I am looking to get a Tokarev, and would like some help deciding between the Romanian and Polish Tokarev models. I can find them for about the same price. Also, between Polish, Romanian, and Bulgarian 7.62x25 ammo, which is best? I've read that the Polish ammo has some split necks.
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Help me pick a Tokarev and ammo.
- Thread starter C Philip
- Start date
If you go with a Romanian Tok, I highly recommend Empire Arms. I bought mine from Dennis and it looks practically brand new. It's a little more expensive than the other guys', but worth it.
The Polish ammo was stab crimped, creating a weak point on the case neck. That causes the splits. I've fired it with no problems. If you can find the other stuff, that's what I'd go for.
The Polish ammo was stab crimped, creating a weak point on the case neck. That causes the splits. I've fired it with no problems. If you can find the other stuff, that's what I'd go for.
I figure the Polish Toks are a bit more collectible. If you just want a good shooter and save a few bucks, get a Romanian (just as good and functional in my opinion). I shoot the old Polish ammo. Very good price and the split necks after shooting don't do any harm (doubt you'd be reloading Berdan primed cases anyway). Toks are a blast at the range and so cheap to shoot. Personally, I wouldn't use it as a carry weapon but I know some who do.
Tokarev Pistols
I would offer up another option. Try to get your hands on a Yugo M57 Tokarev. They were the latest version manufactured and had a lot of revisions that make them better and safer. They come with 9 round mags, and that is the bad point. If you can purchase one with a holster and 2 mags that would be good. The mags are almost impossible to find but the pistols are excellent with a better made safety and over all performance. Since the mags are longer, so to are the hand grips for a better feel in the hand. Most feel the 8 round versions, Russian, Polish and Rumanian are a bit small in the hand. Just my $0.02
I would offer up another option. Try to get your hands on a Yugo M57 Tokarev. They were the latest version manufactured and had a lot of revisions that make them better and safer. They come with 9 round mags, and that is the bad point. If you can purchase one with a holster and 2 mags that would be good. The mags are almost impossible to find but the pistols are excellent with a better made safety and over all performance. Since the mags are longer, so to are the hand grips for a better feel in the hand. Most feel the 8 round versions, Russian, Polish and Rumanian are a bit small in the hand. Just my $0.02
I have a Romanian TTC that I enjoy. Aside from the agricultural looking safety that was added (I assume by Century), it is a smooth, powerful little pistol. It is also very cheap to shoot, which brings me to the ammo. I have found Polish milsurp for less than 10 cents a round. That adds up to lots of fun at the range. The necks will split (I don't remember one that hasn't), but that doesn't seem to effect accuracy or functionality. My pistol just eats them one after the other.
Ignition Override
New member
My friend was unable to get his new-in-box Tokarev to shoot. He's 57 and pretty experienced with guns.
Yes, it was with the correct, fresh 7.62x25 ammo, and he wondered about a flaw in the trigger area, safety etc. Steve stood next to me for an hour, and he also could not get it to dry-fire.
Even his Polish Makarov to be almost as useless (correct foreign 9mm x-- ammo), and took both handguns apart with little or no success after re-assembling.
Yes, it was with the correct, fresh 7.62x25 ammo, and he wondered about a flaw in the trigger area, safety etc. Steve stood next to me for an hour, and he also could not get it to dry-fire.
Even his Polish Makarov to be almost as useless (correct foreign 9mm x-- ammo), and took both handguns apart with little or no success after re-assembling.
Last edited:
cougar gt-e
New member
My friend was unable to get his new-in-box Tokarev to shoot. He's 57 and pretty experienced with guns.
Yes, it was with the correct, fresh 7.62x25 ammo, and he wondered about a flaw in the trigger area, safety etc. Steve stood next to me for an hour, and he also could not get it to dry-fire.
Even his Polish Makarov to be almost as useless (correct foreign 9mm x-- ammo), and took both handguns apart with little or no success after re-assembling.
Can you supply more details? You say "new in the box"? Did he buy it 50 years ago and just now opened the box or is it "new to him" new? Or....?
Assuming it's a mil-surp gun, it may be full of cosmolene. That stuff will be everywhere and some areas will harden up. Has he totally disassembled, cleaned and correctly reassembled it? It took 4 or 5 hours of diddling around to get all the cosmo out of mine -- not including the 2 days of soaking in paint thinner.
The TT-33 Tokarev is a VERY simple gun that is VERY easy to fix. It was designed to be used by peasants that thought a metal pitch fork was high tech.
Without any details, it's just guessing but those are the guesses!
HTH
jb