ever seen a 38super Tokarev?

[Duffman]

I read that the Chinese made some 213's in 38 super, and that a very small number were imported.

Has anyone ever seen one?

Does anyone know anyone who has ever converted a Tokarev to 38 super? -Duffman

[JA]

I have never seen one but I have a scan of a ChinaSports flyer that lists the model 54-1 in your choice of 7.62x25mm or 38 Super. Also the flyer says they have 38 Super kits to change calibers of your 7.62x25mm pistol.
The only model 213's I have seen were 9mm. I have a model TOK-213 9mm imported by B-west and a model 213 9mm imported by Sportarms. Also have a hi-cap model 213-A 9mm imported by Sportarms that uses 14rd double stack mags.
The only 38 Super type 54 pistol I have seen was the model TU-90 combo imported by Navy Arms. The combo model was a 7.62x25mm TU-90 pistol with a 38 Super barrel,recoil spring, and mags. It came in either blue or chrome finishes.

[Duffman]

Thanks, do you know if any of those pistols or conversion kits are still available?

A 38super Tokarev would seem like a good choice for defence. That's my thought anyway. -Duffman

[JA]

All firearms and ammo from China were banned from import in 1994. No distubitors will have any so you will have to find one at a gun shop,pawn shop,gun show,or at a acution site. I see used ones all the time and still see new in the box ones every once in a while. You will just have to start checking all the places that sell guns in you area.
Or call Navy Arms and order a 9mm barrel then get a gunsmith to rechamber it to 38 Super.

[Clark]

I have converted a few.

I like Starline 9mm Supercomp brass and Win9x23Win brass. I like to shoot 158 gr .357" XTP bullet seated out to 1.36", and that requires the extra throat. I like Power Pistol, but I like LONGSHOT last year.

The conversion is worth the effort to me. I like the 9x23 performance. As one gun writer says, it is at the level of the hottest .357 mag. I guess that gun writer loads wimpy.

I don't think Navy Arms sells 9x19mm Tokarev barrels anymore, judging from thier website.
That would mean one would have to get them from SKSman or [shudder] Numerich.
SKSman wants $40
http://www.sksman.com/
But the ones I have got from SKSman have been of much higher quality than Navy, but that was some time ago.

I have converted the pistols by hand and in a lathe.
I have converted with drills.
I have converted with a $17 straight fluted reamer and drills.
I have converted with a $47 Manson 9x23mmWin reamer.
I have converted with a $47 Manson 9x23mmWin reamer and drills.



The drill sizes:
23/64 = .3594" [tight throat]
U = .368" [much looser throat]
W = .386" [make the chamber longer from 19mm to 23mm, SAAMI size chamber]

.380" straight fluted reamer [makes the chamber longer, tight chamber]

Here is a drill chart:
http://www.knivesby.com/drill-tap-chart.html

Converting a Type 213 9mm pistol takes extra effort:
1) Flair the ejector port
2) remove magazine spacer
3) use normal magazine

Which is what one would have to do to get the 213 to shoot the long 7.62x25mm ammo anyway.

[Duffman]

Did you convert them to 38super, or 9x23WIN?

I would like to have a TT-33 in 9x23. Could I just buy a 9x19 barrel and ream it out to 9x23WIN and safely use 9x23WIN, or is it better to stick with something like the 38super?

Did you change the recoil spring?

The 9x23WIN looks like a great cartridge, I've read alot about it. It looks like it would be a great cartridge for defense, especially in something like a TT-33. -Duffman

[TOK762]

I picked up a 38 Super bbl second hand some time ago. Have not gotten around to test driving it, but prior owner swore that it was very reliable. Don't recall that a different spring was required.

[Duffman]

Maybe they use the same spring.

I would like to convert a TT-33 to 38 super, but if it can be converted to 9x23WIN, that would be cool too. -Duffman

[JA]

The TU-90 combo's came in 7.62x25mm/38 Super or 7.62x25mm/9mm. All TU-90 were packaged in the same box the difference was the styrofoam insert for pistols and the cardboard insert for the combo's. The combo's had cut outs for the barrel,spring,and extra mags. Here are pics of the TU-90 box front and one end showing the models. The "S" beside the box with the "X" denotes a second. The trigger guard and the grips had scratches on them that looked like the pistol had been dropped.
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/966TU-90_box_front-med.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/966TU-90_box.jpg

[Duffman]

I almost bought a TU-90 in 9mm for $100. It looked nice, too. Regretably, I didn't buy it. I now have a Polish TT-33, so all is not lost.

Anyway, does anyone know if any of those TU-90's are still available? Does anyone know what they go for, or who has them?

If I could get one of those cheap enough, I might do that, but since I already have the TT-33, I would prefer to simply get an extra barrel for it.

Does anyone know if anybody's selling 38 super barrels? -Duffman

[JA]

Like all Chinese guns and ammo they were banned from being imported in 1994. There are still used ones and a few new in the box ones out there. But you will have to find them in a pawn shop,gun shop,gun show,or auction internet site. As importers and distrubitors sold out of them years ago.

[Duffman]

I thought that the TU-90 was from Yugoslavia? -Duffman

[JA]

Navy Arms also imported some Yugoslavian and Hungarian Tokarev pistols. The grips and safety of the TU-90 were modeled after this Yugoslavian pistol which they also imported some of.
http://www.pmulcahy.com/pistols/egyptian_pistols.htm

[Duffman]

That's what I thought. -Duffman

[gp35fn]

I shot a TT 33/38Super conversion way back in the late 1970's at the time it was reportedly a common conversion-7.62x25 ammo not being easy to come by,similar to the Jap 6.5 to 257 roberts conversion. The TT 33 worked fine no notice of any incrcease in recoil or pressure, the 38 Super fit into the mags no problem. Seems logical-there still isn't a commonly available 7.62x25 defence load around-if you look hard you can find some but 38 Super while never common has always been easier to find then 7.62x25.

[Duffman]

That's interesting. I wonder where they the got the barrels from?

The 38 super looks like a good cartridge for defence. -Duffman