97b fit, parts, availability

[bargainhunter]

Hi guys,
    I know nothing about guns so help me out.  I only have a springfield 9mm xd and a couple of semi-auto shotguns. I enjoy a shotguns.  Here goes for silly questions.  I have heard nothing but good about the cz97b: low recoil, easy dis-assembly, and great accuracy.  However, a bunch of people say the handgun is huge and for people with big hands.  I am only 5' 6" and the slim grips model (01411) feels fine in my hand.  I have small hands.  Did I miss something? I am a californian and will have to buy one with larger grips.   I saw slim aluminum grips at midwayusa for $108.  Are there cheaper aluminum grips somewhere?  I have heard that the trigger is way far forward.  It seems fine to me. One guy posted that he did a trigger modification for small hands moving it back a quarter of an inch.   I read so many reviews saying this gun is for big guys I was totally surprised when I handled it.  I have also read that getting parts and aftermarket items is not easy. I see a lot of stuff at Midwayusa.   Only thing I might do is add night sights.  Have any of you used the Mecgar magazines in the 97?  I read where some have used them without any problem.  With the difference in price for the standard cz97 magazines if there were any problems I would opt for the factory part.  Do 97's have problems with hollow points ejecting?   Thanks ahead of time for patience and answers.  Have a good day.

[tdogg]

There is plenty you can do to change the trigger reach from SAO conversion to CGW reach reduction smithing. 

There are lots of options for grips DaveB on this forum is making them in polymer, CZ Custom and Cajun Gun Works both have aluminum offered as well as polymer, and there are also some custom wood makers out there and on this forum.

You will find that both CZ Custom and Cajun Gun Works have the best selection of parts and upgrades for CZ's in general.  They stock most parts needed for these guns so parts availability is not an issue.  CZ USA also generally has OEM parts instock but you will pay a more for them there.

If you are interested in a decocker version (97BD) it comes with night sights installed.

I use the Mecgar and OEM magazines in my 97BD interchangeably and they both function and fit the same.  I think the only difference is the base plate.  I believe Mecgar is the OEM supplier for CZ magazines.

The original CZ97 barrels had a short feedramp that had issues with hollowpoint bullets.  They were updated in 2012? with a different feedramp and the newer model should reliably feed JHP varieties.

My 97BD is my competition gun and is my favorite to shoot hands down.  It is a big gun and I had to install an extended mag release from CGW for my thumb to have enough pressure to reliably drop mags without shifting my grip and I have big hands.

Cheers,
Toby

[bargainhunter]

Thanks much for all the info.  This probably seals it for me to buy this.  Have a great day.  Knowing mecgar makes the magazines will save me a lot.  Thanks again.  I wish I could get the BD version.  Unfortunately I am Californian.

[tdogg]

I still have my night sights i pulled off my BD in my parts bin.  Let me know if your interested in them when you get the 97B.

So cali would rather you carry locked and cocked than hammer down? Oh wait you can't carry in the republic of California, never mind.

Cheers,
Toby

[bargainhunter]

That's the Democratic Republic of California.  I just emailed CZ since my FFL's distributor has none in stock.  If I could get a hold of one i would be interested in night sights.  Who knows? With all our democracy out here we may not need new 97's.  Hope it is just a temporary hitch.  Thanks for the post.

[tamlin]

FYI mec-gar no longer lists 97 magazines for sale on their website

[tdogg]

It's because Mec-gar originally made them for the Witness pistols:

http://gregcotellc.com/cart/cz-mecgar-magazines-base-pads-c-130/cz-97-97b-cz-97bd-witnesstanfoglio-10-rd-45-acp-mgwit45lfafc-p-1093.html

If you want it to look like the CZ OEM, then you have to purchase the CZ base plate:

http://www.gregcotellc.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=173&products_id=1570

I've used these Mec-Gar Mags interchangeably with my OEM mags in competition for ~2 years without issue.  I actually need to find some aluminum base plates as the OEM and Mec-gar base plates are starting to look a little worse for the wear.  I don't need to have one fail during a match.

Cheers,
Toby