The 7.62x25mm Tokarev: History, Specs and Firearms

The 7.62x25mm Tokarev is a Soviet high velocity bottleneck cartridge for pistols and submachine guns. C.I.P. standardizes it as 7,62 x 25 Tokarev, lists the USSR as its country of origin, and gives it its own dimensions and pressure limits, separate from the older German 7.63 Mauser cartridge.

What is the 7.62x25mm Tokarev?

C.I.P. lists the standardized cartridge name as 7,62 x 25 Tokarev, with a 1990-04-14 date, a 2006-09-19 revision and USSR as country of origin. In common English use, shooters usually write it as 7.62x25mm Tokarev or 7.62 Tokarev.

The cartridge is closely associated with Soviet service pistols and submachine guns. A U.S. small caliber ammunition identification manual states that in 1930 the Soviet Union adopted the Mauser cartridge under the designation 7.62-mm Type P for the Tokarev TT-30 and TT-33 automatic pistols, and later for the PPD-40, PPSh-41 and PPS-43 submachine guns.

That same manual gives 7.62x25mm muzzle velocity as 400 m/s in a pistol and 450 m/s in a submachine gun. Modern factory loads can be faster or slower depending on the maker, bullet and test barrel.

Origin: from Borchardt and Mauser to Tokarev

The 7.62x25mm Tokarev belongs to a cartridge family that runs through the Borchardt and Mauser pistol era. Royal Armouries states that early Mauser C96 pistols were predominantly chambered in 7.63x25mm, and that the Feederle brothers adapted the Borchardt cartridge for the C96 with a stronger powder charge and a slightly heavier bullet.

The Soviet step came later. According to the U.S. ammunition identification manual, the Soviet Union adopted the Mauser cartridge in 1930 as 7.62-mm Type P. The same manual lists several related designations, including .30 Mauser Pistol, 7.63-mm Mauser Pistol, 7.62-mm Type P and 7.62-mm Tokarev, M. 30.

That naming history helps explain why the cartridges are often discussed together. It does not mean all loads are interchangeable in all firearms. C.I.P. lists 7.62x25 Tokarev and 7.63 Mauser as separate cartridges with different maximum pressures.

Military firearms that used it

The best known 7.62x25mm Tokarev firearm is the Tokarev TT-33 pistol. Small Arms Survey, with technical assistance from the National Firearms Centre at Royal Armouries, lists the TT-33 caliber as 7.62 x 25 mm Type P. It also lists TT-33 basic data as a 116 mm barrel, an 8-round detachable box magazine and 420 m/s muzzle velocity.

The Australian War Memorial describes a Tokarev TT 33 pistol as a semi-automatic pistol firing the 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge. Small Arms Survey also identifies TT-33 derivatives and variants including the Chinese Type 51 and Type 54, the Hungarian Model 48, the North Korean Type 68 and the Yugoslav M57.

The cartridge also became important in Soviet submachine guns. The U.S. ammunition identification manual names the PPD-40, PPSh-41 and PPS-43 as later submachine guns for the 7.62-mm Type P cartridge. The National Army Museum describes the PPSh-41 as produced in large numbers from 1942 onward and equipped with a 71-round drum magazine. The Australian War Memorial states that the PPS43 was designed by Aleksei Sudayev to make maximum use of stamped steel construction and fired a 7.62mm x 25mm round.

C.I.P. specifications

C.I.P. gives the 7.62x25mm Tokarev its own technical data sheet. The figures below are C.I.P. maximums or barrel dimensions, not loading recipes.

Specification	C.I.P. 7,62 x 25 Tokarev value
Maximum pressure, Pmax	2500 bar, transducer method
Bore, F	7.62 mm
Groove diameter, Z	7.92 mm
Number of grooves	4
Twist	240.00 mm
Headspace	On the shoulder

For owners, the most practical takeaway is simple: use the cartridge designation marked for the firearm, and use standard factory ammunition that matches the firearm maker’s guidance. Do not use C.I.P. tables as handloading instructions.

Typical factory ammunition

Current factory catalog data shows the cartridge most often with bullets around 85 grains. Sellier & Bellot’s 2025 law enforcement catalog lists a 7.62 x 25 Tokarev FMJ load with a 5.5 g, 85 grain bullet, 502 m/s muzzle velocity and 693 J muzzle energy.

Prvi Partizan’s 2023 catalog lists 7.62 Tokarev FMJ and JHP loads, both with 5.5 g or 85 grain bullets. The same catalog lists its 85 grain FMJ load at 525 m/s muzzle velocity and 759 J muzzle energy from a 250 mm barrel.

If you are comparing bullet styles such as FMJ and JHP, see our plain English guide to FMJ vs hollow point bullets. For this cartridge profile, the important point is that factory catalog data should be read by exact cartridge name, bullet weight, bullet type and test conditions where the maker provides them.

7.62 Tokarev vs 7.63 Mauser

The 7.62x25mm Tokarev and 7.63 Mauser are historically related, but C.I.P. treats them as separate cartridges. C.I.P. lists 7.63 Mauser with Germany as country of origin, a 1984-06-14 date and a 2006-09-19 revision. It lists 7,62 x 25 Tokarev with USSR as country of origin.

C.I.P. item	7.62x25 Tokarev	7.63 Mauser
Country of origin listed by C.I.P.	USSR	Germany
Maximum pressure, Pmax	2500 bar	2250 bar

The pressure difference is especially important. C.I.P. lists 7.62x25 Tokarev at 2500 bar Pmax by transducer method, while 7.63 Mauser is listed at 2250 bar. Modern Firearms warns that some World War II and postwar submachine gun loadings can exceed original Mauser loading levels and are unsafe in older Mauser and Astra pistols.

For a collector, that means the exact firearm and exact ammunition matter. Do not assume that a Tokarev marked box, a Mauser marked box and surplus cartridges of uncertain origin are equivalent just because they look similar.

Where it is found today

Today, the 7.62x25mm Tokarev is most visible in historical Soviet and Eastern European designs and their variants.

Small Arms Survey identifies the TT-33 family and variants including the M57.

For many shooters and collectors, interest in the cartridge is tied to the TT-33, the PPSh-41, the PPS-43 and related national variants. The ammunition data above shows that new factory loads have also been cataloged by major ammunition makers, including Sellier & Bellot and Prvi Partizan.

Practical safety notes for owners and collectors

The 7.62x25mm Tokarev is a cartridge where markings and documentation matter. C.I.P. lists it separately from 7.63 Mauser, and the two cartridges have different C.I.P. pressure limits. Modern Firearms specifically warns about some wartime and postwar submachine gun loadings being unsafe in older Mauser and Astra pistols.

Use only the cartridge named by the firearm maker, and follow the firearm manual. If you have a surplus pistol, a firearm with unclear markings, or ammunition of uncertain origin, have it evaluated by a qualified professional before firing it.

Finally, check current manufacturer manuals, ammunition maker catalogs and C.I.P. or SAAMI information where applicable. Published specifications, product lines and safety warnings can change, and the correct answer depends on the exact firearm and ammunition in front of you.