Can anyone shed some technical light on why these pistols are limited to 10rds?

[Aries144]

I just found Ian McCollum's review of the CZ-97 and, like everything else VZ-58 and after, I'm in love. However, I hate that the pistol seems artificially limited to 10 rounds mags when other pistols of comparable grip size can use 14. Would anyone happen to know the technical reason why the mags are limited to 10 rounds? Wall thickness of the magazine/magazine well? Deliberately oversized follower/spring? Indentations near the bottom sides of the magazine? Something else?

Has anyone ever compared a CZ-97 magazine to one from the FN45 for comparison?

[ssqman]

I don't know what the technical/mechanical reason is but it sure seems large enough to hold 12. That would be so great. I don't think CZ or Mecgar even make any +2 extensions.

[eastman]

The USA is nearly the only market for .45 ACP, and the pistol was designed during the Slick Willy Scary-looking Semi-Auto Ban so was limited to 10 for civilian USA sales

the political overrules the technical

[daved20319]

The USA is nearly the only market for .45 ACP, and the pistol was designed during the Slick Willy Scary-looking Semi-Auto Ban so was limited to 10 for civilian USA sales

the political overrules the technical

Not an unreasonable surmise, but if that was the case, I suspect Mec-Gar would happily be supplying us with higher capacity mags, but they're not.  I suspect it's esthetics and grip feel, they had to scale up the 75 to handle the bigger cartridge, but didn't want a grip so fat that only King Kong would be happy with it.  So they used a staggered mag vs. a true double stack, that allowed a couple more rounds over the competition (1911), while still being something most shooters could get a handle on, without looking like it had a butt more suited to a hippo.

That said, I won't have mine in hand until later today, maybe I'll come up with a different theory then  .  Later.

Dave

[tdogg]

I don't think Mecgar would make any money building a larger magazine.  It only fits the 97, not a big enough market to justify.

Cheers,
Toby

[Earl Keese]

Henning makes mag extensions for Tanfoglio large frames that will work.

[rich63]

I remember reading here that someone modified the mecgar +2 extensions to fir the CZ 97 magazine. I cannot recall who did it or when it was posted. Maybe someone with a better memory will come along and remember.

rich63

[daved20319]

I don't think Mecgar would make any money building a larger magazine.  It only fits the 97, not a big enough market to justify.

Cheers,
Toby

Mec-Gar makes 10 rd. mags for the 97's, and they also fit a bunch of other CZ clones and near clones.  And it seems like EVERYONE wants more capacity, something I don't quite get sometimes.  I mean, you buy a compact pistol for concealed carry, then buy an extended mag that makes it harder to conceal  ?  Is two more rounds REALLY going to matter in a gunfight?  But I digress.  Anyway, I think the market is there, so there has to be another reason no one is goig after it.  But that's just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions  .  Later.

Dave

[Aries144]

I don't think the grip would have to be any larger, that's why I'm puzzled. The first time I handled the FN45, I was shocked that the grip was as small as it was with a 14rd magazine.

It's just a shame to see such a nice handgun still held back twenty years later because of the nefarious politics in play when it was released.

[DJK11]

Mec-Gar makes 10 rd. mags for the 97's, and they also fit a bunch of other CZ clones and near clones.  And it seems like EVERYONE wants more capacity, something I don't quite get sometimes.  I mean, you buy a compact pistol for concealed carry, then buy an extended mag mthat makes it harder to conceal  ?  Is two more rounds REALLY going to matter in a gunfight?  But I digress.  Anyway, I think the market is there, so there has to be another reason no one is goig after it.  But that's just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions  .  Later.

Dave
[/quote]

Big gun should be big capacity.  Two or four more rounds would be great.  Would two more rounds in a gun fight make a difference?  Which rounds stop the threat, first two or last two?  One just never knows.

[Radom]

The USA is nearly the only market for .45 ACP, and the pistol was designed during the Slick Willy Scary-looking Semi-Auto Ban so was limited to 10 for civilian USA sales

the political overrules the technical

That's THE reason.  I bought my low serial #  in 2001. The OEM mags are clearly labeled ".45 Witness."

[.45 acp nut]

I modified some mecgar +2 basepads to fit the 97B mag. Because the 45 case is much larger, I only got +1. So, you may not think the effort is worth it. I was looking for extra room in the mag, when loaded with 10 rounds, for doing reloads with the slide closed.

[AZ_CZ]

Considering the overall size of the grip it certainly seems like it should hold more. Had an XD with the 13 rnd (?) mags and the grip was similar in feel. Not really concerned about the capacity. Carry a 1911 with 8 rnds and don't feel under gunned. Plus I like the "thin" spare mag that fits in a back pocket. My 97 is about the last gun I would use to carry or for HD.

[Joe L]

Dang, I didn't know it was 10 round max.  I've never tried to load more than 5 at a time, however.   

Joe

[Vinny]

I don't think the grip would have to be any larger, that's why I'm puzzled. The first time I handled the FN45, I was shocked that the grip was as small as it was with a 14rd magazine.

It's just a shame to see such a nice handgun still held back twenty years later because of the nefarious politics in play when it was released.

+1
I love my 9mm CZ DA/SA's, from RAMI BD to SP-01 Tactical; but when it came to adding a DA/SA 45ACP brother to my 1911; I chose the FNX 45 Tactical with 15+1 over the CZ 97. I agree the FNX grip doesn't feel any wider, but has 50% more capacity than CZ 97.  I also like that the FNX is already milled for Red Dot with good BUIS.  I'm not saying the 97 isn't a really nice handgun. Hope y'all can get at least 12rnd mags. 
P.S. Just for reference I measured the width of my FNX 45 at the grip = 1.32" -Vinny