In deciding on a new handgun (.45 of course) I've narrowed it down the final 2, Springfield's GI 45 and a CZ 97. My 2 questions for the 97 are 1) are there any grips that can thin out the width of the pistol, and 2) is there some sort of short trigger modification to make the DA pull easier. Thanks
CZ 97 questions
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Nightcrawler
Member
I love mine.
To my knowledge, there are not other grips available.
To shorten the DA trigger reach a bit, you can carry the pistol at half-cock. Or, if you're right-handed, you can carry it cocked & locked for a sweet single action trigger pull.
To my knowledge, there are not other grips available.
To shorten the DA trigger reach a bit, you can carry the pistol at half-cock. Or, if you're right-handed, you can carry it cocked & locked for a sweet single action trigger pull.
Walt Sherrill
Member
You might try visiting the CZ Forum and checking with the grip makers, there -- we have two -- about getting thinner CZ-97B grips.
At least one of them has done it for other models, with good results, and I suspect it can be done with the 97B, as well.
At least one of them has done it for other models, with good results, and I suspect it can be done with the 97B, as well.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Sorry to say, the DA reach is what it is - AFAIK, there is nothing out there to alter the reach. Having said that, there are a bunch of folks (myself included) who've successfully thinned the grips on a CZ97 to make it less of a handful. As Walt suggested, there are even folks on the CZ forum (and here, occasionally) who'll take your stock grips and thin them for you for a really small fee.
dfariswheel
Member
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All the CZ's and most early "Clones" had triggers set WAY to far forward. This makes the trigger reach unnecessarily long.
I've done two "fixes".
One is to make a new trigger that sets farther back in the trigger guard.
The other, and preferred method, is to cut the trigger off, and weld a new, longer, more curved finger piece in place.
By this method, you can make a trigger that sits much farther rearward, and, with some fitting, you can use the frame area in the rear of the trigger guard as a trigger stop.
Most good pistolsmiths can do this for you.
I've done two "fixes".
One is to make a new trigger that sets farther back in the trigger guard.
The other, and preferred method, is to cut the trigger off, and weld a new, longer, more curved finger piece in place.
By this method, you can make a trigger that sits much farther rearward, and, with some fitting, you can use the frame area in the rear of the trigger guard as a trigger stop.
Most good pistolsmiths can do this for you.
Walt Sherrill
Member
The newest CZ with a "standard" frame, the P-01, has a recurved trigger, which shortens the pull noticeably for some shooters. That trigger can be used in any of the DA/SA guns.
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Peter M. Eick
Member
The 97B is a nice gun. I found my trigger really smoothed out a bunch with use. I will be shooting these boys today so here is a picture. Targets to be posted tonight.
I think you will find that the 97B is an easier gun to shoot well then a 1911. My reason for saying that is the gun is heavier and does not seem to recoil much, not that a 1911 45 recoils a lot anyway, but out of the 97b it is more of a rocking then a sharp push.
I think you will find that the 97B is an easier gun to shoot well then a 1911. My reason for saying that is the gun is heavier and does not seem to recoil much, not that a 1911 45 recoils a lot anyway, but out of the 97b it is more of a rocking then a sharp push.
Heraclitus
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STAGE 2:
You narrowed your choices one too many! Did you not consider the Sig P220?
Another option for thinning out your 97's grip is dumping the factory walnut for a 75's polymer Hogue. It takes some work, but it's not impossible. I did it, back when I owned one of these chunkys. First you need to anchor one side of the wrap-around grip on the frame, as you normally would. Next, you put the other screw through the other grip hole, and then, with your screwdriver in the screw slot -- you'll love this part -- you STREEEEETCH as hard as you would your paycheck at the end of a loose-wad holiday season, and lever the screw into its hole in the frame. That's it! Looks great and feels terrific.
As far as modifying your DA pull, I ditto what Nightcrawler said.
You narrowed your choices one too many! Did you not consider the Sig P220?
Another option for thinning out your 97's grip is dumping the factory walnut for a 75's polymer Hogue. It takes some work, but it's not impossible. I did it, back when I owned one of these chunkys. First you need to anchor one side of the wrap-around grip on the frame, as you normally would. Next, you put the other screw through the other grip hole, and then, with your screwdriver in the screw slot -- you'll love this part -- you STREEEEETCH as hard as you would your paycheck at the end of a loose-wad holiday season, and lever the screw into its hole in the frame. That's it! Looks great and feels terrific.
