I have seen alot of questioning on whether a CZ97 is legal for IDPA in SSP as the weight of the pistol with an empty magazine has been in question given the advertised weights on the internet being over the 39oz division maximum. CZ-USA quotes the weight as 2.4lbs (38.4oz or 1,088 grams) but the Czech website quotes the weight as 1,150 grams (40.5oz or 2.5lbs).
Aside from these two weights though I have seen no evidence on the internet veriftying one or the other is correct. Thats were this thread comes in as curiosity got the better of me and I broke out the scales to try and give some evidence on the gun's weight and legality.
Results
After some setup and weighing time it appears to me the CZ97-B as purchased in Canada from wholesalesports is legal out of the box for the SSP division in IDPA competition! The total weight of the gun and one magazine was 1,087 grams which is almost identical to the quoted weight of the US site. For those with short attention spans you can be happy and go on your way with a legal for competition pistol. For more details on parts and for some pictures you can continue reading.
Method & Detail
*Disclaimer* Individual mileage may vary. Although the following information is in no way conclusive, I have tried to make this as accurate as I can.**
To that end I used a recently purchased food scale and, although it does not have more than a 1 gram resolution and has not been professionally calibrated, I tested the scale using the 250grain (16.2grams) weight included in my RCBS 1010 scale. The scale read 16grams right on which was repeated two more times with the same result. I would have liked to test against a larger known weight for accuracy but this is as best as I could manage and based on this test, the scale appears repeatable/reliable and accurate.
Now I acutally started this little project when the pistol was already disassembled when the lightbulb hit to weigh the parts individually. I wanted to see where I could shave weight from as I was under the impression it was over the legal weight to begin with.
I never stripped the frame past the trigger group or the slide past the firing pin, but the parts I did weigh are as listed below followed by the weight of the subcomponent weighed when assembled (all weights listed in grams). Now I realize that when you total all of the weights for the individual magazine parts they do not equal the magazine weight when weighed and the only explanation that I can offer is that they are rounding errors from the scale as the scale does not measure 10ths of a gram. So take the individual item weights with a grain of salt but the total weights listed are as accurate as I can get them.
Magazine
This brings us to the actual pistol with empty magazine inserted, 1,087 grams
Aside from these two weights though I have seen no evidence on the internet veriftying one or the other is correct. Thats were this thread comes in as curiosity got the better of me and I broke out the scales to try and give some evidence on the gun's weight and legality.
Results
After some setup and weighing time it appears to me the CZ97-B as purchased in Canada from wholesalesports is legal out of the box for the SSP division in IDPA competition! The total weight of the gun and one magazine was 1,087 grams which is almost identical to the quoted weight of the US site. For those with short attention spans you can be happy and go on your way with a legal for competition pistol. For more details on parts and for some pictures you can continue reading.
Method & Detail
*Disclaimer* Individual mileage may vary. Although the following information is in no way conclusive, I have tried to make this as accurate as I can.**
To that end I used a recently purchased food scale and, although it does not have more than a 1 gram resolution and has not been professionally calibrated, I tested the scale using the 250grain (16.2grams) weight included in my RCBS 1010 scale. The scale read 16grams right on which was repeated two more times with the same result. I would have liked to test against a larger known weight for accuracy but this is as best as I could manage and based on this test, the scale appears repeatable/reliable and accurate.
Now I acutally started this little project when the pistol was already disassembled when the lightbulb hit to weigh the parts individually. I wanted to see where I could shave weight from as I was under the impression it was over the legal weight to begin with.
I never stripped the frame past the trigger group or the slide past the firing pin, but the parts I did weigh are as listed below followed by the weight of the subcomponent weighed when assembled (all weights listed in grams). Now I realize that when you total all of the weights for the individual magazine parts they do not equal the magazine weight when weighed and the only explanation that I can offer is that they are rounding errors from the scale as the scale does not measure 10ths of a gram. So take the individual item weights with a grain of salt but the total weights listed are as accurate as I can get them.
Magazine
Base pad - 9
Spring base plate - 3
Spring - 6
Follower - 4
Magazine body - 74
Total magazine weight - 95
SlideSpring base plate - 3
Spring - 6
Follower - 4
Magazine body - 74
Total magazine weight - 95
Recoil Spring Guide - 1
Recoil Spring - 7
Recoil Spring Slide Plug - 20
Barrel Bushing - 4
Barrel - 97
Total Slide weight - 478
FrameRecoil Spring - 7
Recoil Spring Slide Plug - 20
Barrel Bushing - 4
Barrel - 97
Total Slide weight - 478
Grip screws - 2
Grip panels (stock wood) - 22
Magazine brake & pins - 5
Hammer spring - 5
Total frame weight - 517
Grip panels (stock wood) - 22
Magazine brake & pins - 5
Hammer spring - 5
Total frame weight - 517
This brings us to the actual pistol with empty magazine inserted, 1,087 grams
