Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy wanted to talk about 7.62×25 Tokarev. The cartridge has persisted of nearly 100 years and is still used today in one form or another. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of the cartridge while discussing some of its traits and use cases. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
The 7.62×25 Tokarev round, often simply called 7.62 Tokarev, was developed in the Soviet Union. The cartridge has been produced since 1930 and draws inspiration from the 7.63×25 Mauser cartridge. The Soviets essentially wanted to emulate the performance of the Mauser C96 pistol with their homegrown cartridge. While initially intended for use in pistols, submachine guns have also been chambered in 7.62 Tokarev. The Soviet military cartridge saw adoption and use by Russian and other Eastern Bloc countries throughout the 20th century. Even as service pistols in the caliber were phased out in favor of cartridges such as 9×18 Makarov, the cartridge continued to persist in use.
As the 7.62 Tokarev was designed to mirror the 7.63 Mauser, the dimensions of the cartridges are nearly identical. These similar dimensions allow for them to be loaded into firearms chambered in their counterpart. This means that firearms chambered in one round will be able to chamber both cartridges. For example, a TT-33 pistol chambered in 7.62 Tokarev will accommodate both 7.62 Tokarev and 7.63 Mauser ammunition. While a pistol chambered in 7.63 Mauser will accept and chamber 7.62 Tokarev ammunition, it is inadvisable to shoot 7.62 Tokarev in these firearms.
The 7.62 Tokarev round features a more powerful powder charge and higher pressures than the 7.63 Mauser cartridge. Firearms chambered in 7.63 Mauser are not capable of enduring the higher pressure and increased powder charge of 7.62 Tokarev loadings. If 7.62 Tokarev ammunition is fired in a 7.63 Mauser chambered firearm, it is very likely that damage will occur. Firearms chambered in 7.62 Tokarev can safely shoot booth cartridges without incurring any damage.
As far as 7.62 Tokarev ammunition goes, one will find a healthy supply of surplus ammunition. This surplus ammunition often comes from Russia and other former Soviet states such as Romania. In addition to these surplus offerings, one will also encounter modern production loadings of 7.62 Tokarev. Companies such as Winchester, Sellier & Bellot, and Hornady have produced loadings for the 7.62 Tokarev cartridge. While surplus and modern offerings are available, it should be noted that these loadings tend to be significantly less common than more contemporary calibers such as 9mm Luger and .45 ACP. While not as plentiful as other ammunition offerings, 7.62 Tokarev is by no means unobtainable.
An overwhelming majority of firearms on the market chambered in 7.62 Tokarev will be of the surplus variety. These surplus firearms will generally be in the form of service handguns utilized by Russia and other Eastern Bloc countries. Common examples of these pistols will be Tokarev TT-33 style pistols from Russia and other countries and Czechoslovak CZ 52 pistols.
In recent years, Zastava USA has started to offer modern production versions of their Tokarev pistol in the form of the M57A line of handguns. Modern production versions of submachine guns in the caliber such as the PPS43 are available in a pistol configuration from companies such as Pioneer Arms. At the end of the day, one will encounter far more surplus firearms than modern offerings in 7.62 Tokarev. If one wishes to acquire something in this caliber, they will have no issue finding a suitable firearm.
Generally, one will find that modern production 7.62 Tokarev ammunition is not corrosive. The surplus ammunition one will encounter will most often feature Berdan primers. While not all Berdan primers are corrosive in nature, it should be known that most surplus loadings with Berdan primers will be corrosive.
Generally, surplus ammunition will feature steel casings. As a considerable amount of the 7.62 Tokarev ammunition on the market is surplus, one will often encounter steel casings. Some modern production 7.62 Tokarev ammunition has also featured steel casings. Not all 7.62 Tokarev ammunition is going to be of the steel cased variety. Many modern production loadings will feature brass casings.
Steel cased ammunition is incapable of being reloaded. Brass cased 7.62 Tokarev ammunition can be reloaded if the casings are recovered. One will be able to find projectiles and components for this round should they wish to load it. At the end of the day, it is completely possible to roll your own 7.62 Tokarev ammunition.
The 7.62 Tokarev is well-known for its high velocities. The high velocity and high-pressure round has been touted for its ability to defeat certain types of armor. The round has been known to be capable of defeating some types of Kevlar helmets and lighter ballistic vest. The round’s barrier penetration and armor defeating potential improves when longer barrels are used due to increases in velocity. Modern body armor offerings which meet or exceed NIJ Level IIIA will often stop the round.
The most common use case for 7.62 Tokarev is going to be plinking. General target shooting is one of the most common applications for firearms chambered in an older military cartridge. Some defensive loadings are available for the cartridge as manufacturers saw the potential to capitalize on the round’s inherent high velocity. The round definitely has lethal potential but is suboptimal for self-defense due to the prevalence of more optimal and common loadings in calibers such as 9mm Luger. At the end of the day, both of these use cases are hampered by the comparative lack of 7.62 Tokarev ammunition when compared to more contemporary rounds.
All in all, the 7.62 Tokarev remains a popular cartridge among shooters. The significant supply of surplus ammunition coupled with modern offerings in the caliber will keep a variety of shooters stocked for the range. Whether you are shooting 7.62 Tokarev or something else, we here at True Shot are here to help you get ready for your next outing. As always, happy shooting.
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