As far as modifying your DA pull, I ditto what Nightcrawler said.
CZSteve
Member
Stage 2,
I'm almost certain I remember someone either here or on the czforum that had the 'blade' style SA trigger installed on their 97B.
Contact Mike at cz-usa and ask.
Don't have a 97B, but have shot one.
Man is it nice. Un-godly accurate, acctually makes me look like I know what I'm doing
.
It's a VERY soft shooter as a result of the weight of the gun and the full/long dust cover.
1st time I held one at a gun shop I though it was friggin' huge. However, when shooting a friends at the range it seemed very comfortable and I have medium sized hands.
I'm almost certain I remember someone either here or on the czforum that had the 'blade' style SA trigger installed on their 97B.
Contact Mike at cz-usa and ask.
Don't have a 97B, but have shot one.
Man is it nice. Un-godly accurate, acctually makes me look like I know what I'm doing
.It's a VERY soft shooter as a result of the weight of the gun and the full/long dust cover.
1st time I held one at a gun shop I though it was friggin' huge. However, when shooting a friends at the range it seemed very comfortable and I have medium sized hands.
DonNikmare
Member
I put a cz 75 hogue wrap around grip on mine and it did thin out the grip considerably. It does require a soak in hot water and a good stretch but once it's on you can't tell it was made for a smaller gun.
12 Volt could also thin out your grips for you as he did with his own 97b grips. He is also THE man and currently the only man as far as I know that makes FLGR's for the cz 97b...
www.jackashcustom.com
Nik
12 Volt could also thin out your grips for you as he did with his own 97b grips. He is also THE man and currently the only man as far as I know that makes FLGR's for the cz 97b...
www.jackashcustom.com
Nik
Peter M. Eick
Member
Take a look at my detailed range report post, but I warn you it has lots of pictures. It will be on this page somewhere.
mainmech48
Member
Can't really help on the grips. I have pretty large hands so the reach and girth haven't been an issue with mine.
As a southpaw, I wanted/needed an ambi thumb safety on mine. CZ didn't offer one, but the EAA part can be installed with some modification.
CZ-USA can't/won't do it, as the part is not theirs. I took mine to Neil Keller at "Kustom Ballistics" for the job. He did a "duty/carry" action job on it at the same time. While it probably would've slicked-up just as nicely with extended use, it would've cost more for the case-or-two of ammo than it did for the work, IMO.
A not-inconsiderable plus is that it will now feed any type of .45 ACP ammo flawlessly. Before it would only run 100% with ball or closely similar HPs. Would choke on SWCs or TCs. Highly recommended if you're into IDPA-type 200 gr. reloads.
FWIW, it shot just as well OTB with Federal "American Eagle" ball as the "Big Name" custom 1911 that I have more than 3X the money in.
PS: You might want to check how the ergos on an EAA "Witness" .45 fit you. The trigger is slightly different, as is the grip. Not generally as accurate or nicely fitted as the CZ, but still quite servicable. They can be had for about $75-100 less in my area.
As a southpaw, I wanted/needed an ambi thumb safety on mine. CZ didn't offer one, but the EAA part can be installed with some modification.
CZ-USA can't/won't do it, as the part is not theirs. I took mine to Neil Keller at "Kustom Ballistics" for the job. He did a "duty/carry" action job on it at the same time. While it probably would've slicked-up just as nicely with extended use, it would've cost more for the case-or-two of ammo than it did for the work, IMO.
A not-inconsiderable plus is that it will now feed any type of .45 ACP ammo flawlessly. Before it would only run 100% with ball or closely similar HPs. Would choke on SWCs or TCs. Highly recommended if you're into IDPA-type 200 gr. reloads.
FWIW, it shot just as well OTB with Federal "American Eagle" ball as the "Big Name" custom 1911 that I have more than 3X the money in.
PS: You might want to check how the ergos on an EAA "Witness" .45 fit you. The trigger is slightly different, as is the grip. Not generally as accurate or nicely fitted as the CZ, but still quite servicable. They can be had for about $75-100 less in my area.
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