CZ-97 owners? Question/observation...

[Col. Plink]

Hey y'all,
I may finally get my hands on a CZ-97, which I have wanted for awhile.

Was hoping to get some owners' observations/recommendations.

I was surprised that it's only a 10+1 with a double-stack mag (or at least the magwell is that wide). Are there any improvements available in this respect?

For the size of the grip it seems they'd be higher capacity (other CZ's in .40, 9mm certainly make the most of their size, wondering why the 97 does not...)

Thanks!

 

[TheGloriousTachikoma]

Is the grip any wider than the 9mm variants? Because 45 has a much wider case than 9mm and if they tried to keep the normal CZ-75 dimensions in the grip area I could see only fitting ten rounds in the stack.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The Witness .45 uses the same magazines -- and there MAY be larger mags that work in that gun -- used by guys who shoot IPSC. I don't know of any, but you can search around. (The Witness grip is fractionally smaller, but still uses the same magazine.)

The CZ-97 uses a wider mag than the 9mm gun -- MUCH BIGGER -- but the round itself is noticeably larger than the 9mm or .40 round -- so there's not a lot of spare room in there for extra rounds, when the spring is compressed; you'd have to extend the base or mag length. (If you've got to have more rounds, you may have to wait until you can get a SIG P-227, which will eventually offer 13 or 14 round mags. That gun is a P-220 with a double-stack mag. I've only seen articles about them, not the gun itself.)

Good gun. The grip was just a bit larger than I liked, but that was before there were after-market thinner grips, and trigger mods. Check http://CAJUNGUNWORKS.COM for a number of enhancements.

 

[Col. Plink]

Good info guys, thanks!

My question now is, is there anyone out there who knows for SURE that there are other mags that fit and work in the CZ-97 that might be cheaper or higher capacity than stock mags? Thanks!

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've followed this topic for years, and have never run across mags compatible with the CZ-97, Witness/Tanfoglio, or ASAI One Pro guns (all of which use the same mags) that hold more than 10-rounds. I've owned all three of those guns.

Incidentally, Mec-Gar made most of the factory OEM mags for those guns. If you can find Mec-Gars, they're generally as good (or better than) factory mags, and often quite a bit cheaper.

Schmeky, at Cajun Gun Works would be a good person to talk with about mag options -- he's quite an expert.

 

[clang]

I almost bought a CZ 97B twice. They are great big all steel double stack 45s that look really sharp. Both times I pulled back for 2 reasons:
1. They only held 10 rounds, a guns so big and heavy should hold more than that.
2. Ball ammo was recommended for reliable feeding. Hollow points can hang up in them. At least it was this way the last time I looked (3-4 years ago).

I wound up buying an H&K USP45 for my high cap 45. I got it used in like new condition, so I did not have to pay near what a new one cost. The polymer double stack 45s are just a better package - they are lighter, a little more compact grip, and usually hold more ammo. Glock, XD, etc all make great double stack 45s that are a more practical alternative to the CZ 97.

Of course the CZ looks sexier, and the old school all steel thing has it's own attraction...maybe I still DO need a CZ 97...

 

[Walkalong]

I bought one about three years ago. Love. Simply love it. I had an XD .45, and it was nice, but I liked my 1911s better, and it got traded. The CZ97 isn't going anywhere. My son loves it too. Only 10 rounds? Doesn't bother me one bit. Picked up a couple of extra Mec-Gars for it. They are put up. I added the Comp hammer.

They have a rep for not feeding SWCs well, but mine rarely chokes on them. It feeds Golden Sabers 99.9%.

That settles it, it is going to the range this weekend. The last time out my son and I were hitting a 12" square steel plate at 100 yards pretty regularly using Berrys 185 Gr SWCs and N310.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The problem with CZ-97 feeding hollowpoints was resolved a couple of years ago, with a slight mod to the barrel and feed ramp on newer guns. It doesn't seem to be a problem, nowadays, and if you have one that won't feed, I suspect CZ will make it right.

 

[hAkron]

The Sarsilmaz K2-45 is a Turkish copy (sort of) of the CZ 97 with a 14 round magazine. It's really more of a loose copy of a large frame Tanfoglio which is itself a copy of a CZ 75, and its got some tacky styling choices, but its an absolute tack driver, and about $200 cheaper than a CZ 97.