7.62x25 Tokarev reloading issues.

Have you slugged your gun to confirm the size of bullet needed?

Are you sure it's not a burr on the mouth or a shoulder collapse causing the hang up.

Measure your brass and see what your wall thickness is running. If heavy brass you may need to turn the necks if your over sized bullets need it.

I'm doing single stage and I had to back the expander die almost completely out. Just barely enough to get the bullet in the case. I'm using win brass, I haven't tried the Berdan primmed stuff yet.

I had the same problem @ 20 years ago with the Lee 7.62x25 dies. I called them up and explained the problem to the nice lady who answered. She wasn't able to help me so I was asked to hold.

A minute or two later I heard, "This is Dick Lee, can I help you?" I explained the problem again and he proposed using a powder through expander for cast .303 British. I offered to pay for it, but he refused, wouldn't even let me pay shipping.

I got it in the mail a few days later and it worked like a charm.

ETA: Upon re-reading your post I see that I didn't really address the problem.
My pistol had a .312 bore and chambered easily with .312 bullets seated.

Have you slugged your bore?

Maybe you need to inside neck ream?

My Cz52 is actually checking under .307, haven't checked the M57 yet.

If your bore is .307 try sizing the bullets to .309 before seating.

Analogkid said:

I'll cast and press a dead soft cast 311 bullet through it tomorrow and mic it. The sizing die has to be (is) sizing the bullet down as well because it runs like a champ after that. Obviously I don't want to keep doing that if I can eliminate this step.

Click to expand...

How's your accuracy?

I'd think that post sizing with a full length sizing die would make for some really undersized bullets.

Well I'm grateful for this thread because I didn't realize I had a problem yet. The rounds I've loaded so far dry cycle fine though my Cz52, but I hadn't checked the M57 yet. I just did and they are not cycling through it. The slide is hanging back just enough to keep from closing. Guess I'll dig into that in coming days.

You're getting a bulge in the neck, possibly because the bullet isn't seating straight, could be a brass issue, who knows. I'm not a fan of the Lee flaring dies, I think they're crap, but they do allow for power thru the die, so pros and cons. I like the Lyman M die for flaring, but I know they don't make a flare die for the Tok or .30 Luger/Mauser, but the .32 H&R/.327 M die might help reduce or prevent bulges as the M die helps seat bullets straight.

That said, you may want to consider buying the Lee factory crimp die available for 7.62x25. This is a collet style crimp die meant for short bottlenecks (pistol bottleneck cases) and if it works like the standard crimp dies it should remove any bulges present. You don't need a super crimp on the bullet, you're just looking to smooth out the bulge.

https://leeprecision.com/factory-crimp-die-30-mau-7.62-tok.html

$22 at Midway

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016833587?pid=139832

It could also be that your .311 bullets are too big. 7.62x25 is, on paper, supposed to use a .312 bullet, but with that cartridge the S&B brass might have been meant for .308.

I would try a smaller bullet and see if the issue is still occurring. My money is it's a bulge and the Lyman M die and Lee crimp die will fix it.

I am using the lee three die set plus the factory crimp die. I load the Hornady 90 gr. XTP which is .309. I use starline brass. I do not need to use the case mouth expander die to be able to seat the HDY bullets. Mouth tension is adequate. Could you try sizing your bullets a little smaller?

I use 32 acp plated 71 grain bullets from Berry''s, Lee dies (the sizing die is marked 30 LGR) the sizer was factory included and correct as Luger 30's are almost the same. Belling is slight but the brass tension is strong. I load Accurate #2 to about 1300 fps. No copper flake in the bore.

I'd try sizing the bullets to .310" and see if that allows them to chamber easily.

.001" over groove diameter is likely to be enough with a powder coated bullet, assuming they aren't cast too hard.

I've had the exact same issue with S&B brass in my TTC. I've found their brass to be a little long, I'd check their length. Usually a quick trim solved the problem for me

Analogkid said:

My bore on both barrel's is .309 I put 2 soft cast bullets through each and mic'd them. I have the factory barrel and a replacement one a friend gave me that is a newer production.

Any thoughts now that I know the bore size?

Click to expand...

With a .309 groove there's no reason to use .311 diameter bullets. Size to .309 and see if the issues persist. You may not need the collet crimp die after all, but you may want to buy it to reduce potential of bullet setback.