Beretta Nano Impressions

[VoodooSan]

For a smaller carry gun I have a Glock 30SF that rides in a CompTac IWB holster. The 30SF while I love it can at times still a little big. In the Texas heat I usually sling an over the shoulder Maxpedition bag that fits my G30 perfect and makes secure yet easy to get to.

But I wanted something smaller. I looked at the Ruger LCP, some of the smaller Kahrs, and a few Sigs. Long story short I wanted a 9mm at minimum and ran across the Nano.

Once I put it in my hand I could tell how we'll it was made. I liked how slim it is. Pocket guns like the LCP had a trigger reach that was a bit uncomfortable for me.

At about 18 ounces for me it gave the right amount of weight. It's small enough to ride in my pocket which I carry in a number 3 Blackhawk pocket holster.

I'm glad it included two magazines but the baseplate in my opinion makes carrying a spare mag not so comfortable.

I like the ease of sight replacement, the smooth sides of the gun. No slide lever to lock back. The only think that protrudes out of the Nano is the mag release.

I like the look, design, quality, and size of the Nano. It's a good shooter and makes a great back up for me. Also I have no problem carrying just the Nano when a situation requires I have to carry small.

The Beretta Nano has this sleek style to it. Some may not like the look but my Nano goes every where I do. I think it's a viable carry gun.




VoodooSan

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[ZXD9]

I agree.

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[VoodooSan]

And one thing I have noticed is while I have only have had the Nano a few days I notice it goes every where I go. While I might leave my Glock in my dresser just to run outside to check mail or take out trash etc the Nano is always on me.


VoodooSan

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[wow6599]

I really like the one i played with at my LGS a couple of weeks ago. Really liked the lack of a slide release on the side.
But, I felt it was really top-heavy. Now, that would probably balance out with a loaded mag.......who knows. Nice little gun, but I've got a PM-9 that fills that role.

 

[michael85]

mine's been stellar. enjoy in good health!

 

[michael85]

Got an interesting email from beretta. If you have any interest in shooting a nano (or any beretta), they are holding an event at ranges across the country.

From Friday, September 28 through Monday, October 8, select ranges across the country are holding Beretta Nano test drives. During this event you can test fire a Beretta Nano and one other Beretta, for only $10. This includes rental of both firearms, eye and ear protection rental, target, shooting range lane time rental and 20 rounds of ammunition (10 for each firearm).

Here is a link to various ranges holding the event.

http://www.berettausa.com/testdrive...dfeedc99a04ad4ab5db050e302a533&idevmid=774691

 

[beatledog7]

The Nano is a gun I really wanted to like. I haven't shot one yet, but I have held the gun and, like wow6599, I can't get over how top-heavy it feels. For those that have shot one, did it seem that way to you at first, and did it go away when you shot it?

 

[chicharrones]

I bet if you fill it with ammo, the top heavy feel balances out a bit. Many polymer pistols bigger than .380 ACP are top heavy with the mag out and no ammo. Steel on the top, plastic on the bottom until you add some brass and lead.

 

[seastrike]

I haven't looked at the Nano's mags but would assume you could cut off the overhanging plastic (if that is what it is made of). You could do this with one dedicated spare pocket mag.

I've got a TCP that I've seen others do this to. I was going to do it, got lazy and just got used to the overhang.

 

[Fishbed77]

I'd love to hear more about folks' experiences with the Nano.

Between the flurry of excitement around the Kahr CM9 and the introduction of the M&P Shield, the Nano seems to be the little pistol everyone forgot about.

 

[TarDevil]

No slide lever to lock back.

Some like Chevys, some like Fords. No slide lock is a deal breaker for me.

 

[F-111 John]

Here is a link to various ranges holding the event.

http://www.berettausa.com/testdrive...dfeedc99a04ad4ab5db050e302a533&idevmid=774691

Hot dang! My local range is on the list! I'm going, and I'm going to shoot the Nano and a 92FS.

 

[F-111 John]

No slide lock is a deal breaker for me.

I'm sure you already know, but the Nano is like the Walther PPK in that it does have a last shot hold open, just no separate slide lock. You need an empty mag to lock the slide back, and slingshot it to reload.

 

[chicharrones]

Some like Chevys, some like Fords. No slide lock is a deal breaker for me.

It has a slide lock like a Walther PPK. There is no external lever to release the slide.

After the magazine goes empty you have to pull the slide back a touch to release the slide forward after installing a full magazine, or with the magazine removed. Plus, you can re-engage the slide lock by reinserting an empty magazine and retracting the slide manually.

That's pretty good for a concealed carry pistol, no extra levers to increase width.

_____________________________

Dang. Too slow for F-111 John.

 

[beatledog7]

And like the PPK, it locks back on the empty mag and stays locked back when you pull the mag out. I don't see the big deal.

 

[TarDevil]

Yeah, I know the slide locks on an empty mag, but I can't stop wondering about a scenario where I might want to lock it back... say, to clear a feed problem, etc.

Still might not be a big deal and I can see the pros of not having the protrusion. Just a personal preference, not a criticism of the gun.

I like safeties... most of you don't.

