CZ 97B Range report: the jury's out on this one and it's not looking good

[ATLDave]

If the slide is shy going into battery, and is difficult to open, then the bullet is contacting the rifling. The SWC are working where the ball aren't because of the narrower bullet profile.

Yeah, that's a dead giveaway that the OP is "jamming the lands." Perhaps a good thing on a benchrest bolt gun, not ideal on a self-loading pistol! Very, very common issue with short-throated guns, which CZ's generally are.

 

[Bubba541]

I don't reload but I have a early production CZ97B and it shoots flawlessly with every 230grn ball round I've shot which is mostly Rem. UMC or Winchester White box. I did notice I got crazy good groups from some 230 ball MPS brand ammo I bought about 15 years ago but it seems to be loaded a bit hotter than the cheap off the shelf stuff.

 

[AZAndy]

how short is still safe. in lymans the fmj 230 is 1.275, the 225 gr lead is 1.272, in speer the 230 lead is 1.25( not exactly the same as the grooveless shape) and the the outlier is hornady 230 gr lead and fmj is 1.210

I used to have a Springfield that was happiest with 1.20, and there are a bunch of 230 grain loads in my Lee guide that go as far as 1.19. Depends on the powder.

 

[roval]

I used to have a Springfield that was happiest with 1.20, and there are a bunch of 230 grain loads in my Lee guide that go as far as 1.19. Depends on the powder.

from another box of WWBthe rounds are 1.263-1.264 mainly. I'll see if that box feeds reliably assuming my problem was coal and not fatter brass or rounds. if it was coal doesn't seem to have to be too short. ill make a few 1.260 dummies.
too bad I'm down to 60 of the 230 gr. cant experiment much. have to space out the purchases. just bought 10k of primers same week as the gun.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I load all my 230 gr FMJs to a COL of 1.26. All my 45s seem to do well with that length. Hope you get it sorted out.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

I have a 97, CZ are known for having a short leade. A different bullet, but RMR 230 fmj are touching the lands at 1.270.
I run those bullets at 1.260 and don't have any problems.

Take the barrel out, drop one of those 230 reloads into the barrel and spin it. If you can't spin it freely you are touching the lands.

It doesn't matter one bit what factory ammo is loaded too, you are not using that bullet. RMR 230 fmj and Acme 230 lead, have different profiles and require different col.