[CZF]

Encountered a nice guy that opened up a new shop in my old town.

He is a CZ fan and owner (75B) of some years now, but never thought much about a .45 from them.

I told him that the CZ97B is an outstanding pistol for what it sells for and that
as a .45 ACP (Springfield) fan he should try one out.

After about 20 minutes of my extolling the virtues of the big CZ and all
other CZs, including rifles.

As I had an appointment across town to get to..

When leaving, he was on the phone with his Distributor. A CZF card was on his counter:)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People are really coming onto the 97B this year and it shows no end in sight.
For your $500 (or less) you get a solid pistol that is super accurate.

The fact that they only feed Hardball and certain JHPs doesn't bother most folks that moslty use them for the Range.

I noted that a Hydra-Shok up the spout and 9 more 230 FMJs should get the
job done:)



http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/28889k432.jpg

[Craig M. Arnold]

Hello CZF;

I agree with you that the CZ97B is a super pistol. IMHO, for the money it may be the best 45 pistol out there. My 97Bs are my favorite 45acp handguns.

BTW, I do not believe that people just have to accept that the CZ97Bs will not feed most or all hollowpoints. I have never had a problem with any hollowpoint ammo except maybe Corbon. I polish the chamber and feedramp to a mirror finish. Install a 20lb or 22lb Wolff recoil spring on a FLGR and all my 97Bs have been 100% reliable with all ammo types (with the exception of Corbon). Maybe it is just dumb luck, however my son and I have had four 97Bs without any feeding problems.

My only complaint about the 97B is that it doesn't come in stainless steel......yet. I am hoping that someday it will.

Best regards,

Craig

[VaughnT]

Cool story, hoss. Tell me more about the CZ, as the bigwig at work just said I can't carry my 1991 anymore.

[CZF]

Sounds like Cocked N Locked is frowned upon?

Unlike a 911, the big CZ can be carried with the hammer down for DA.
Decocking isn't as tricky as it sounds, no worse than doing such with
a Colt.

The 97B offers a bigger gun, but also 10 rounds. Alot of owners think them
as having far superior accuracy over a stock 1911.

Should you have big hands and be able to grasp the CZ in .45..you will like it!

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/2888997zone-med.JPG

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga2/czid/cz-zone.html

[wally]

I think the CZ97B is by far the worst of their offerings. Its not that its a bad gun, but IMHO there are many better for the price -- CZ97B is $100+ more than CZ75B.

I think the gun itself is heavy, too big and clunky, thumb safety is too high and far forward, and they tend to be ammo sensitive. I'd look at the EAA Witness which is more like the CZ75B scaled up minimally to handle 45ACP and priced about the same as CZ75B. Plus there are Polymer framed versions if you want lighter weight.

I have a CZ97 but not an EAA Witness (yet) so it may be a bit of the grass is greener ..... But I've always liked the feel of the CZ75 and Witness pistols, but around here mostly find the "Wonder Finish" and the idiots have made the front sight plated as well making it very hard to see (for me) so I've not bought one. I'm looking to find a steel framed one in black.

--wally.

[CZF]

Anyone here new to the big CZ? It seems that after HANDGUNS did an
article on IDPA and had 97B pics. They have become quite popular.
You get alot of gun for your $500:)

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/2888997Bz-med.jpg

[Kar-el]

Wally, I picked up a Witness .45 with novak style sights with the wonder finish. I think it was called the "Witness Carry" .45. I like it very much.

[Peter M. Eick]

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/eickpm/45_collection.jpg

Yeah I like my 97b along with my Baer PII in 45. They are pretty nice guns.

To bad there is not more "aftermarket" stuff for the 97b. I would have liked better sights.

[Rob96]

The 97B makes for a nice range gun, but I wouldn't want to ccw with it. As stated above it is large and clunky. Even more so than a Ruger P-90. Only has two rounds over the 1911. For $500, you can get a Colt or Springfield 1911, and have a very nice set up from the box.

[jrpeterman]

I'm very happy with mine. For the money you can't beat it. A gun of similar quality would cost at least $200-250 more. When looking for a replacement in .45acp for a S&W 645 that I sold, it was between the Glock21 and CZ-97B. I liked the feel of the CZ better than the Glock. It is extremely accurate and reliable.

