similar experience. i'm normally a dewalt guy, but opted for the milwaukee framing & finish nailers. Not sure whether this helps, but at least for me, the weight of the Milwaukee has been manageable: I've been using the little 1.7 ah Powerstack Dewalt batteries with a cheap amazon dewalt-to-milwaukee adapter, and just swap batteries every couple of hours. The adapter weighs almost nothing, and those little powerstack batteries are really convenient. I definitely wouldn't want to lug around a 6ah battery in the milwaukee. good review!
One more thing on the metabo, I was able to order a rafter hook for the 15/16ga size guns and replace the giant hook that comes on the framing nailer with that and I have been very happy with it since. The huge one that comes on the gun is just too large to do anything well as you have stated. The screw pattern for the smaller Metabo nailers is the same as the framers though so the hooks from the finish nailers do fit the framers perfectly
I have a new Milwaukee 30 degree sitting in a box still. The weight has me kind of leaning towards Paslode 325 Pro model. Under 8 lbs fully loaded and a fuel cartridge is 13 dollars.
Also the milwaukee uses nitrogen in the cylinder wich has to be sent back to them to recharge over time . The metabo is user servicable because it uses air in the cylinder and can be recharged with just a compressor
I have bought 3 Hitachi 18volt and the original ones in bump fire mode, would also single shoot. After battery prongs wore out, not the gun, I bought 3 Metabo HPT 36volt guns, more power better rafter hooks, soft shot, AND THEY WORK CONSISTANTLY, and I have the adapter to add air after a couple years, and a couple HUNDRED THOUSAND NAILS. I wanted to like the Milwaukee since we have all 6.0 Forge batteries. So I tried two, one was at the shop already, they have a REALLY harsh recoil feel, are heavier, and about the time I think I am over it, I pick up the Metabo HPT, and shoot one shot, and I know I will never like the Milwaukee
Hey great video and assessment of the 3 nailers. I too am mostly on the DeWalt platform and when searching for my first nail gun I had to do a deep dive into the features and pros vs cons of the 3 brands you have here. I settled on the Metabo (30 degree) and while I have not had any time on the Milwaukee or DeWalt guns to compare it with I find the same outcomes you have outlined here. Never fails to shoot and drives nails deep or deep enough. The power button is hard to access and seems to turn itself off at the most inconvenient times and the gun seems to shut down due to low battery when that 4ah pack is just under 1/2 full. I have experienced all of these same things. I do have a few other 2, 3 & 5 ah metabo batteries that I am going to try but if it’s charged I mainly use that 4ah pack because of the nice size of it so I can’t yet say what the other sizes of battery do in that situation. I will say however, the framing nailer was the last gun I bought, having first purchased the 23ga pin nailer, the 18 ga Brad nailer and 18 ga narrow crown stapler, followed by the 15 ga finish nailer, all metabo. I haven’t had the problem with any of those other guns shutting down before a battery is 100% depleted it’s only the framer that seems to do that. On a side note, all the other guns are pretty good with exception of the 15 ga which doesn’t like to sink 2 1/2” nails at all. 2” and under it’s fine but 2 1/2’s it can’t seem to sink over 50% of the time anyway. The little pin nailer has some slight issues too when the pins get low it seems to missfire and jam a bit but both the 18 ga guns (Brad nailer and NC Stapler are both phenomenal and like the framer, they just seem to work. Anyway thanks for the video, it was very informational and should be a good source for anyone looking to get a cordless framer. Good luck to ya and God Bless!
The new Dewalt XR framing nailer is way better. I just built a 100' fence using HF hot dipped nails with only one minor jamb. I love it !..has the rafter and the belt hook.
Dewalt just released their next gen framing nailers FYI. Models DCN920 (21-deg.) and DCN930 (30-deg). Supposed to be a big improvement than the one you have there. More power 💪 (to drive nails), can toenail 🔨 better, no need to wait ⏳️ for ramp up and etc.
@@SouthernhomesteadsI just bought two of the DCN930 guns less than a week ago, to replace my DCN692 guns. My 692s have been good and have lasted several years, with some jams along the way. These new 930s have me looking into other brands. I have shot a couple thousand nails through the 930s and they shoot great. However, when the trigger is pulled, in any mode, the flywheel spins under power for 20-30 seconds after release. This has made me change batteries twice as often as before. The batteries are always overheated when it's time to change them, and yesterday one of the guns overheated to the point where it wouldn't work until cooled down. That happened after running about 30ft of 8ft wood privacy pickets. So it took roughly 500-550 2in nails to over heat.
