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Old February 15, 2012, 09:15 AM   #1
tobnpr
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Why no love for the Beretta Nano?

I'm in search mode for a subcompact 9mm.
Already have- and love- an LC9 that my wife uses for EDC but I was looking for something smaller for pocket carry (in 9x19).

I can't shake my hesitation yet to pull the trigger on a DB-9, and the Beretta Nano was suggested to me. Please no G26 fans...too large, and don't care for it...

I'm puzzled over why I had never even heard of it, and see so little about it.

1/2" smaller in height and length, one less capacity, seems it should be more of a player than I'm seeing.

Anything not to like about it?
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Old February 15, 2012, 09:44 AM   #2
khegglie
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Nano

I was interested in one for a while. Check the forums and you will find mostly good reviews ; there were reports of early extractor issues. CHECK OUT the SIG 290 for a gun in the same size class.
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Old February 15, 2012, 12:30 PM   #3
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To me the Nano is an in-betweener. It's not as lightweight, small or concealable as a Kahr CM9 /PM9 or Rohrbaugh R9, so it just doesn't optimally fit the CCW need.

IMO - that's why there's not a lot of love for it.
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Old February 15, 2012, 12:59 PM   #4
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Based on holding one for all of 3 minutes, it sits too high in the hand for me, is slightly too big compared to the competition, and the backstrap felt horrible in my hand.
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Old February 15, 2012, 01:03 PM   #5
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PX4 Sub is a rather nice Gun.. Well for bein a Sub..lol. Shoots great and feels real nice too, I mean real nice.. I was presently suprised. The 85FS Cheetah is also a great Sub, Bought My wife one and she LOVED till she graduated to Her PX4 Sub.
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Old February 15, 2012, 01:05 PM   #6
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Comparing the LC9 and the Nano, I just don't see $100 worth of difference anywhere. I'll stick with the Ruger!
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Old February 15, 2012, 01:05 PM   #7
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I handled one in my LGS...its brings nothing exciting to the table of existing smaller, thinner, lighter 9s. It should be thinner, I couldn't believe it's thickness.

Its comparable to the LC9 (except it appears thicker) and "nowhere" in the same field as the PPS except it's cheaper.

I'd carry a Glock 26 before the Nano, but I'll keep my PPS instead.
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Old February 15, 2012, 01:25 PM   #8
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Check out the handgun forum at berettaforum.net and you'll find a lot of sketchy reviews on the Nano.
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Old February 15, 2012, 01:31 PM   #9
sils79
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It felt like a brick in my hand compared to the LC9. I agree with K1500's assessment, too top heavy, didn't sit right. I didn't like the trigger either, I don't know if it was because it was new, but it felt very gritty and not smooth. I passed.
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Old February 15, 2012, 03:13 PM   #10
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It's still pretty new.

I agree that it suffers from being "in between." Too big and blocky for good pocket carry, not quite enough if you're going to go for belt carry. It seems that there's a fair amount of rivalry between it and the Kahr.

Seems like a decent gun for what it is, but I just don't know how many people look for something like that.
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Old February 15, 2012, 03:20 PM   #11
jimbob86
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Quote:
Why no love for the Beretta Nano?
Too big for pockets, and not big enough to be fun to shoot.....

For me it's an economic issue: I can only afford to feed one gun, and that will be the one I carry. I don't pocket carry ..... If and when I have the extra scratch to feed range toys, I seriously doubt that a little DA auto will be on the ration card......
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Old February 15, 2012, 03:47 PM   #12
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For me it comes down to one thing: The trigger. I can get over the fact that it sits a little high in the hand. I can get over the fact that it's a little thick. But I can't get over an automatic striker fired pistol that requires a full DAO style trigger reset. If I were in the market for a slim single stack 9mm compact, I'd go for the PPS.
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Old February 15, 2012, 05:38 PM   #13
dsb1829
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They are late to the party, offer nothing noteworthy, and are priced higher than a lot of the market wants to pay for that type of gun. So yeah, not much love or addoration on the forums.
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Old February 15, 2012, 06:47 PM   #14
tobnpr
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But, you guys are missing my point- all of the other weapons noted, including the LC9 I mentioned initially, are 1/2" larger in both height, and length.

This is the only other true "pocket" 9mm- other than the DB9- that I'm aware of.

Of course, some call the LC9 a "pocket" 9mm- but their pockets are a lot larger than mine. The LC9 is fine for IWB, but I'm looking for a pocket 9x19...
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Old February 15, 2012, 07:17 PM   #15
khegglie
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I p[ocket carry the PF9; the NANO looks like it is closer to the KelTec p11; which is too thick IMO.
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Old February 15, 2012, 08:22 PM   #16
Carry_24/7
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Tobnpr; thats a mighty big pocket if that's what you're calling the Nano...I do not consider it a pocket pistol in the least. It's a blocky, thick pistol.

