Smith & Wesson Model 64 PPC Style Build

One of J&G’s many used S&W 64s, which has been rebuilt to customer spec as a PPC revolver.

My 7.62x25mm 1911; Tok’11 No.1

The original J&G Sales’ Tokarev 1911 pistol.  Originally fitted with GI barrels, lined with stubs of .30cal blanks.  Now fitted a 2nd generation production barrel.  Recently refinished by the Blues Brothers in a satin hot blue.

I have people ask about this pistol what make and model it is, what parts were added, what magazines used.  Like any well built 1911, this pistol is a mutt.  Built of parts I had on hand.  Filled out with parts sourced from makers I trust.  All fitted together by some one with a bit of talent and a little know how.

Components used in this pistol:

• Foster Ind. Inc., frame
• Springfield Armory 9mm slide of unknown vintage
• Caspain & EGW internals
• STI hammer & sear
• Greider long solid trigger, with a modified shoe
• Ed Brown mainspring housing
• VZ Grips, FRAG stocks
• Sprinco CMP recoil reducing system
• Novak wide notch rear sight and Dawson fiber optic front
• J&G Sales’ 7.62x25mm barrel, and a second barrel in 9x19mm

Baby Sako action, .300 Blackout Rifle

.300 Blackout Rifle build list includes:

• Sako L461 action
• Pac-Nor 5T 1/8″ stainless barrel blank, finished at 16.15″
• McMillan A2 stock
• Tuned Timeny trigger
• Custom piccatiny rail vent rib, for night vision
• YHM Stainless Q.D. Phantom 7.62 suppressor
• Overall length as pictured is 42.8 inches
• Total weight as pictured 14 pounds

Loading the Tokarev

For many cheap ammo is the sole attraction of the Tokarev cartridge, whether fired from CZ52, TT, or 1911.  Unfortunately, the supply of truly cheap surplus seems to be gone.  Even my Tok’11 is firing more 9mm than 7.62mm these days.  So I have started working up high performance hand loads with quality projectiles.

There are few readily available bullets which are directly compatible with the Tokarev, a true 30 caliber handgun cartridge. The bullets that are available are expensive and of basic designs; FMJ, Soft Points, and half jacketed. Nothing the modern pistolero would brag about shooting. So where are my quality projectiles coming from?

There are a number of popular .32 caliber pistol and revolver cartridges, one of which is the .327 Federal cartridge.  The .327 Fed produces velocities similar to the Tokarev.  This means that bullets like Speer’s 100gr Gold Dot, introduced for the .327, will be a perfect fit ballistically with the 7.62x25mm.  If you are going to be paying close to twenty dollars per hundred bullets, you might as well be getting the best technology you can.

Luckily .32 caliber pistol bullets are not .320″ in diameter, they come in at .312″.  This is four thousandths of an inch oversize for the .308″ groove of the 7.62x25mm.  It is a simple process to size these bullets down to .308″ diameter with a Lee Lube Size Die.

I have worked up loads with Rainier 100 grain Plated, Speer 60 and 100 grain Gold Dots, as well as Hornady 85 and 100 grain XTPs, all of which were size down to .308″ from their nominal .312″ diameter.  I have loaded all of these to 1.250″ or less over all length.  This OAL makes the Tok’ 100% compatible with the 1911 platform.  Loading magazines is no longer an issue.  The location of the cannelure, on the three bullets with them, coincides perfectly with this OAL.  Which is good, because on a bottle necked pistol cartridge with a short neck you need a good crimp.

The most numerically exciting bullet to date has been the 60gr Gold Dot designed for the .32ACP.  I have pushed these little pills well past 1900fps from my 1911.  Unfortunately, the bullet seems overwhelmed at that velocity and accuracy with them has been lack luster.

On the other hand, the 85gr XTP, 100gr XTP, and 100gr Gold Dot have shown real promise.  Offering both great accuracy and velocity potential.

1911 Barrel Ramp Identification

It is important to determine what ramp configuration your 1911 has, if you wish to re-barrel barrel. The best barrel ramp identification guide I have seen is published by Schuemman Barrels. It can be found on their website under “Information”.

J&G offers 7.62x25mm 1911 barrels in 5″ Standard and 6″ Wilson/Nowlin ramped configurations.  At this time we do not offer a barrel compatible with pistols cut for the Clark/Para ramped barrel.

Kimber Stainless Target 7.62mm

Kimber Stainless Target II 9mm with one of J&G Sales’ six inch ramped Tokarev barrels installed.  If you own a Kimber Custom in 9mm or .38 Super, you can get Tokarev barrel of your own right here.

7.62mm 1911 Barrels Available Now

J&G sales 7.62x25mm 1911 barrels are now in stock.  The standard 5″ non-ramped barrels like these.

As well as a new variant a 6″ Wilson/Nowlin ramped barrel.

This barrel will fit Kimber, Springfield, and STI 9mm or .38 Super full size 1911 pistols which are cut for a ramped barrel.