Tokarev TT-33 FTE problem.

[Clotho]

I mentioned the FTE problems I was having with a Tokarev TT-33 in this thread tt33 but I have tried all suggestions and am still stumped so I thought I would create a new thread so as to not further hijack the other one.

When it fails it looks like this: (Classic stovepipe)

To date I have tried:

• New Wolff Springs (recoil, mag and extractor springs)
• Polishing the chamber and feed ramp
• New extractor from Marstar (The original one didn't have much material between the hole and the edge and was destined to fail)
• Cleaned up and polished the feed lips in the hammer group.
• Cleaned the ammo with G96 and a clean dry rag before loadiing.
• Polished the metal around the top of the extractor port.

This picture shows the slide upside down and the hammer group right side up with the feed lips and the cartridge ejecting notch:

This picture shows the hammer group in the slide with the cartridge ejecting notch just starting to push the spent cartridge out the port:

This is another picture with the slide a little further back and the ejecting notch further forward with the spent cartridge a little further in its progress out the port so you can see how that all works.

At this point the only thing I can figure that may be causing the problem is that there is too much of a gap between the breech face and where the extractor holds the spent cartridge. This gap allows the extractor notch to slide past the spent cartridge without getting enough purchase to do a good job of sending the cartridge out the port.

Does anyone have any further ideas/suggestions?

I like the gun. When it goes bang it is much fun. It could be that it just doesn't like the lacquered surplus ammo but unfortunately part of the joy of shooting this pistol is the cheap ammo. I may try getting my hands on some brass ammo to see if that works better but I really would like to get it working with the surplus if at all possible. Other people seem to have no problems with the surplus so I figure there should be some way to fix this.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Clotho]

Tokarev TT-33 FTE problem solved (with pics)

I managed to solve the problem.

After trying everything else mentioned before and then verifying that it wasn't a limp wrist/grip problem I looked at a few other pistols to see how tightly the extractor was holding the cartridge to the breech face. All were to a much tighter tolerance than the TT33 so I looked it over to see what I could try to improve it.

I had 2 extractors already so I figured it wasn't a big deal if I messed one up. I didn't want to cut the spring back so I trimmed a bit from the end of the extractor as per this picture:

It did reduce the gap by a small amount. Tried it out and 80 rounds later with no problems and I am smiling

Also the new grips came in last week:

I think they look great! It definitely fits my hand much better. My hand still gets sore though but not nearly as quickly or as bad. I guess it has just that much push.

I ordered an extra trigger when I ordered the extractor so I am thinking about skeletonizing the trigger now. Something different than the standard 3 holes. I can file out pretty much any shape. Anyone have any favorite triggers to share that I can use for ideas? I haven't decided if I will polish the bushing, hammer or magazines yet either.

This has been a very challenging project but I am very happy with the results!

 

[tt33tokarev]

Your Tokarev looks great! i especially like the grips, where did you get them? How did you get the finish on your tokarev? Mine is quite dull. I havent had issues with feeding on my tokarev and i do use the surplus ammo. But i have had problems with the slide not closing completely about one in every 20 shots. Any ideas? Have you had something like that happen before?

 

[Clotho]

Hi! and welcome to CGN.

I am honored that you chose to make your first post in my thread. Usually people make their first post in the Greeting and Introduction thread. Be sure to say Hi there so we can get to know you.

The finish on my TT isn't anything special. It is accomplished with some time at the buffing wheel. To be honest there is a few hours of work there with files, sandpaper and a dremel tool to get some of the tooling marks and scratches worked out.

The grips are by Marschal Grips and I like them very much. This version has the palm swell in the style of the original Tokagypt. It fits my hand better but I have heard that for some people the original style is a better fit so he makes some in that style too. ht tp://www.marschalgrips.com/

As for your problem with the slide not closing. It sounds to me like the slide is getting stuck at the point where the extractor clicks into the rim of the cartridge. Is the slide almost closed but not quite? If that is the case I would check that the extractor is moving freely and springs back properly. You can push on it with the shaft of a small screwdriver and it should move a little bit and spring back. If it doesn't then you may have to remove the extractor. With the slide upside down on your workbench drive the extractor pin out with your pin extractor tool being careful to not lose the pin, extractor or spring then examine the extractor and the slot to make sure there isn't some gunk in there causing it to bind. When you put it back together be sure to not drive the pin in to far from the top as it will bind with the frame.

Other possibilities is that the recoil spring is weak or the slide is binding. Replacement springs can be found at Wolff Gunsprings ht tp://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?page=items&cID=1&mID=68

 

[Nemos]

Your newer pics are not working for me. I'd love to see your new grips. How long did they take to show up ? I'll be picking up my first pistol in a few days, a Tokarev.

I'd like to do somthing with my grips, perhaps even a muzzle brake if I can find where to get one.

Good info here, Thx for the info !

 

[Clotho]

Your newer pics are not working for me. I'd love to see your new grips. How long did they take to show up ? I'll be picking up my first pistol in a few days, a Tokarev.

I'd like to do somthing with my grips, perhaps even a muzzle brake if I can find where to get one.

Good info here, Thx for the info !

I have tried 2 other computers that had never been to the site (nothing cached) with different os's and different browsers and the pics all work fine for me so I think the problem is at your end.

Try this link? http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/17/tt332.jpg/

Also, I posted some pics in this thread: http://canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=694360

If you custom order your Marschal Grips you can expect it to take a very long time to get them. He outlines the process on the site. They are very nice and worth the wait however.

I hope you enjoy your new Tokarev and I hope that it works well from day one. Mine took a great deal of effort to get it to run right. The plus side is that I am very familiar with the gun now