Some more specs on the 7.62x25
 

Well, my guy is nothing, if not persistent. AGAIN, specs for the 7.62x25 - not up for discussion. Just posting what I've gotten. Agree or don't - I DON'T CARE. Just trying to disseminate information - this is not research done by me.

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I set out today to settle the question, "So why does the 7.62x25 shoot so well?" I've been astounded by this pistol since I bought it and I had to set out on a quest to study it for myself. If you're interested, read on, my friends.

I only studied the spam can ammo from the Eastern Bloc, "non-corrosive" (I'm unsure about that claim), brass cases, 86gr. 1550 FPS. This ammo is VERY accurate and consistent, making it a GREAT round because you know exactly what to do with it, and what it is capable of doing. The same cannot be said for 9mm Luger/Parabellum/9x19, or even 40 and 45 caliber from my shooting and reloading logs. Heck - I own the Ferrari of .45 caliber pistols, the H&K USP Tactical with a threaded barrel, and it doesn't shoot as consistent as the Tokarov or the 357SIG. It collects dust in my gun safe.

The necked down case body from 9mm to 7.62 makes for a directional flow of gasses. It helps "usher" the flow forward instead of pushing out in all directions, looking for the easiest way to escape. Generally necked brass tends to load and chamber very easy, even when dirty. See 5.56 NATO, 7,62 x 39, 308, .357 SIG etc. The smaller tip "leads" the case into the chamber and helps guide to battery.

Taking the round apart: [SORRY, COULDN'T GET THE PHOTO'S TO DOWNLOAD]

See the first photo. This is an unfired 86 grain copper jacket round nose with an open meplat (the bottom of the bullet) extending past the lead core to form an expanding gas check. The jacket appears to "shed" itself when shot through barriers, leaving the lead to carry on.

This round also uses a large amount of powder (photo 3). It holds 9.1 grains of a black extruded varget-looking rifle powder. This space consuming powder leads to another advantage, a casing packed full of powder that the bullet sits firmly against. (some would call this "+p") Advantage: no bullet setback when it jams or under heavy recoil in the magazine, as well as even burning, because of no extra air-space in the case. I've noticed powder-packed cases in .357 and 5.56 are the same way, consistent. In fact, now when I reload .357 SIG or 5.56NATO, I find the "fattest" powders give me the best accuracy and consistency.

The brass uses a small "prick" on 4 sides of the neck to further hold the round from setback. It is not sealed at the neck or primer, which is ok, because my days of beach-landings are over.

The brass cartridge also features a non-reloadable military Small Pistol Primer in it with a "berdan" design, or otherwise, the cartridge (not the primer) holds the anvil for the percussion cap to ignite through two holes into the case, rather than a single hole design like in current applications. This allows the powder to burn from more than one area, igniting more powder at one time.

Shooting the 7.62:

Average speeds and penetration were already mailed out. Those were extremely interesting, but I have an addition today.

I made some WWII style "dum-dum" rounds for the 7.62 by drilling a 3/16" hole in the nose (just past the copper jacket) of the bullet and carving a light "X" into the jacket with my knife. These rounds left a 72 grain chunk of lead with little copper pieces spread throughout the penetration media; I didn't try these on the sheet metal, as I had a limitation of metal and media. Pretty messy - like a home-made hollowpoint, I suppose. It works anyhow, but not worth the effort in my opinion; stick with the factory design because it affects accuracy.

I also re-shot the penetration media today simulating a car door and a person behind it. See photo #2. I was left with a nasty tumbling chunk of lead which measured over 1/2" in diameter.

Accuracy was also re-done today since I had more time and less wind. I had an astounding 2 MOA (Curt, a minute of angle, or MOA is one inch at one hundred yards) average group from a "single dot slide" pistol for a 16 round group at 25 yards.

Best 3 shot group was 1/2" at 25 yards, or 2 MOA. The sights seem to be set for 50 yards, as at 7, 10 and 25 yard lines, they shoot 3" high.

That's all I have for now

WELL, that's it for now. Again, I didn't do this research. Done by a friend of mine, confirming my stats - but he did it for himself. Not for any other reason. Cause he just HAS to know what his weapon is doing...