Aim Surplus just had a small batch of C&R-eligible Romanian TT-33 Tokarev pistols for sale for very little money. I had to order one, having had a Norinco version in 7.62X25 maybe 30 years ago.
Two impressions have stayed with me regarding this old Soviet warhorse design: wow, this Browning-inspired pistol is slim; and wow, that little bullet gets down range right quick!
Look forward to handling one again.

I have a non issued Polish one, way better quality than the Soviets, they're a pretty common gun up here.

Grizz

Griz, you can own one in Alberta? Cool!

Bill,I always hate to hear those words,"you can own one?...anywhere."

Randy, I seem to be laboring under some misunderstanding regarding handgun owner ship in Canada. Hope Griz will set me straight.

Bill,yeah would be nice to know,just for G.P.We all hear so many horror stories from around the world on firearms rights infringements. I think we are the last bastion.

I had a Soviet, 1941 made, Tokarev. The standard one, not the slightly less usual earlier one. As BILL/OREGON says those bullets went downrange pretty quick!

I used surplus steel case ammunition that had the bullet with the steel core. It was corrosive so the pistol had to be boiled out.

It shot well enough...four inches at twenty five yards bit, my, was it noisy! I also had a 1924 dated Nagant revolver. That the range reloaded for.

Spares, with an earlier Norinco Tokarev I ran some of the corrosive surplus sub-gun ammo, and it was nasty indeed, but I sure as heck would have hated to be on the receiving end of those rounds. And yes -- nearly as loud as a .357 out of a short barrel.

I need to make an order today on the Tok. I have an extra magazine and brass cased ammo coming from another source. Be Well. Packy

I've not owned a TT-33 or a Yugo 58, but am currently building my own design of semi-auto carbine in 7.62 x 25 Tok.

Receiver is about 95%; bolt is 98% needs extractor installed, working on fire control group/Safety.
Just about ready to chamber it.
Then off to the range. I have no doubts it'll fire.


Should be a fun little toy

Got one from AIM Surplus. Will shoot it as soon as possible. Be Well. Packy

I carried one for awhile in Vietnam and then kept one as a vehicle gun for many years.

They are fantastic guns and with hollow points wicked on soft tissue and great penetrators with solids.

When I was testing 9mm Buffalo Bore ammo to judge its ability as a bear protection load I also compared it with the 30 Tokarev and 180 gr Buffalo Bore 357 and the Tokarev was closer to the 357 than the 9mm.
Which was no surprise to me, but had I used it to kill a bear I would have been crucified by the big Bore crowd !

.458, point well taken.

Years ago I had a Tokarev but let it go to a friend who just had to have it. Kind of wish I'd kept it. They are pretty decent little pistols, especially for the money.

Well so far all I am doing is playing with mine. Either the magazine catch or the magazine is defective and it won't stay seated. Ordered another magazine billed as fitting this model Tok, and I would have to pound it in with a hammer. Guess I need to try yet another magazine. It's always something with some of the surplus "bargains.' On the other hand, the CZ-82 in 9 Mak runs like butter.

I’m angry that you introduced me to Aim Surplus!

DCS, this too shall pass. Be Well. Packy

If this is an internet legend call me on it; but it was passed to me by a gun dealer in the area that I trust otherwise. When the TT33 first started showing up at cheap prices a woman bought one and some Romanian surplus because she was frugal. At some point she was home-invaded and forced to shoot an intruder. The round entered the top of the shoulder near the collar bone and exited the butt cheek. I can see that happening with FMJ at 16-1700 fps but does anyone have similar data?

I don't Tiggertate, but I have run some very hot sub-gun surplus ammo through Toks and "penetration R us."

there used to be warning language about some tok ammo being REALLY hot - Bulgarian 3-10-52 is rumored stuff .. along with "pink" boxes --

i don't recall much past that, and it might be a myth

I wouldn't mind having some of the surplus sub gun ammo. The stuff I have is mostly cracked neck stuff. Really crap looking from Aim. I wanted the brass cased ammo for an experiment. A friend used to tell me about heating the empty fired cases, filling them with hot lead for projectiles in the 9.3X57. He said they were most effective. Had used them on a range bull that might have been charging him. I wish I knew his name and contact info. I could always use some way to save money to shoot my 9.3s. I may see what this Tok does with a new cracked case. One shot. Then I will pick out all the split neck ammo and disassemble it. Powder can always be used as a nitrate fertilizer. Be Well, Packy.