No, the 9x23 ammo is too powerful for your 9mm Largo Star. Even if it fits and functions, it will tear up your gun, if not your hand.

 

9x23 Largo and 9x23 Winchester are different cartridges. Dimensions are very close between these two and also the 9x23 Steyr and .38 Super.

Dimensions are close enough that in theory one could chamber and fire one in the other, but this is NOT recommended. I would strongly recommend ,in all but the most dire SHTF situation, to stick with the cartridge the firearm is chambered for originally.

 

Do not use it!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the replies, I was at a flea market today and bought 3 boxes of 38 super from a guy and we were talking about a Star modelo super I had and he said he had 3 boxes of western 9x23 ammo for $20 each and I could shoot it in my Star. I knew I had read somewhere that it was a no no, to shoot instead of 9mm Largo,but he argued me down that it was the same, just wanted to verify
he didn't know what he was talking about ! just let him go on and didn't even argue with the fool !. Still got a deal from him 3 boxes of Fiocchi 38 super and a box of gold dot .45 for $60 , !!

 

Many years ago, before I knew better, I fired several rounds of .38 super in my 9mm Largo Star Modelo Super. I think there were some feeding issues and it was definitely too hot. Ejection was violent and the extractor retaining pin started working loose from the slide. So, Don't use that stuff in the Star Super either.

 

I really don't understand why......



.....38 Super wouldn't work just fine in the Super A 9mm Largo. These same guns (Super B) take 9mm Luger, which is as hot as the 38 Super. The Super is all +P only to differentiate it from the .38 acp. The 9x23 Winchester is way hotter.

 

THIS IS TOO CRAZY TO EVEN CONSIDER !! The 9x23 cartridge has nearly TWICE the pressure limits [ 45,000PSI VS25,000PSI+- ] as does the much older 9MM LARGO cartridge. Don't you people ever read.....how about CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD for starters ? NOTE: the cartridge brass blank used to form 9x23 cases is the SAME BLANK used to form the 454CASULL cartridge case.

 

IF the 9x23 Winchester ammo will chamber (Rim Thickness and Diameter permitting) allowing chambering and extraction, you might be able to break down the 9x 23 Winchester ammo and reload the casings.

I've reloaded .38 Super casings to acceptable levels in Astra 400's, with no problems. From what I've read, all Astra 400s marked "9mm / 38" were either modified or manufactured to accept both 9mm Largo and .38 Auto. I also reloaded .38 Super brass for a Star Super, but only AFTER I had the Super extractor thinned, to allow the extractor to let go of the thicker .38 Super rim. Later I bought a Federal Arms Corp 9mm Parabellum, drop in, barrel for the Super. I've been shooting 9mm Parabellum in it since. 9mm Parabellum brass is easier to get.

I've read about people having the face of the slide machined to open it up for the thicker .38 cal rims, but that seems like a lot of work and expense.

.38 Auto / .38 Super and 9mm Parabellum rims are thicker than 9mm Largo rims.

 

For those of you who read my original post and wondered if I was all there, the answer is no; I was dead tired. LOL!

I got two rounds mixed up. The NAACO Brigadier cartridge was the basis for the .45 Winchester Magnum, NOT the 9x23.

 

Now, while on the subject, is it safe to fire 9mm Largo in a Campo-Giro?

 

Again, we are confusing cartridges. The A Super is chambered in 9mm Largo, NOT 38 Super. Please folks - lets quit trying to shove the wrong cartridges in these guns.

 

My question is: is there any reason that the Super A (9mmx23 Largo) is not safe to fire with .38 Super (also a 9X23) ammo pressure ammo? My observation is that the same Super Star A gun chambered in 9mm Luger (i.e., a Super B) works almost the same pressures as the.38 Super. There are a number of 9X23 rounds that differ only superficially in case specs (.38 Super, .38 ACP, 9mm Steyr. 9x23 Winchester) but only the Winchester operates at higher pressure (and should definitely not be used in the Star Super A).

If it's OK with the 9mm Luger pressures, why not with the .38 Super?

 

I'd still like to know if modern 9mm Largo is safe to use in a Campo-Giro.

 

No. Modern non-corrosive 9mm Largo was loaded for sub machine guns - it is at the outside range of usable for the Modelo Supers, and definately not for the Astra 400s and earlier Campo Giro.

You all can believe what you want and stick a piece of dynamite in your gun for all I care, but I stick to the adage : Use only what the gun was designed for.

 

I don't know about the "outside range of usable", but the ammo boxes clearly state "for pistols and submachine guns". Therefore, the same ammo was meant for both and is certainly safe.

 

Thanks, that's the info I was looking for.

But why the nasty comment about a stick of dynamite? I certainly wouldn't do anything that might damage the Campo-Giro; That's why I asked. The gun is well made, but about a century old.

 

The comment was aimed more to the others that want to stick over-powered cartridges in these older guns.

 

Oh, sorry. Thought it was directed at me.

You did enlighten me with a bit of info that never occurred to me: It never dawned on me that relatively modern Largo would be harmful to an Astra 400.

 

The Godfather enlightens all of us here at the Gunboards.
It's what he does.

 

Mil-Spec 9mm Largo ammo is 9mm Largo (9mm Bergman-Bayard)...it always has been and always will be loaded the same. Sub-gun loadings are a myth. Its what was used in the original and oldest pistol using that cartridge, through the M400, The Model A, Super A's, etc. If anything, the modern ammo spec is down-loaded. Whether or not I'd shoot anything at all in a collector grade pistol is another matter.

 

This same issue returns time and time again, some people just have to put the wrong ammunition in a firearm justifying their decision in a multitude of ways. Use ammunition the pistol was designed for! .38 Auto is not 38 Super.....9mm Largo is not Super or 9X23...9mm is not for for shooting in the Largo pistols “because my friend does it”. Use correct ammo in your firearms and save your fingers and pistols.

 

Starline 38 Comp is the same as 9MM largo brass. It is basically a rimless 38 super. I load it for my Largo pistols and Destroyer carbine.

 

Brass, yes. The load is different, though.

Just be sure to keep the loaded ammo separate.

I use .303 Brit brass for my 6.5 Dutch carbine, and it's necked down. No risk there--.303 won't fit in the Dutch, and Dutch in the .303 won't do much of anything.

But I have a box for regular .45-70, and another box marked TRAPDOOR ONLY for my original Trapdoor.

 

I came looking for this thread because a dealer at my local show last weekend had several boxes of 9X23 that were Sharpied as "9mm Largo." I explained the difference in load and he just sort of shrugged. I hope no one blows a Modelo 400 up.

 

What Mike said brass is not loaded 38 Super ammo, I simply cautioned about the interchange of loaded ammo. We all know the pitfalls of allowing 300 Blackout in proximity to 5.56, although basically the same case one will fire while the other make spaghetti of your AR!

 

Musketshooter,

The 38 Comp brass, does work perfectly for loading 9mm Largo rounds. The increased case head thickness over that of the original Largo cases and a margin of safety as well. It functions perfectly in my Model A and Super A, however, I have had extraction issues when using the 38 Comp brass loads in my Destroyer Carbine. Seems to be an issue with the Destroyer extractor getting the proper grip on the 38 Comp rim. Anyone else experience this?
And back to the thread question, NO, ABSOLUTELY NO. Do not use 9x23 or 38 Super in a 9mm Largo chambered pistol. Especially if you like your pistol.