9&23 vs 38 super waht is the difference

**er2006** · April 24th, 2007, 09:55 AM

Hello,

Is there any difference between the 9*23 Winchester , the 9 Steyr, 9mm largo, 9 mm long and the .38 super , .38 super comp They all look like they are the same size , but with the different names there must be some difference in capacity or use or both.

Thanks

Ed from er2006

**TonyF** · April 24th, 2007, 12:33 PM

IIRC, case dimensions and especially with the 9x23, case wall thickness, etc. to safely handle higher pressures.

None of them are interchangeable.

**er2006** · April 24th, 2007, 02:05 PM

Tony,

Thanks for the information , I also checked out the web site , looks interesting.

Thanks again
er2006

**TravisBickle** · April 24th, 2007, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by TonyF

IIRC, case dimensions and especially with the 9x23, case wall thickness, etc. to safely handle higher pressures.

None of them are interchangeable.

I did manage to fire 9x23 out of my .38 super without incident but it's not reccomended.

I'm fairly certain that you can safely fire any .38 super out of a 9x23 chamber.

**autorim** · April 24th, 2007, 07:58 PM

The 9x23 and 38 Super are NOT the same and are NOT interchangable. Just because you can fire a cartridge in another firearm does not make it safe. Only use ammunition that the firearm is chambered for or you WILL pay the price. Many cartridges can be fired in firearms not chambered for them.

If you are going to participate in firearms shooting, educate yourself and don't do anything stupid.

**TravisBickle** · April 29th, 2007, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by autorim

The 9x23 and 38 Super are NOT the same and are NOT interchangable. Just because you can fire a cartridge in another firearm does not make it safe. Only use ammunition that the firearm is chambered for or you WILL pay the price. Many cartridges can be fired in firearms not chambered for them.

If you are going to participate in firearms shooting, educate yourself and don't do anything stupid.

I was told by John (the inventor of 9x23) at Classic Pistol that most modern .38 super chambers CAN fire 9x23 safely, but he stopped short of reccomending it. This was maybe 4-5 years ago. The two rounds definately need two different recoil springs at the very least. I think the danger lies in chambering the 9x23 in the older .38 super chambers that aren't reamed to headspace properly on the case mouth but rather the semi-rim.

FWIW, I had a Springfield Mil-Spec in .38 super and it worked flawlessly with 9x23 ammo. I put maybe 50 rounds through it and never fired 9x23 from it again.