The 7.62×25 TT Tokarev cartridge, which originated as the 7.63×25 Mauser, was developed in 1896 for the famous Mauser C96 pistol. ‘TT’ stands for ‘Tula Tokarev’ and derives from the pistol of the same manufacturer and name.
During the early 1920’s, Soviet Russia bought significant numbers of C96 Mauser pistols from Germany. After close examination, in the late 20’s the Soviets selected a slightly modified version of this cartridge as the pistol and sub-machine gun round for the Red Army.
The key differences between the initial 7.63mm Mauser and 7.62mm Soviet loadings were the size of the extraction groove and the diameter of the primer pocket (The Soviet cartridge used primers of a larger diameter). Both cartridges were originally loaded the same way.
The 7.62×25 TT was the round chambered by the Tokarev TT 33 pistol and the PPSH-41 and PPS-43 Russian submachine guns, giving reportedly better ballistic performance and penetration compared to Western calibers of the period such as the .45ACP.
It must be noted that several ‘submachine gun’ loadings manufactured during and after WW2, produce pressures well beyond the levels of the original Mauser loading. They are thus unsafe to use in older Mauser and Astra pistols. Also, certain loads produced since 1951 may have bullets with composite steel / lead cores, for both increased penetration and decreased cost.
Designation |
Manufacturer |
Bullet weight, g |
Muzzle velocity, m/s |
Muzzle energy, J |
Comments |
57-N-134S |
State factories, USSR |
5,5 |
430* |
508 |
Soviet military loading with steel-cored bullet (since 1951) |
7.62-Pi |
S&B, Czechoslovakia |
5,5 |
480* |
634 |
Czechoslovak military load |
7.62 M49 |
Prvi Partizan, former Yugoslavia |
5,5 |
518* |
738 |
Yugoslavian “sub-machine gun” military load; may be unsafe in most commercial pistols in this calibre |
* muzzle velocity as fired from Tokarev TT-33 pistol.