| 9X23mm Winchester | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pistol | |
| Place of origin | United States | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Winchester Repeating Arms Company (John Ricco) |
|
| Designed | 1996 (1994) |
|
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | 9x23 Super | |
| Case type | Rimless, straight | |
| Bullet diameter | 0.356 in (9.0 mm) | |
| Neck diameter | 0.381 in (9.7 mm) | |
| Base diameter | 0.392 in (10.0 mm) | |
| Rim diameter | 0.394 in (10.0 mm) | |
| Case length | 0.900 in (22.9 mm) | |
| Primer type | small pistol *Some people use small rifle primers |
|
| Maximum CUP | 40,000 CUP | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 124 gr (8.0 g) Win USA JSP (.180Bc) | 1,460 ft/s (450 m/s) | 587 ft·lbf (796 J) |
| 124 gr (8.0 g) Win JSP @ 50yds | 1,308 ft/s (399 m/s) | 471 ft·lbf (639 J) |
| 125 gr (8.1 g) Super-X Silvertip HP (.129 Bc / 5" Bbl) | 1,450 ft/s (440 m/s) | 583 ft·lbf (790 J) |
| 125 gr (8.1 g) Super-X @ 50 yds | 1,249 ft/s (381 m/s) | 433 ft·lbf (587 J) |
| 125 gr (8.1 g) Super-X @ 100yds | 1,103 ft/s (336 m/s) | 338 ft·lbf (458 J) |
| Test barrel length: Varied Source(s): Winchester Ammunition; C.I.P.[1] SAAMI[2] |
||
The 9x23 Winchester is a pistol cartridge developed by Winchester repeating arms. 9x23mm has a long and convoluted development history, but was commercially introduced by Winchester in 1996. Marketed primarily to competition shooters as a replacement for .38 Super for IPSC, USPSA and IDPA competition, the cartridge made a splash, but never really caught on.
The main advantage of 9x23mm Winchester is a much strengthened case that does away with the semi-rimmed case design of the .38 Super. The case is not necked down like the .357 SIG, 9x25mm Super Auto G and 9x25mm Dillon, thus allowing greater magazine capacity. The strengthened case allowed the much higher internal pressures to be used than would be safe with .38 Super. The 9x23mm Winchester could operate in the 40,000 CUP while .38 Super maxed out around 30,000 CUP.
The event that spelled doom for the cartridges like the 9x23mm Winchester and 9x25mm Dillon in competition use was when USPSA reduced the power factor necessary to make Major, from 175 to 165, which greatly reduced the internal pressures experienced in .38 Super guns shooting loads at Major power factor.
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This round is somewhat based on the 9 mm Largo round. It is just as likely to have been based upon the rimless "wildcat" versions of the .38 Super that were being experimented with by many serious IPSC shooters in the 1990s.
The performance of the 9x23mm Winchester is virtually identical to that of the .357 SIG.(These figures exceed the factory ballistics of a .357 SIG in a 4" test barrel. Even using a 5" bbl. it is not likely that you would hit 1,450fps with a 125gr bullet in the .357 SIG. Not while staying within SAAMI pressure limits.) Being that it is a long form pistol round, it fit large frame automatics such as the 1911. Not being suitable for small(er) frame pistols chambered for rounds like 9x19mm Parabellum, it never gained the mainstream recognition the .357 SIG enjoys, despite offering similar ballistics and terminal effects as well as higher magazine capacity.
The maximum over all length of the cartridge can vary with the magazine length of the converted pistol. A Star Super B converted to 9x23mm may be loaded to 1.29" while a converted Tokarev may be loaded to 1.36". Using this cartridge at full power in a handgun built around the standard .38 Super ACP +P pressure limits and lower may result in a drastically increased level of wear on the firearm or even serious damage to it due to insufficient tensile strength+hardening of the frame, slide and various small parts.