7.62x25mm Tokarev Ammunition

History of 7.62x25mm Tokarev Ammunition

Designed in the1930’s, the 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge was manufactured in the Soviet Union for use in submachine guns and pistols. One of the most popular pistols chambered for this cartridge was the Tokarev TT-33 pistol. This firearm was used in the Soviet military from the early 1930’s until the mid 1960’s. Quite possibly the most well known use of the 7.62x25 Tokarev is when it was chambered in the PPSh-41 submachine gun. This brought the cartridge to the attention of the world’s militaries and several Warsaw Pact countries and others, such as France and North Vietnam developed their own submachine guns to use the 7.62 Tokarev cartridge.

Over its long lifespan, the 7.62 Tokarev has been produced in several configurations from ball to armor piercing and incendiary, this cartridge has been employed in a variety of missions that required a small cartridge that had excellent penetration. Today, in the United States, the 7.62x25mm is commonly found with 85 or 90 grain Hollow Point or Full Metal Jacket bullets. Velocities range from just over 1200 feet per second to just over 1700 feet per second. The 7.62x25 is known for its excellent penetration, some reports state that the FMJ bullets can penetrate up to 17 inches of ballistic gel. Other sources claim that the cartridge will go through class II ballistic vests and the American PASGT helmet.

In the United States, the 7.62x25mm is largely used by collectors to feed their Tokarev TT-33 and Czech CZ vz 52 pistols. With its high velocities it holds validity as a self defense cartridge, with muzzle energies of 400 to 570 foot pounds, the 7.62x25mm commands respect in the self defense arena.