Tokarev half-cock

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Mr_Flintstone

Mr_Flintstone

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I know the Tokarev is a relic of days gone by; but I was wondering exactly how safe the half-cock is as a safety. Very few of them have any other type of safety, and the ones that are recent imports only have a flip-switch firing pin block safety.

I have read and observed that unlike the 1911, the Toks half-cock notch is much deeper with much less chance of slipping. The half-cock position also seems to sit lower/closer to the firing pin, so it would seem that there wouldn't be much force behind it if it did slip.

So as a holster carry safety, would the half-cock be safe and/or effective?
 
It was typical simple Soviet military design destined to be carried with empty chamber in military holster with flap closure and utilize PPsH cartridge. If the gun falls on hard surface certain way with chambered cartridge hammer on half cock it will inevitably go off. If you're hung up on this design I would look for newly manufacture Serbian one with slide mounted safety lever.
 
Cooldill said:
Don't do it me brudha.

Use the Israeli carry method as did the original Russians.
Click to expand...
There was guy called Wyatt Earp that used this method in his policing and keeping order. He would take his single action out and hit the "Log Head" with bottom of barrel end on the forehead. If fella did not go down and kept attacking he would cock back the hammer and nix them. Remember the trick not to use the butt end like they show in the movies because then you would have to reposition the gun to use it and that is very, vary bad. Good muck, man.
 
The Tokarev did not use the PPSh cartridge, the Tokarev came first and used the 7.63mm Mauser round that the Russian revolutionaries had obtained with their Mauser C96 pistols. The PPSh and PPS, like most SMG's, used the existing pistol cartridge.

I do NOT recommend hitting folks on the head with the barrel of a revolver, especially a single action army. If Earp actually did that, he would have bent the frame on his gun.

Jim
 
Israeli draw only with a carried Tok for this kid.

As for why anyone would want a Tok in this day and age, I keep one in the locker in case the zombies are wearing soft BA.

Plus I still have around 1800 rounds of Czech 7.62x25 in the ammo locker.
 
geologist said:
Israeli draw only with a carried Tok for this kid.

As for why anyone would want a Tok in this day and age, I keep one in the locker in case the zombies are wearing soft BA.

Plus I still have around 1800 rounds of Czech 7.62x25 in the ammo locker.
Click to expand...
I have a Romanian Cugir myself.
Great range toy and surprisingly accurate.
As a carry around gun it would be down, way down, on my list right next to my Spanish made Ruby .32
I'd be leery of that Czech ammo.
They made two kinds, a standard pistol load and a much hotter loading for the sa-24 submachinegun.
Quite a bit of the hot stuff came in through Interarms and was repacked in dark green cardboard boxes labeled 7.63 Mauser.
I've no idea how many Tokarevs the stuff blew up but I do know of two C96 Mausers that went kablooee.
The gun shop I worked for bought one cash money from a rather irritated customer and promptly removed the stuff from the shelves.
From what I have heard the ammo also used a super corrosive priming compound rumored to be aggressive enough to rust a fiberglass boat hull.
Anyway,,,
 
Onmilo said:
Why would you holster carry a Tokarev in this day and age?
Click to expand...
:) While I suspect that this may simply a poorly-crafted response by Onmilo I shall respond ...

So that it can be safely carried and readily available for use?
So you don't have to keep it in you hand?
So you don't have to tuck it in your belt?
So you don't have to carry it in a pocket and run the risk of the hammer snagging as you draw it?
So you don't have to lay it on the seat and risk it sliding into the legwell when you hit the brakes?
Just a few ...

I have a nice Ross leather cross-draw that I had them make for me so that I can more comfortably carry one of my TTs while distance driving.
 
Don't under estimate the Tokarev and it's 762x25 round.

I do not like the idea of a half cocked carry. I can pull and work the action about as fast as trying to full cock, a half cocked Tokarev. I have a Polish version, that's over 60 years old and it is a sweet shooter. Very accurate, modest recoil and a hard hitting 85gn bullet. I use PPU and S&B ammo. I have shot well over 500 rounds through mine and have never had an issue of any kind. I do have a few new replacement parts and springs, however, I still use it stock as it came. I've not done anything to it.

