7.62x25mm Tokarev Ammunition

7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge, brass case and FMJ bullet.

Background

The 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge is a bottle-necked pistol cartridge designed in the Soviet Union and widely used in the USSR and Soviet satellite states. It is effectively a more powerful Soviet version of the 7.63x25 Mauser cartridge.

The two are physically very similar and many weapons can chamber both. However, the significantly higher power of the 7.62x25mm Tokarev will likely lead to weapon damage and user injury. The Czech version is loaded to 25% higher pressure yet, leading to significantly higher velocity and energy but also to greater danger if used in weapons not designed for it! The Czech ammunition can safely be used in your sturdy CZ-52 but it must not be used in weapons not specifically designed for it

The Starline Brass site has this warning for reloaders:
This case [the 7.62x25mm Tokarev] is very similar, except for the difference in length, to the .30 Mauser. Due to higher operating pressures, if the .30 Mauser cases are fired with hotter 7.62x25 loads in the CZ-52, it will tear the neck off some cases. 30 Mauser O.A.L. is .980" to .985" while 7.62x25 O.A.L. is .958" to .962".