My new used CZ97

[ffr1910]

Not to hijack, but, Pilot1, do you know anywhere to find Clays this day and age? I had heard the factory in Australia had a fire and that was the reason for it to not be available.  Bill

[Pilot1]

Not to hijack, but, Pilot1, do you know anywhere to find Clays this day and age? I had heard the factory in Australia had a fire and that was the reason for it to not be available.  Bill

I read recently that the affects of the fire in Australia have been addressed, and powder is in the pipeline.  I haven't seen Clays on the shelf for a while, so I have been using Titegroup, and Universal.  I prefer Clays for .45 ACP as it is a tad slower than Titegroup, and cleaner than Universal.   

So, no, I don't know where to get it yet.   

[brutus51]

Looks like the factory is back up and running. Managed to get 2lbs. of Universal clays from Cabelas a few weeks back but they were sold out 10 minutes after I placed my order and I had to pay the big Hazmat fee. Least I got some powder though. Never used clays. Used to use Universal as my primary shotgun powder but when I ran out of Unique it was reallocated to being a handgun powder. Use it for .44mag, .357, and .45Colt. Never tried it in .45ACP. Funny how the powder shortage has forced us to try new things. I find Universal meters better, requires less powder for equal velocities, and is cleaner burning than Unique.
Doubt I'll go back to Unique unless it becomes available and Universal dries up again. Buy the way I use WW231 or HP38 ( same thing) for .45ACP but now I'll have to keep an eye out for some Clay's.

[Jake G]

The fire was a while ago and Clays shows up time to time.  Like anything you just need to be in the right place at the right time. I grabbed a 4 pound jug this last winter. I've seen more Unique in my area than Clays or Univeral.  700X should work well for 9mm, .40, and .45. The best part is that it's available just about everywhere. Some claim it meters poorly but I haven't seen that through my Dillon measure.

[brutus51]

Well I tried to trade this thing in when I started having trouble with ball ammo. shoots 8 rounds fine but don't try to load 10. Shop where I bought it for $600 offered me $300 for it, needless to say he lost a customer that day.
Put it up for consignment at my favorite shop and it sat for a month with no takers at $600 so it appears I'm stuck with it. Really aggrevating that CZ is unwilling to make an inferior product right.

[gdawg09]

Here's an idea for the grips. . . .just as I was reading this post, the UPS guy knocked and delivered grips I ordereded from Midway USA. They are fully functional, no slip, fit fine and they were inexpensive. Here's the link: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/920750/cz-grips-cz-97-97bd-rubber-black

I got one of the last CA legal version out there, with wooden grips, and although the grips are pretty, they are a little slippery and a little thick. I ordered a set of the aluminum one's for $85, and they are beautiful, but leave a gap in the well of my right hand. (BTW), anybody want to buy a set of the new aluminum grips, let me know.

Hope this works out for you.

GAry

[brutus51]

E-mailed CZ on my problem and the best they will do is install a new barrel and bushing for just north of 180 bucks.
I'm certainly not going to reward them with more cash for producing a product that doesn't work.
After the holidays I will contact Cajun gun works. Hate to do it but I don't want to pass this thing off on some other poor soul. 

[terry mc]

Brutus,
did you ever work out your grip issue and now it is just a feeding issue?

I know the new barrel is an improvement over the old design for the feeding.
So that begs the question what all are you thinking of having David do with it?
My 97B in SA with the enhanced bushing he did for me is exceptional, but if it still does not fit your hand then it may not be worth it.

I love my 97 and would not trade it for even the highest end 1911.
But I do know what it is like to spend a ton of money on something and then in the end, not really like it anyways.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

E-mailed CZ on my problem and the best they will do is install a new barrel and bushing for just north of 180 bucks.
I'm certainly not going to reward them with more cash for producing a product that doesn't work.
After the holidays I will contact Cajun gun works. Hate to do it but I don't want to pass this thing off on some other poor soul. 

The original 97's only functioned with ball ammo. They list it clearly in the manual. They modified the barrel to the longer feed ramp and did some mag mods as well around 2012. I know because I purchased one of the last early models new in Jan. 2012 and they replaced the entire gun under warranty in March 2012 with the newly upgraded model which feeds any ammo just fine. Now I understand your frustration but you did admittedly buy the gun used and CZ USA clearly states the warranty at 5 years to the original purchaser so if you had any real warranty beef at all it lies with the gun shop you purchased it from. Incidentally what year was your gun made?

[schmeky]

Brutus51,

Sorry to hear of the issues.  But used guns, regardless of make, can have issues.  There is a really fine pistol lurking inside your 97, unfortunately, the only way you will realize is by dropping some coin. 

When the 97 was developed, hollow point ammo was (and still is) illegal in the Czech Republic, hence it's was designed as a "ball" gun.

Try to think of it as a 1911 project. 

[Pilot1]

Brutus,

David (Schmeky - owner of CGW) and others have given you great advice.  Spend the $180 and get the new barrel and busing.  Then send it to David for his magic if you want something even better.  But, bare minimum, send the gun to CZ USA for the upgrades.  I also saw your thread on THR, and you basically got the same advice there.