CZ97 a bad deal getting worse

It was my understanding CZ USA would throat and polish the old (old) style barrels at no cost as it was a true design flaw on the originals. Even so they were strictly designed to shoot FMJ and should do so as-is.

The locking lug on mine snapped off and they fitted the new style, longer feedramp barrel at no charge. A rare occurrence but it does happen.

Mine has been a labor of love. The barrel bushing tends to break off (mine twice) so CGW is installing the 1911 bushing conversion. Once I converted it to SAO it transformed the gun into it's true purpose IMO.
 
Actually $180 for the barrel and the bushing plus you are getting shipping both ways is fair. The 97 is a tank and if you had to pay overnight shipping both ways that would be a good chunk of changes. Heck when I send a slide to dawson precision for front and rear sights installed it's around $180 with return shipping.
 
I think you should address the seller and get your money back. Failing that, cough up the $180 and get your gun right.
 
If we know the barrel is at fault, would it not be cheaper just send in the barrel in if indeed Chris in VA's recollection is accurate?

I'm not familiar with the 97's design, internally, but is the bushing that hard to change out? I'm no gun-smith, but I'd feel pretty confident in being able to do a swap on almost any part in gun. Polishing and grinding are a different story.
 
The bushing may need to be fitted to the barrel. I think he could find a Smith that will do it for around $100, the shop that he purchased it from should do it at no charge.
 
I had one of the earlier CZ-97s, and the bushing in that one was (and I think still might be) plastic. The problems people were having early on with them came from tightening them too tightly, causing breaks. (Maybe they've changed how they make them.)

Changing out a barrel should be no problem, and not something that needs to be done by CZ in Kansas City. Installing the new bushing shouldn't be a problem either, and I doubt the bushing needs to be fitted to the barrel.

While the 97B barrel is slightly different than some other CZ models, most of the newer CZ barrels use the same SIG-like Lockup design. With all CZ barrels the accuracy of the design comes from how the REAR of the assembly assembly locks up with the slide in the middle, in front of the ejection port. This is true of most of the other CZ models. Only a few of the Custom Shop guns use a true, fitted barrel bushing, ala 1911, and I suspect that few shooters have the necessary skills to take advantage of that small margin of added accuracy that comes from those extra custom enhancement. All of the CZs I've owned were very accurace.

The only reason I got rid of my 97B was that it was just too big for my hand. The similar Tanfogflio .45 models and the 10mm version are a good bit smaller in the grip area and were not a problem. Since then, the CZ Custom Shop and Cajun Gun Works have developed kits to reduce trigger pull length and slimmer grips to reduce grip size. I'd probably still have that 97B had those options been available some years ago.

Mine was a fine-shooting .45, and at least as accurate as several SIG P-220s I had owned prior to that -- but it was definitely NOT a concealed carry gun!
 
101combatvet said:
The bushing may need to be fitted to the barrel. I think he could find a Smith that will do it for around $100, the shop that he purchased it from should do it at no charge.
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A lot of stores don't really have anyone on staff skilled in even moderate gun smithing, or you get those that claim they do and can make things worse.
 
I've already polished the feed ramp three different times, trying it out after each application. This is not the only problem with the original barrel.
My favorite target load is a 200gr. plated flat point loaded to a 1.200 overall length. works fine in two 1911's and a Sig P220. Have to seat them to a 1.150 overall length in order for the CZ to pass the plunk test otherwise the gun locks up tight against the barrels rifling. Another reason for inquiring about the new barrel.
 
Before CZs were available in the US, a company that made clones came out with a .45 version.
They had the same problem as described here, very unreliable feeding.
It might be due to trying to modify an existing design for other calibers.
Lesson learned.
Advice from a gunsmith friend:
Stick to original designs in original calibers.
If another caliber is desired, get one designed and proven for that caliber.
 
Brutus51,

Your OAL for the 97 is to short. 1.240" is the sweet spot. Also, if you are using the flat point (I call them button style SWC) profile bullets, these are never going to run well in the 97. Some 1911's won't run them either.

Best cast/lead bullet profile is the H&G #68, 200 grain SWC. My personal 97 has feed over 7,000 of these without a single bobble. The H&G approximates the same OAL and nose profile as ball ammo.

My 97 has the same old style barrel ramp as yours has. I have never changed it.

Reloading allows you to find the right combo for virtually any pistol, you simply can't get stuck on "my other pistols run XX load fine and this one won't".

