Advice for misbehaving CZ 97B

[Over It]

In my personal experience, Fiocchi is garbage ammunition. I'll never buy it again. My vote is the Fiocchi is the root of your issue.

[ducky_0811]

The only feeding issue I ever had was also centered around my extractor, I simply reprofiled it slowly checking for reliability as I went until it was all good again. It's easily my favorite handgun, and easily my most accurate, especially after some cajun goodies inside, SAO conversion and new sights.
Hope you get it solved and you can really see what this pistol can do!!

[Patrick Aherne]

Try different ammo. Lube the gun, alot. If that doesn't work, send it back to CZ, they're good folks with good service.

[kszaid]

I've shot my 97B with Jack Ross, Armscor, and PMC ranging from 200gr to 230gr. Mine came with the wooden grips (replaced with aluminum) and does not have the FO front sight so I'm assuming mine is older which also may have the older feed ramp possibly.

I'm also not very generous when it goes to lubricating the slide rails either (one drop on the rear, middle and front of slide).

I've never shot Fiocchi rounds since Jack Ross was always the cheapest brand my LGS had in stock for 45 auto. If you're still having issues, I'll try it the next time I go out shooting and post my results.

Like everyone else has said I'd try a different brand of ammo, if that doesn't work, go back to the shop you got it from and see if they can help you with warranty work.

[CAGLS]

I had FTF with my glossy blue 97B on the first range trip. It turns out the point of the slide stop extended right in the pathway of the feed ramp deflecting the cartridge from inserting into the barrel's throat correctly. What I did was replicate the shape of my SP-01 Shadow Target's CZ Custom reprofiled slide stop. After that was done all the FTF issues disappeared and has feed flawlessly since then. After that mod it will also feed heavier or longer OAL bullets. With your gun empty, open the action and observe if the pointed slide stop is in the way of the cartridge path. You can insert a magazine with a snap cap and slowly close the action to observe it in fact does deflect the cartridge from feeding straight. I would also polish the feed ramp and throat of the barrel.

[Ailill]

Sorry to bump a slightly older thread but I'm having some of these same issues with my CZ 97B. Mine is also a 2015 model manufactured in August. I fired 100 rounds of Freedom Munitions RN 230gr and I had a few FTF's and 3 or 4 light strikes. The firing pin did strike the primer but the round didn't go boom.

Then I shot 50 rounds of Winchester that had a nickel coating on it. I had a few FTF with those but no light strikes. After that I shot 100 rounds of Federal and had zero problems.

I know steel guns have a break in period so I wasn't worried about the FTF's so much as I was about the light strike. I'm thinking it's an ammo problem because my brother had some light strikes with Freedom Munition in his 75 and the Federal fired flawlessly. What do you guys think?

Also, my screws for my wooden scales kept coming loose. Had to tighten them up twice during that range trip.

[Litespeeds]

Definitely if light strikes, it is more than likely the Freedom Munition remanufactured ammo. So far I shot about 100 rounds of FM reman and it has been fine but I have another 2,900 rounds to go through to find out if I get any light strikes.

You can contact Freedom Munition and tell them your problem and they will probably tell you to send that box and or lot number back and they will replace it for you.

As for the loose grip screws, I would recommend getting a small washer instead of Locktite. Less chances of stripped screw if you need to remove them later.

[opos]

I bought a new 2015 97B with the new sights and the aluminum grips..all factory new in the box...About the same time I bought 4 extra Mec Gar magazines for the 97B from a private party...they looked a bit different (the ones with the pistol were sort of a matte finish where the ones that were used were a high gloss blue...the ones with the pistol did not have the name MecGar on them but the shiny ones did...


Now to the "issue"...I loaded up all the magazines and headed to the range...had Federal American Eagle ball ammo...had a couple of failure to feed (nose dive into the ramp)....but the issue was very intermittent and only a few. I posted on the CZ forum looking for some ideas...they said to examine the magazines very carefully as it sounded as if I'd gotten old style magazines when I bought the used ones...

The Magazines are indeed different...the "old style" were early production from the old 97's with the wood grips and the short feed ramp....I stripped them down and gave them a good cleaning and lubed things a bit and had some spare springs from another CZ that I put in the old magazines...

They fire fine now so I'm pretty sure my issue was dirty magazines...I am now shooting my own handloads with coated lead FPRN Missouri #4 bullets at about factory speeds...absolutely no issues

My conclusion was dirty used mags..I cleaned and did make a couple of small adjustments to the feed lips...and I think it just needed to do some "wearing in"...

I owned one of the earlier 97's a few years back and it was picky about ammo and preferred 230 grain ball in a decent ammo..Think I shot federals...it would not shoot hollow points or any other point configuration worth a darn...

Don't know if any of this helps anything but mine was a bit of a problem for a short time and now is fine...If you didn't tear down the new mags you got or if you got used ones or any other kind..a good clean and lube might be in order...I've had mixed results with Fiocci in other calibers over the years..not my favorite...

[_TomT_]

For the group screws coming loose I recommend:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/grip-parts/grip-bushings/1911-grip-screw-o-rings-24-pack-sku100016950-77554-162414.aspx

Less messy than loctite, easily removable and can be used on your 1911s or other metal guns.

[3lixer]

Sorry to hear about all these issues. I bought an off roster 97b using SSE in 2014 and haven't had any issues with it yet (fingers crossed).

[Ailill]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna' try some of those screws with a locking washer. The Freedom Ammunition I used was new and not re-manufactured. Unfortunately, my brother tossed away the box before I could save it. I'm gonna' scrounge up some money and try to get another hundred rounds (of quality ammo) and see what happens.

Besides the problems (which are probably the ammo) the gun is great. It is very accurate; I was able to keyhole my shots. I shoot better with the 97B than I do with the 75B. My brother shot better as well.

[Tok36]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna' try some of those screws with a locking washer. The Freedom Ammunition I used was new and not re-manufactured. Unfortunately, my brother tossed away the box before I could save it. I'm gonna' scrounge up some money and try to get another hundred rounds (of quality ammo) and see what happens.

Besides the problems (which are probably the ammo) the gun is great. It is very accurate; I was able to keyhole my shots. I shoot better with the 97B than I do with the 75B. My brother shot better as well.

All of my CZs seam to like PMC.

[Ailill]

Just got back from the range. I'm happy to report I fired 250 rounds with no problems at all. It definitely was the ammo. Thanks for the help, dudes.

[Angrysnarf]

It's bad send it to my address for proper disposal lol

[tanglediver]

It's bad send it to my address for proper disposal lol

^^
This!!

My 2012 version 97B had a problem with trigger reset. I hand polished everything I dared, including the feed ramp, not expecting a cure, but just because it was my first handgun purchase. It was returned to Kansas for warranty repair twice before it was cured. I asked them to replace the trigger bar the second time. I was not about to give up on it, it now resets every time.

I have not found it finicky with any of the small assortment of ammo I have used. I like the o-rings mentioned, and will try them at some point. My original wood grip screws now sport blue Loctite.