I noticed the 97 thread has kinda died down lately. Just wanted other 97 owners to know my particular 97 is close to 5,500 rounds and it's running like a freight train. I estimate by the end of 2009, I'll have over 7,000 rounds through mine.
I plan on running this thing until something breaks or wears out. I did a full disassembly last weekend (after going about 600 rounds w/o a cleaning) and inspected everything; nothing out of the ordinary. Even the plastic recoil spring guide rod looks very good.
When the Sig-o-philes, Glock'ers, and others are crowing about their guns, we can throw my 97 at them. It's been run hard and hung up wet. Incidentally, I haven't officially counted, but I know I have not had a single malfunction of ANY KIND in roughly 3-4,000 rounds. Nothing. The only problems I've ever had were from rounds loaded to light for plinking, which is self-inflicted, and few wide cavity hollow-points I no longer use.
I'll pop in occassionally to provide an update and especially when this thing finally breaks something. Oh yea, the accuracy is still just phenomenal. Put 5 shots in 3/4" last weekend from 25 yards using a sandbag rest.