30 caliber for self defense

[Scott77]

Hi i wanted to ask does anyone know if a 7.62 X 25 would be an effective round for home defense ? Thanks

[3 gun]

Not a great choice but it will work. The pistols out there in that caliber are pretty good guns. I had a nice CZ52 that I wish I had back. The biggest problem is I don't know anyone who makes anything but FMJ for it. With the bullet weight and speed it reaches the FMJ will go thru most walls like a hot knife thru butter. Soft point or HP loads would help but the 7.62x25 is still known for good penetration. The story I heard is penetration is its main reason for being. As the US made flak jackets more common the Warsaw pact countries started looking for something better against them, then the 9x18 that was so common. True or not I don't know. I do know that I wouldn't make a 7.62x25 caliber my first choice but I wouldn't feel like using rocks instead.

[Nightcrawler]

Actually, 7.62x25mm Tokarev outdates 9x18mm Makarov by a bit. See, during World War I, the Russians were buying all manner of arms to fight off the German invasion. In the process, the Russians became fond of the German Mauser pistol, and it's 7.63mm Mauser cartridge.

In 1933, the Tokarev TT-33 pistol was introduced, chambered for 7.62mm Mauser. Except that the Russians pumped it up a bit, and called it 7.62x25. You can fire Mauser ammo in a Tokarev, but you shouldn't fire Tokarev ammo in a Mauser.

Basically, the Russians liked making all of their small arms .30 caliber. Made it easier to mass-produce the barrels. The flat-shooting little round also made it useful in submachine guns, which the Russians became very fond of during the Second World War.

If you have a Tokarev or a CZ-52, yes, of course you can use it for defense. Actually, the Tokarev is a thin and highly concealable little pistol!

The problem, as was stated, is the ammo. Nothing but FMJ is typically available, and a 71 grain bullet at 1500 feet per second (or whatever the ballistics are) is going to zip through a lot of things, including thin walls.

Now, if somebody made JHP ammo for it, the hydrokinetic trauma the round produced could probably be multiplied. I don't think anyone does, however.

[Scott77]

Thanks i appreciate the info . I also wondered that it might penetrate alot.
I've heard magsafe makes a round for this caliber . I think it's a fun caliber
mine is a Tokarev .

[Nightcrawler]

Look up Fiocci and Sellier & Bellot ammunition, also. If anyone makes a JHP in 7.62 Tok, it's going to be one of these guys.

[Scott77]

Thanks

[kjeff50cal]

For HP & SP 7.62 X 25 Tokarev ammo http://www.reedsammo.com/

kjeff50cal

[RyanM]

For 85 gr at 1600, the biggest temporary cavity you can expect from a hollowpoint is about 3.25". Less if it fragments, which it probably will. Same size as the temporary cavity made by regular .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, and a little bigger than 9mm. So you aren't going to get any extra hydro-anything.

[PotatoJudge]

FNM (85 grn, about 1600 fps) from makarov.com, and you can always handload with 90grn XTPs.

[Nicky Santoro]

Try Cole Distributing http://www.coledistributing.com/
FNM in both FMJ and JHP

[mordechaianiliewicz]

I'm gonna keep a .30 Tok as my dedicated car gun. Way I look at it, it should tear through cover just fine. :evil: But I look at a .30 Tok as limited in application. I don't want it in my house for defense b/c of the overpenetration. If you want defense value, I'd say it's good if you aren't concerned with blasting through walls. Otherwise, stay away.

[MachIVshooter]

you can always handload with 90grn XTPs.

Up to nearly 1800 FPS in a CZ-52. I don't use mine for defense, but I certainly wouldn't feel under-gunned. It's muzzle energy with top loads approach that of the .357 magnum and 10mm, and the 90 grain XTP's were designed for the 7.62x25's velocity.