When the DeWalt jams like that just roll it off the nail like a claw hammer flick the lever across and then press the striker with your finger tip and it'll reset, takes seconds. But I've found to stop those jams, take off the service springs and oil the two long pins and oil the springs before you put them back on, it will transform the gun!! Be careful not to get oil onto the firing pin though!!
Just purchased a freeman 21° had to get the adapter to fit my DeWalt batteries but together only 220$ so imma see how it performs. Could be a cheap alternative
Agree with Dewalt! Unfortunately, customer service sucks! I have a Craftsman that has been replaced without question 3 times in 7 years after much abuse, not being cleaned, maintained, and left in the rain. I am buying a Metabo now just because of the price and reviews like yours!
Thanks man for your clear coherent report, you have confidently assured me that these guns are kids toy trash. I’m sticking with my trusty Paslode IM350+ I love it, gas and nails available everywhere, just past the cost of the gas if you need to onto the client (why wouldn’t you do that anyway??) Paslode is nail gun king, always has been always will be, it’s made by a company that exclusively manufactures nail guns, no brainer. Happy framing.
Great review, I have the 30 degree dewalt and metabo hpt. I agree that the dewalt is well balanced and easy to use , on the other side very sensitive to what nails use, with some brands will gem up and that hook is not my favorite.
I have debated on the 30 degree going back to the pasload. I would use one back when it was the only cordless option. The only issue is it doesn’t bump fire at all which makes it tough when you are using it for more than just pick up work.
Great video. Some YT reviewers use point systems, other are just subjective opinions. I think jamming every 20th nail or so, versus never jamming is worth more than 4 or 5 of the other criteria. If I am using a nail gun and expecting to drive a couple of 100 nails, feel, weight, buttons and many other things are only so important. Having to deal with jams and the time to unjam; I could NOT work with that. Your conclusion is what I would also come up with if I experienced the same, in using these 3 guns. Jamming as often as you say for the Dewalt, is a non starter. Can't work with a gun that keeps you from working. Heck, I would probably go back to a hammer rather than use that Dewalt...and BTW, I do not have a trailer full of Dewalt, but do have quite a bit and generally am a fan. Probably a close 2nd to Makita overall brand that I have confidence in.
It’s a bummer, Dewalt has made it difficult on some of us in the trades. We really wanted to stick to just one battery system but they have had a couple of huge misses and have forced us to venture into other brands. As a follow up we now run two Metabo guns and just did 2 boxes of nails over a couple of days and never had a single jamb.
None of them are perfect, but Metabo seems to be the most reliable of the bunch. My biggest issue with the Milwaukee is not having the option to self charge the chamber with compressed air and that's a bummer. The Metabo gives you that option for all their cordless nailers, but their finish nailers aren't powerful enough to go on the tool trailer.
My Milwaukee 21° framing nailer has never jammed. Ever!. I don't know what's going on there. I have two other Milwaukee nail guns that have never jammed as well. One is a 15 gauge and the other is an 18 gauge. I'm not disagreeing with you but I just haven't had a single Jam to date and I've had these guns almost 2 years now and they've been in service quite a bit.
I’m a dewalt guy as well but cannot bring myself to use thier cordless nail guns. They all have the same issues. The finish guns are junk. Constant jamming no matter what nail brand you use. It’s frustrating. We still use our paslode gas and battery guns. They are light and dependable. The gas sucks but the guns work consistently . I hope dewalt can work out their issues.
Paslode is nothing but trouble and maintenance, I’ve had a good run out of my dewalt nail guns, gen 1 and gen 3 put 10,s of thousands of nails thru, more power and fires faster I leave it on rapid fire setting which keeps the fly wheel going longer after each shot, less noise no gas smell and lighter than Milwaukee and hikoki, but crap belt and rafter hook. I’ve got 5 different battery platforms so no fanboy of 1 brand.
Ridgid has a battery powered framing nailer. They also have a lifetime warranty on their nailer AND batteries! Who could ask.for more? Just kidding, i agree with everything you said on your review juat wish you could have included in your review. On the metabo nailer battery issue, you need a bigger battery, that 2 AH batter is stoo small and Doesn’t have the power to run the nailer long term.
Thank you for the insight! I will see if we can get one of the rigid and see if we can do a test on one of those. The battery we are using in the metabo is the battery the gun came with. We will try a bigger battery.
