Should I Buy a Tokarev?

I literally made a holster for mine last night. Excuse the mess.

 

I had a CZ52 which I would recommend that was purpose built and shot well.

If OP plans on shooting, I would suggest CZ52 ... but where would you get the ammo?

If OP plans on just keeping it, I guess ammo availability won't matter.

 

I have had ample first hand experience with the Polish, Russian, Yugo and Chinese Tokarev 33 versions and knock offs. The one that stood out was the FEG Tokagypt Firebird. It was chambered in 9mm, though.

 

I take that back ... I guess ammo is available and priced OK ... So get the gun.

https://www.ammobuy.com/ammo/762x25mm-tokarev

 

They are not pretty, ad function like many Soviet-engineered items.
7.62x25 is not a bad round.
Now, personally, I found a CZ-52 more comfortable to shoot. But, I will have bias there. (That, and you can switch a CZ-52 to 9x19 with just a barrel swap what with the roller locking to lock the thing up.)
Finding the 7.62x25 ammo is not that much more difficult than finding 9x18.
The pistols do not show any signs of loosing value anytime soon, so the cash is probably not much at risk.

 

I also have a 9x19 barrel for a TT-33. Works fine.

Actually I only tried it, many years ago, in 2 of my TTs and stored it, uninstalled, thereafter. For several years I have used it as a Quick Check gauge for hand-/re-loaded 9x19 ammunition. It hangs from a little hook by its link from the shelf behind my reloading station.

 

Very nice! You have skills.

 

I like my Tokarev. It's a solid, basic pistol. Mine shoots accurately.

I would be especially careful to get one with clean rifling.

 

I have one. Nice gun. I also have a CZ-52. Also a cool gun. Neither will be a target gun, neither is engineered with modern levels of safety and reliability, but they’re fun shooters at the range and I like the 7.62x25 round. The history is nice too. But they wont be cheap to feed… Tok ammo is available but at $30/box isn’t what I call cheap. Makes for a gun that only sees use every couple of years.

 

I had a Chinese Norinco 9mm Tok that the previous owner had removed the frame mounted safety from. I converted it back to 7.62x25. All that was needed was a barrel, barrel bushing, and magazines. A friend of mine talked me out of the gun about 20 years ago.

I wouldn't go out of my way to replace it but if I saw one locally at a fair price, I might snag another.

As I recall - it had hammer bite and wasn't very ergonomic for shooting.

Norinco sells a copy of the Sig P226 in 7.62x25. The Canadians can buy it. Kind of a neat gun.

 

Take a gander at Zastava’s current production M57A … as already mentioned, 9-rounds, a longer grip & genuine (i.e., functional) slide-mounted safety. Though it does have a magazine safety, it is easily removed, with end result being drop-free mags.

 

The CZ52 was a pistol I had wanted for years, having read about them in a book(W.H.B Smith).
When they became available I bought one immediately.
However, after having it to the range, I found I didn’t like it very much. I found the rumors of easily broken firing pins were true…mine broke with one, single inadvertent dry fire.
The Tokarev is better in every way. As noted, it is very slim… I can’t think of another full sized service pistol that is as easy to carry IWB.
My Romanian Tok has served as a backpacking pistol. When the plandemic and riots started, and I could see the crazy in peoples eyes, my Tok became my car gun, tucked away with four mags.
At the range, I have rung the 100yd 10” round steel plate easily with the flat shooting 7.62x25.
As for ammo, back in the glory import days I bought a sealed spam can of Romanian military ammo, so I’m ok.

 

Absostinkinlutely

I let a Norinco go years ago and regret it still, I have other things I want but might just put them on hold to have the chance at another. I reload already for my old surplus M57, and plus it told me it's lonely.

 

Remember that grip works better when your arm is bent, rather than the target styles stances we use.

 

I had both a Polish and Yugo Tok. The Polish looked a lot nicer and functioned better. The Yugo was just needy. They were fun to shoot and got me through the ammo shortages from a couple of Presidents ago. I actually bought 2 cases of surplus ammo before getting the pistols.

 

I got my M-57 years ago from J&G for about $80. I fell in love right away, starting with that 9 round capacity magazine. Then I really fell "head over heels" after I discovered that the Polish milsurp ammo (steel jacketed, basket ball muzzle flash.) would go completely through most trees up to 7-8" in dia. With the windows up, it would sail through both doors on a Toyota with most shots. If I had to get into a gunfight where my attackers were in a car, and all I had was a pistol, I would want it to be a Tokarev. Mine has the same safety as AMraider's but the original half cock notch is still there. Most people immediately think " bad idea " when half cock safeties on auto pistols are mentioned, but the Tok's is unlike any other's. Put the hammer on half cock and everything on the gun is locked down. The slide wont move and the trigger is immobile as well. The only way to fire the gun is to deliberately cock the hammer first. That removeable fire control unit is pure genius. If something breaks, just swap assemblies! Nothing that a untrained soldier in the field can't do himself.

Mine has a... well... "military" trigger, six or seven pounds, but it is consistent. It shoots 4-6" at 25 and close enough to hit a person at 50. That's good enough for me. My biggest criticism of the gun is the rear sight. Not that the notch is too small or too hard to see, but instead the fact that it is sticking so far up in the air. And is is mounted in a very narrow dove tail for a base. One good drop on a hard surface that catches the sight just right and it can loosen in the dovetail. It happened to me.

I would buy two or three more if I could.

 

I would loved to have bought one years ago, when you could get cases, and cases of ammo in the Shotgun News for next to mothing. I wouldn't mess with it now.

 

I'd suggest a Zastava since it's got the longer grip frame and loads more rounds.

Mine:


Grip panels are a little worn, but it shoots fine. Try to find one without import marks and after-market safety.

 

One thing people don't often take into account is the magazines.

They still make tokarevs, and the magazines. Zastava is still around and producing both 9mm and 7.62x25mm.

The only reason I'd suggest one of the other tokarevs instead of an M57 is compatibility. Sometimes I find super cheap working tokarev magazines, but they're the 8 round mags, the ones the M57 isn't compatible with because of the grip. With, say, a TTC, you can use any 8 rounders, as well as the yugo 9 rounders.

 

The blade safety is the best option. To legally import these pistols the importer has to add a safety. Previously they marred the gun by drilling a hole in the frame to add a thumb safety that didn't even work well. These blade safeties can be removed and replaced with a standard trigger and you then have an original pistol.

 

I always wanted a Yugo M57. Passed over them for years at gun shows. Now they are no where to be found, it seems.