CODE – 01-041-996

NAME – MK 23 US-SOCOM

COMMON NAME – Mk 23 Mod 0

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Germany

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1996

CALIBER – 11.43x23mm – (.45 ACP)

OVERALL LENGTH – 24.5 cm (9.65 in) without suppressor

OVERALL LENGTH – 42.2 cm (16.61 in) with suppressor

SUPPRESSOR LENGTH – 19.1 cm (.52 in)

SUPPRESSOR DIAMETER –  cm ( in)

BARREL LENGTH – 14.9 cm (5.87 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 Groove, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 25 cm (9.84 in)

BULLET DIAMETER – 11.46 mm (0.451 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 15 g (231 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 270 m/s (886 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 546 j (403 ft/lb)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 1.100 kg (2 lb 6.8 oz)

SUPPRESSOR WEIGHT – 0.450 kg (1 lb)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 1.467 kg (3 lb 4 oz) loaded with 12 rounds M1911 Ball

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 1.917 kg (4 lb 4 oz) loaded with 12 rounds M1911 ball, with suppressor

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 2.217 kg (4 lb 14 oz) loaded with 12 rounds M1911 ball, with suppressor, LAM

SIGHTS – Open, iron, adjustable for zero, Front sight – Square blade on dovetail base with white or luminous tritium dot, Rear sight – Square notch on dovetail base with two white or luminous tritium dots

LASER AIMING MODULE (LAM) – Halogen lamp – 30 cm (11.8 in) circle at 25 m (27 yards), Visible red laser Class 3A

WEIGHT (LAM) – 0.21 kg (7.5 oz)

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 50 m (55 yards)

OPERATION – Short-recoil

TYPE OF FIRE – Semiautomatic, Double-action

RATE OF FIRE – 36 rpm

FEED DEVICE – 12 round box magazine, double column, single feed

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.110 kg (4 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.367 kg (13 oz) loaded with 12 rounds M1911 Ball

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – Three – 12 round magazines (36 rounds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 1.101 kg (2 lb 7 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Heckler & Koch GmbH, Oberndorf/Neckar, Germany

STATUS – Current production

SERVICE – US Special Operations Forces

      The fully developed version of the Offensive Handgun Weapons System was adopted by the US Special Operations Forces as the Mk 23 Mod 0 in 1996. The final weapon is being marketed by Heckler & Koch as the Mark 23. The US version utilizes a suppressor developed by Knight’s Armaments Corporation of Vero Beach, Florida. During testing, the H&K weapon fired over 30,000 rounds with no parts breakages and only 18 stoppages (usually due to ammunition) during the entire shooting test. The suppressor reduces the sound signature of the weapon from a peak of 169 decibels (unsuppressed) to a sound signature of only 139 decibels. A reduction of -30 decibels and a 75% reduction on muzzle flash.