newbie with 97b questions

[tikkaguy]

I may be looking into getting a cz 97b soon but I do have a few questions. I would like to know where to get both the full length guide rod ( not the one from cz I have read a few posts here ) and adjustable sights for it. Also does anyone make polymer slide stop pins? I use these alot in my 10/22 and the wonder nines and have found they do reduce the wear on the parts that impact them alot ( at the cost of replacing the pin often ).

[Walt-Sherrill]

I've never heard of a polymer slide stop pin -- for ANY gun, let alone for a CZ or CZ clone. (Even on a polymer gun, the slide stop is usually metal.)   Where do you find these things, and what do they do that a metal one doesn't do better?

Full-length guide rods for the 97B show up here from time to time, as someone has some made.  You can also use a door hinge (metal) pin cut to length.  Check this forum and the Home Gunsmithing Forum for more info.

[crt360]

I'm not sure where you can get full length guide rods anymore.  Mike Sardinha (Msardi) made a batch of them, but has since sold his 97B.  They were full-length stainless and very nice.  I was lucky enough to get one early.  There are probably some other members who have made them.  Several members have used a Stanley door hinge pin (4", I believe) with apparently excellent results (search for the posts on how to make your own).  I think somebody here put an adjustable sight on a 97B - maybe J.R. Farrar.  I have never heard of anyone using a polymer slide stop or buffer on a 97B, but you may decide to move up to a 16 or 18# Wolff recoil spring after shooting the gun some.  If you reload and shoot pretty mild stuff, you may not need the heaver recoil spring (or a full length guide rod).  Many of us switched to the FLGR because we went to heaver recoil springs that would not work well with the stock rod.  The 97B is a very good pistol, but be sure you handle one before buying it - some people find the grip (and DA trigger reach) to be more than they can comfortably use.  Good luck.

[tikkaguy]

Possibly not the slide stop pin but the basic idea can be found here

www.buffertech.com/1022.htm

Although I have not used that particular poduct I have a home made version in my 10/22 and have used them in glocks and hi powers before. I can say it does work in the 10/22 and the hi power.

As far as handling a 97b before I get one that I already did at a range in Toronto before I moved to Trinidad, I fell in love with it on the spot but it would take months for all the paper work to go through to get one down here.

[Walt-Sherrill]

You're talking about a buffer.  Folks using them here have had mixed results -- with many (but not all) users not being very pleased with their performance.

As noted elsewhere, unless you're trying to use lighter springs to increase slide speed, there's nothing a buffer can do that heavier springs won't do just as well...

(Heavier springs do make the slide more difficult to rack.)

[tikkaguy]

Well I thought I'd ask about it from those who know better, Looks like I'll have to do a DIY rod to once the pistol gets here and try different wolf springs.

OH One more thing, what do you think of the 97b vs a usp expert .45?

Thanks.

[Walt-Sherrill]

I've seen but not shot or handled the Expert.  (I'm not a big H&K enthusiast.  They all feel "plastic" to me.)  

I've shot the CZ-97B.  Its a fine, accurate gun, but it didn't fit my hand the way I'd like it to.  I traded mine away to another forum member.

[JRFarrar]

I've got adjustable sights (LPA) on my 97b, along with a recoil buffer and a 10# recoil spring. I use this gun for USPSA Limited 10 competition, and with my competition load that makes about 170 power factor, this setup is working excellent. I do use a full length guide rod, but to be honest I would use the stock one also without hesitation. It has also been converted to SA with the "plastic" SA trigger. So far no problems. I've got a video somewhere here of me shooting this gun in competition and I was amazed at the lack of muzzle flip this gun has. Of course I'm a bit embarrased about the video since I had a light primer strike on the last round.... guess I kind of went to far with the hammer spring. :-)

If anyone wants the video, let me know. I don't have the bandwidth on my website to post it there.