@Southernhomesteads awesome, would love to see what you think. Metabo, ya I know it's the battery it came with, Ryobi does the same thing. It's enough to get you going and I appreciate that from Ryobi and metabo, but it just doesn't have the guts to work Long enough or properly, it has to do with the "stored capacity" in the battery ( amp hour rating) it has been my experience that you need a 4 AH or greater for best performance. Good luck and thanks for the review.
The Rigid is nice. It's a rebadged AEG and the great thing is you can easily add/refill the air in it when the nailer starts to not drive nails in well. The Metabo and Milwaukee you usually have to send it in to factory and pay for a top up.
I'm usually a die hard DeWalt guy but I refuse to buy any of their cordless nail guns for the exact reasons you mentioned. There's a reason they're the only brand using a flywheel mechanism... it's completely unreliable. I actually use the Ryobi framing nailer. Yes it's marketed towards DIYers, yes its super heavy, but it fires every single time and eats whatever nails I feed it. The thing is a tank. Way more power than the Metabo guns too and no silly on/off switch.
Since Hitachi makes Metabo, sounds like the Hitachi legend continues. They were always regarded as a tank of a nailer, not nice but never quit.
similar experience. i'm normally a dewalt guy, but opted for the milwaukee framing & finish nailers. Not sure whether this helps, but at least for me, the weight of the Milwaukee has been manageable: I've been using the little 1.7 ah Powerstack Dewalt batteries with a cheap amazon dewalt-to-milwaukee adapter, and just swap batteries every couple of hours. The adapter weighs almost nothing, and those little powerstack batteries are really convenient. I definitely wouldn't want to lug around a 6ah battery in the milwaukee. good review!
One more thing on the metabo, I was able to order a rafter hook for the 15/16ga size guns and replace the giant hook that comes on the framing nailer with that and I have been very happy with it since. The huge one that comes on the gun is just too large to do anything well as you have stated. The screw pattern for the smaller Metabo nailers is the same as the framers though so the hooks from the finish nailers do fit the framers perfectly
I did the same and also bought the larger nail magazine.
I have a new Milwaukee 30 degree sitting in a box still. The weight has me kind of leaning towards Paslode 325 Pro model. Under 8 lbs fully loaded and a fuel cartridge is 13 dollars.
I love the metabo rafter hanger. Once you get hooked on it (ha) You can't go back, it can hang almost anywhere.
Also the milwaukee uses nitrogen in the cylinder wich has to be sent back to them to recharge over time . The metabo is user servicable because it uses air in the cylinder and can be recharged with just a compressor
Just bought the metabo at Lowe’s for 279, love it ! The power is amazing
I have bought 3 Hitachi 18volt and the original ones in bump fire mode, would also single shoot. After battery prongs wore out, not the gun, I bought 3 Metabo HPT 36volt guns, more power better rafter hooks, soft shot, AND THEY WORK CONSISTANTLY, and I have the adapter to add air after a couple years, and a couple HUNDRED THOUSAND NAILS. I wanted to like the Milwaukee since we have all 6.0 Forge batteries. So I tried two, one was at the shop already, they have a REALLY harsh recoil feel, are heavier, and about the time I think I am over it, I pick up the Metabo HPT, and shoot one shot, and I know I will never like the Milwaukee
Hey great video and assessment of the 3 nailers. I too am mostly on the DeWalt platform and when searching for my first nail gun I had to do a deep dive into the features and pros vs cons of the 3 brands you have here. I settled on the Metabo (30 degree) and while I have not had any time on the Milwaukee or DeWalt guns to compare it with I find the same outcomes you have outlined here. Never fails to shoot and drives nails deep or deep enough. The power button is hard to access and seems to turn itself off at the most inconvenient times and the gun seems to shut down due to low battery when that 4ah pack is just under 1/2 full. I have experienced all of these same things. I do have a few other 2, 3 & 5 ah metabo batteries that I am going to try but if it’s charged I mainly use that 4ah pack because of the nice size of it so I can’t yet say what the other sizes of battery do in that situation. I will say however, the framing nailer was the last gun I bought, having first purchased the 23ga pin nailer, the 18 ga Brad nailer and 18 ga narrow crown stapler, followed by the 15 ga finish nailer, all metabo. I haven’t had the problem with any of those other guns shutting down before a battery is 100% depleted it’s only the framer that seems to do that. On a side note, all the other guns are pretty good with exception of the 15 ga which doesn’t like to sink 2 1/2” nails at all. 2” and under it’s fine but 2 1/2’s it can’t seem to sink over 50% of the time anyway. The little pin nailer has some slight issues too when the pins get low it seems to missfire and jam a bit but both the 18 ga guns (Brad nailer and NC Stapler are both phenomenal and like the framer, they just seem to work. Anyway thanks for the video, it was very informational and should be a good source for anyone looking to get a cordless framer. Good luck to ya and God Bless!
