CZ97B

whughett · Dec 23, 2019

On two range outings these past two weeks, number 1 son allows me to bust a few caps in his brand new pistol. I impressed with the heft, feel and balance of this big auto in 45ACP.
This gun is big, it’s my idea of what big frame 45 autos were before the down sizing craze. 230 grain hardball, in there, ditto 200 grain SWC, ditto 230 grain lead RN. The hardball Winchester, the latter two hand loads. Carry would be in a condition one I suppose, if one wanted to carry this brute.

The sights, front a fiber optic red rod with a tallish two dot rear sight, the loaded chamber indicator, double action trigger pull all to my liking. The thin aluminum grips and the extended beaver tail made for a comfortable grip in my medium size mitt.

The double action trigger does make for a long slack take up in single action but I kinda like that.

Take down quick and simple with a threaded barrel bushing. The slide just needs to be racked back a fraction to disengage the slide release. My arthritic hands have some trouble with autos that require a long slide retraction against heavy springs, not so with this.

On my next gun show visit in Fort Meyers I be checking the dealers for one of these I can make my own.

Dave T · Dec 23, 2019

I shot my friend's 97B. Overall impression was that it was heavy. Everything feels heavy in my arthritic shoulders but the CZ makes my G4 G21 into a feather weight.

Dave

NIGHTLORD40K · Dec 23, 2019

I owned a Witness .45, kinda sorta the same thing.

It was the heaviest, but also most accurate automatic Ive ever owned- almost magically so.

It did sterling nightstand duty for many years until the wife came along and I had to switch it up for something she could handle.

Walt Sherrill · Dec 23, 2019

You can start your 97B from cocked & locked, like a 1911, or start it from the half-cock notch, too. (Because there is a firing bin block, it's safe in either position, as the gun will not fire unless the trigger is pulled fully to the rear. (If you shoot IDPA or USPSA, they won't let you start from the half-cock notch.)

I've had both the 97B (which was a bit too big for my hand and, at the time, about 10 years ago, there were no slimmer grips available; they are now) and several Witness 45s, including a Sport Long Slide (which is a precursor to some of their competition guns. I've also had at least three SIG P220s, including a Match and Super Match (SA only). All three are among the best hammer-fired .45s to be had, all three are among the most accurate.

My only .45 ACP right now is a Springfield XDm Competition, which I like the best.

Dan-O · Dec 23, 2019

Nice. Mine doesn’t play nice with swc’s. Otherwise, i love it.

roval · Dec 23, 2019

i just bought one recently. doesn't like longer reloaded bullets but did ok if seated deeper, no problems feeding factory rounds except for one Ftfeed within the first 2 mag rounds. no problems with feeding 200 gr swc except one target load i think may have been too weak to cycle reliably. no problems with 2 other swc loads.

drband · Dec 23, 2019

Eminently shootable pistol! I really enjoy mine-- hope you like yours as much!

I6turbo · Dec 23, 2019

I love the 97B. Add a Cajun Gun Works Ultra Lite Kit for reduced triggers pull and easier slide racking (though I don't find the slide hard to rack at all).

The 2013+ model has thin grips and a revised feed ramp that eats pretty much everything. I've never had a FTFeed or anything with mine after shooting several different types of hollow point ammo and a bunch of other stuff. If you have the earlier model you can have the ramp modified (polished, mostly) to work better with hollow points. At one point CZ-USA would do it at no charge, I've read.

I find the 97B to fit my hand better, all things considered, than a 1911. The ergonomic shape lets the 97 B fit into my hand and feel more secure, feel like I have a better grip on it even though my hand isn't really wrapped around it much more, if any.

Aligned where the web of the hand fits:

I hate to admit it because I admire the 1911, but after getting my 97B, installing the CGW Ultra Lite kit in it, I eventually sold the 1911 because it wasn't getting out of the safe.

bannockburn · Dec 23, 2019

I6turbo

I tried a CZ 97 a few years back and while I liked the overall design and shape of the gun it was just a little too big of a grip frame for my smaller size hand. I do much better with a 1911 or a P01!

Walkalong · Dec 23, 2019

I6turbo said:
The 2013+ model has thin grips and a revised feed ramp that eats pretty much everything. I've never had a FTFeed or anything with mine

Mine is an older one that can be finicky with some SWCs, but I still love it.The 1911 fits me better, the CZ97 grip is nearly too large for me. Not getting rid of either.

Those thin grips look great.

Walt Sherrill · Dec 24, 2019

I've always been a bit put-out by the fact that the large framed Tanfoglios fit my hand, while the 97B was just a bit too big. Seems as though CZ could've downsized te frame or grips just a bit.

I once had an ASAI One-Pro .45 that was smaller than the 97B. It had the lightest STOCK double-action and single-action trigger of any gun I've owned. They were imported by Magnum Research and made in Switzerland from some (apparently hand-fit) Tanfoglio (CZ Pattern) parts. (I've learned a lot about guns since then, but because I knew less then, I traded it away. It was a great gun that scared me. Now I know I could have found some slightly heavier hammer springs for it, and would probably still have it.)

Tallball · Dec 25, 2019

They are excellent pistols. Check the current thread from my friend Mizz Maddie on her 45acp Tanfoglio Witness "clone".

It's my favorite service pistol design.

whughett · Dec 26, 2019

Tallball said:
They are excellent pistols. Check the current thread from my friend Mizz Maddie on her 45acp Tanfoglio Witness "clone".

It's my favorite service pistol design.

The owner just upgraded the grips. Coolhand, Coyote

CZ97B

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