[Calhoun]

I don't have one... yet. They have been calling to me with their sweet hypnotic siren song every time I go into the gun store. I don't know if I can hold out much longer. If it gets much worse I'm going to have my friends tie me to the mast and stuff beeswax in my ears.

(Sorry for the liberty taken Homer. [No, not Homer Simpson!])

I want one bad.

Calhoun

[sgtb]

I just purchased a used one but I am having big problems with nose diving rounds that refuse to feed. I am about to try new mag. springs to see if this will help. I love all my CZ pistols. Their .22 rifles are some of the best I have fired as well.

[clipse]

I would love a CZ 97B. I have not shot one but I have a P-01 and 75B that I love dearly.


clipse

[Berg01]

I have a 75B in .40 that I will not part with. I agree that the 97B is an excellent value for @$500.00 NIB. Along with a good 1911, the Sig P220(ST) and the S&W 625 moonclip revolver, I think the 97B ranks well among some very good company in .45 ACP handguns. Just MHO, and YMMV.

[McNutt]

I have a 1911 as my main gun, but if I had some money to play around with the 97B would be in my collection in a heartbeat. I love my 75 and have read nothing but good things about the 97B. How is the trigger on that gun? That is the weak point of my 75.

[Kamicosmos]

Another 'I love my CZ97B' fan here!

Yes, it's big, and I don't plan on CCWing it, although I shoot it so well I may have to look at holsters. The gun, while big, is the same size as my Beretta 96FS, and it's slide is actually a bit slimmer. Granted, I haven't really thought of IWB my beretta either...but we'll see.
Mine is accurate, it hiccuped a bit on some hollowpoints, but that was my fault till I tweaked the seating depth of the bullet.

The gun is just so easy to shoot accurately! I love it.

[Kamicosmos]

There's alot of these 97 threads lately, and I've posted to them all. So, to take advantage of being able to pad my post count:

CZ97B is great.

or

+1 for you arfcommers out there...

[Heraclitus]

I had one but sold it after a year. Reason was, it was hard to find parts and accessories for. Even the poorly threaded frame on mine and many, many others I've seen was no turn off. It shot well and was damned accurate. But when I looked for leather, grips and sights, none were to be found.

[Mikul]

They should adapt it for 10mm. I'd buy one.

[clipse]

But when I looked for leather, grips and sights, none were to be found.


Not really that big of a problem now.

clipse

[cratz2]

I don't own one, but if I found the right deal on a nice blued one with low mileage, I'd take it. I love the 1911 and love the CZ75/PCR design and those two fill most of my fun and serious gun needs but the 97 is a worthy piece. I'd probably be more likely to actually seek one out if they made it in 10mm... As nice as the 97 is, I just don't have a serious need for another 45ACP.

[pakmcc]

I don't have one either, and I couldn't find one around here. (Southeast TExas.) I finally found a Witness in .45 with the .22 conversion and brought that. I'm very happy with it. The .45 and the .22 are very accurate pistols. two months later, I found a used CZ 97 for sale. I'm retired now and the money just is not there. I have about 10 other CZ's and I'm very happy with all of them. 75's, 83, 52's but nothing over 9mm.
If my ship ever comes in I will get a CZ97.
pakmcc

[wally]

I just purchased a used one but I am having big problems with nose diving rounds that refuse to feed

Make sure the gun came with a genuine CZ mag, not a ProMag!

I tried a ProMag and nose dive failures were so common I shot the ProMag full of holes! No failures with the same ammo using the CZ mag to do so.

Don't waste your time or money trying to fix a ProMag. SOmetimes you get one that works, but in general, don't count on it!.

The CZ mags that came with my 97 are made by Mec-Gar and say "Made in Italy" down the front.

I think the CZ97 is the worst gun CZ makes, but its still pretty nice, would be much better if it wasn't so ammo sensitive. And what with that weird bushing design?

--wally.

[CZF]

I actually think it is the BEST of CZs if you want a Range Only gun...or are
willing to do some experimenting with loads for defense.