 

[hurld]

I have had my Nano for about 3 weeks now with about 500 rounds through it without a hiccup. It has all but replaced my glock 27 for concealed carry. I wanted to buy a shield, but couldn't find one, don't regret my decision to go with the nano a bit. It's actually smaller than the shield and built like a tank.

 

[AdamSean]

I am on board with you. I didn't like the way the Ruger LC9 or the Sig Sauer P290 felt in my hand. The Nano is perfect for my hands. This is the first gun I have actually thought about sending to a gunsmith to have slide serrations added to the front of the slide and have it Cera-hide finished. I want this baby to last forever. In the winter I carry a Glock 19, but in the hot and humid Alabama summer, the Nano is my go to. It and the Remora holster are made just for my pocket.

 

[VoodooSan]

Ok I will address two things. The lack of a slide lock lever and the top heaviness.

The lack of of a slide lock I don't care about. I carry this because its sleek and small. I know for some they have to have physical slide lock for their own reasons. For me not having one doesn't matter. It stays loaded, fits perfect in my pocket holster, and does what it is supposed to do. It's a simple design that just works. Does this mean I'd like my G30 or my USP to not have one too? Of course not. The Nano serves a specific role. And for that role I think it fits the bill.

Now the Nano does have a high bore axis and can feel top heavy. Again for me this has not presented a problem especially with a loaded mag. It has just the right amount of heft to it. The whole gun has a solid feel. It feels and looks like quality. But I don't consider it heavy.

I looked at the M&P Shield, a G26, Sig P290, Kahr, LCP and LC9 and compared. Many of those are still excellent choices. For me I liked how the Nano felt in my hand and the overall design, Again for 'me' I find it perfect in the role I use it in.

Regardless if you like, love, or hate the Nano I'm glad as consumers we have more options to choose from now.


VoodooSan

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[chicharrones]

I like safeties... most of you don't.

You got me there. I started with revolvers, so . . .

 

[F-111 John]

I jsut got back from the "Test Drive a Nano" event at my local gun range, and I was able to shoot both the Nano and a Beretta M9.

My impressions of the Nano were it feels good in the hand, but it does have a very high bore axis. The recoil is a very gentle push, but there was a lot more muzzle flip than I am used to.

Full disclosure: I am a revolver guy, so I use a two handed grip that keeps the weak hand thumb behind the face of the clyinder for obvious reasons. The range officer said I was using what he called something between a low thumbs and high thumbs grip. He suggested I use a high thumbs grip, with my off hand thumb above the trigger guard and well forward on the frame. When I did this the muzzle flip was much more managable.

The Nano's trigger pull was long, smooth, and with no stacking. I almost wished it did stack at the end so I would know exactly when it was going to release the striker. The trigger reset was almost as long as the initial trigger pull.

The three dot sights were very visible and easy to use. Overall I shot about the same with it as I do with my S&W Model 60 Chief's Special.

The Beretta M9/92FS had the two dot sight, and I found it not as easy to use as a three dot, but that is probably just a training issue. Being a heavier pistol, muzzle flip was nonexistent, and the recoil was very mild. The double action trigger pull is nothing like my Smiths or Dan Wesson revolvers, but I could get used to it. The single action trigger pull had a much more crisp let-off than the Nano, and more like I expected from a semi-auto. Trigger reset was also much shorter than the Nano.

Then after I took the Nano Test Drive (and got my official Beretta hat!) I rented a Glock 26. Bottom line, I fell in love with the Glock. Now I have to figure out how to tell the wife...

 

[Big Boy]

Hmm, didn't know it didn't have a slide lock. Don't know if I'd like that.

 

[blahpony]

I went to a test drive yesterday. I have an LC9 right now and that has a good bit of recoil. I was surprised how much less recoil the Nano had with the same ammo.

I had finger-fondled a few Nanos at shops and shows and it didn't really do it for me. Shooting it was a very different experience. It felt really good. I shot 20 rounds through the gun as the range didn't know about the "other Beretta" part of the promo. It was pretty accurate at around 20'.

I could see having this and an LC9 as carry guns and just alternate between the two.

My new hat is black.

 

[ceetee]

I test-drove one last week as well, and I didn't care for it. It worked well, all the parts fit together well, and there's nothing inherently "bad" about the little pistol as far as I could tell. It just didn't fit me well. The trigger pull seemed overly long to me, and while smooth, it did throw off my aim a little. I wasn't crazy about the way it fit my hand, either. It seemed... I dunno. Too flat, maybe. If that's possible. I could see using it as a belly gun, if you shot it enough to get an instinctive feel for it's point of impact, and were a proponent of point shooting. For me, the Nano and aimed fire just didn't go together.

 

[VoodooSan]

Yea the bore axis is high on the Nano. Long trigger pull, no slide lock, 6 round magazine. Despite all that I can't help but love it. The trigger and no slide lock never bothered me.

What I am really interested in is seeing if new frames will indeed come out. For example I don't care for the magazine floor plate. It's just not comfortable to throw a Nano mag in my pocket.

I would like to see Beretta make a new frame that accommodates a new smaller floor plate for magazines. It's not a deal breaker just something I would like to see.


VoodooSan

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