Reloading for 7.62x25 Tokarev

[1911WB]

Just picked up a surplus Romanian Tokarev (1953). Have never reloaded for this caliber, and additionally I plan to use the new .30 Mauser (7.63x25) brass that I have which, if I'm correct, is interchangeable with 7.62x25. Please correct me if I'm wrong abut that.

Anyway, my question is two-fold: would I be better using 7.62x25 dies or .30 Mauser dies since I'm going to use .30 Mauser brass; and, does anyone have load data for an 86 gr. .30 Mauser bullet using Green Dot or HP-38 (same as W-231)? Thanks for the help. WB

 

[Pelo801]

I would think you would use 7.62 x 25 dies since that's the chamber you'll be firing these out of.

My lyman book lists W231 for an 86 gr bullet with a starting load of 5.0 gr and a max load of 6.1 gr. It lists HP38 with the same start load and a max load of 6.0 gr.

I'm not 100% on this, so hopefully someone will be along to clarify! but it's been my understanding that pistols that fired the 30 Mauser round operated at lower pressures than guns used for the Tok round. So that makes me wonder if the brass of a 30 Mauser round can handle the pressure if loaded to Tok specs.

 

[celem]

Just picked up a surplus Romanian Tokarev (1953). Have never reloaded for this caliber, and additionally I plan to use the new .30 Mauser (7.63x25) brass that I have which, if I'm correct, is interchangeable with 7.62x25. Please correct me if I'm wrong abut that.

Anyway, my question is two-fold: would I be better using 7.62x25 dies or .30 Mauser dies since I'm going to use .30 Mauser brass; and, does anyone have load data for an 86 gr. .30 Mauser bullet using Green Dot or HP-38 (same as W-231)? Thanks for the help. WB

They are dimensionally the same. I load for my neighbor's 30 Mauser broomhandle using 7.62x25 Tokarev brass fired in his PPS-43.

 

[MI2600]

The .30 Mauser is .002" longer. I have both sets of dies, but I load for the Tokarev and use the loads in both type guns.

I usually use Titegroup or Bullseye so I can't help you with your powders. There's wealth of info on-line.

 

[bltmonty]

Get the 7/62x25 dies.

I get the best results using the old Hodgdon HS-7 powder, but other powders with that moderate burn rate work well, Accurate #7, Blue Dot, VN 105. Power pistol was too dynamic or unstable for me.

 

[H&R Glock]

7.62x25 loading

I use a 100 grain half jacketed .308 bullet from Hornady and 4.5 grains of Universal. Functions my TT just fine and is accurate.

 

[dogrunner]

My standard load for my CZ52 in that caliber is 7.5 gr. Blue Dot, standard small pistol primer, 90 gr Hornady XTP........

Alternately, the same charge with a 100 gr rn cast from straight wheelweights.


Load's safe in MY gun, but I'd suggest dropping back a bit on start up.

 

[H&R Glock]

Listening for Tokarev reload information

I'm still on pins and needles awaiting someone who loads 7.62x25 with plated 110 grain carbine bullets (.308"). I'd like to know what powders you use and all the technical data you have. My TTC is pining away in it's pistol rug awaiting the time I can load up some cheap plinkers.

I went out yesterday and bought a Ruger new model Blackhawk in .357mag. at a farm auction. I'll piddle around with it till someone answers my prayers here with Tok info.

My loading manuals are jam packed full of 38/357 loads using everything from color dot powders to pull down firecracker fillings. I wish it was that easy for the Tokarev loads.

 

[armarsh]

I'm still on pins and needles awaiting someone who loads 7.62x25 with plated 110 grain carbine bullets (.308"). I'd like to know what powders you use and all the technical data you have. My TTC is pining away in it's pistol rug awaiting the time I can load up some cheap plinkers. ....

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data that has not been pressure tested. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

With a Berry's 110 grain bullet I found that 6.0 grains of VV 3N37 or 9.0 Grains of AA #9 work excellent.

There have been many threads here over the years so if you search for it you will find others.

