Gene_WI Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 Howdy Folks With COVID and the obscene ammo prices here in the states I found myself reloading again in 2021. One of my favorite rounds to reload has always been .45 ACP. I have a decent supply of primers and components to roll my own for the next couple years. I shoot USPSA limited, my primary gun is a 5.4" infinity. Its no secret that the infinity grip closely resembles CZ grips. So I figured a good way to utilize my .45 resources and maintain good practice routine for my primary gun was to build a CZ based pistol to shoot USPSA with. Hence this project of a CZ-97 based L10 gun was born. Project so far. CGW E converted CZ-97B, CZ custom magwell for the 97, dawson fiber optic front and black adjustable rear sights, lok grips bogies, henning large frame tanfoglio base pads, holster is DAA with a CZ SP-01 insert. What I need and can't find good info about; extended mag release, wide safety. Impressions after running some practice matches: Grip is excellent and closely matches 2011's, triggers is phenomenal, accuracy is exceptional, with Dawson sights the pistol is a dream. The mag release is poorly suited for competition use, the safety is marginal at best, both of these need to be replaced ASAP. The CZC magwell is great and works very well with the slightly modified Henning base pads. The mags themselves can be difficult to seat, I shaved the follower on a couple to see if it improves things. -Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted May 13, 2021 Author Share Posted May 13, 2021 Basepad and magazine mods for the CZC magwell. The only current available magwelll for the 97 is sold by CZ custom. The necessary CZC base pads are out of stock, plus they are expensive. I used the following basepads instead (Henning Group PRO Series Base Pad For Tanfoglio LF, Item: H444-TL). The basepads need some minor mods to work. As seen in the picture below the base pad needs to be slightly radiused to clear the magwell, and the locking plate round tab needs to be slightly sanded. In all these work great, and are a relatively cheap solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midatlantic Posted May 14, 2021 Share Posted May 14, 2021 (edited) I used the extended safety from Cz custom https://czcustom.com/cz-parts-all/safeties/cz-75-extended-ambi-safety-lhs.html did require some careful fitting where the safety and frame intersect, and the end sticks out the right side a bit, but sure does make snapping off safety fast and sure. I’m in fact planning to the same next time Im in jersey for a USPSA match Edited May 14, 2021 by midatlantic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT_Schultz Posted May 14, 2021 Share Posted May 14, 2021 Dump the magwell and use it for Production Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Cj Maven LLC had built 3 pretty trick 97b guns for competitors. He can do work or at least answer some questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted May 17, 2021 Author Share Posted May 17, 2021 Thanks for the suggestion on the safety and the smith. Will check out both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVRSE Posted May 18, 2021 Share Posted May 18, 2021 always fun to see someone try something different. honestly never expected to see someone compete with anything chambered in 45 outside of single stack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkster Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 I love my 97B but being a lefty would not be able to manipulate the safety well, but being double action not sure it that that matters. I have had this same though a few times but then got a czechmate and wandered into Open class from CO… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 2 hours ago, Kirkster said: I love my 97B but being a lefty would not be able to manipulate the safety well, but being double action not sure it that that matters. I have had this same though a few times but then got a czechmate and wandered into Open class from CO… The gunsmith I've mentioned has custom made 97b for multiple lefty shooters, making it work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkster Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 25 minutes ago, rowdyb said: The gunsmith I've mentioned has custom made 97b for multiple lefty shooters, making it work. I have seen a couple conversions done. There may have been a bit of drooling and lust… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkster Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Certainly not adverse to getting work done on my guns… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 ^ nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eerw Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Couple of builds, frame can be modified for Shadow2 mag release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT_Schultz Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 On 5/21/2021 at 7:40 PM, Kirkster said: I love my 97B but being a lefty would not be able to manipulate the safety well, but being double action not sure it that that matters. The fact that the 97 doesn't have a left side safety absolutely doesn't matter if the pistol is going to be used in Production or Carry Optics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted May 28, 2021 Author Share Posted May 28, 2021 On 5/26/2021 at 3:17 PM, eerw said: Couple of builds, frame can be modified for Shadow2 mag release. These look great!!! Is the frame milling for a shadow mag release something CZ custom offer as a service? That would be just about perfect mod for L10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eerw Posted May 28, 2021 Share Posted May 28, 2021 12 minutes ago, Gene_WI said: These look great!!! Is the frame milling for a shadow mag release something CZ custom offer as a service? That would be just about perfect mod for L10. yes we do, I replied to your email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted August 10, 2021 Author Share Posted August 10, 2021 (edited) Got my pistol back from CZ custom. Its a whole different beast now. Mods: Milled frame for a Shadow 2 safety (10374). Added a CZ-75 extended safety LHS (10225). Edited August 10, 2021 by Gene_WI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted August 10, 2021 Author Share Posted August 10, 2021 The pairing of an extended safety and mag-release works great for table starts. The safety and magwell keep the mag release away from the table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted August 10, 2021 Author Share Posted August 10, 2021 The currently unresolved remaining issue for this project are magazines. It is well documented that full magazines for the CZ-97 are hard to seat. While I was able to seat full mags with some effort with the factory mag release, with the shadow 2 mag release the success is 50/50 with FMJ bullets, and 30/70 with SWC. As my proposed solution I cut off most of the follower legs in one magazine (making a follower similar to grams or mbx). When loaded the full magazine seats without issues with both bullet types. Indeed the reload is nearly effortless. So far I cycled the modded mag with dummy rounds and observed no issues. Will test it in live fire tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 The mags run without issues using the shaved follower. Will mod more mags that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
45 Raven Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 7 hours ago, Gene_WI said: The mags run without issues using the shaved follower. Will mod more mags that way. Nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aandabooks Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 I have plans to play around in Production this winter with my 97B running some 230gr S&S Casting loads I need to get to work on. I figure I will aim for a load between 575-600 FPS and will likely move to either a 6lb or 7lb recoil spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 Have been enjoying shooting L10 with this set up in informal matches. Modified magazines have been working great. I spent some time making CR speed mag pouches work for CZ-97 magazines. I finally settled on 3D printed inserts specific to the mags. These inserts a are thicker then the 2011 inserts supplied by CR speed. As an added bonus these work with Tacsport mags as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_WI Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 With mag inserted. Nice snug fit with lots of room for adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogtired Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 I ran my heavy metal guns in local matches to function test. The 45 can be made into a very soft shooter, a steel gun helps even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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