CZ 97b - Are my jeans getting skinnier?

I love the 97B. It's possibly my favorite CZ to shoot, and I REALLY like shooting the 75-based metal guns. All of mine have some CGW parts in them, some more than others. I only have the CGW Ultra-Lite Kit in the 97B but it shoots so well I just haven't gotten around to doing more to it.

Here's a photo that shows the scale of the guns.

Some have mentioned switching to single-action-only. In the photo above, the 85 Combat (top center) is converted to SAO. You can see how much further back the trigger sets than on the other guns that are all still DA/SA. The 85 Combat has several CGW parts in it. The trigger operates fore-and-aft within the thickness of the trigger at the mid point. If you are familiar with the CZ triggers, you'll recognize that as a VERY reduced range of motion.

I eventually sold my only 1911 a year or so after getting the 97B because I just always seemed to shoot the 97B instead. I often hear people talk about the 97B being too large for their hands, but it feels to me like it fits my hand better and more securely than the 1911. Here are some photos of me holding the guns the same way, then an over-lay, and a side-by-side. Compared to a CZ, the 1911 feels to me like I'm holding the box that a gun came in.





Aligned at the back of the grip where the web of the hand wraps around:

Walkalong said:

It’s right at the jagged edge of too big for my hands, but it shoots so well I don’t mind.

I would not choose it for carry because of that though.

Still love the gun though

Click to expand...

Yep, it'd definitely be a lot to carry concealed.

Turbo, hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like none of the pistols have the 85 Combat trigger shoe, they appear to be the recurve trigger. The 85 trigger doesn't that the dramastic curve, in effect easier to reach. CGW also has what they call a reach reduction kit, it basically moves the trigger rearward.

I6turbo said:

I often hear people talk about the 97B being too large for their hands, but it feels to me like it fits my hand better and more securely than the 1911.

View attachment 963525

Click to expand...

Considering your hand fits on the 1911 Government Model grip like most folks hands fit on an Officer size grip, I can see why you would think that.

I imagine you pinch the palm of your right hand doing rapid mag changes with the 1911.

Turbo, hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like none of the pistols have the 85 Combat trigger shoe, they appear to be the recurve trigger. The 85 trigger doesn't that the dramastic curve, in effect easier to reach. CGW also has what they call a reach reduction kit, it basically moves the trigger rearward.

Click to expand...

I didn't really notice a difference from the other guns when the 85 Combat had the original trigger (shown below), probably because I don't notice the trigger reach being too long to suit me on any of the guns. The rest of my guns still have the original triggers, but I plan to install the CGW Pro Kit (includes the Combat trigger with two-way over-travel adjustment and several other parts) in the SP-01 someday. IIRC, I think there may be an "early" Combat trigger profile and a later one that has more curve, but perhaps I'm dreaming... My 85 Combat was one from the later years not long before they stopped making them.

In the my first group picture earlier in the thread, the 85 Combat has the following parts in it:
- CGW 54460 Ultra-Lite Kit using the range hammer spring ( this kit alone provides a very noticeable improvement in both the DA and the SA trigger, plus makes it very easy to rack the slide. Racking a CZ slide isn't a problem, but with the Ultra-Lite Kit it's just a good bit lighter.)
- CZ Pre-B short trigger reset (this is a CZ part for the Pre-B that will fit the Combat model)
- CGW 6-SAO trigger
- CGW Race Hammer Kit
- CGW floating trigger pin
The result of the above modifications in the 85 Combat is a light and creep-free trigger, essentially no camming-back of the hammer before firing, and a short trigger reset (the trigger operates fore-and-aft within the thickness of the trigger at about the mid point). In side by side comparisons, I've found this setup to be noticeably better to my tastes than the factory target gun triggers like the Shadow series. I don't know how it would compare to a factory single-action competition gun like the Czechmate, which I would expect to be extremely nice, but I've never fondled one. These parts total about $275. So, not cheap, but not too bad if you want the changes that they provide.

JTQ said:

Considering your hand fits on the 1911 Government Model grip like most folks hands fit on an Officer size grip, I can see why you would think that.

I imagine you pinch the palm of your right hand doing rapid mag changes with the 1911.

Click to expand...

I've not had any pinching or biting or anything of that nature on the 1911s (and I like and appreciate 1911s), but the CZ profile just sinks into my hand and suits my preferences, and I can shoot better, faster, with it.

I have a 2010 model with ‘updated’ barrel ramp. I have done some work to it, Cajun Gun Works 1911 bushing conversion and SAO trigger. Also has cut-down Nill target grips and SP-01 extended mag release.

