9x23mm Winchester
Encyclopedia
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.
round.
. Being that it is a long form pistol round, it fit large frame automatics such as the 1911. Not being suitable for small 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.
.38 Super
The .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic is a pistol cartridge that fires a diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a bullet at . The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same bullet at...
for IPSC
International Practical Shooting Confederation
The International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
, USPSA
United States Practical Shooting Association
The United States Practical Shooting Association, or USPSA, is the national governing body of one form of Practical shooting in the United States, and is the US Region of the International Practical Shooting Confederation...
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
.38 Super
The .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic is a pistol cartridge that fires a diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a bullet at . The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same bullet at...
. The case is not necked down like the .357 SIG
.357 SIG
The .357 SIG pistol cartridge is the product of Swiss-German firearms manufacturer SIG-Sauer, in cooperation with the American ammunition manufacturer Federal Cartridge. While it is based on a .40 S&W case necked down to accept bullets, the .357 SIG brass is slightly longer...
, 9x25mm Super Auto G
9x25mm Super Auto G
The 9x25mm Super Auto G, officially known as the 9 x 25 Super Auto G by C.I.P. and unofficially also known as the 9 x 25 Super Auto Grillmeyer, is an Austrian pistol cartridge....
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
.38 Super
The .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic is a pistol cartridge that fires a diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a bullet at . The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same bullet at...
. The 9x23mm Winchester could operate in the 40,000 CUP
Copper units of pressure
Copper units of pressure or CUP, and the related lead units of pressure or LUP, are terms applied to pressure measurements used in the field of internal ballistics for the estimation of chamber pressures in firearms. These terms were adopted by convention to indicate that the pressure values were...
while .38 Super
.38 Super
The .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic is a pistol cartridge that fires a diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a bullet at . The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same bullet at...
maxed out around 30,000 CUP
Copper units of pressure
Copper units of pressure or CUP, and the related lead units of pressure or LUP, are terms applied to pressure measurements used in the field of internal ballistics for the estimation of chamber pressures in firearms. These terms were adopted by convention to indicate that the pressure values were...
.
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
Power factor (pistol)
In competitive practical shooting, power factor refers to a ranking system for the momentum of pistol cartridges. The power factor is used in competitions sponsored by IPSC, USPSA, The Bianchi Cup, Steel Challenge, and IDPA.- IPSC/USPSA Power factor :...
necessary to make Major, from 175 to 165, which greatly reduced the internal pressures experienced in .38 Super
.38 Super
The .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic is a pistol cartridge that fires a diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a bullet at . The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same bullet at...
guns shooting loads at Major power factor.
History
This round is somewhat based on the 9 mm Largo9 mm Largo
The 9×23mm Largo centerfire pistol cartridge was developed in 1901 for the Bergmann Mars pistol. The round was considered powerful for the day, producing a muzzle energy of between 330 and 430 foot-pounds depending on the loading...
round.
Effects
The performance of the 9x23mm Winchester is virtually identical to that of the .357 SIG.357 SIG
The .357 SIG pistol cartridge is the product of Swiss-German firearms manufacturer SIG-Sauer, in cooperation with the American ammunition manufacturer Federal Cartridge. While it is based on a .40 S&W case necked down to accept bullets, the .357 SIG brass is slightly longer...
. Being that it is a long form pistol round, it fit large frame automatics such as the 1911. Not being suitable for small 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.