This is 40 rounds @25 yards free handed, all rounds in the size of a small apple, so it can get the job done:
norincoslide018.jpg
 
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Before CZs were available in the US, a company that made clones came out with a .45 version.
They had the same problem as described here, very unreliable feeding.
It might be due to trying to modify an existing design for other calibers.
Lesson learned.
Advice from a gunsmith friend:
Stick to original designs in original calibers.
If another caliber is desired, get one designed and proven for that caliber.
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I somewhat agree with this advice. However CZ designed the original 97B for BALL AMMO as JHP is illegal in the Czech Republic. They realized that the American market wanted the 97B to reliably feed JHP so did the proper mods to make that work. I see no reason to avoid a newer 97B with the modifications. I have one and it shoots great. My 1911's are sitting in the safe while the 97B goes to the range. I even use it as a nightstand gun.
 
I realize CZ is the darling of countless internet gun forums, but I can't help feeling like there are a number of other gunmakers (Smith and Ruger to name a couple) who would likely absorb the cost if the actual design of the original product was faulty, regardless of whether it was used.

Not saying OP is entitled to that, but certainly we can all appreciate that it would suck to pay another $180 to fix a fundamental design flaw in a used gun, rather than something that was broken on the aftermarket.
 
I realize CZ is the darling of countless internet gun forums, but I can't help feeling like there are a number of other gunmakers (Smith and Ruger to name a couple) who would likely absorb the cost if the actual design of the original product was faulty, regardless of whether it was used.
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That's a fair point. I've had S&W send me replacement parts in the past for old model 19s I had without remotely asking for money. At the same time I recently called about some replacement basepads for magazines and was charged full price. It seems to depend on the person at times. I've had SIG ask me to pay half the price of what I paid for the pistol for repairs to used SIGs. HK has flat out said I was limpwristing and it wasn't worth their time and they didn't even entertain the notion of the pistol coming back to the fatherland :rolleyes:. They also wanted to charge me more to fix an out of spec trigger bar on my USP 45 Compact than it would cost me to order the part myself.

I would also think it would be a nice gesture to just cover the cost, but if that quote include shipping back CZ is at least not charging full price as I've seen others attempt to do.
 
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Hey OP, sry 2 here about your situation. Have you thought about throatingvthe barrel n polishing the feed ramp yourself before you send it in? Might be able to fix it yourself for next to nothing. Whatever you decide to do, Goodluck hope it all works out 4 you.
 
Ah. Unfortunate. But I mean, you rolled the dice and bought a CZ. That's what I usually see them do in the first place. Bright side, if you keep it you can practice tap and racks with it instead of inducing said malfunctions.

Since they won't help you out though. I too would take a look at the feed ramp and send it off to a highly reputable gunsmith. Then again, I personally wouldn't waste any more time on it and just take the hit. Cause if you put money into it to try and fix it, it may just become a money pit / paper weight.
 
Ah. Unfortunate. But I mean, you rolled the dice and bought a CZ. That's what I usually see them do in the first place. Bright side, if you keep it you can practice tap and racks with it instead of inducing said malfunctions.

Since they won't help you out though. I too would take a look at the feed ramp and send it off to a highly reputable gunsmith. Then again, I personally wouldn't waste any more time on it and just take the hit. Cause if you put money into it to try and fix it, it may just become a money pit / paper weight.
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CZ makes a quality gun at a good price. I would put their quality on the same level as Sig these days. This was not always the case but these days CZ has gotten better Sig has gotten worse.

Schmeky is as close to an EXPERT as you'll find outside of the CZECH Republic (and, maybe, the CZ Custom Shop). Pay attention to his comments.

Then visit Cagun Gun Works http://cajungunworks.com See what he offers for CZ-97s and CZ-97Bs...
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+100,000 David AKA Schmeky knows what he is talking about.

To the OP I would see what relief you can get from the seller. I would call CZ see if they will help you with a known defect in those pistols. If not bite the bullet send it to CGW or CZ custom and move on.
 
CZ makes a quality gun at a good price. I would put their quality on the same level as Sig these days. This was not always the case but these days CZ has gotten better Sig has gotten worse.
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SIG has gotten more into the whole marketing scheme. Quality, longevity, reliability, fit & finish, leaves CZ in the dust.
 
SIG has gotten more into the whole marketing scheme. Quality, longevity, reliability, fit & finish, leaves CZ in the dust.
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What are you basing your comments on? Internet chatter or actual high round count pistols which you have personally shot?

What failures in CZs or Sigs have you personally experienced. Do you own a Sig or CZ with over 10,000 rounds down the pipe? Having owned quite a few from each brand I would say they are on par with each other. Right off the top of my head I have had more failures with my Sigs than my CZs but I have owned more Sigs, but even accounting for that the CZs have been more reliable. Clearly YMMV
 
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