New Purchase - CZ 97

DarthTedd · February 20, 2009, 07:29 PM

This afternoon I played hooky from work & took my new .45 to the range. A fellow supervisor at work is also a gun owner so I took a few pictures with my cell phone to taunt him.

In the next week or so I'll post better pictures.

The target from picture #2 is from 7 yards. I'm not what you would consider a great shooter (IMO anyway) but really believe this gun is very accurate. I've put 300 rounds thru it & am becoming more & more a fan of the .45 caliber. I do have Charles Daly 1911 but have been more of a .40 S&W fan over the past 2 years.

Likes:

Trigger - Very smooth & friendly
Finish - The design & manufacturing is flawless. I also like the matte black finish.
Overall Size - The grip is large but for my large paws it's a perfect fit.

Dislikes:

The Front Site - It's not bad, however I had a hard time focusing on it in the dark range coupled w/ dark target. The color is a green and it seems to make focusing a bit difficult. I'm thinking night sites are in order.
Plastic Grips - This is definitely the worst feature. I'm in the process of researching a nice set of wooden grips.

Anywho, I wanted to share the pictures as this is the most expensive handgun I've purchased to date. Also, it's my first CZ.

DarthTedd · March 2, 2009, 07:48 PM

I started looking around for a new set of grips but haven't had much luck. After reading the CZ forum I realized the grips are actually wood & not plastic.

This weekend, I started working on the grips. Here are a few pictures. Sometime in the next couple of days I'll stop & get some stain & add finished product.

The one real bummer is the right side grip has a small chip on the corner.

OldShooter · March 2, 2009, 09:12 PM

I've had one of these for a few years. I bought it slightly used and was immediately amazed at how accurately it shot. The grips are wood and work fine for me. I wouldn't want smooth wood but I might consider some Hogue rubber at some point. I have used it for IDPA and falling plates. It is so smooth in operation and damn good looking.

With some practice you should be able to shoot better groups at twice the distance. The gun is up to it, you just need to catch up.

That'll Do · March 2, 2009, 09:22 PM

Congrats on your new toy, Tedd.

The more I hear about the CZ 97, the more I want one.

schmeky · March 2, 2009, 10:00 PM

I'm a true CZ-97 nut. I've been pounding on this one for over a year. I have pushed nearly 4,500 rounds down the spout on this one. I love the accuracy. This is a 25 yard group from a sandbag rest. Shooting at 12-15 yards I can generally keep 50+ rounds in a 2" hole. It's just so easy with this pistol.

DarthTedd · March 2, 2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

With some practice you should be able to shoot better groups at twice the distance. The gun is up to it, you just need to catch up.

I definitely need more practice. I'm actually embarrassed by that first picture.

chris in va · March 3, 2009, 12:11 AM

DT, I shot a 97 with a trigger job a while back. Seriously you need to get that done...it was AMAZING. Trigger broke like glass, zero creep, no camming or anything. I was punching a very small group and my skills were nowhere near what they are today.

Come to think of it I should get my CZ 75's trigger done here soon. Hmm.

DarthTedd · March 3, 2009, 12:20 AM

Any idear where it was done?

jdrush369 · March 3, 2009, 12:35 AM

i am interested to see how you smoothed and stained grips turn out. can you post some pics with them on the gun?

Sgt Pepper · March 3, 2009, 10:14 AM

Now that's DarthAwesome right there! Nice.

DarthTedd · March 3, 2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

i am interested to see how you smoothed and stained grips turn out. can you post some pics with them on the gun?

Will do. Last night I bought some putty & am working on the corner. We'll see how it turns out. Once I'm done I'll post the pictures.

chris in va · March 3, 2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Any idear where it was done?

No sorry, this was back at the NRA range a few years ago, probably someone fairly local. I do understand however that CZ USA can do it as well.

DarthTedd · March 4, 2009, 02:25 PM

Here's the finished product. For my lack of woodworking skills, I think they turned out ok.

jdrush369 · March 4, 2009, 03:07 PM

nice work!

i bet the smooth grips feel great. it definitely added some class.

DarthTedd · March 4, 2009, 06:04 PM

Yea, it's a ton more comfortable imo.

schmeky · March 4, 2009, 08:44 PM

Good grief man, that's really gorgeous. Good job. Now it's as much fun to look at as it is to shoot . . . . . . almost.

On that chipped grip panel, just trim the other side to match, smooth and blend it, no one would ever know the difference.

ROCK6 · March 4, 2009, 08:54 PM

Great job on the grips! I too recently purchased a 97B and the grips are okay but I was thinking about thing them down a bit...I'm quite impressed.

ROCK6

mr kablammo · March 4, 2009, 11:46 PM

Sweet combo! Just relax more when you are shooting and the groups will tighten up. The 97B is superbly accurate.

