Beretta Nano (the wife's) vs. CM9 (mine)

[yqtszhj]

Here's the first range report on the wife's nano vs. my CM9. I'll try and give my opinion of the "pros and cons" of each. There are reports that the Nano won't act right with 115 gr. ammo and likes 124 gr or bigger. 115 gr. was all we shot today so results are based on that. My CM9 has close to 1000 rounds through it so CM9 results are from past experience with the same ammo, same lot number, etc... that we shot through the nano today.

Nano Range results (initial reliability)
Rounds 1 - 50 - PMC 115 gr. FMJ. No problems at all.
Rounds 51-100 - S&B 115 gr. FMJ. No problems at all.
Rounds 101-150 - Walmart Federal 115 gr. FMJ. One fail to extract at about 130 rounds. Extractor came off rim of casing and next round fed in behind spent casing still in the chamber.
Rounds 151-200 - PMC 115 gr. no problems at all.
Rounds 201-230 - Federal classic JHP 115 gr. One fail to extract at about 215 rounds. Extractor came off rim of casing and next round fed in behind spent casing still in the chamber.

After inspecting the failed to extract casings it appears the angle where the rim meets the side of the casing it is not exactly 90 degree. Also I measure them at about 1/10 mm less deep where the extractor would grab the case. I don't know if this means anything at all but it appears that the wife's nano doesn't like federal.

My CM9 (after hundreds of rounds)
After the first 100 rounds it eats any ammo. never any problems with whatever I shoot. It can be brass, steel case, aluminum case, etc... I had one problem in the first 100 but I can't even remember what it was. I think it was a fail to extract also. I believe it came partially out.

Nano
Trigger - Long, heavier than Kahr but OK. better than LCP
Recoil - about like the CM9
weight - 3-4 ounces heavier than the CM9
round count - 6+1
number of mags - 2 come with the gun
slide stop - none external, locks open on last round
finish - black (quite nice)
recoil spring weight - noticeably lighter than the CM9. the wife can't rack my CM9
ammo sensitive - The wife's does not seem to like Federal ammo.
accuracy - Very good, and nice 3 dot sights also.

CM9
Trigger - long and very smooth, lighter than the Nano
recoil - not bad. same as Nano
weight - 3-4 ounces lighter than Nano
round count - 6+1
number of mags - only one comes with the gun :(
slide stop - external slide stop and stays open on last round
finish - Stainless slide
recoil spring weight - heavy. wife cant rack the slide
ammo sensitive - not sensitive at all. Mine eats anything that I have ever tried to feed it.
Accuracy - very good. Just as good as the Nano.

Summary:
I like the nano finish and the fact it comes with 2 mags. Otherwise the CM9 has it beat on weight, physical size (slightly), trigger is smoother, external slide stop, and it eats every ammo I feed it. If you can rack the slide and don't mind buying an extra mag, get the Kahr. If you can't rack the kahr slide get a Nano but just make sure you get the right ammo for it. The wife likes the Nano better and I think it will work for her but I'll keep my Kahr.

Hope this is useful to someone.

[DeaconKC]

Very nice comparison, thanks for your effort. Have you compared either to the Kel Tec PF9?

[Bill K]

Excellent comparison. Thanks for sharing.

My neighbor has a new Nano which I hope to be trying out sometime soon and compare to my PM9.

[jocko]

Here's the first range report on the wife's nano vs. my CM9. I'll try and give my opinion of the "pros and cons" of each. There are reports that the Nano won't act right with 115 gr. ammo and likes 124 gr or bigger. 115 gr. was all we shot today so results are based on that. My CM9 has close to 1000 rounds through it so CM9 results are from past experience with the same ammo, same lot number, etc... that we shot through the nano today.

Nano Range results (initial reliability)
Rounds 1 - 50 - PMC 115 gr. FMJ. No problems at all.
Rounds 51-100 - S&B 115 gr. FMJ. No problems at all.
Rounds 101-150 - Walmart Federal 115 gr. FMJ. One fail to extract at about 130 rounds. Extractor came off rim of casing and next round fed in behind spent casing still in the chamber.
Rounds 151-200 - PMC 115 gr. no problems at all.
Rounds 201-230 - Federal classic JHP 115 gr. One fail to extract at about 215 rounds. Extractor came off rim of casing and next round fed in behind spent casing still in the chamber.