There are much smaller, thinner 9s....
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Old February 15, 2012, 09:57 PM   #17
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Quote:
This is the only other true "pocket" 9mm- other than the DB9- that I'm aware of.
That's just it. It isn't a true pocket 9mm. Not unless you have massive pockets. I looked at the Nano and Sig P290 for pocket duty; they're just not workable as an EDC type gun. Not without dressing around the gun, which is kinda what you are trying to avoid with pocket carry.
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Old February 15, 2012, 10:08 PM   #18
WildBill45
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I love my Nano!

The Nano is not a big blocky pistol, trust me! It fits the pocket just fine, and I shoot it at 100 and 200 yards on a man size Police training target!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbF5oxsdrMY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOv2k7qyYL0

Some of us LOVE THE NANO~
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Old February 15, 2012, 10:32 PM   #19
Shadi Khalil
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I've handled the Nano, LC9 and the DB9. IMO, the first two are far from pocket guns and the last one is tiny but supposedly unreliable. The solution? A Kahr PM/CM9.
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Old February 15, 2012, 10:54 PM   #20
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Rohrbaugh R9
Caliber:9mm
Barrel:2.9in
Length:5.2in
Height:3.7in
Width:0.812in
Weight:13.5oz
Capacity:6+1 Rounds

Diamondback DB9
Caliber:9mm
Barrel:3.0in
Length:5.60in
Height: 4.0in
Width:0.80in
Weight:11oz
Capacity:6+1 Rounds

Kahr PM9
Caliber:9mm
Barrel:3.565in
Length: 5.42in
Height: 4.0in
Slide Width: .90in
Weight: Pistol 14 ounces, Magazine 1.9 ounces
Capacity: 6+1

Ruger LC9
Caliber:9mm
Barrel:3.12in
Length: 6.0in
Height: 4.5in
Slide Width: .90in
Weight: 17.10 ounces
Capacity: 7+1

Beretta Nano
Caliber:9mm
Barrel:3.07in
Length: 5.63in
Height: 4.17in
Width: .90in
Weight: 17.67 ounces
Capacity: 6+1

"Width" = actual maximum width of pistol and describes a pistol with no protruding control levers or buttons.

"Slide Width" does not include extra width created by levers, slide stop etc...

Last edited by C0untZer0; February 17, 2012 at 09:58 AM. Reason: Added width to pistol specs
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Old February 15, 2012, 10:58 PM   #21
Marquezj16
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WildBill45 gives a lot of love for his Nano. He must have the only one that has never had a problem.
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Old February 15, 2012, 11:04 PM   #22
C0untZer0
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Any one can say that their pistol is a pocket pistol.

I get a kick out of the guys who wear BDUs or khaki shorts with cargo pockets, who drop their EDC in there and declare it a pocket pistol.

My idea of a pocket pistol is that it fits into the front pocket of a normal pair of Levi jeans without creating an obvious gun outline.

Lots of Glock fans say the 26 is a pocket pistol - it's not but whatever. Beretta says the Nano is a pocket pistol and it's not.

There is a significant difference between the Rohrbaugh R9 at 5.2" long and 3.7" high and the Nano which is 5.63" x 4.17".

I'm sure there will be Nano fans who, like Glock fans will do something like - put it in their winter coat pocket and sing it's praises as the ulitmate pocket gun, but it doesn't change the reality of it for the majority of other people.

For most people if they put a Nano in their front pocket, they're going to be very very uncomfortable when they sit down at the waffle hut, or sit down in their car, and the rest of the time they're going to need a shirt over hanging their pocket because it's going to be very obvious that they have a gun in it.
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Old February 15, 2012, 11:15 PM   #23
Marquezj16
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My LC9 is a pocket pistol. If it fits in the pockets of my jeans, khaki shorts or in my jacket, it's my pocket pistol. It does not matter what you think is a pocket pistol. Levis do not have the market on jeans and not everybody wears tight pants. Just imagine all of the people who carry using an IWB holster. Some of them wear a pant size up so they can carry comfortably. Are you going to tell them they are wrong too?

Last edited by Marquezj16; February 16, 2012 at 06:50 AM.
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Old February 16, 2012, 12:20 AM   #24
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I'd love to get my hands on a Nano, but have seen none at my local gun store.
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Old February 16, 2012, 06:56 AM   #25
kkramer673
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I had a Nano and a Ruger LC9 to compare, side by side. (I'm a big Beretta fan.)

The first thing I wasn't crazy about with the Nano is it has no slide lock. The magazine is apparently locked open when the last round is fired, but you can't remove a magazine and lock the slide back.

I also didn't like the fact its magazine held six rounds, but the LC9 has a 9-round mag.

The Nano was priced considerably higher.

The Nano is definitely a blockier-looking pistol.
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