DarthTedd · March 4, 2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Sweet combo! Just relax more when you are shooting and the groups will tighten up. The 97B is superbly accurate.

Yea, I need alot of work. I'm a pretty **** poor shot.

February 20, 2009, 07:29 PM	#1
DarthTedd Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 625	New Purchase - CZ 97 This afternoon I played hooky from work & took my new .45 to the range. A fellow supervisor at work is also a gun owner so I took a few pictures with my cell phone to taunt him. In the next week or so I'll post better pictures. The target from picture #2 is from 7 yards. I'm not what you would consider a great shooter (IMO anyway) but really believe this gun is very accurate. I've put 300 rounds thru it & am becoming more & more a fan of the .45 caliber. I do have Charles Daly 1911 but have been more of a .40 S&W fan over the past 2 years. Likes: Trigger - Very smooth & friendly Finish - The design & manufacturing is flawless. I also like the matte black finish. Overall Size - The grip is large but for my large paws it's a perfect fit. Dislikes: The Front Site - It's not bad, however I had a hard time focusing on it in the dark range coupled w/ dark target. The color is a green and it seems to make focusing a bit difficult. I'm thinking night sites are in order. Plastic Grips - This is definitely the worst feature. I'm in the process of researching a nice set of wooden grips. Anywho, I wanted to share the pictures as this is the most expensive handgun I've purchased to date. Also, it's my first CZ. __________________ Conservative Party U.S.A.

March 2, 2009, 09:12 PM	#3
OldShooter Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 846	CZ97 I've had one of these for a few years. I bought it slightly used and was immediately amazed at how accurately it shot. The grips are wood and work fine for me. I wouldn't want smooth wood but I might consider some Hogue rubber at some point. I have used it for IDPA and falling plates. It is so smooth in operation and damn good looking. With some practice you should be able to shoot better groups at twice the distance. The gun is up to it, you just need to catch up.

March 3, 2009, 12:20 AM	#8
DarthTedd Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 625	Any idear where it was done? __________________ Conservative Party U.S.A.

March 4, 2009, 02:25 PM	#13
DarthTedd Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 625	Here's the finished product. For my lack of woodworking skills, I think they turned out ok. __________________ Conservative Party U.S.A.

March 4, 2009, 06:04 PM	#15
DarthTedd Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 625	Yea, it's a ton more comfortable imo. __________________ Conservative Party U.S.A.

March 2, 2009, 07:48 PM	#2
DarthTedd Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 625	I started looking around for a new set of grips but haven't had much luck. After reading the CZ forum I realized the grips are actually wood & not plastic. This weekend, I started working on the grips. Here are a few pictures. Sometime in the next couple of days I'll stop & get some stain & add finished product. The one real bummer is the right side grip has a small chip on the corner. __________________ Conservative Party U.S.A.

March 2, 2009, 09:22 PM	#4
That'll Do Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 546	Congrats on your new toy, Tedd. The more I hear about the CZ 97, the more I want one.

March 2, 2009, 10:00 PM	#5
schmeky Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2006 Posts: 810	I'm a true CZ-97 nut. I've been pounding on this one for over a year. I have pushed nearly 4,500 rounds down the spout on this one. I love the accuracy. This is a 25 yard group from a sandbag rest. Shooting at 12-15 yards I can generally keep 50+ rounds in a 2" hole. It's just so easy with this pistol.

March 3, 2009, 12:11 AM	#7
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	DT, I shot a 97 with a trigger job a while back. Seriously you need to get that done...it was AMAZING. Trigger broke like glass, zero creep, no camming or anything. I was punching a very small group and my skills were nowhere near what they are today. Come to think of it I should get my CZ 75's trigger done here soon. Hmm.

March 3, 2009, 12:35 AM	#9
jdrush369 Member Join Date: February 6, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 58	i am interested to see how you smoothed and stained grips turn out. can you post some pics with them on the gun?

March 3, 2009, 10:14 AM	#10
Sgt Pepper Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 811	Now that's DarthAwesome right there! Nice.

March 4, 2009, 03:07 PM	#14
jdrush369 Member Join Date: February 6, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 58	nice work! i bet the smooth grips feel great. it definitely added some class.

March 4, 2009, 08:44 PM	#16
schmeky Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2006 Posts: 810	Good grief man, that's really gorgeous. Good job. Now it's as much fun to look at as it is to shoot . . . . . . almost. On that chipped grip panel, just trim the other side to match, smooth and blend it, no one would ever know the difference.

March 4, 2009, 08:54 PM	#17
ROCK6 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2004 Location: Georgia/Afghanistan Posts: 314	Great job on the grips! I too recently purchased a 97B and the grips are okay but I was thinking about thing them down a bit...I'm quite impressed. ROCK6

March 4, 2009, 11:46 PM	#18
mr kablammo Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Posts: 241	Sweet combo! Just relax more when you are shooting and the groups will tighten up. The 97B is superbly accurate.