Bought the CZ 97B and

[John G C 1]

I ended up ordering the CZ 97B because so many people liked it, I like my CZ 75, and the Grand Power P45 was not readily available.

Picked up the gun this morning, ran a bore snake through it and it was super clean. Took off the slide and it looked good so I quick oiled the rails and ran up to the range for a few shots.

I shoot pumpkin on a post so I knew it would come in a little low. It did. No problem.

It is a little heavy and a little bigger than the CZ 75 but the trigger is nice and the pistol appears solid!

Here are my first few shots. These are at only ten yards, which is why the group is decent except for one low one in each group.

The low to the right was with Geco ammo. Notice the one shot way way down low. Clearly my fault.

Second group is with Speer. A little to the left and one way down low. Again, my fault on the low shots.

All in all very nice. Thanks all for the input.View attachment 894332 View attachment 894332

 

[Terry G]

My favorite .45. Yes it's heavy, but in a good holster you get used to it quickly. I shot my best score eve r in LEOSA qualification with it. My only up grade was to switch the grips. That's it. I probably paid too much, I usually do, but I'm happy. Enjoy yours.

 

[SwampWolf]

The CZ Model 97 is a pistol I've often considered getting but have been leery to "pull the trigger" on a purchase due to the many reports I've read suggesting they can be picky when digesting bullet configurations that deviate much from hardball. I'm curious what you guys' experiences have been regarding the question of proper feeding when shooting ammunition having bullets with hollow-point type profiles. Thanks for any inputs.

 

[Terry G]

The CZ Model 97 is a pistol I've often considered getting but have been leery to "pull the trigger" on a purchase due to the many reports I've read suggesting they can be picky when digesting bullet configurations that deviate much from hardball. I'm curious what you guys' experiences have been regarding the question of proper feeding when shooting ammunition having bullets with hollow-point type profiles. Thanks for any inputs.

I was kind of surprised by the ammunition sensitive question. I have shot several different HP configurations through mine and have not had any sort of malfunction. Hornady, Speer, and Remington Golden Saber +P 185 Grain is what I carry and normally shoot. I haven't heard of any HP problems but that doesn't mean there haven't been any. New's to me.

 

[Dan-O]

Mine doesn’t play well with swc’s.

I’ve heard if you remove the loaded chamber indicator it alleviates the problem.

 

[wally]

Mine doesn’t play well with swc’s.

^ +1

I’ve heard if you remove the loaded chamber indicator it alleviates the problem.

Never heard of this, hard to see how it would help.

 

[drband]

Mine feeds anything now.
RN, HP, SWC. You might check the lobe of the slide stop. It may protrude a bit too far and impede feeding of some profiles. Easy enough to break protruding edges a bit to ensure good feeding. Factory mags feed the best, though MecGar mags for Tanfoglio may work also. I have a couple that are just fine.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I was kind of surprised by the ammunition sensitive question. I have shot several different HP configurations through mine and have not had any sort of malfunction.

There was a thread several weeks ago started by a gentleman who was having some real issues. I believe the final analysis indicated CZ 97 chambers are just a touch short, meaning that cartridge overall length can be an issue. Once he shortened up his OAL a bit when loading, they fed fine.

 

[ATLDave]

As 460' said, CZ cuts many of their barrels with short ledes.... the rifling starts "sooner" than a lot of other guns. If the ogive/profile of the bullet hits that rifling before the lip of the case hits the front edge of the chamber, that's a problem. This isn't really a "feeding" issue, as one might encounter with 1911's... it's just an ammo ogive-to-base-length issue.

Some people credit CZ's usually-very-good accuracy to these short ledes. But you can have the barrel reamed to lengthen the throat. Or you can just load ammo a touch shorter if you're rolling your own.

 

[ATLDave]

Mine doesn’t play well with swc’s.

Do you have any of the full-diameter portion of the bullet sticking up above the case rim? Have you tried reducing powder charge slightly and seating deeper?

