What do you think of the 7.62X25mm Tokarev Pistol?

AdrianM

AdrianM

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I recently took my RPAL test and I'm thinking about buying a milsurp pistol. I'm just in the window shopping stage and, as always, on a tight budget.

What are some of your opinions on the Tokarev? They seem to be plentiful and cheap. The typical internet research suggests that it's simple, rugged and reliable.

Ammo hard to come by? Expensive?

Thanks,
Adrian
 
I've had two Tok's. Awesome pistol. Very reliable, rugged, and simple. Ammo is cheap for now but when the milsurp dries up (someday it will) there may be a problem. I know Norinco makes a 9mm drop in barrel but I don't know if it fits the Russian tok.

Cheers. Steve.
 
I love my Tokarev, great fun little pistol, and great way to get into shooting handguns. I don't hav easy access to surplus ammo, thecommercial rounds cost about 25 bucks a box when I can get em. As a result I plan to get a .22 pistol eventually, but the Tok will be making regular range visits regardless, and use the .22 when I'm feeling cheap.
 
Adrian, all of the comments so far are good as well as true.

IMHO, if you're on a tight budget, stay away from a centerfire. If you have to count your pennies, you can't afford to shoot it, even if the pistol is cheap.

As was mentioned, the ammo is cheap at this point if you're buying in bulk.

Something to really consider, you can buy a whole brick of 22rf (500 shots) for the same price of 50 7.62x25 and it's corrosive.

Those little Chiappa 22LR pistols look pretty good and have the heft and feel of a 1911. The nice thing about them, is they shoot cheap rim fire 22LR that is available in bulk packs as well as even cheaper bricks and cases, if the budget allows.

Your choice but that is my suggestion to you, until your finances are better.

I can remember a time when I was in your situation. I regretted buying a lovely S/42 P08 in its holster. Even at milsurp prices, I couldn't afford to shoot it very often.

Luckily for me a collector spotted the pistol/holster/belt set and recognized it for the jewel it was and traded me a very nice little Ruger Bearcat along with some money and some other stuff. He was a decent guy and gave me fair value for the outfit.

I used that Bearcat for years, until my apprenticeship was over and I started to make enough money to afford bigger things.

I don't know where you live, but for rural regions, 7.62x25 ammunition is a mail order item at best, only adding to the cost.
 
Thanks for the comments fellas!

Bearhunter: I really appreciate the comments. I was already thinking of buying a .22 Ruger Single Six to be my heavy shooter. I'm thinking of the Tokarev as a milsurp that gets shot rarely when you want a little more recoil. :cool:

The sad thing is I'm having trouble finding a decent used single six for under $400 and I can get a Tokarev for about $160 plus shipping and taxes. So I was thinking of grabbing a Tok sooner rather than later.

What are they like to shoot? More pop than a 9mm? 25mm seems like a long cartridge.

Adrian
 
AdrianM said:
Thanks for the comments fellas!

Bearhunter: I really appreciate the comments. I was already thinking of buying a .22 Ruger Single Six to be my heavy shooter. I'm thinking of the Tokarev as a milsurp that gets shot rarely when you want a little more recoil. :cool:

The sad thing is I'm having trouble finding a decent used single six for under $400 and I can get a Tokarev for about $160 plus shipping and taxes. So I was thinking of grabbing a Tok sooner rather than later.

What are they like to shoot? More pop than a 9mm? 25mm seems like a long cartridge.

Adrian
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They are awesome.
They will also outshoot the skill of the shooter in most cases.
Don't buy the BS you may hear, they are very effective and surprisingly accurate pistols even with cheap surplus ammo.
The recoil is no worse than a 9mm, they are slim, easy to handle, loud, cheap, reliable and very fun....oh yeah and did I mention they are cheap!
You can't go wrong buying one, even if it just sits in the safe, for the price you're buying one hell of a handgun and an awesome piece of history to boot!
You can't go wrong Comrade.
Indulge! :rockOn:
 
The ammo for them comes and goes. So supply isn't a sure thing.