The new Dewalt XR framing nailer is way better. I just built a 100' fence using HF hot dipped nails with only one minor jamb. I love it !..has the rafter and the belt hook.
Dewalt just released their next gen framing nailers FYI. Models DCN920 (21-deg.) and DCN930 (30-deg). Supposed to be a big improvement than the one you have there. More power 💪 (to drive nails), can toenail 🔨 better, no need to wait ⏳️ for ramp up and etc.
I will have to look for that. If the dewalts didn’t jam and have to be disassembled to clear it they would have been my favorite.
@@Southernhomesteads Yep. Forgot to mention it's lighter than prev gen too! 😄
@@SouthernhomesteadsI just bought two of the DCN930 guns less than a week ago, to replace my DCN692 guns. My 692s have been good and have lasted several years, with some jams along the way. These new 930s have me looking into other brands. I have shot a couple thousand nails through the 930s and they shoot great. However, when the trigger is pulled, in any mode, the flywheel spins under power for 20-30 seconds after release. This has made me change batteries twice as often as before. The batteries are always overheated when it's time to change them, and yesterday one of the guns overheated to the point where it wouldn't work until cooled down. That happened after running about 30ft of 8ft wood privacy pickets. So it took roughly 500-550 2in nails to over heat.
When the DeWalt jams like that just roll it off the nail like a claw hammer flick the lever across and then press the striker with your finger tip and it'll reset, takes seconds.
But I've found to stop those jams, take off the service springs and oil the two long pins and oil the springs before you put them back on, it will transform the gun!!
Be careful not to get oil onto the firing pin though!!
Just purchased a freeman 21° had to get the adapter to fit my DeWalt batteries but together only 220$ so imma see how it performs. Could be a cheap alternative
ohh i didnt know they had one, i use the ryobi nailer and its great but im not beyond adapting from flex to freeman
funnily enough in my experience the milwaukee with a 3ah high output and extended rack balances the gun out lol
hoping you do an update video sharing your impressions on the new Dewalt once you get your hands on it!
Missing the FLEX nail guns
A quick check and there is a $20 adapter ao you can use Makita batteries. Might have to get one.
Agree with Dewalt! Unfortunately, customer service sucks! I have a Craftsman that has been replaced without question 3 times in 7 years after much abuse, not being cleaned, maintained, and left in the rain. I am buying a Metabo now just because of the price and reviews like yours!
Good info!! Thank you
You bet!
Thanks man for your clear coherent report, you have confidently assured me that these guns are kids toy trash. I’m sticking with my trusty Paslode IM350+ I love it, gas and nails available everywhere, just past the cost of the gas if you need to onto the client (why wouldn’t you do that anyway??) Paslode is nail gun king, always has been always will be, it’s made by a company that exclusively manufactures nail guns, no brainer. Happy framing.
Great review, I have the 30 degree dewalt and metabo hpt. I agree that the dewalt is well balanced and easy to use , on the other side very sensitive to what nails use, with some brands will gem up and that hook is not my favorite.
I have debated on the 30 degree going back to the pasload. I would use one back when it was the only cordless option. The only issue is it doesn’t bump fire at all which makes it tough when you are using it for more than just pick up work.
Great video. Some YT reviewers use point systems, other are just subjective opinions. I think jamming every 20th nail or so, versus never jamming is worth more than 4 or 5 of the other criteria. If I am using a nail gun and expecting to drive a couple of 100 nails, feel, weight, buttons and many other things are only so important. Having to deal with jams and the time to unjam; I could NOT work with that.
Your conclusion is what I would also come up with if I experienced the same, in using these 3 guns. Jamming as often as you say for the Dewalt, is a non starter. Can't work with a gun that keeps you from working.
Heck, I would probably go back to a hammer rather than use that Dewalt...and BTW, I do not have a trailer full of Dewalt, but do have quite a bit and generally am a fan. Probably a close 2nd to Makita overall brand that I have confidence in.
It’s a bummer, Dewalt has made it difficult on some of us in the trades. We really wanted to stick to just one battery system but they have had a couple of huge misses and have forced us to venture into other brands.
As a follow up we now run two Metabo guns and just did 2 boxes of nails over a couple of days and never had a single jamb.