Given the fact that it is designed for Hardball only..this turns some people
off on it. However, some loads like the Golden Saber work very well in mine.

The fit and finish of the 97B are far beyond that of a 75B MIL. I do believe
that the trigger is much nicer,,at least with my gun.

Sights are not hard to find..mine has MMCs and I hear great things about
the XS sights.

HBE and HIGH NOON offer holsters. I'm told that the new mags fit and work
much better. I've had no problems with my old ones.

The newly designed Bushing is holding up very well.

[sgtb]

Both my mags. have nothing written on them. May be worth buying a cz mag. and trying that.

Aren't CZ and EAA mags. one and the same? The reason I ask is the EAA mags. are cheaper.

[Black Snowman]

I've had the chance to shoot Kamicosmos' on several occasions and so far it's my favorite .45 ACP. Ergos work really well for me and it barely nudges out the SIG 220 for comfortable grips and wins in just about every other department. Cheaper, smaller, etc . . . Only hickup is that it's finaky on ammo and that's not a huge strike against it in my book as I reload and enjoy experimenting with the ammo :)

[wally]

Aren't CZ and EAA mags. one and the same?

Not really although some EAA mags work in some CZ guns.

www.czforum.com has a magazine FAQ that explains which EAA mags work with which CZ guns and which might need a little modification to do so.

I've been using 12-rnd EAA .41AE mags in my .40 S&W CZ75B and CZ40B. Had to open up the notch at the top of the mags to allow the CZ40B slide to fit. They fit and functioned fine in my CZ75B as delivered.

--wally.

[PCRCCW]

You know.....I didnt like the one I had as the grip was to big for my MONSTER PAWS....yes, I have big hands but didnt like the way it felt.

That was before the JackAsh modified grip CZ97 I shot.......:what:

Now I wish I would have kept mine............so does Mrs. Larsen...its her favorite gun......by far.

Shoot well.......

[fistful]

Wow! I thought I was the only one that was aware of the CZ 97 B. I've never fired one, but it's picture in the CZ catalog is so beautiful that I lust for one. Somebody said they wanted a stainless 97. Art thou nuts? That finish is breathtaking.

CZ is a solid company that gets lots of press, but I just never see anyone mention the 97, write about it in the gun mags, on THR, or anywhere else. Plenty of people love the Sig, Glock, and Ruger DA-.45's, but nobody seems to care about the CZ. What gives?

[McNutt]

You're not serious about the lack of mention here, are you? I thought 90% of the members here own one. I think CZF has about 200!

[George Hill]

I'm a fan too...
http://www.madogre.com/Interviews/CZ97B_Review.htm

[VaughnT]

Please tell me there is somewhere in Western SC that has these in stock and I can pick one up tomorrow.

Have money. Will travel.

[Marshall]

but I just never see anyone mention them, write about them in the gun mags, on THR, or anywhere else.

Strange, every time I look toward the gun rag racks I see a Rami! I have seen them so much I don't even want one now. LOL

I liken the 97B to a Super Redhawk in .44 Mag, both so big and heavy you can't help but shoot them strait with minimal kick. I mean what's it weigh loaded, 10-12lbs? :D

I don't care, I want one anyway! If it jams with JHP's, I'll throw the b*tch at the BG and knock him out! :neener:

[Prodigalshooter]

They are a little big thru the grip, but I can shoot mine and I've got fairly short fingers. I've used it in steel matchs and in IDPA with good result.
I have a Fist holster for it (wish I'd waited for Eric's) and it carries no heavier than a 1911. Granted, I wouldn't want to CCW, but otherwise, it's a great pistol.I sanded the grips down and it helped a lot.

[Lt. G]

Mine is great, super accurate and since it's so big, my buddies can't shoot it as good as me. Fits my big mitts just fine. I've even ccw it once or twice just to see. after about 4.5 hours........wellllll...

[Heraclitus]

Don't waste your time or money trying to fix a ProMagWhy would anyone try to fix a headless PEZ dispenser? In fact, a headless PEZ dispenser would probably do a better job. :D

On a separate note, does anyone know where they sell sights and extended thumb safeties for the CZ-97? I sold my czech a while back, but would consider buying another if I could find the knicknacks for it.