 

[SwampWolf]

I guess that's a problem I have with any handgun that needs to be "tweaked" or otherwise fussed with before it functions correctly with most types of ammunition. Some people seem to like the "challenge" and I can appreciate that but I'm one that wants and expects a pistol to run right, straight out of the box, using most kinds of bullets and loads. For me, "break-ins" (shooting a minimum number of rounds initially before trusting it for self-defense duties) are for verifying a pistol's reliability; not for making a pistol reliable.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Take it FWIW

I saw a video of a tour of the CZ factory in Uhersky Brod. At the time the video was made one of the processes they put the guns through was putting them in an oil bath and manipulating the slide hundreds (?) of times to smooth the operation out.

Of all the guns I ever sold the only one I ever regretted was my 75B

 

[I6turbo]

The CZ Model 97 is a pistol I've often considered getting but have been leery to "pull the trigger" on a purchase due to the many reports I've read suggesting they can be picky when digesting bullet configurations that deviate much from hardball. I'm curious what you guys' experiences have been regarding the question of proper feeding when shooting ammunition having bullets with hollow-point type profiles. Thanks for any inputs.

The 2013 and later models have a revised feed ramp that generally allows them to digest just about any factory ammo. Last I heard, CZ would modify earlier model barrels at no charge if you contact them.

I have a 2013+ model and have shot several different 230 grain factory loads, and a variety hollow point loads through it with no issues - not a single malfunction of any kind. I've seen the same claim numerous times from others. I doubt you'll have an issue if you buy one unless you're hand-loading something odd. I have several CZs because I love them, and the 97B is one of my favorites, possibly my overall favorite. It's a great gun, IME.

 

[BigBL87]

I was tempted to get one, but ended up getting a 1911 because, well, if I only had one .45 it seemed fitting that it be a 1911.

I love my CZs though, so were I to come into a significant amount of money, a 97 would definitely be on my list.

 

[Dan-O]

Do you have any of the full-diameter portion of the bullet sticking up above the case rim? Have you tried reducing powder charge slightly and seating deeper?

I have plenty of round nose or non swc made on hand to make it real durty.

I went nuts and made 2k swc’s that some other offerings like

too lazy to work up a swc round specific to this gun...

 

[5-SHOTS]

I remember an italian pistol magazine where they made a comparison between a CZ 97B and a SIG-Sauer P220. The CZ had reliability problems with semi wad-cutter reloads while the P220 did not.

 

[JDGray]

My 97B is my favorite 45! I converted mine to SA, installed a flat trigger, target rear sight, love it!

 

[drband]

My 97B is my favorite 45! I converted mine to SA, installed a flat trigger, target rear sight, love it!
View attachment 894764
View attachment 894765

CGW parts for SA and trigger?

 

[JDGray]

CGW parts for SA and trigger?

CGW trigger, rear sight, and floating trigger pin.

 

[drband]

CGW trigger, rear sight, and floating trigger pin.

Thanks. I have the floating trigger pin-- may look at some other upgrades!

 

[JDGray]

Thanks. I have the floating trigger pin-- may look at some other upgrades!

To make it SA, simply remove the Disconnector. I shortened the reset the old fashioned way, by eliminating all the FPB system, to make it a pre B. CZ USA will do this for you too, but you must sign a waiver.

 

[drband]

To make it SA, simply remove the Disconnector. I shortened the reset the old fashioned way, by eliminating all the FPB system, to make it a pre B. CZ USA will do this for you too, but you must sign a waiver.

THANKS! That would be sweet!

 

[JDGray]

THANKS! That would be sweet!

CGW sells the sear cage spacer you will need, when you remove the FPB lifter. You can also fashion one out of a small nut...

 

[drband]

CGW sells the sear cage spacer you will need, when you remove the FPB lifter. You can also fashion one out of a small nut...

Is there any harm to leaving the FPB lifter in place?

 

[dfariswheel]

The early CZ-97B had some problems with some guns in feeding anything but 230 grain FMJ bullets, but if you sent it in to CZ-USA their gunsmith would do something under warranty and they fed anything after that.
They've since reportedly fixed the issue on later guns.

Right from the get-go people have bragged about the high level accuracy from the 97B.