Beretta Nano: first impressions

[g_one]

Finally got my new-to-me BU9 Nano last night. Very lightly used, only a little holster wear on it. I haven't taken it to the range yet, but here's my thoughts so far:

My first impression was WOW this thing is smooth, and I don't mean smooth in the slang sense I mean I couldn't get this thing to catch or hang on anything if I tried. And I did try. T-shirt, pocket, heck I even took a microfiber and swabbed every inch of it - never snagged once. No mag release (empty mag to hold back only) no thumb safety, no nonsense.

Once I got a feel for it, it's definitely a little top-heavy. Even fully loaded. But that's to be expected from a polymer framed single stack 9mm.

Because it was used, mine came slightly differently than a new one would: two compact mags (instead of one compact / one with finger extension) and trijicon night sights.

I had a chance to handle a Nano with the finger rest extension, and I'll say this: the extended mag still isn't quite long enough for me to get all my fingers on it, which makes it very awkward to hold such a 'long' grip with one pinky resting on the bottom. On the other hand, the standard mags work just fine with a two finger grip. So I'm glad I have two of the standard mags with it.

This is my first gun with trijicon sights on it, and I'm impressed. Makes nighttime acquisition (did a few snap cap dry fire draws in the dark) very nice. Dry firing (then manually racking the slide with the trigger still pulled) revealed a rather long reset - basically the entire length of the trigger pull - but that's fine. It's smooth and nice.

 

[g_one]

Also, I forgot to mention that field stripping is truly a beauty to behold. Decock it with a small button on the side, rotate the takedown "lever" 1/4 turn with a flathead screwdriver (or a pocket knife. or pretty much anything flat you have handy.) and the slide comes right off. Slide the slide back on, and the takedown "lever" snaps right back into place, and she'd ready to be racked and fired.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Congratulations on your Nano.


I liked my first Nano so much I bought a spare.




I pretty much like everything about the gun but the trigger. A gun like this needs a little bit of a long trigger pull but, IMO, Beretta went overboard.

The gun is reliable and accurate. Offhand I can't think of any ammo that's given the gun trouble.



The Nano compared in size to other sub compact guns like the Ruger LC9, LCP, Shield, XDS, etc.

 

[g_one]

Awesome pic!

That's why I like it so much. I had a G26 but I do a lot of sitting (desk job) and it was just too big for pocket carry, even with a thin kydex pocket holster. Then I went to an LCP which was just too far in the opposite direction: .380, too small, not accurate enough in my hands. The Nano is right in the middle and just right in my opinion. Comfortable for all day pocket carry, but it goes good in an IWB too (I have a N82 Tactical holster that makes me forget it is even there)

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I also love my Nano! Mine is set up the same, Trijicon sights and an 8 round mag run +1 most of the time. My local Scheel's store has 8 round mags for $29 right now! That's a really good price. I'm mulling over getting another one but I already have 3 x 8 round and 1 x 6 round mags.

 

[decoy562]

I like mine; feels like a baby Glock but with a heavier trigger of course. Only issue with mine is that it doesn't like 115 grain loads; it eats anything heavier. I carry 135 grain Federals in mine, no problem. 115 grain is fine for practice; just occasionally doesn't eject the casing properly.

 

[Nano65]

Love my Nano. 1355 rounds so far. It was mentioned that the Nano is easy to take down. Well, I made a little tool which I carry on my key ring. I think most of us have old keys that have out lived their usefulness. I picked out one of these and ground it down to use it on the de-cocker and the take down cam.