38 super Witness to shoot 9x23 mm ammo

[aval1993]

Hello there,

Happy to be able to be part of this important forum. Since I,m new don't know where to direct my question. I own a 38 Super Witness and like to be able to use the 9x23 mm ammo on it without any problems. I read other owners do that just installing the 22 Lbs Wolff Extra power spring on it and they use this heavy type of ammo just fine. Do anybody could help me in this issue the way to do that on my gun please? Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[DT Guy]

Mine would chamber and fire it without issue, but I was never able to get it to feed and eject reliably.

I used several varieties of magazines, including Mec-Gar's latest (as of five or six years ago) and never got it running. I also tried an assortment of recoil springs, and had better luck with closer to the stock # that any other, although I can't recall the poundage.

A shame, because that was a VERY interesting round to shoot.

Larry

 

[ugaarguy]

I've moved this to gunsmithing and repairs since it's a caliber conversion question. I hope the folks that frequent this area can help you out.

 

[BBBBill]

Works fine on some guns. Others may have problems due to variations in chamber dimensions, magazine tuning, extractor tuning, etc. The chamber specs are not identical. The Super is a straight wall case .384" in diameter. The 9x23 is tapered with a .381 mouth diameter and .391" base diameter. If the 38 Super chamber was chambered tight, the 9x23 will not go in. Case lengths are the same, but max loaded length is greater by .020" on the 9x23.

 

[Psyphertext]

Why not just load for 38 Super? I know someone that has a nice 38 Super mould for sale or trade. Anyway, why not reload for it?

If you have a revolver, clearly you need a 1911 Caspian in 38 Super as well.

 

[DT Guy]

The 9x23 will do things the 38 Super simply can't, at least not safely. IIRC, the 9x23 brass is designed to run at 55k PSI...try that with a Super and you'll learn the origin of the description 'Superface.'


Larry

 

[aval1993]

Thanks to all for your thougths, I think the spring that Sound Dude was talking about must be perhaps for the magazine. Do you guys think this is right? or cut be for the recoil spring? pardon my ignorance.

 

[BBBBill]

It would be the recoil spring. However, a strong magazine spring is a good thing to have. A weak mag spring will not lift the rounds fast enough to keep up with the slide. Not much of an issue with fresh mag springs, but they do get weak over time and use.
First, check your chamber by dropping in some 9x23 rounds to see if they will drop in cleanly and go flush or slightly below the rearmost part of the barrel. They need to go in the same as the 38 Super rounds. If not, your chamber needs some attention with a reamer. Then the recoil spring. Don't go too crazy with heavier springs. That's just as bad as too light. Not sure what is stock on your Witness, but a 1911 uses a 14# spring for a Gov't length 38 Super and a 19-20# works well for 9x23 in the same gun, both with 23# mainspring.

 

[aval1993]

9x23 mm ammo

Thank you BBBBill for your reply, I' ll contact EAA Co. to ask for the springs capacity on both, the recoil and magazine. Also will perform visual test on the barrel ability to handle this 9x23 mm ammo. I will keep you guys inform of the results. Thanks again for all the input received!!

 

[25cschaefer]

If you put a heavier recoil spring in and it is still cycling faster than the magazine can feed it, it is going to beat its self up. You must slow the slide down with more weight and/or a comp.

This is very similar to what Johnny Rowland has been doing with the 460 and 960 Rowland rounds, both have heavy recoil springs and comps, the compact guns get a giant block of steel replacement for the rear sight called a Rowlandator.

http://shop.460rowland.com/conversions?product_id=191