Where did the 7.62x25 Surplus Ammo Go?

[shotgunjoel]

I've been watching the Tokarev market (both pistols and ammunition) for the past few months with the plan to buy a pistol and at least one tin of surplus ammo come summer. Well I've seen pistols come and go at J&G's, AIM, and Dan's, but they just got them in at Classic Arms, and Widener's still has them. The part that is scaring me is the surplus ammo. A couple of months ago J&G had Polish 1260 round tins for $90 (that's almost 22lr prices!). Other places had it for anywhere from $110-$140, then within that last month, it has all disappeared, except for Classic, who is selling it for $162 a tin! That's coming up on double what J&G had it for 2 months ago. So is the supply drying up, or are we just in between imports? Be reconsidering a Tokarev at this point due to the loss of cheap ammo, or do you think that it will come back soon? The reason that I haven't bought the gun yet is because I just sent in my C&R application, so I'm waiting on that. Should I buy a case from Classic at $162 now before it vanishes, or will it be back everywhere in a month or so? I'm rather new to the surplus thing, does this happen a lot with ammo, the supply running out, then another big import shipment getting in? Sorry for having about 30 questions, thanks.

 

[jmace57]

Oh... I see 70 round boxes for $9.95, but with a quantity discount for over 11 boxes at $8.95 per box...

 

[Caliper_Mi]

I only bought my Tokarev partly because of the cheap ammo, the other part is because I have ended up collecting Soviet Bloc firearms.

Honestly, after shooting the Tok, it doesn't matter to me if surplus runs out. I'll keep shooting this thing! Not only does it have a nice single action trigger, but it is darn accurate and makes a nice big boom (for a pistol) at the range! Just fun to shoot. Midway even has brass, so I'll eventually get a set of dies and start reloading for it.

 

[woad_yurt]

When I evaluate a possible purchase, I consider the current, not past, price. Toks are currently very affordable and 1200+ rounds of any centerfire ammo is still comparatively cheap at $160. This is a snooze-and-lose situation if ever there was one.

 

[Hondo 60]

J&G Sales said they don't anticipate getting any more surplus ammo.
So I bought dies, once fired brass & a couple of boxes of boxer-primed ammo.

It'd be great if we see prices like $5/70 rd box again, but I'm ready even if we don't.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The answer is simple, downrange.

 

[jmace57]

I ordered 11 boxes yesterday from Classic - got a confirmation. Just received an email "updating the status" to OUT OF STOCK.

 

[shotgunjoel]

I ordered 11 boxes yesterday from Classic - got a confirmation. Just received an email "updating the status" to OUT OF STOCK.

Well crap. That's the last that I've seen around. Let's all hope for another shipment. Anybody personally know importers that might deal in Tok ammo?

 

[Weevil]

I hope it hasn't dried up, but it happens.


Look at .303 Brit and the Enfield rifles. The were both dime a dozen a few years back. Lots of nice rifles for give away prices and .303 was everywhere for dirt cheap prices.

But no new military weapons being used in this caliber so no new ammo and the surplus ammo has dried up.

Now you're paying premium prices for .303 when you can find it that is.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Well so far the vote is split down the middle on whether We'll ever see surplus 7.62 Tok again. I'll wait and see, and hold off on the Tokarev purchase until both my C&R gets back, and ammo reappears.

 

[Clark]

I bought cases of Polish 7.62x25mm Tokarev ammo for 7 cents a shot in 15 years ago.

That is just about what it is worth today, where as Gold has gone up 3X or 4X.

And the Gold would have take up less floor space

 

[carbuncle]

Judging by the amount of brass I get as by-catch at the local indoor range, it's going downrange!

 

[xr1200]

I hate to say I told you so , but I did over 3 months ago. Surplus ammo would dry up and now these guns will become more expensive them 9mm to shoot.

Soon there will be a lot of $250 paper weights.

