CZ97 or Sig P220?

[boogalou]

Need some thoughts on people who might own both these fine handguns. How do they compare in regards to reliability, trigger, accuracy & ergonomics?

Also, since I handload for .45ACP, do these pistols have any problems with SWC's, HP's, or 165-185 grain bullets?

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's boogalou!

Well, I will hop on the SIG-SAUER P220A band wagon;
as I can attest to this weapons reliability, accuracy, and craftmanship ! To me, there isn't any handgun
that scores as high as this extremely fine weapon!

Grant it, there lots of good self-loaders out there; but
finding one that can equal SIG'S tradition, and world
reknown status would be very difficult indeed !
SIG's command a hefty price; but brother they are
certainly worth every penny.

Addressing handloaded ammunition, SIG's will digest
just about any diet that you want to feed it. The most
critical thing is the OAL of the cartridge. Feeding of
SWC's is not a problem.

As to the CZ's, I will defer to other THR members who
have expertise view's on those fine semi-auto's.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[aircarver]

Got 'em both. Shot 'em against each other (and an 1911)
The CZ-97 wins for easiest to shoot a tight group with.

Reliability: Like the sunrise.

Trigger is good for 'standard DA' and for SA.

Accuracy depends on how consistently you restrain it during recoil until the bullet clears the barrel. On this score, the CZ is easier than the other two, which are about equal to each other.

The ergonomics of all work for me, but I have big hands. The CZ is the most consistently squawked by people with 'normal' or 'small' hands. You'll have to try one & decide for yourself.

I only shoot 230 gr. fmj so can't speak to the other .45 varietys.

I use S&B, WW White Box, & Blazer with no problems in any of them.

 

[armoredman]

CZ, even though I like the P220 BUT, do you have big hands? The CZ97 is perfect for the large of hand.... BTW, Eric's giving away a CZ97 holster on czforum right now, too.....

 

[boogalou]

I own 4 CZ's already and have held the CZ97 and it feels fine to me, although it is one big pistol! I figured it might be time to check out a Sig and since .45ACP is my favorite caliber......

 

[10-Ring]

Go with what has worked for ya. IF that's the CZ, then get the CZ

 

[cslinger]

P220 hands down as it has proven itself time and time and time again.

I have heard, but have no firsthand exp., that the CZ97 can be a little finicky about the type of ammo it wants to digest. I have also heard that it is insanely accurate though.

As far as I am concerned though the P220 is the finest double action combat .45 handgun ever designed bar none.

Chris

 

[Black Majik]

Sig P220

 

[Beav]

I have heard, but have no firsthand exp., that the CZ97 can be a little finicky about the type of ammo it wants to digest. I have also heard that it is insanely accurate though.

My CZ97B was ammo finicky, had a few failure to feeds. Was going to get the feed ramp polished and throated by CZUSA but sold it to a friend before I could. Good thing is that the feed ramp work is covered by warranty. The gun is solid, easy to shoot, and accurate.

The only reason why I sold it was because of the DA trigger, it was simply too long and I had to slightly adjust my grip in between DA and SA trigger pulls. Most people put a heavier recoil spring on theirs since the gun comes undersprung, I used an 18lb spring from Wolff (worked like a champ). I also was able to buy a metal FLGR off of the CZ forums, not sure if they are still available.

If CZ could slim down the grip, shorten the DA trigger, or make a SA only version, I would gladly own another.

 

[George Hill]

If you treat the 97 like a Single Action - the way the gun should be treated - then the pull is not too long.
Yeah, they can be ammo finicky... but they are fine when you are shooting the right loads.... and this improves a great deal after some additional work.

The upside is that after the additional work, the gun is a real gem, and will shoot group sizes less than 1/2 the size of the SIG P220.

HOme defense, range gun, gun for bullseye competition or bowling pins... I'd get the 97. Gun for wearing on my hip for a night on Duty in the bad part of town... then I'd get the SIG.

 

[Worli]

My son in-law and I both bought 45's last year at this time. He went with the Sig, I went with the CZ97B. We both love our guns. He has had some ejector problems all along and is in fact back at SAI right now. His dad has the identical Sig and never had a problem.
I have never had a jam in mine and shoot a lot of that cheap ol' Wolf ammo so I have not experienced anything finicky about the ammo.
I took mine to a friend's back yard range in Vancouver Wa. who tried it out and he was impressed with its accuracy. This guy shoots competitively. I don't think you can go wrong either way.
I'm a big guy so the largeness of the 97B kind of fits my stature. I wouldn't hesitate to go with a Sig though.

