9×23mm Winchester
| 9×23mm Winchester | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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9×23mm Winchester (left) compared with 9×21mm (center) and 9×19mm Parabellum (right) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Pistol | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Winchester Ammunition (John Ricco and Anthony Valdez) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1992–1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1996–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | 9mm Winchester Magnum | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimless, straight | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | 9.04 mm (0.356 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | 9.68 mm (0.381 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | 9.93 mm (0.391 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | 10.01 mm (0.394 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case length | 22.86 mm (0.900 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 33.02 mm (1.300 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primer type | small pistol *Some people use small rifle primers | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure | 379 MPa (55,000 psi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Test barrel length: Varied Source(s): xmlschemas-instant.Winchester Ammunition; C.I.P. SAAMI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 9×23mm Winchester is a pistol cartridge developed as a joint venture by Winchester Ammunition and Colt's Manufacturing Company. The 9×23mm Winchester has a convoluted development history, but was commercially introduced by Winchester in 1996. Marketed primarily to competition shooters as a replacement for .38 Super for International Practical Shooting Confederation, United States Practical Shooting Association and International Defensive Pistol Association competition, the cartridge failed to find significant market success despite a high-profile introduction.
The critical design feature of the 9×23mm Winchester is a much-strengthened case that does away with the semi-rimmed case design of the .38 Super which sometimes caused feeding problems. In contrast to the maximum pressure of 36,500 psi for the .38 Super, the 9×23mm Winchester can operate under a higher internal pressure, 55,000 psi (measured with a piezoelectric transducer).38 Super (as of SAAMI standards currently). It has a slightly tapered but nearly parallel case which means that it has greater magazine capacity for the same 9 mm bore diameter relative to the necked down cases of the .357 SIG, 9×25mm Super Auto G, or 9×25mm Dillon. To achieve enough propellant capacity for the power needed, the 9×23mm Winchester is longer than the 9×19mm Parabellum or .357 SIG and so requires the extra magazine front to back length of an M1911 style magazine.