Whats your experience with reloading and shooting TT AMMO.
- Thread starter Gunggeek
- Start date
I love my 1943 Russian TT-33; it had some feeding issues when I got it, but after some gentle work with a jeweller's file it now works flawlessly (specifically the feed ramp had some sharp edges that were catching the rounds funny). The gun's bark is worse than it's bite; loud rounds that come out fast, but the recoil is on par with any other semi-auto full sized pistol. It's not the world's most accurate pistol, but it's still more than accurate enough to get good training in.
Big warning is that almost 100% of the cheap surplus ammo is steel core which is forbidden by many ranges; so before you buy the pistol, make sure that your range will accept it. Otherwise you're stuck buying new production 7.62x25 which immediately eliminates any cost saving for ammo versus 9mm. As an example, Wolverine sells 7.62x25 for $0.18 per round of surplus, but it's $0.60 for new production whereas you can easily find bulk 9mm for around the $0.30 per round mark that's range safe. I don't reload so I'll let someone else chip in on that angle.
Big warning is that almost 100% of the cheap surplus ammo is steel core which is forbidden by many ranges; so before you buy the pistol, make sure that your range will accept it. Otherwise you're stuck buying new production 7.62x25 which immediately eliminates any cost saving for ammo versus 9mm. As an example, Wolverine sells 7.62x25 for $0.18 per round of surplus, but it's $0.60 for new production whereas you can easily find bulk 9mm for around the $0.30 per round mark that's range safe. I don't reload so I'll let someone else chip in on that angle.
Yes you can reload for it. I bought a bag of re-loadable brass for it. From Budget Supply, I think.
For bullets you can buy cast lead SWC bullets made for the 32 target pistols. Or you can buy plated 110 gr M1 Carbine bullets. I found both bullets to be very accurate.
I have 5 of these TTs and they range from fair to one that is very good. The Polish ones are the best for me.
For bullets you can buy cast lead SWC bullets made for the 32 target pistols. Or you can buy plated 110 gr M1 Carbine bullets. I found both bullets to be very accurate.
I have 5 of these TTs and they range from fair to one that is very good. The Polish ones are the best for me.
I've reloaded for mine and it can save money but chasing the brass is a pain and loosing it is costly. The TT's really throw it! I've had great luck with CanadaAmmo sales that put the cost of Norinco non corrosive lead core 7.62x25 at $0.22 / rd plus tax. You just have to keep an eye out for sales.
Geek, the surplus casings are generally not reloadable. First off they are mild steel with a coating so they don't resize well. Second they are typically Berdan primers which requires special decapping procedures.
If you want to reload for this gun then buy brass Boxer cases from somewhere like Budget or some other source. That way you can use the usual primers and usual decapping dies. It's far easier than trying to get set up for reloading Berdan primed cases.
If you want to reload for this gun then buy brass Boxer cases from somewhere like Budget or some other source. That way you can use the usual primers and usual decapping dies. It's far easier than trying to get set up for reloading Berdan primed cases.
- Location
- Central AB
I have a bunch of Surplus to burn up, but quite often find reusable boxer brass discarded at the range, so have been picking it up for when I eventually need it. Got to love free brass.
Wow, didn't know about that one; thankfully I was mistaken, thanks!
To add another thought; if you think you're ever going to end up buying some variant of the Tokarev, now is a good time. It's still relatively easy to get your hands on a Tokarev without giant import markings, but that's just going to get harder and more expensive as things go on. With some quick searching, you can still pick up a good condition, unmarked Russian TT-33 for about $200; but that's already creeping up to the $250-$300 mark in a lot of stores.
Very good point! I've been trying to get that word out, but...
Starline makes 7.62x25 brass, and I've found I can use .30 Mauser brass interchangeably in my TT.
It's not exactly the same, but it works. I use .30 Mauser dies to reload.
gewehr76
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Getting brass is not as hard as finding proper bullets for reloads. 86 gr .310 is what this gun designed to shoot. Further more it has to be of FMJ construction in order to obturate the riffling.
That has not been my experience. The plated 308 dia 110gr M1 Carbine bullets shot very tight groups in my pistols, as does the cast lead SWC bullets sized .309" intended for the 32.
