, and the triggers are actually real nice breaking for a military pistol, sights are actuall very good for a fixed sight system. Great gun for us who have small hands, also extra magazines are only around $30 bucks each. For those who hate to hand load and wish to shoot more, the surplus ammo is a great deal to get alot of trigger time.

Good luck and have fun shooting, even it is at paper targets, like us boring Bullseye shooter's!
cheers Dale Z!
 
zywina said:
Great gun for us who have small hands.


cheers Dale Z!
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OK, well, maybe the Tokarev is out for me. My monstrous, ogre hands, need a bigger pistol. I'd love to be able to handle one before making the purchase. I really like them, being from that era. Having served in the army myself, I have a love for anything to do with military history. But, maybe spending a bit more cash, would be better for me in the long run. I plan on getting into reloading once I get a handgun, because being on disability, and not working, would allow me to go to the range daily if I really wanted to lol. I have put plenty of lead down range, and every time I go out, it's like I am doing it all for the first time. So shooting at paper, isn't a concern. I could easily put 500 rounds down range every time I go. It's come to a point now, that chances are, I will never work again, so I need a hobby, and shooting doesn't involve heavy lifting, or anything that will cause my back problems, or rheumatoid arthritis act up. :)

Thanks a lot for the feed back guys! I should know later this summer what kind of pistol I will be looking at. Blocks fit my hands, but I don't know wtf I want lol.
 
Buy it...its a $200 gun...its ONLY gonna get more expensive.

Note its a 60+ year old gun...but its all metal, VERY simple and works well. Its NOT your modern synthetic semi auto filled with features...but its also NOT priced like those either...which usually start at $500...

Its not EASY to shoot (small grip length and seemingly designed to be shot one handed)...but once your good with it, you will be good with anything!!! Can buy a nice set of wooden "wrap around" grips that can give you finger groves and/or a palm swell giving you a better fit. Paint the front sight white and it will aid in shooting it.

Lots of surplus around and as well as commercial ammo, ie. non corrosive and reloadable that is NOT hard to find is around the same price, maybe a TAD more then 9mm...cheaper if you order it in bulk.

The round itself is a fun one...very very fast round and is loud and gives off a nice muzzle flash if you dig that kind of stuff :p Making hits at 50 yards is a breeze and even 100 yards is not that hard and does not require much hold over either. Out of a rifle, the 7.62x25 REALLY shines.
 
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OccasionallyOnTarget said:
I would go for a 1911.
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for sure, easier to upgrade and find parts too

Leviathan024 said:
good gun for the price. i recommend the canam 1911A1+1000/.45 for $499 deal over this for a beginner. clean the tt33 after cleaning and if shooting surplus make sure the range allows steel core
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absolutely, I was going to suggest the CanAm deal, cant beat it

jeffcarr88 said:
Buy it...its a $200 gun...its ONLY gonna get more expensive.
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with the CanAm deal, the 1911 works out to ~ $200
 
jeffcarr88 said:
Yes...but a 1911 is not gonna be a "rare" gun. More and more are made every day...
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With the vast number of Tokarevs in the world I'm not sure why you'd try to make this a point of consideration. Sure, they aren't making more of them. Well, outside of China when they feel they can sell them under the Norinco name. But there's so many it's like saying we should collect Canadian pennys because they aren't making them any more.

Now I do like the Tok for it's unique and elegant design features. And I fully support the idea that a broader collection should have one or two of them. But as a FIRST pistol? I believe that there's other options with more flexibility of application.
 
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