 

[Fastcast]

I hate to say I told you so , but I did over 3 months ago. Surplus ammo would dry up and now these guns will become more expensive them 9mm to shoot.

Soon there will be a lot of $250 paper weights.

Ridicules!.....Commercial 7.62x25 cost no more than .45acp. With your rationale all the 1911's are paperweights also.

For what it's worth, I've shot just as much commercial S&B through my CZ52 as surplus. Why, because I like the consistency and accuracy better. Not to mention it's not corrosive.

My CZ won't become a paperweight because the surplus dries up. Anymore than it will because xr1200 predicted a surplus dry up but hated to say he told us so because he's so humble. lol

You want to play, you gotta pay......Never went into the 7.62x25 game figuring I'd only ever shoot cheap surplus.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

The Prvi Partisan 7.62 Tok is WAY cheaper than .45acp. I have no doubts that even if I have to start shooting commercial ammo, my M57 will not be a paperweight. It's a nice little pistol so it'll still see use.

 

[xr1200]

Heres a link from slicks gun deals for how cheap 9mm is now and it will probably drop even more, or the next year or 2 . The problem with the 7.62 x 25 there isn't enough demand for it. Sure wolf, winchester and other companies will probably make it , but you won't see it cheaper them 9mm for new ammo.

You can't compare 7.62 x 25 ammo prices to 45acp prices as the component prices are not the same, you have to use a round that has the closest weight components and 9mm is the best available for a price comparison.

Sellier & Bellot 9mm 115gr. FMJ 2000 rnds $350 = $8.75 box , 1000 rnds $180= $9.00

Winchester white box 7.62 x 25 is $23.17 a box
Sellier & Bellot 7.62 x 25 is $15.97 a box

 

[Fastcast]

xr1200, this thread is about 7.62x25 not 9mm.

What part of we like the cartridge and pistols that fire 7.62x25 and don't give a damn about the difference between the price of it and/or the 9mm cookie cutter pistols that fire that round? :banghead:

 

[Weevil]

Heres a link from slicks gun deals for how cheap 9mm is now and it will probably drop even more, or the next year or 2 . The problem with the 7.62 x 25 there isn't enough demand for it. Sure wolf, winchester and other companies will probably make it , but you won't see it cheaper them 9mm for new ammo.

You can't compare 7.62 x 25 ammo prices to 45acp prices as the component prices are not the same, you have to use a round that has the closest weight components and 9mm is the best available for a price comparison.

Sellier & Bellot 9mm 115gr. FMJ 2000 rnds $350 = $8.75 box , 1000 rnds $180= $9.00

Winchester white box 7.62 x 25 is $23.17 a box
Sellier & Bellot 7.62 x 25 is $15.97 a box

9mm isn't a very fair comparison. The reason it's so cheap is because of it's wipespread use by the militaries of the world and police.


.380 would be a better comparison.


WWB box of 50 95gr FMJ $20.99 [Midway]

Federal AE box of 50 95gr FMJ $16.79 [CTD]


Compared to 9mm everything looks expensive.


If all you're worried about is cheap ammo get a .22.

Personally I like to shoot a variety of weapons and calibers even if they do cost a few more dollars than 9mm.

 

[xr1200]

The plain truth is a lot of the ppl that bought these pistols because of the cheap ammo will now either stop shooting them, sell it, or leave it in the safe due to the high cost of shooting it now.

Also yugo 57 pistol is not really even accurate enough to make them an enjoyable range toy. My brother has one that misfires all the time and the point of impact is about 2 ft high and 4" to the left at 25 yrds. It will shoot a 4 inch group though, so if you can 't adjust the point of aim what good is it.

Another friend locally bought one in unissued condition and I advised against it, when he brought over the gun to show me it the barrel was actually ground and fit to the bushing with a grinder and a file, this one at least doesn't misfire and groups about 4 inches at 20 yrds. and it will hit POA at 15 yrds. but at 20-25 yrds. it is way off and agian no way to adjust the sights expect for windage.

