Levan9X19
Member
Greetings to everyone. I have some interesting points to share with you considering the rumors about Beretta Nano's failing to extract issues. I always thought that stories shared on gun boards are statistically insignificant but not in this case. recently I picked a brand new Beretta Nano, went to the range and loaded it with my practice ammo, Magtech 124gr FMJ. This load proofed itself to be reliable and accurate and so I wasn't expecting problems (Beretta also is a respected company you can trust to). I got 5 FTE in 100 rounds.
I spent several hours in internet researching the problem and after I understood that FTE seems to be a common problem for Nano, my initial plan was to return weapon to the guns shop and replace it with CZ Rami, but I liked Nano and decided that although it doesnt run with my practice ammo it should work with some defensive loads and after all you are not supposed to run it like your average high volume blaster (customized Glock 17C in my case) I mean carry a lot shoot less (with quality defensive loads only) concept. I can afford practicing it with relatively more expensive 147 defensive loads as many Nano owners usually recommend. BTW ammo availability is a bit of a problem in my country and usually you have three maximum 5 loads available and most of them are loaded with FMJ bullets.
I am in handguns for almost 10 years and I think I do understand how they work and so I tried to do some research and analyze what is the source of FTE problem in Nano pistol. Why it doesn't work with light bullets but tend to work with heavier ones. I think we have problem with extractor lift and rapid drop of pressure in barrel. Nano has very small barrel. While firing cartridge, slide of the pistol experiences something like heavy blow from a hammer, and extractor might lift or bounce in its place. At the same time the pressure in short barrel drops very fast as the bullet leaves it in very short period of time, so the pressure is not pushing the brass against the breach face while slide moves back and at the same time extractor has lifted (due to vibration or rapid slide acceleration) and jumped over the rim of the spent case leaving it in the chamber. That is how typical FTE looks in Nano pistol. The rim is intact (not ripped by extractor), case sits in chamber. I think lifting of extractor caused by the rapid slide acceleration is a source of the problem, because FTE are more likely if you load a round and insert an empty mag (purely my observation based on relatively small amount of rounds fired). It means that magazine spring tension is not transferred to slide by means of column of rounds in the magazine and slide accelerates even faster increasing the like hood of FTE occurrence. Usage of heavier bullets might decrease the slide acceleration and allow the pressure to stay high in barrel for just enough time for case to remain pressured against breach face while extractor settles (or remains on rim all the time without lifting) and grips the rim of the case.
As described by Nano owners, Beretta usually polishes the chamber and replaces the extractor and the spring so if someone will post pics of the new and old extractors and springs this might quickly explain the nature of FTE problems with Nano's.
Some report zero problems with currently produced Nano's, I dunno the production date of my pistol but serial number starts with NU 097XXX.
We here dont have the opportunity to test Beretta's customer service so we have to seek other solutions. Polishing chamber is not a problem. It is also possible to increase the tension of extractor spring, but I think somehow decreasing the slide acceleration might also work (heavier return spring?).
Excluding FTE's Nano is a great little pistol with superb ergonomics and I am committed to cure and keep it.
Anyway I will post about any progress in overcoming FTE issues with my Nano and will also appreciate input form other forum members.
I spent several hours in internet researching the problem and after I understood that FTE seems to be a common problem for Nano, my initial plan was to return weapon to the guns shop and replace it with CZ Rami, but I liked Nano and decided that although it doesnt run with my practice ammo it should work with some defensive loads and after all you are not supposed to run it like your average high volume blaster (customized Glock 17C in my case) I mean carry a lot shoot less (with quality defensive loads only) concept. I can afford practicing it with relatively more expensive 147 defensive loads as many Nano owners usually recommend. BTW ammo availability is a bit of a problem in my country and usually you have three maximum 5 loads available and most of them are loaded with FMJ bullets.
I am in handguns for almost 10 years and I think I do understand how they work and so I tried to do some research and analyze what is the source of FTE problem in Nano pistol. Why it doesn't work with light bullets but tend to work with heavier ones. I think we have problem with extractor lift and rapid drop of pressure in barrel. Nano has very small barrel. While firing cartridge, slide of the pistol experiences something like heavy blow from a hammer, and extractor might lift or bounce in its place. At the same time the pressure in short barrel drops very fast as the bullet leaves it in very short period of time, so the pressure is not pushing the brass against the breach face while slide moves back and at the same time extractor has lifted (due to vibration or rapid slide acceleration) and jumped over the rim of the spent case leaving it in the chamber. That is how typical FTE looks in Nano pistol. The rim is intact (not ripped by extractor), case sits in chamber. I think lifting of extractor caused by the rapid slide acceleration is a source of the problem, because FTE are more likely if you load a round and insert an empty mag (purely my observation based on relatively small amount of rounds fired). It means that magazine spring tension is not transferred to slide by means of column of rounds in the magazine and slide accelerates even faster increasing the like hood of FTE occurrence. Usage of heavier bullets might decrease the slide acceleration and allow the pressure to stay high in barrel for just enough time for case to remain pressured against breach face while extractor settles (or remains on rim all the time without lifting) and grips the rim of the case.
As described by Nano owners, Beretta usually polishes the chamber and replaces the extractor and the spring so if someone will post pics of the new and old extractors and springs this might quickly explain the nature of FTE problems with Nano's.
Some report zero problems with currently produced Nano's, I dunno the production date of my pistol but serial number starts with NU 097XXX.
We here dont have the opportunity to test Beretta's customer service so we have to seek other solutions. Polishing chamber is not a problem. It is also possible to increase the tension of extractor spring, but I think somehow decreasing the slide acceleration might also work (heavier return spring?).
Excluding FTE's Nano is a great little pistol with superb ergonomics and I am committed to cure and keep it.
Anyway I will post about any progress in overcoming FTE issues with my Nano and will also appreciate input form other forum members.
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