CZ-97B

O

Oris

Moderator
Got this one. Polymer finish, walnut grips.
Looks nice. DA pull is superb, but SA is a
bit rough, although not really bad. Pistol
feels real good in my average size hand, and
not really as big and heavy as I expected after reading reviews. It came with test target, nice lock and spare magazine (Meg-Gar brand) and a very handy CZ holster (!), which can be used for just about any pistol, works perfectly with my CZ-75B and also Mak. Very smartly designed holster...

I noticed that barrel bushing was not screwed
into the slide completely and feels pretty
loose. Despite this, pistol shot good, sending bullets in a predictable
direction, with no unexpected flyers. Factory target showed 4" group at 25 meters, and it seems right. I wonder what would be the real accuracy with a barrel bushing not so loose? Anybody have any experience with this?

Feeding was perfect, 100%, with MFS FMJ and
Federal Hi-Shok. Recoil felt quite soft,
sights are good.

Now, my question: I want to do some work on the trigger, and I do not want to use gunsmith - I enjoy doing it myself. Anybody knows where I can get some kind of gunsmith
manual to work with CZ pistols?
 
Check that barrel bushing with the supplier under g'tee. It must be wrong.

The D/A will improve as time goes on.

IMHO -I say leave it 'as it is' and "shoot it in" a bit more before fiddling with fine arkansas stones etc.

My CZ-75 is similar to yours and is AOK.

Get the barrel bushing fixed though.

BB

------------------
If we shooting sportspersons don't hang together... we will all hang separately !
Never knock another's different shooting interest or discipline...REMEMBER we are all but leaves on the same tree of freedom.
 
Oris, The barrel bushing should only be finger tight, really just to the point where the cut-out on the bushing will clear the recoil spring housing before the bushing is tight to the muzzle. Sounds like you got a good deal there, two mags and a holster. I bought my '97 last year and it came with one mag, test target, plastic cleaning rod and plastic lockable carry case. The CZ 97B has been reliable in my experience and I find I shoot the tightest groups with it over anything else in my inventory, including my (9mm) P226. One last tip, check the barrel stop screw (part #65) on the loaded chamber indicator nut (part #49) from time to time as this may shoot loose. Enjoy your new acquisition.
 
I love mine too. You got a good deal. Went to a gun show this weekend and purchased 2 magazine that are for the witness .45 from meg-Gar, they work fine and are cheaper then from CZ-USA. I heard it here that they would work and they do.
 
Thanks, gentlemen.

Gregg, the barrel bushing on my CZ-97 can
be finger tightened aprox. 30 degrees
PAST the key slot cut on the flange, which means that it's loose when key slot and recoil spring housing are in lock with each other. That is why I asked if it's normal. I do not think it's completely normal, although I understand that it's quite difficult to cut the key slot in exactly the right spot due to
a number of manufacturing factors. The funny thing is that I feel that CZ guys cut this key slot individually for each pistol, 'cause
barrel bushing is black anodized (?), and the key slot cut exposed bare metal of this bushing. Do you follow me? Is this the same on your pistol, means you can rotate bushing
with your fingers a bit more past the key slot?

Otherwise, CZ-97B looks like an exceptional piece of harware. I can visualize CZ-97B with
a 6"-7" barrel and adjustable sights (what a canon it would be with some hot loads!) or a special .22 LR kit similar to CZ-75 Kadet - would make even more sense considering that .45 ammo is considerably more expensive than 9mm and .22 LR will be even more cost-effective means of training with CZ-97B...

Last question - I want to try the hottest
.45 ACP FMJ loads I can buy, what would be the brand? I do not mean .45 Super, of course...
 
Oris, Yes my barrel bushing will go past the key slot cut if I were to snug it up to the muzzle without the recoil spring housing in place. Also the key slot cut was created before the bushing had the finish installed, there are two small wear spots (bare metal) now showing. I have called CZ-USA in the past and yes, your bushing is fitted to your barrel.

Regarding hot loads, I'll let those with access to chronos take it from here ;)
 
I agree with Gregg. My 97B bushing is a little loose. I also called the CZ gun smith and he said this was normal. My main question had to do with the incomplete threading inside the slide, where the bushing screws into. I think this is the weak link of the gun, but he maintained that it is not a problem and that if it does turn out to be one they will send a new gun. I'll bet that is the most common question they get on that model.

So far, my 97B is very accurate so the seemingly loose bushing obviously isn't a problem yet. Time will tell.
 
O.K., then it seems this setup was designed
this way. Will see how it goes. My only concern is that threads on barrel bushing are noticably undersized, and it may cause some sort of damage to the threads with heavy use. In regard to accuracy, the recoil spring does apply some torgue to
the barrel and pushes it against the lower
portion of the bushing, as I noticed. It's
good for consistency. On the other hand,
there is no steady support for a barrel
in lateral direction, and I did notice that
my CZ-97B seems to spread bullets a bit more
in lateral direction. Sure, it shoots much much better than any standard 1911, but still, I feel there is a certain potential
to make CZ-97 a real tackdriver.

But I'm extremely happy I got it. Beautiful
gun, absolutely the best deal around in .45ACP DA/SA pistols.
 
I've been seriously considering one of these pistols for some time now, but I wanted to know: What are you fellas paying for yours?

If they aren't terribly expensive, I'm hoping to do some sort of trade with my nearly-new Ruger P90. I like the P90's but, unfortunately, the trigger is very bad and the sights aren't even close to POI - even at less than 10 feet.



------------------
"America is at that awkward stage.
It's too late to work within the system,
but too early to start shooting the bastards."
--Claire Wolfe
 
CZ-USA will sell the one to FFL holder for
$463.50. This includes 2 mags, case, lock
and also, they sent a nice handy holster (may be as gift?). Shipping nowdays is $20.
So, my total was $483.50.
 
Nekron,

The shop I frequent most often has several new CZ-97s for $459 and two used ones for $399. I haven't picked one up yet but it's next on my list. :)

Joe/Ga
 
Joe, since they have two used ones how about passing along the shop info. I might be interested in one for under $400. Did you happen to notice what kind of shape they were in? Boxes and papers? It concerns me that they have two sitting in a used gun case a pistol that is relatively new to the market and gets pretty good reviews from the owners that we have heard from. Any idea on the story of these two?
 
Jeff,

The shop that has these used CZ-97s is Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, Georgia. They don't have a web site that I know of and I can't find a business card with their phone number on it right now.

I don't know the story on these pistols or if they come with the original papers and case. One of them looks like it was pretty well used. The other looks like it has maybe seen one box of ammo.

This shop does a pretty good business in used pistols and quite often they are in great shape. I bought a used HK USP there that had -very- little use and a great price. I think maybe some folks buy something new and after one or two trips to the range decide they don't like it for one reason or another and trade it in on something else.

Joe/Ga
 
Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll have to pony up some cash on top of the P90 unless I get lucky at a gun show.


John


------------------
"America is at that awkward stage.
It's too late to work within the system,
but too early to start shooting the bastards."
--Claire Wolfe
 
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