12 Plus 1

[theodd001]

The image above is what really turned me on to the CZ97. After doing a lot of research I realized that I needed the 97 even though there is not much aftermarket support for it, and thats an understatement. I went to a gun show about a month ago and put my hands on it. They wanted $850 for the 97B, I asked the person behind the table why they were trying to sell it $150 over MSRP??? They replied "Its rare"... Sure whatever, I was out of there. I watched online prices and a week ago I found the 97 on Impact Guns for $598 shipped!!! SOLD! I immediately started hunting on the net for accessories. I decided to try something I hadn't seen before. I ordered some parts up and once received I went to work! Now this was a successful test and everything turned out very well.



Yes you are seeing a +2 magazine. Took some trial and error but the magazine feeds great and loads flawlessly. I used a dremel and some hand tools to get this to work. It actually is retained better than the factory magazine because theres slightly more room for the bullets under the slide and its not such a tight fit, just snug. Then I thought why not recreate the image that started this madness! See below!!!

[Tok36]

Nice mod, first time i have seen 12 rounds in a 97. I would like to hear more details on the mag.

Thank you for the pics.

[newsigowner]

LOL!  That's my photo - taken in my living room!   Randomly surfing several CZ forums and seeing this has made my night.   I only wish the photo was slightly more in focus.  And I also wish I would have taken a straight edge to make the bottom of the ammo perfectly even and straight.   Oh well, no matter.

Your +2 work on the magazine is fascinating.  Nice job.

Hope you're enjoying your 97; I certainly am mine.  It's one hell of a nice 45.

[theodd001]

LOL!  That's my photo - taken in my living room!   Randomly surfing several CZ forums and seeing this has made my night.   I only wish the photo was slightly more in focus.  And I also wish I would have taken a straight edge to make the bottom of the ammo perfectly even and straight.   Oh well, no matter.

Your +2 work on the magazine is fascinating.  Nice job.

Hope you're enjoying your 97; I certainly am mine.  It's one hell of a nice 45.

Your photo is awesome and I do love my CZ97. I'm actually hitting the range tomorrow to test this +2 mag some more! I'll let everyone know how it operates. I don't see there being any issues. I'm about to write up how I did it.

[theodd001]

After doing some research I knew that the EAA witness magazines would work in the 97B so I searched for those mags and found them here cheap.
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
They are made by MecGar so I knew they would be the same quality of the CZ factory mags.

Next, I searched for an extended mag for the Witness/Tanfoglio in 45acp and came across this.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/319441/taylor-freelance-extended-magazine-base-pad-tangfolio-eaa-witness-large-frame-5-9mm-4-40-s-and-w
The description shows its for the large frame pistol so I figured it would fit the CZ97 45acp magazine. I made the purchase and crossed my fingers.

It arrived and slid onto the CZ97 mag perfectly!




The baseplate slid on perfectly but the opening was slightly smaller than the magazine, which would prevent the follower from going down into the base plate.



So I went to work with a dremel and a routing bit. This took me about 30 mins of trial and error. If I had the proper tools (a router on a workbench) this would have been very simple.




So I just got the opening on the +2 baseplate big enough to allow the follower to sit in it comfortably.


After that I beveled the bottom of the follower a little to allow for a smoother transition into the +2 baseplate. I modified the spring bottom plate to fit into the +2 baseplate and fit it together. Fitting it together can be a little tricky, you just have to manipulate the spring a little. Taking it apart can also be a pain. Once its together you have to really put some sideways stretch on the spring to get the +2 base plate off.


I think I will purchase another +2 baseplate and do 1 more extended mag just to have them. This was very simple and I wish they just made this extended baseplate with a bigger opening from the manufacture so it could just be slid on and give the +2 with no modification! I'm heading to the range tomorrow to really run some rounds through the +2 magazine. I will update tomorrow.

[Tok36]

Thank you for the details and the pics. May your testing go well.

[theodd001]

Hit the range today, the extended magazine worked perfectly! Fed a full 12 rounds every time, hollow points, ball and even only loading the magazine half way. I'm satisfied.

[Chris B]

Interesting.

Just for the heck of it, can you try it out on a factory CZ 45 mag?

[Tok36]

Interesting.

Just for the heck of it, can you try it out on a factory CZ 45 mag?

Last i checked the CZ97 Factory mag and the Witness mag bodys were exactly the same aside from the markings. The base plate for the Witness magazine is a bit thinner than the 97.

                                           <---CZ97 - Witness--->

[theodd001]

Interesting.

Just for the heck of it, can you try it out on a factory CZ 45 mag?

Last i checked the CZ97 Factory mag and the Witness mag bodys were exactly the same aside from the markings. The base plate for the Witness magazine is a bit thinner than the 97.

                                           <---CZ97 - Witness--->

This is true.
If you want to buy the witness mags you can also buy the cz base plate here.
http://www.gregcotellc.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=173&products_id=1570

[Birds Away]

I have two of the extended bases on mags now.  Took them to the range on Wednesday and they passed all the tests.  A little pricey but very nice to have.

[theodd001]

I have two of the extended bases on mags now.  Took them to the range on Wednesday and they passed all the tests.  A little pricey but very nice to have.

Darn... i can't say I'm the only one with extended mags for the CZ97 now, it was great while it lasted. Ha!

[Birds Away]

I have two of the extended bases on mags now.  Took them to the range on Wednesday and they passed all the tests.  A little pricey but very nice to have.

Darn... i can't say I'm the only one with extended mags for the CZ97 now, it was great while it lasted. Ha!

I thank you.  Without you I never would have known about these.