Grand Power P45 vs CZ 97B vs PPQ 45.....thoughts?

[John G C 1]

I am looking at all three and watching videos and trying to makeup my mind for a spring purchase as a general range target shooter. This will not be a carry or used in any pistol gaming.

No shop withing a hour and a half of where I live has any of these. I am aware of size and weight but I am just wondering if anyone has shot these and has any comments on sights or triggers or warranty support or anything not covered in video reviews.

I am especially wondering about Grand Power and their support and presence in the US. I see fewer Grand Powers on Gunbroker than ever before, but then I read they are popular in Europe and are considered well made.

Any comments other than that the CZ is a bit big and heavy? Thank you.

 

[roc1]

I don’t know about the other 2 but the CZ is a great shooter. It is not to big for me heavy little but tames recoil well. I think you can’t go wrong with CZ but I am partial. Good luck

 

[John G C 1]

roc1--- thanks how was your 97b sighted in? the sights are fixed? combat cover the dot?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I am not a fan of Walthers, and know nothing about Grand Powers, so my vote is CZ 96B or BD.

I've handled a 97 and it felt very good in the hand. A lot of people talk about how big they are. Thin grips can be had. A lot of people say they are too heavy. They aren't that bad, though it's relative of course.

I actually plan to buy one from CGW or from the CZ Custom Shop at some point. I'm kind of over regular production guns.

 

[John G C 1]

460shooter-- yeah, I saw them on CGW. Very expensive but given what they do to them I bet this would be great.

 

[I6turbo]

I'm a big fan of the 97 B. It drove me to sell my 1911 because I just always shot the 97B when I shot .45 ACP, and it's possibly my favorite CZ to shoot among the group that includes a 75B, 85 Combat full of CGW parts, SP-01 Tactical, PCR, and P-01. I don't find the grip size to be that large. The grip is not small, but the gun has such good ergonomics that it doesn't feel over-sized, grip wise.

97B compared to a 1911:


Aligned where the web of the hand wraps around the top of the grip:

 

[John G C 1]

WOW, thanks for taking the time to post the photos! They really help. You guys are really making me lean toward the CZ.

I know the 97B sights are fixed, but just curious if they are more or less on out of the box.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I have a 9mm Grand Power Q100 purchased on 24 December 2019. This is the typical accuracy with cheap Winchester 124gr FMJ-RN:
20 shots at 10 yards, two hands, standing, couple weeks ago


10 shots at 10 yards, two hands, standing, today



Now imagine the same groups with .45 holes...

 

[John G C 1]

Whoa....nice. Thanks for the photos! Good shooting.

No wonder I am so conflicted.

 

[whughett]

Don’t own one yet but this past December my oldest showed up with a brand new CZ. After a box of Ammo It’s now on my wish list. As noted a big gun and a solid shooter. He replaced the thin aluminum grips with an equally thin but attractive set of some laminate material.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Whoa....nice. Thanks for the photos! Good shooting.

No wonder I am so conflicted.

Walther and CZ are definitely excellent choices. I myself own a Walther P99 AS and my father two CZ and they are exceptional guns. But if you want something different then Grand Power is the way to go. The processes, machining and materials are top notch. Keep in mind that the Q100 is the entry level model, so from the P45 I expect even higher finish and performance.

 

[I6turbo]

WOW, thanks for taking the time to post the photos! They really help. You guys are really making me lean toward the CZ.

I know the 97B sights are fixed, but just curious if they are more or less on out of the box.

All of my CZs with fixed sights have been dead on out of the box. The one with adjustable sights, the 85 Combat, actually needed a click or two of adjustment. I believe my 97 may be the most accurate of any of mine that I listed above. The possible exception is the SP-01, but the green laser gives it an accuracy advantage in my hands, and I've not really compared them side by side shooting open sights on both.

Here's a photo showing the relative size of the 97 compared to some of the 9-mm 75-based guns. The 97 is a very nice shooting gun.

 

[Koroner]

Love my 97B and have a half dozen mags because they also work in my Swiss made ASAI onePro .45 which has a very sweet DA trigger and is lighter than the CZ.

 

[drband]

My CZ97b is every bit as accurate as most 1911s. I just have to shoot a magazine through it to adjust to the pivoting trigger after shooting my Dan Wesson Heritage.
Sights are dead-on. I like the fiber optic front sight—changed mine from red to green.
An inexpensive, easy upgrade is the CGW floating trigger pin. Takes the trigger to a new level of smooth!

A CZ97 is hard to beat for a .45acp pistol.

 

[sigarms228]

I really liked the PPQ 45 that I tried and would be my choice of those listed. I was only able to put ten rounds through it at a factory demo but they were one ragged hole. However I would choose my HK45 over the Walther.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I love the PPQ in 9mm... Never played with the .45 but I bet it's great.

Almost bought a 97, felt it was way too big for a 10 round auto. I'd rather have a Witness line or Jericho line .45.

Almost bought a 10mm Grand Power. Disappointed in the trigger and I feel like the one I was holding felt pretty cheap.

So I'd look at the PPQ or go with a CZ clone.

But that's just me.

 

[roc1]

I have factory fixed sites on my 97 which is fine fiber optic in front. I put CGW pro kit in mine to slick it up. I also changed thin aluminum grips to Lok grips which are bigger. All these things make a good gun even better. Nothing needs to be changed I just like tinkering with my guns making changes for my preferences. Can’t go wrong with CZ pistols.

 

[John G C 1]

Thanks for all the comments. I am torn between the Grand Power and the CZ so I will go to my local shop this week and see which he can get in. J

 

[<*(((><]

When having to make a close tough decision between something and CZ the answer is CZ.

 

[John G C 1]

I do have a CZ 75 and an SPo1 and they are both great.

I generally prefer adjustable rear sights but both the 97B and the GP P45 are not easily adjusted. Fortunately I do have a sight pusher too.

 

[foxmoor]

The fixed, 3-dot sights on my 97B are dead-on accurate, POA=POI. I removed the old wooden grips and replaced them with Hogue wrap-around grips for a 75B (heat them in boiling water for 30 seconds then apply quickly), and it shoots like a dream. Great pistol.

 

[John G C 1]

Found out it is pretty tough to find a Grand Power P454 with the windage adjustable sights and the fiber optic front sight, both options I did want.

So I decided to go with the CZ 97B. I hope the Grand Power distributor in the US gets more of their pistols out there, as I would buy a P45 too.

Thanks all