[rifleman68]

Wideners has Bulgarian 7.62x25 1950's surplus ammo for sale with a 10 and 53 headstamp. I hear a lot of good/bad stuff about the Bulgarian ammo. Want to shoot this in a PPS43C, should it be ok? Thanks for any input.

 

[jonny c.]

Should be fine. Corrosive and some case splits, but nothing out of the ordinary for Tokarev milsurp ammo.

 

[eli]

I like it. Don't freak on split necks unless it extends all the way down.

I've never had an issue

 

[rifleman68]

Thanks, looks like the credit card takes another hit. Want to stock up while it is still around.

 

[Franz 1796]

I don't understand why one of the overseas manufacturers has not yet made cheap steel case 7.62x25. If they can make x39 for 20c per round, why not x25.

 

[jonny c.]

There are 4 manufacturers that I can think of that are currently making Tokarev ammo, or have the ready capacity to do it; Prvi, S&B, China, Russia. Clinton banned all Chinese ammo and Russian 7.62 Tokarev ammo from importation, and Prvi and S&B are already imported. The other players probably don't see a big enough market.

 

[Louie]

Just like jonny said. If you could bring in Chinese x25 which used to come in, it would be dirt cheap. There was Norinco, and surplus Chinese all over the place when the AK ammo from China flooded the market. Mr Clinton killed that w/ his ban on Chinese ammo. The Russian stuff is in the ATF book as not importable per some rule on steel core pistol ammo. Both S&B and Privi make fine brass cased ammo, but it's not cheap!! They were almost giving away the Polish ammo 2 or 3 years ago, but as usual, it ran out.

 

[jonny c.]

And what really sucks is that very little Soviet Tokarev ammo actually has a steel core!!!

 

[cruffel]

Should be fine. Corrosive and some case splits, but nothing out of the ordinary for Tokarev milsurp ammo.

The experience I've had with Bulgarian is it's corrosive as hell. Lots of split necks. Be sure to clean well!

 

[thundervalley]

My experience with the Bulgarian is that it fouled the chamber after one magazine and then i had constant problems with the slide not locking shut, i had to bump it each time to close and fire. Bring a cleaning kit to the range with you, just in case it fouls your chamber early on.

 

[AZshooter]

Maybe I've just got a tight chamber on my CZ-52's, but much of that Bulgarian ammo won't fully chamber unless I neck size each round first.

 

[DocAV]

Chinese Tokarev ammo came in both brass and steel cases...the brass was the early 50s "Experimental" Lots, and the 1980s was the usual copper washed steel cases. Both excellent ammo for Chinese Tokarevs. I reloaded the Brass (Berdan .199" (5mm) RWS #5005 Primer) with quite good results.
Original loads were a bit "dirty" but in a PPS or a PPSh, who cares? and in a Tok, a good aftershoot clean gets all the crud out. Still have a full tin of the 53 brass, but can buy the Steel over the counter any time. (Australia).

Regards,
Doc AV