The European (Hikoki) 34degree version of Metabo fires a single nail in rapid mode
Metebo will
Shoot 3-1/4 electro galvanize but struggles with 131 hot dipped galvanized
thank you for your information
You are welcome
None of them are perfect, but Metabo seems to be the most reliable of the bunch. My biggest issue with the Milwaukee is not having the option to self charge the chamber with compressed air and that's a bummer. The Metabo gives you that option for all their cordless nailers, but their finish nailers aren't powerful enough to go on the tool trailer.
I just bought the Metabo framing nailer and a 15G finish nailer with 2 batteries and 2 chargers for under $500....
That’s a great deal. We have been testing the new dewalt gun and hands down the metabo is the better gun.
My Milwaukee 21° framing nailer has never jammed. Ever!. I don't know what's going on there. I have two other Milwaukee nail guns that have never jammed as well. One is a 15 gauge and the other is an 18 gauge. I'm not disagreeing with you but I just haven't had a single Jam to date and I've had these guns almost 2 years now and they've been in service quite a bit.
You know senco make cordless guns too
I’m a dewalt guy as well but cannot bring myself to use thier cordless nail guns. They all have the same issues. The finish guns are junk. Constant jamming no matter what nail brand you use. It’s frustrating. We still use our paslode gas and battery guns. They are light and dependable. The gas sucks but the guns work consistently . I hope dewalt can work out their issues.
I totally agree. I am told the new pasload will come with bump fire. if it does I will probably go back to them.
Paslode is nothing but trouble and maintenance, I’ve had a good run out of my dewalt nail guns, gen 1 and gen 3 put 10,s of thousands of nails thru, more power and fires faster I leave it on rapid fire setting which keeps the fly wheel going longer after each shot, less noise no gas smell and lighter than Milwaukee and hikoki, but crap belt and rafter hook. I’ve got 5 different battery platforms so no fanboy of 1 brand.
I agree. Dewalt sucks. I went through two of them..Same issues as you. Getting a Metabo next.
does the rigid framing nailer rate with these at all?
They suck, don’t buy them. On my second one. Still won’t shoot the nail all the way in, even after filling with air. Buying the Metabo.
@@HowardMostad mine works beautifully. no problems at all... I have lots of problems with the rigid brad nailer however...
Ridgid has a battery powered framing nailer. They also have a lifetime warranty on their nailer AND batteries! Who could ask.for more? Just kidding, i agree with everything you said on your review juat wish you could have included in your review.
On the metabo nailer battery issue, you need a bigger battery, that 2 AH batter is stoo small and Doesn’t have the power to run the nailer long term.
Thank you for the insight! I will see if we can get one of the rigid and see if we can do a test on one of those. The battery we are using in the metabo is the battery the gun came with. We will try a bigger battery.
@Southernhomesteads awesome, would love to see what you think.
Metabo, ya I know it's the battery it came with, Ryobi does the same thing. It's enough to get you going and I appreciate that from Ryobi and metabo, but it just doesn't have the guts to work Long enough or properly, it has to do with the "stored capacity" in the battery ( amp hour rating) it has been my experience that you need a 4 AH or greater for best performance.
Good luck and thanks for the review.
The Rigid is nice. It's a rebadged AEG and the great thing is you can easily add/refill the air in it when the nailer starts to not drive nails in well.
The Metabo and Milwaukee you usually have to send it in to factory and pay for a top up.
Does anyone know makes the Craftsman gun?
@@jamesevans20 The same corporation that makes DeWalt.
What about Ryobi?
Are you going to try the new Dewalt?
I might when they are available here. As of now they are still selling the old ones locally.
I'm usually a die hard DeWalt guy but I refuse to buy any of their cordless nail guns for the exact reasons you mentioned. There's a reason they're the only brand using a flywheel mechanism... it's completely unreliable. I actually use the Ryobi framing nailer. Yes it's marketed towards DIYers, yes its super heavy, but it fires every single time and eats whatever nails I feed it. The thing is a tank. Way more power than the Metabo guns too and no silly on/off switch.
That’s great feedback. I will look at those next time I buy a gun.
Marita says their cordless framer will be on the market by end of 25, no price as of yet. They make some awesome pneumatic nailers
Someone stole my Milwaukee I went and bought a new Metabo
That sucks! You won’t regret the metabo. Did my video help you make the decision?
Of course Ryobi is not in the competition because it would disgrace all the others
Hikoki/Metabo HBT Rocks - rest are boat anchors!
Why no craftsman???
It's a DeWalt in red.
Craftsman’s cheaper and just ass good if not better then all 3