That little 85gn round comes out of it at 1400/1500 fps. It will go through level one armor, at close range and level two, as well, in many cases. I have 4 new 8 round magazines for it. I have carried it on several occasions, it's the Bees Knees to carry, so slim and relatively light. I do not feel under gunned with it either!
 
The Tokarev, especially with an already-cocked hammer, is super easy to draw and rack with one hand. Simply thrust it downward after the draw, catching its huge rear sight on the pocket of your pants (jeans work best.) Bring it to bear quickly after that, though, so you're not pointing a cocked and chambered pistol down your leg.
 
Onmilo said:
I have a Romanian Cugir myself.
Great range toy and surprisingly accurate.
As a carry around gun it would be down, way down, on my list right next to my Spanish made Ruby .32
I'd be leery of that Czech ammo.
They made two kinds, a standard pistol load and a much hotter loading for the sa-24 submachinegun.
Quite a bit of the hot stuff came in through Interarms and was repacked in dark green cardboard boxes labeled 7.63 Mauser.
I've no idea how many Tokarevs the stuff blew up but I do know of two C96 Mausers that went kablooee.
The gun shop I worked for bought one cash money from a rather irritated customer and promptly removed the stuff from the shelves.
From what I have heard the ammo also used a super corrosive priming compound rumored to be aggressive enough to rust a fiberglass boat hull.
Anyway,,,
Click to expand...
weird, i've read that was a myth of the hotter czech and such 7.62x25 smg ammo vs., pistol ammo. something to do with chart conversions errors or some other stuff.. can't remember the exact details.

also weird as tokarevs are quite strong. now cz52 there is lost of data on those kabooming. you have a source i go read up on this issue with hot ammo and tokarev kabooming and educate myself? thank you Sir.
 
Onmilo said:
I have a Romanian Cugir myself.
Great range toy and surprisingly accurate.
As a carry around gun it would be down, way down, on my list right next to my Spanish made Ruby .32
I'd be leery of that Czech ammo.
They made two kinds, a standard pistol load and a much hotter loading for the sa-24 submachinegun.
Quite a bit of the hot stuff came in through Interarms and was repacked in dark green cardboard boxes labeled 7.63 Mauser.
I've no idea how many Tokarevs the stuff blew up but I do know of two C96 Mausers that went kablooee.
The gun shop I worked for bought one cash money from a rather irritated customer and promptly removed the stuff from the shelves.
From what I have heard the ammo also used a super corrosive priming compound rumored to be aggressive enough to rust a fiberglass boat hull.
Anyway,,,
Click to expand...
Never heard of a Tokarev blowing up. The old military ammo was no hotter that modern day ammo for the 7.62x25 round. The old ammo was bad for the guns, as they used salt-peter in the primers. Modern day 7.62x25 does not. Just like the military ammo, the modern day ammo is rated at +/- 1600 fps out of a Tokarev. That's hot & deadly!
 
GBExpat said:
:) While I suspect that this may simply a poorly-crafted response by Onmilo I shall respond ...

So that it can be safely carried and readily available for use?
So you don't have to keep it in you hand?
So you don't have to tuck it in your belt?
So you don't have to carry it in a pocket and run the risk of the hammer snagging as you draw it?
So you don't have to lay it on the seat and risk it sliding into the legwell when you hit the brakes?
Just a few ...

I have a nice Ross leather cross-draw that I had them make for me so that I can more comfortably carry one of my TTs while distance driving.
Click to expand...

:D I'm still betting you don't carry it chamber loaded and set on half cock.
 
JohnnyFlake said:
Never heard of a Tokarev blowing up. The old military ammo was no hotter that modern day ammo for the 7.62x25 round. The old ammo was bad for the guns, as they used salt-peter in the primers. Modern day 7.62x25 does not. Just like the military ammo, the modern day ammo is rated at +/- 1600 fps out of a Tokarev. That's hot & deadly!
Click to expand...

Like I said, I don't know how many Toks blew up with that ammo but I have heard that Czech subgun ammo beat the barrel lugs so hard the guns became unreliable useless in pretty short order.
 