After inspecting the failed to extract casings it appears the angle where the rim meets the side of the casing it is not exactly 90 degree. Also I measure them at about 1/10 mm less deep where the extractor would grab the case. I don't know if this means anything at all but it appears that the wife's nano doesn't like federal.

My CM9 (after hundreds of rounds)
After the first 100 rounds it eats any ammo. never any problems with whatever I shoot. It can be brass, steel case, aluminum case, etc... I had one problem in the first 100 but I can't even remember what it was. I think it was a fail to extract also. I believe it came partially out.

Nano
Trigger - Long, heavier than Kahr but OK. better than LCP
Recoil - about like the CM9
weight - 3-4 ounces heavier than the CM9
round count - 6+1
number of mags - 2 come with the gun
slide stop - none external, locks open on last round
finish - black (quite nice)
recoil spring weight - noticeably lighter than the CM9. the wife can't rack my CM9
ammo sensitive - The wife's does not seem to like Federal ammo.
accuracy - Very good, and nice 3 dot sights also.

CM9
Trigger - long and very smooth, lighter than the Nano
recoil - not bad. same as Nano
weight - 3-4 ounces lighter than Nano
round count - 6+1
number of mags - only one comes with the gun :(
slide stop - external slide stop and stays open on last round
finish - Stainless slide
recoil spring weight - heavy. wife cant rack the slide
ammo sensitive - not sensitive at all. Mine eats anything that I have ever tried to feed it.
Accuracy - very good. Just as good as the Nano.

Summary:
I like the nano finish and the fact it comes with 2 mags. Otherwise the CM9 has it beat on weight, physical size (slightly), trigger is smoother, external slide stop, and it eats every ammo I feed it. If you can rack the slide and don't mind buying an extra mag, get the Kahr. If you can't rack the kahr slide get a Nano but just make sure you get the right ammo for it. The wife likes the Nano better and I think it will work for her but I'll keep my Kahr.

Hope this is useful to someone.

Oh, a gee whiz video

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

I have said numerous times and some do questionmy statement but u ursellf answered it to. WIFE CANNOT RACH THE CM9 SLIDE. It is what it is IMO one of the stoustest guns out there to hand rack. Many women just cannot do it..:der:

[Ikeo74]

Solution, load it up for her, put 1 in the chamber, give her 2 other loaded mags and she will never need to hand rack it. Just fire it, change mag and fire it some more. Show her how to work the slide release properly and she will be fine. ;)

[zamboni]

Solution, load it up for her, put 1 in the chamber, give her 2 other loaded mags and she will never need to hand rack it. Just fire it, change mag and fire it some more. Show her how to work the slide release properly and she will be fine. ;)


I dissagre. IMHO, if you are going to carry a gun for self defense you need to be able to clear a malfunction, rack slide, etc.

[yqtszhj]

Very nice comparison, thanks for your effort. Have you compared either to the Kel Tec PF9?

I haven't shot a PF9 but I've read it is a bit of a punisher at the range. When I bought my CW9 I was comparing it to a PF9 because of price and the guy I bought it from said that it was like comparing a Volkswagen to a Lexus. The Kahr was the Lexus.

[yqtszhj]

It is what it is IMO one of the stoustest guns out there to hand rack. Many women just cannot do it..:der:

That may not be bad some times, if she could rack the slide she would have enough strength that I may have to watch my words a little closer than I do. :7:

[O'Dell]

I've always thought that Federal ammo was somewhat weaker than average. This could be exacerbating your ejection problem.

[yqtszhj]

I was thinking the same thing.

[sharpetop]

Maybe the Nano needed some break in time...just like Kahr recommends. Lots of these small guns need a little TLC until they're reliable.

[jocko]

Nice write up on the NANO in the American Rifleman this issue...

[Jeremiah/Az]

I have a Nano & a PM9. The Kahr is more accurate than the Nano & the PM9 has a much better trigger. The Nano is fine for close range work in self defense situations. The Nano was about $200 less than what I paid for the PM9.

[yqtszhj]

Yeah, the Beretta display van came to a local shop and the shop had the Nanos on sale for $369. I thought that was a good price. I paid $60 more than that for my cm9 but that was when it just came out.