CZ 97 conversions?

[notjustanothermini]

xmas time=new gun time for me.

thought of getting a few different guns, cant decide, then i thought about the 97, and the fact it is a cz and a formidable caliber, by golly, i think i have found the gun i want.  i do believe i have read they are kinda hard to get. either way i will have one.

question. any body done any conversions to these to fire other calibers, like, say for instance 10mm? .400 corbon, or .40 super. anything i would like to know about, please fill me in

[schmeky]

Can't do the conversions you listed w/o changing the slide.  Breech face and extractor positioning will not work with 40/10mm class.  The only conversion I am aware that you can use is 45 Super.  Super is the same OAL as 45 ACP, but with much more internal case support and of course a hotter load.

Will have to go to a much stronger recoil spring, but otherwise it will work.

[the tick]

Would the .460 Rowland work in the 97 with minimal work?

[schmeky]

The tick,

I am not familiar with the 460 Rowland so I can't comment.

[notjustanothermini]

i was thinking a 10mm conversion, kinda like a glock 30 converted to 10mm thing.  were the barrel made for the 97, but with 10mm internal dimensions and the extractor groove/extractor modified, as long as the case is centered, it should work in theory, right?

the .40 super, and ..400 corbon use the .45 acp breechface dimensions.

what i am looking for is if anybody HAS done a conversion to any other caliber than .45.

[derweibhai]

If Schmeky says it cant be done, it cant be done. It would cost in upwards of $1000 to get a slide and barrel made and it still would require a ton of work to get it reliable (probably never happen). A .45 case head wildcat could work, but good luck finding someone to make you a barrel ($$$$). Why not spend $400 and get an EAA Witness in 10mm?

[bang bang]

i was thinking a 10mm conversion, kinda like a glock 30 converted to 10mm thing.  were the barrel made for the 97, but with 10mm internal dimensions and the extractor groove/extractor modified, as long as the case is centered, it should work in theory, right?

the .40 super, and ..400 corbon use the .45 acp breechface dimensions.

what i am looking for is if anybody HAS done a conversion to any other caliber than .45.

why recreate the wheel?

have you looked into the EAAs?   

[schmeky]

notjustanotherhemi,

I know the 40/10mm won't work, however, if the .40 Super and .400 Corbon use the same case head dimensions as the .45 ACP, these are a possibility.  Ideally, if these ".40's" are the same length as the 45 ACP, or even longer, you could ream a stock CZ 97 barrel to work.

Remember, the ejector is not replaceable in the 97, it's integral with the sear cage, so be sure to figure this into the equation.  Magazines could be a problem to, however the Tactical Sport versions use the same frame as the 97.   

[notjustanothermini]

so it is not 1911 easy, huh?

[schmeky]

Mr. Hemi,

No sir it is not.  I have built many 1911's and if you modify a 9mm/38 Super slide (machine the ejector slot to 45 specs), you can use a single frame and run 22, 9mm, 38 Super, 9X23, 40, 45, etc.  Of course you will need a couple of slide assemblies to accomplish this.

There is just so much for a 1911 after only 100 years 

[Josh Ramsey]

I would suggest a Tanfoglio elite match.

GREAT shooting pistol and a barrel and mag swap and you can convert to 9mm, .40, 45, 10mm or get a .22 conversion as well.

The match comes with a lot of upgrades out of the box and is a serious shooter for under $600.

I am actually looking to sell my 10mm with a longslide 38 super conversion.

[notjustanothermini]

JOSH-- you got a elite match 10mm and .38 super conversion slide for sale, how much??

i always hear guys talk of "reaming" a .45 to do 9mm, or other calibers, how is this, how do you ream a bigger than spec caliber barrel, down to what you want it to be.

id imagine it is a barrel blank, correct?

the only conversions i have experience with are drop in conversions, such as the glock with LWD barrels, and EAA witness' with their barrels,

this is the thing, i want my 10mm to say "made in the czech republic" on the side, and kansas city, kansas on the other side.

so the ejector, who needs an ejector, doesnt the blowback action of a 1911 or 97 just toss the case with inertia?? HAHA, thats a joke, im not that green. 

the 97 is a badass gun, only problem is that it is a .45, not my cup of tea, i want to know when my gun goes off.lol

okay, that too was a little joke. time for seriousness.

what is the hottest .45 super load data out there, what can we really acheive with the .45super, safely, and reliable.  can we get around 1300 fps with a 200-230 grain bullet out of a .45 super with the 97's barrel length?

also lets say i want to do a .400 corbon/.40 super thing, were would i get a barrel blank for a 97?

[jwc007]

what is the hottest .45 super load data out there, what can we really acheive with the .45super, safely, and reliable.  can we get around 1300 fps with a 200-230 grain bullet out of a .45 super with the 97's barrel length?

That will be pushing luck considerably for a 200 to 230 grain Bullet.  I've always used the 185 grn JHP, but even that won't get there out of a Pistol Barrel.  Here's some data:

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=45%20Super&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

I get 1220 fps from my .45 Super Witness conversion with a 185 grn Bullet, but my .45 Carbine would deliver 1395 fps with the same loading, which I consider max.  Don't ask for my load data!  I'm taking that to the grave for liability reasons.

The 10mm and .400 Corbon probably won't get the ballistics you want, either.  That said, the  standard pressure .45 ACP or 10mm has all the power you are likely to need, short of a standoff with a Tyranosaurus Rex.

A .400 Corbon Conversion for a CZ97B might be have been had from Barsto Barrels.  http://www.barsto.com/
However, it has come to my attention that they no longer want to mess with them and no longer produce them or have any left.

Maybe it's time you bought a Desert Eagle or a Ruger Super Redhawk in .44 Magnum?
.44 Magnum Load Data:
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44%20Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun

[notjustanothermini]

well funny you should say that, as lately i have been looking at a alaskan, and a desert eagle in .44mag. the alaskan i am after would be .454.

i just cant see spending $1000+ on a 6 or  7 shot firearm.   i need double stack capacity.

i hear of this .460 rowland, imma hafta look into it.

[Josh Ramsey]

If you reload you can get a LOT of power out of the 10mm round, amazingly so.