So after taking into account how bad they shoot, price of ammo, and misfires.
why would anyone really take one of these guns over a accurate sig 9mm, SW or used glock for around $300 , that will hit where you aim them everytime.

With the high cost of the 7.62 ammo these distributors will be forced to sell of the rest of the m57 for $99 and they will become like the $99 7.62 russian revolver that no one wants to own or shoot anymore.

Ppl. bought these guns mainly for the cheap ammo, so it must be compared to another most common and cheapest to shoot center fire pistol cartridge which is 9mm.

You can not compare it to the cost of a .380 which is in short supply and very high demand right now, also 380 is not a commonly used as service pistol range cartridge.

If you want to compare it use either the 9mm, or 38 special which are both very common for range practice and competition shooting.

 

[Weevil]

Well I've got two Polish Toks and a CZ52.

Nice accuracy out of the Poles and acceptable out of the CZ.

Never had a misfire or problem of any sort from either of the Tokarevs.

The CZ has a problem with the pins liking to walk out, especially the slide-stop pin, but no misfires.

The Tokarevs are legendary for their reliability and it is one of the reasons so many different countries produced this pistol.

Sounds like your brother got a lemon.



As for running out of cheap ammo, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I've got about 4K of it on hand.

 

[il_10]

XR1200, the rear site is adjustable for windage, and elevation with a file. If it's shooting low, take some material off the front site. If it's shooting high, take some material off the bottom of the trough in the rear site or add some material to the front site. It's not rocket science, and a 4" group at 25 yards is pretty good for a 50 year old service pistol. If it's misfiring, why not replace the firing pin or otherwise troubleshoot the problem? A tighter bushing will improve accuracy as well, and can easily be found on numrich or Sarco.

 

[Weevil]

You can not compare it to the cost of a .380 which is in short supply and very high demand right now, also 380 is not a commonly used as service pistol range cartridge.

So we're supposed to compare it one of the most commonly used calibers on earth, and that's not in short supply?

So who's using 7.62x25mm as a service caliber nowadays??

If you want to compare it use either the 9mm, or 38 special which are both very common for range practice and competition shooting.

Why???

7.62 TOK isn't commonly used for range practice either at least not anywhere close to as much as 9mm or .38 spl.

And just which competitions is 7.62 TOK used at???

 

[xr1200]

Weevil - your comments are jus knit picking my statements, for sake of argument then compare it to the 30 luger, 9mm luger and 40sw cost.

All are sevice caliber auto catridges and one is obsolete (30 cal luger) no guns made for it and very expensive.

I am leaving 45acp out of this as it is a very large caliber and brass, bullets and powder all cost more when making his round.

So using winchester white box for comparison

30 cal luger $55.65 win super x , for 50 rounds
7.62 x 25 $23.17 for 50 rounds.
9mm $19.00 for 100 rounds
40sw $25 for a 100 rounds
Even throw in 45acp $30 for a 100 rounds

 

[xr1200]

the front sight is to small to file down and my brothers gun will not drift the sight over far enough to bring it on target.

I feel the tokarevs were just designed as last ditch defense pistols made to shoot at short distances, the armories didn't really care where they shoot.

Try and find a range report where someone actually posted pics for accuarcy of one of these pistols or point of aim at 25 yrds. from a rest with actual pics. It doesn't exist anywhere on the net.

 

[Fastcast]

Weevil - your comments are jus knit picking my statements, for sake of argument.

Because your argument paints a broad stroke of all these 7.62x25 pistols and the people that own them.....We know you don't like these pistols or cartridge but why you feel the need to educate (insult) the owners to your way of thinking is getting old. If you like the 9mm Sig, S&W & Glocks so much than go play in those threads, instead of always coming to the 7.62x25 threads and causing trouble.

BTW.....I buy 50 rounds of S&B 7.62x25 from my FFL for $16.00.....Not $23.....Chew on that!