Two other things about the gun as well. First is that the grips are short. So they don't fit big hands well. Adding the fuller grips that fill around the back helps a little but they are still short in bigger hands. Especially if you shoot with a two handed grip.

The last thing that limits them is the lack of a safety. Since they are single action guns this means you can't holster them with the hammer cocked in a safe manner. So they are not elligable for the sporting events such as IPSC or IDPA. So they are simply a range giggle gun. Yet for a lot of us the true fun, once the initial newness wears off, is using our handguns for sport shooting in such matches.

Oh, one last thing. A lot of the surplus Tokarev ammo either uses plated mild steel for the jacket or has a steel core to the bullet. Either is tough on steel targets. So again you're limited if you wish to use it for anything other than punching paper.

Frankly, if you're on a tight budget for now I'd suggest figuring out a good long term plan on where you want to go. If you can't afford to buy a 9mm that is elligable for the various styles of shooting matches then perhaps start with a caliber that should be in everyone's collection... a nice .22LR pistol.
 
I bought a tokarev a few months ago, its a great pistol and definitely worth the money. For ammo you can shoot surplus or new manufacture like the stuff made by sellier and bellot for 24.00 a box. The recoil isn't bad, and while there is not necessarily a safety, the hammer does have a half #### position they are also fairly easy to field strip and maintain. One last thing, if you have larger hands it will let you know if your grip is bad the hammer tends to pinch the web between your thumb and index finger and its not the most pleasant thing. Also a "modification" you may want to consider is getting some white enamel model paint and paint the front sight post.
 
As my wife says they're snappy!!More recoil than a 9mm and about a third less to shoot with surplus.Easy to field strip so corrosive is not a issue.
 
As said previously, I'm kind as in the same boat as the OP. I was looking for the Tokarev TT-33 Altough Bearhunter's post made me think about it twice! I love russian firearms (cheap and awesome) but for punching holes in paper while a noob I guess a .22 would do the job.
I never held a handgun before(except in the restricted course) and I guess the Tokarev would be a waste of ammo for a begginer? Don't get me wrong I know surplus is cheap but to get use to pistol marksmanship should I start with a .22?
There is a nice 22 pistol at a local shop for 260$ Should I buy it then buy 7.62x25 ammo and tt-33 pistol later?
 
BCRider said:
The last thing that limits them is the lack of a safety.
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I just got my first Tok a week ago yesterday. Took 'er to the range on Saturday. I bought a Norinco M93 Woodsman at the same time for real cheap plinking in .22. Had a blast.

I did notice on my Tokarev, that it has a half-#### feature. Does anyone know if all the tt 33s have that, or is this only on some? I didn't play with that part of it to see if it was a viable safety, as was getting used to the gun.
 
They all have a half-####. Safeties were added to some pistols imported to the US long ago.

I'm left handed, and with the tiny grips I had to remove the lanyard loop to be able to fire it at all.

The trigger on mine is brutal. Mechanism is cool, but the pull is about 50lbs, like a really crummy DA revolver.

That being said, I really like mine. Slim, reliable, historic, punchy rounds (kicks the @ss out of 9mm and steals its girfriend IMO), a pistol to own for sure, but not a good first choice.
 
They are a great sidearm, as many have mentioned they are inexpensive and quite accurate when you do your part. Ammo availability can be an issue, so buy cheap and stack deep as they say.
 
I can't complain with my '52 TT. Excellent condition, cheap and reliable and haven't failed me yet. Cheapest ammo I've found is Trade-Ex Canada, a real good bunch to deal with. Hope I helped.
 
cainesy said:
I can't complain with my '52 TT. Excellent condition, cheap and reliable and haven't failed me yet. Cheapest ammo I've found is Trade-Ex Canada, a real good bunch to deal with. Hope I helped.
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At Tradex they are $169...when they have them. Currently sold out.

I found them at Wolverine for $159. I hope they still have some in stock when my paperwork is finally processed and I am ready to purchase.

Adrian
 
Fun Fun FUN gun! real tourque, serious power.... Tried mine on piec of 6x6 square dry pine lumber, went right thru. Angled it off a bit and it will go thru almost 7-1/2'' of timber. Got to go get another 2200 case for spare.
 
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