 

[Bahadur]

If CZ could slim down the grip, shorten the DA trigger, or make a SA only version, I would gladly own another.

And start using real springs...

Then I'd buy one in a heart bit too!

 

[Black Snowman]

Reports on the CZ forum indicate issues with rounds other than hardball but there are ways of correcting it. The best way reported so far is building up the magazine catch so that the magazine rides higher. This seems to be the most reliable method. Some modification of the slide stop can be nessisary as well. It sticks into the path of the round pretty good.

I can't remember if it's convetional or poly rifled. I never shoot unjacketted bullets if I can at all help it since I do most of my shooting indoors and want to avoid lead contamination so I don't usually keep track of that.

Having said all that I'd still go with the CZ for two reasons, the ergos are perfect for me and I can shoot it EXTREMELY well. YMMV and all that.

 

[Prodigalshooter]

My 97 has feed everything I've tried, which is pretty much whatever is out there in the stores and my own reloads.
The grip frame is a bit on the fat side, but george is right, if you shoot it cocked and locked, the SA trigger reach is very easy and I have short fingers. However these things are very subjective, so shoot one before you decide, always a good thing to do.

 

[45R]

I'd be all over the Sig 220. It doesnt have the reputation for being the best combat .45 out of the box for no reason.

Mine has been accurate and extremely reliable. The DA/SA transition is as "Duke of Lawnchair" would say "Orgasmic"

 

[Black Snowman]

Just wanted to add that everyone says the 97 is huge but side by side with a Berretta 92 or 96 the grip dimentions are almost identical and the slide is MUCH narrower. However the trigger reach is a little longer, but if you use it as a single action it should be a non-issue.

 

[boogalou]

Thanks for all the replys so far.

I really like the Sig except for two things, the alloy frame and the decocker. On the CZ, you have the choice of DA or cocked & locked. I also like the fact that you can carry the CZ at half-cock, thus lowering DA trigger pull, plus I could buy a brand new CZ97 for the price of a used P220. Some CZ97's though do have a reliability problem, because of the steep feedramp and/or mag fitting issues. I hate that mag gap on the CZ!
And they are usually undersprung from the factory, although thats a pretty cheap fix. I know that both guns can shoot more accurate then I can hold them.

I would probably finance this purchase by selling a Colt Series 70 that I picked up for fairly cheap. The Colt needs to be reblued and if I kept it I would put some better sights on it. Since I already have a SA Mil-Spec that I am very happy with, (great shooter & reliable) the Colt could be sold or traded with no great loss.

Any thoughts on whether a used Sig would be ok? Are there any concerns regarding the alloy frame?

Once again thanks for the comments.

 

[armoredman]

CDNNinvestments has some very cheap used 220s - download thier catalog.

 

[antsi]

< Are there any concerns regarding the alloy frame? >

No.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Mine has been accurate and extremely reliable. The DA/SA transition is as "Duke of Lawnchair" would say "Orgasmic"

With regard to the DA/SA transition: mine wasn't that great, even after a trigger job. No matter how hard I tried, my second and subsequent shots generally hit away from the first, which was often a bit low.

I had a CZ-97B, too, but the grip was just a bit bigger than I found comfortable.

My .45 of choice, now, is a Witness Sport Long Slide. Same general feel and pointability as the CZ-75B, but smaller grip than the 97B. Same 10-round mags, however...

And that's the downside of the 220 nobody seems to mention: 8 rounds MAX, and older ones come with 7-round mags.

(Be wary, too: some of the 220s advertised by CDNN are the 9mm version. Nothing wrong with that, but all 220s are not created equal.)

 

[PCRCCW]

Ive had both and this NOT AN EASY THREAD!

The CZ97 triggers are better than the 220's Ive had the pleasure of owning/shooting. Both are so bloody accurate, youll never notice a difference except with a Ransum Rest and Match ammo.

Honestly Id shoot both and see which one twists your knobs...........

Im a DEVOUT CZ head but wont say one bad word about the 220 at all.

Shoot well..............

 

[Rinspeed]

220 all the way. I agree with 45R that the 220 doesnt have the reputation for being the best combat DA .45 out of the box for no reason.

Rinspeed