 

[H&R Glock]

Thanks Armarsh-

that's the scoop I was waiting for. Now I need a supplier of either one of those powders.
Unfortunately there is no pistol powder for sale anywhere in Michigan these days.
I have Tite Group, Universal Clays, Bullseye, and Unique on my shelf. These pistol powders are so rare, these days, that I could sell the empty cans for $100 each as rare collectors items. Maybe I oughta' put my pistol powders in my safe deposit box along with my 22 rimfires! :banghead:

 

[H&R Glock]

Yo Armarsh, CHEAP Tokarev loads

I was able to obtain more data on one of the powders that I now have in stock. The load was tested in my TTC (Romanian Tokarev) today.
Using X-Treme 30 caliber "PLATED" carbine bullets 110 grain with 5.6 grains of Titegroup powder. (These bullets should be the same as Berry's bullets if you have them.) I have PPU Partisan brass.
I started out with 5.0 grains of powder and found to my surprise that they functioned the pistol just fine. I moved up to 5.4 then 5.5 then 5.6 grains with no signs of pressure.
As I was almost finished with my test a friend arrived at the range with his chronograph. We shot the 5.6 grain load at 1165 FPS which is fine with me for cheap plinking ammo at half the price as store bought.
Now I will have to toss the whole pistol into the tumbler for a day or two to see if it will fix the creepy trigger pull.
Thank you for your input. I will be testing a similar load with Accurate #2 soon.

 

[H&R Glock]

Red Faced testing 7.62x25 TOKAREV loads

The loads with the 30 carbine 110 grain plated .308 bullets, with 5.6 grains of Tite Group, in my TTC sure function my gun properly. Now when it comes to accuracy I must describe the handgun as becoming a shotgun with this ammo.
I am able to keep a group at about 20 inches at 15 feet from the target.

Although I cant slip one of the bullets into the muzzle, somehow I sense the bullets are rattling from side to side within the bore before exiting the muzzle.
Therefore I am stepping up to my 32 caliber plated bullets of 70 grains with 5.0 grains of Unique which was suggested to me just recently. These are the same bullets I was running thru a .309 sizing die previously, but which failed to function the gun.
I hope this latest modification does not turn the shotgun into a grenade. Wish me luck and send flowers

 

[H&R Glock]

7.62x25 success

Safety glasses in place and old t-shirt wrapped around hand- BANG! no explosion!
Someone posted a page from their loading manual on this load so I tried it in my Tokarev Romanian TTC.
X-Treme Plated 70 grain 32 caliber bullet (.312) with 5.0 grains of Unique, OAL=1.310" No sign of pressure. One out of 5 functioned the gun, but this was the starting load so I can go up another grain with no danger. Accuracy was EXCELLENT.
These are the same bullets that I was sizing down to .309" to fit the bore more closely to published bullet specs. (these did not function the gun.)
All I have to do now is carefully increase the load. This is gonna' be a winner!

 

[Havok7416]

total recoil, what was the T-shirt going to do for you? From the sounds of it your bore is oversize. Have you measured the bore?

 

[H&R Glock]

No Havoc Havok

No I have no means of slugging the bore. The remark about the safety glasses was real, but the remark about the t-shirt was just an attempt at levity . It was supposed to abate the blood spatter in case the pistol blew up!
The load was safe according to the load data from a manual someone scanned for me.
It listed a jacketed 71 grain 32 caliber bullet for the loads listed, but that was no problem when I substitute a soft lead plated bullet. Pressures are lower with lead.
I had to insert commas between the loads as my nice looking chart got squashed when the editor took over the post.

It shows loads of:
POWDER/VELOCITY 1000 1300 1400 1500
____________________________________________
WSL 4.7 , 5.0 , 5.5 , 6.0
Unique 5.0 , 5.3 , 6.0 , 6.7
Viht N340 5.1 , 5.7 , 6.3 , 6.8
540 6.9 , 7.5 , 8.1 , 8.7
Viht 3N32 6.0 , 6.5 , 7.1 , 7.7
AA #7 8.1 , 8.7 , 9.4 , 10.1
Blue Dot X , 8.0 , 8.7 , 9.4
Viht N110 10.0 , 10.9 , 11.7 , 12.6

Foot pounds energy 227 , 266 , 309 , 355

so the load of 5.0 of Unique was a primaryily a test, and one that was pretty safe. Just call me chicken when I test loads!
I also load for my 50BMG single shot and it has taught me what a big difference one can expect from a few extra grains of powder. (20 to be exact in the 50 caliber can flatten a primer.)

 

[armarsh]

In days gone by Berry's offered the 110 Grain plated in .311 - I expect they will again when they get caught up with orders.

 

[H&R Glock]

The component market still sucks. Berry's only sells boxes of 1000 of the 32's and has none available in the smaller size boxes that I would prefer. X-Treme does not even carry plated 32's.
My stock of Unique is running thin, and the rent is due too!
I will soon carry out my threats to convert my pistols to propane or natural gas! That is the only way the powder manufacturers will be forced to step up production.

 

[russnagant]

Sadly, this caliber is terribly underserved and underappreciated. Are these pistols typically .311-.312 or .308-.309?