Great gun, very accurate...but...don’t recommend feeding it a regular diet of standard ball loads. The barrel lug is fragile and mine has broken twice. Also in stock form the trigger reach is absurd.

chris in va said:

I have a 2010 model with ‘updated’ barrel ramp. I have done some work to it, Cajun Gun Works 1911 bushing conversion and SAO trigger. Also has cut-down Nill target grips and SP-01 extended mag release.

Great gun, very accurate...but...don’t recommend feeding it a regular diet of standard ball loads. The barrel lug is fragile and mine has broken twice. Also in stock form the trigger reach is absurd.

Click to expand...

Do you have a pic of the problem lug? Curious...

Cz 97bd is on my short list to purchase but the current climate has taken it higher in price with reduced ability.

Used to be able to really purchase for $725 shipped with transfer fee at ffl. Now $800 or more is what I've seen and only a few available at that price before jumping higher

My local shop has the 97b for sale for $668. It is in stock. If you are seeing it for a lot more, there’s some supply/demand or gouging in play.

drband said:

My local shop has the 97b for sale for $668. It is in stock. If you are seeing it for a lot more, there’s some supply/demand or gouging in play.

Click to expand...

Correct, the safety model cz97b is less expensive than the cz97bd decocker model

chris in va said:

I have a 2010 model with ‘updated’ barrel ramp. I have done some work to it, Cajun Gun Works 1911 bushing conversion and SAO trigger. Also has cut-down Nill target grips and SP-01 extended mag release.

Great gun, very accurate...but...don’t recommend feeding it a regular diet of standard ball loads. The barrel lug is fragile and mine has broken twice. Also in stock form the trigger reach is absurd.

Click to expand...

Doing some quick internet searches i see a few questions related to broken barrel lugs. I wonder if this has been addressed in any factory changes as all issues I've found date to 2015 and earlier. I'm going to chase that answer a bit as when I buy one of these I expect to feed it 700 rounds a month for a long as my materials hold out.

I had two 97s at one point. Intended to keep one stock, but decided it was just taking up valuable space in the safe..
I loved how the thin aluminum grips looked, but they were a little too thin for my liking. I purchased some fatter G10 grips from CZUSA.
I have converted it to SAO, upgraded the hammer and tuned the internals, and threw in a stainless guide rod. Also added a Henning mag extension (+2)
The bore axis feels high, but it is such a smooth/soft recoiling pistol, it hardly matters.
great pistol, all around.

i like mine but i do find the grip a little wide front to back and i already have the aluminum grip panels. i replaced the rear sight. it is also the only cz i have had that is ammo sensitive regarding bullet COAL with my reloads but easily fixed by seating deeper and no issues with factory jacketed.

here is a video from a couple of months or so ago.

BreechFace said:

Here's my muse, except for the gold accoutrements, but love the look of the hard chrome and longevity will be great. What say all of you about getting it hard chromed when the time comes?

I've got enough black guns, my SS revolvers need an autoloader to fit in the mix.

In talking with CGW, I think I'm inclined to leave in the DA as it doesn't effect the trigger pull whatsoever, other than it will prevent from a truly flat trigger, but with the 85c trigger it should fit me well.

View attachment 964270

Click to expand...

I love the look of that chrome, and frankly standard CZ finishes aren't that special or durable if the gun will be carried and used hard.

I also love Nill Grips.

BreechFace said:

"Getting ambitious" then proceeds to hit 4 shots in a row at 25 yards one handed.

Excellent shooting it seems like your 200gr, SWC PC MBC N320 load is a good load, all but a few fliers it was just chewing the center.

Have you done anything to your 97b?

Click to expand...

i did replace the rear sight on it with one from cz customs. i like sights with a squarish/ rectangular profile over trapezoid shaped sights.

btw that was 5 shots ha ha . i only loaded 8 rds as i knew good or bad i will shoot the rest of the magazine and i thought it might be a waste of ammo.

i wear 7.5 inch surgical gloves.my fingers are on the longer side and the front to back is a little wide for me. i suspect that extra .25 inch will let you handle the pistol better.

BreechFace said:

To all the 97 owners out there have any of you felt the need for the extended safety

Click to expand...

If you tend to ride the safety when shooting you may want to think about it. The safety on my Shadow 2 can not be ridden as that gun is designed for a particular gun game in mind. The safety on my A01-LD is just wide enough to index effectively on, but not really ride. If you are mostly a 1911 shooter, I'm guessing you will want the extended safety assuming you aren't gun gaming and breaking rules by doing so.

I've handled but do not own a CZ Tactical Sport Orange, and it has a large prominent safety. It's 100% more comfortable to ride for my hands than a 1911 is.

here's a pic with 7.5 inch hands and fingers. you can disengage the safety easil, harder to engange without rotating the gun. mag release rotate the gun.

note where the fingertips are on the grip panels compared to the shadow 2. it is a big grip.