Should I Buy a Tokarev?

I've got a CZ52 and M57, the CZ is a better and more accurate pistol IMHP. I wouldn't imagine that a Chinese version would be equal to either.
 
I have one. It has been a useless wall hanger for over 2 years. DON'T buy it unless you can get it for $100 or less.
The reason is simple- AMMO. The cost of ammo and the unavailability of reloading bullets make it a difficult piece to enjoy at the range. Mine sits on a shelf with 20-30 rounds and never gets shot. All my 9mm's, 223's, and 22's get regularly exercised and are truly enjoyable because even with shortages, I can get reloading supplies or have stockpiles of 22 ammo for them.
 
The reason I’m leaning Chinese is the safety trigger incorporated for import is easily removed by simply swapping the trigger with a standard combloc example. That, and they are affordable.

The others available are either very expensive and/or have tacked on ugly and intrusive safeties. Also not interested in the Yugo M57 as I prefer the looks and history of the standard 8-round pattern guns.

Just wondering if these Chinese guns hold up to occasional range use, mostly going to use as a fun collectible and companion to my Makarov.
 
I have one. It has been a useless wall hanger for over 2 years. DON'T buy it unless you can get it for $100 or less.
The reason is simple- AMMO. The cost of ammo and the unavailability of reloading bullets make it a difficult piece to enjoy at the range. Mine sits on a shelf with 20-30 rounds and never gets shot. All my 9mm's, 223's, and 22's get regularly exercised and are truly enjoyable because even with shortages, I can get reloading supplies or have stockpiles of 22 ammo for them.
There is ammo available, but the shipping costs dictate that you have to buy in bulk to make it economical enough.
Projectiles for reloading are definitely scarce and the brass can be a P.I.T.A. to deprime. I've broken more than one decapping pin because some brass has small or offset flash holes and/or crimped primers.
 
Lots of noise, not too much accuracy. Still fun
I don't know what you are shooting, but I'd put my CZ52 up against just about any other pistol for accuracy. I can free hand bust a gallon jug with it a 50yds all day long and have done it at 100yds many times. It's blessing and curse is the small sights, very accurate, but not easy to see.
 
I had a dream last night I bought one of the Chinese Type 54 Tokarev 7.62x25mm pistols on the market now.

View attachment 1039440

Is that a sign? Always wanted a Tokarev as a companion to my Makarov. Ammo is available and not as terribly inflated as other rounds.

Thoughts?

Go ahead if you want.

I think they're ugly, but the engineering always sounded interesting.

That's an interesting pic. Is that a trigger blade safety?
 
My $200 X-grade from Aimsurplus showed up last week. Honestly, I’m not sure what makes it any different than any of the other arsenal-refinished Type 54s that were selling for $350. There are a few scratches/tiny chips on the grips, but no pitting at all that I can find, and the bore looks good.

On the whole, the pistol is in much better condition than some I’ve purchased from Classic Firearms that were advertised as “Good” or “Very Good” condition.
 
How easy is the 7.62x25 to reload? That would be my question.
I find the 9x18 Makarov very reloader friendly as I can use 9x19 brass.
 
How easy is the 7.62x25 to reload? That would be my question.
I find the 9x18 Makarov very reloader friendly as I can use 9x19 brass.
Some of the guns in 7.62x25 can use .312 bullets (the Zastava's can), so if you're gonna reload it, get a Zastava. If you don't, Speer makes .30 Carbine bullets that could be used.

Pretty sure Starline is the only source for brass. Lee does make a collet crimp die for it and I'd advise using it.

All in all, not the worst bottleneck pistol caliber to reload, better than 5.7. I haven't loaded any yet, but plan to. Just not worth tooling up to load anything with the primer and powder situation right now.
 
Curious I am. Bullets? What size bullets are required? Different than what I might use for the .30 Luger or .30 Mauser?
 
I have a Romanian. Bought it maybe five years ago, and have maybe 200 rounds of ammunition, bought not long after the gun. Still haven't shot it yet, though (it's still Cosmoline-gunked, too.)
 
There was a Chinese version in 9mm. I lucked across one a few years back.

It's a decent low-tech, single-stack, single-action service pistol. Ammo is, of course, not a problem.

It had obviously been shot quite a bit before I got it, but it works just fine.

It's just a range toy, so I don't care about the safety, but I can empty a mag onto a small paper plate quickly at seven yards, and it's reliable.

 
Wish I had purchased one just to have a historical example of a Soviet service pistol. The Soviets used the absolute best weapon designers and came out with simple, rugged, reliable firearms. And they made millions of them.

Just as my Swiss K31 is an interesting example of a complicated, expensive, overly precise hunk of machinery, the Soviets went for simple and rugged. And the Tokarev pistols I have handed fit into this design philosophy.
 
I had a Chinese in 9 mil from back in the 90's. It was reliable if nothing else. I could actually hit things with it. I parkerized it and mod'd the area of the frame near the trigger guard to give it a little more finger space due to the short grip. I liked it.
 
Yes, your other guns need something new in the safe to talk about. A gun collection should be a melting pot of many style, caliber and designs as possible.
 
Go ahead if you want.

I think they're ugly, but the engineering always sounded interesting. ...

Funny ... that parallels my initial thoughts.

I can only think about the TT33s in comparison to CZ52s, probably because they represented like choices during the same time period.

About 20 years ago when these were being shown on the websites of several online vendors (some here will remember the pics of wooden cases full of pistols with one or two removed and placed on top to show) I thought that the CZ52 looked intriguing and the TT33 looked, um, less--than-attractive. Old design/tech.

I ended up separately buying a total of 3 CZ52s (I still have them). While fun to shoot & accurate I found them to be slightly uncomfortable. The grip just doesn't feel quite right to me. BTW, I wear size-Large gloves (long-thin fingers) so it is not a case of small hands fitting that big grip.

Shortly after buying and using my first CZ52, I ordered a Polish TT33 Variant (why not?). The very first time I picked it up I knew that I had been very wrong. Compared to the CZ52, the TT33 is svelte. Slim, flat, light, naturally-pointing and a grip that perfectly fits my hand ... easily concealable ... and I shoot them at least as well as the CZ52s.

I will even periodically carry one of my Romys in a Wrights Leather holster that I had specially made about 10 years ago. :)
 
I picked up a Zastava 9mm some years ago, and while it functioned perfectly, we never bonded. I did find the removable fire control component interesting. So that's why the top of the trigger is rounded. Sights were small, aftermarket grips weren't plentiful, and someone else wanted it more than I did, so we're all better off for the experience.
 
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