I have carried a TTC on occasion in an IWB at half cock....usually if I am traveling and am uncertain if I will be able to carry it wherever I go en route and need to keep it locked up in the car or hotel room. I would rather have a $180 gun stolen than a $600 gun stolen. Questionable military surplus ammo is not a worry as I load it with new production Prvi Partizan JHP.
 
Vonderek said:
I have carried a TTC on occasion in an IWB at half cock....usually if I am traveling and am uncertain if I will be able to carry it wherever I go en route and need to keep it locked up in the car or hotel room. I would rather have a $180 gun stolen than a $600 gun stolen. Questionable military surplus ammo is not a worry as I load it with new production Prvi Partizan JHP.
Click to expand...
With Tokarev pistol commercial versions now going for $250+ and original military versions up and continuing to climb as demand outstrips supply, the question remains, why carry this well obsolete handgun design when good used Gen 2 Glocks can be bought in the $350 price range?
A c-note savings on a trust your life to it defense pistol seems a bit ludicrous.
Nostalgia seems the only viable reasoning.
 
Onmilo,
Not sure which is more ludicrous the fact that you think a thin, reliable, accurate and powerful pistol makes a poor CCW or that you would suggest a Glock is a better one because you're worried about "Glock leg"
 
With Tokarev pistol commercial versions now going for $250+ and original military versions up and continuing to climb as demand outstrips supply, the question remains, why carry this well obsolete handgun design when good used Gen 2 Glocks can be bought in the $350 price range?
A c-note savings on a trust your life to it defense pistol seems a bit ludicrous.
Nostalgia seems the only viable reasoning.
Click to expand...
Onmillo, I think we all get it that you don't like the idea of carrying an old military pistol originally designed in 1930-1933. According to this line of reasoning I suppose that makes carrying a BHP which was designed in 1935 ridiculous as well. Your reply to my quoted statement is somewhat of a tangent. For one, I did not buy a $250+ commercial pistol. I purchased a pristine TTC C&R for $180 a number of years ago. I am not in the market for a police trade-in Glock. I am a Glock owner as well as several other modern handguns by other manufacturers. As I stated, if there is a chance on the road that I may have to leave a pistol locked up in a car or hotel room I would rather lose a cheaper pistol than an expensive pistol that I can not afford to replace in my current financial situation. The TTC is plenty accurate at 10 yards (I have no intentions of needing to use it beyond that) and has been 100% reliable. I feel adequately armed with an 85 gr JHP zipping along at 1400 fps. All in all a flat, compact, easy to carry platform that is based in large part on the 1911 Browning linked barrel design which seems to still be held in high regard by millions of shooters and is itself over 100 years old. The TOK is obsolete and dangerous to carry? Not so much. Not my first choice except for in the role I stated previously.
 
Vonderek said:
Onmillo, I think we all get it that you don't like the idea of carrying an old military pistol originally designed in 1930-1933. According to this line of reasoning I suppose that makes carrying a BHP which was designed in 1935 ridiculous as well. Your reply to my quoted statement is somewhat of a tangent. For one, I did not buy a $250+ commercial pistol. I purchased a pristine TTC C&R for $180 a number of years ago. I am not in the market for a police trade-in Glock. I am a Glock owner as well as several other modern handguns by other manufacturers. As I stated, if there is a chance on the road that I may have to leave a pistol locked up in a car or hotel room I would rather lose a cheaper pistol than an expensive pistol that I can not afford to replace in my current financial situation. The TTC is plenty accurate at 10 yards (I have no intentions of needing to use it beyond that) and has been 100% reliable. I feel adequately armed with an 85 gr JHP zipping along at 1400 fps. All in all a flat, compact, easy to carry platform that is based in large part on the 1911 Browning linked barrel design which seems to still be held in high regard by millions of shooters and is itself over 100 years old. The TOK is obsolete and dangerous to carry? Not so much. Not my first choice except for in the role I stated previously.
Click to expand...
Well said! Some people just never get it. I would guess that almost everyone who has posted negatively in this thread have never even fired a TOK, let alone own one. Like you, it's not my first choice for carry, but I have no hesitation or concerns, if I choose to carry it on a any given day. One thing for sure, I never feel under gunned when carrying it. That 85gn round is super hot, like a mini rifle. It goes through (In & Out) 55 gal drums at 50/60 yards, like a hot knife through butter.
 
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