When I did the daily run this morning, I noticed that RSR Group had one in their inventory. Before leaving for the range, I e-mailed Becky and asked her to get it for me.
The first thing I noticed was the weight. This is not a light gun. Also on inspection I noticed that unlike the Kimber Solo, it doesn't have a slide release lever.
Trigger pull is long and heavy, but that is to be expected from a pistol like this.
According to my kitchen scale, with the magazine in the gun, but not loaded, it weighs 4oz more than the Solo.
Both guns have the 3-dot sight configuration, and the Solo is slightly smaller, and trigger is a little nicer. The Solo also has an external safety, which the Nano does not have.
The Solo has a more or less standard slide pin stop like a 1911, which you have to pull out to field strip. You do have to pull the trigger on the Solo to remove the slide. You can put the slide on incorrectly and it will jam. That doesn't appear to be possible with the Nano.
Look at the picture above. On the left hand side of the picture you will notice what appears to be two pins. The one on the right, which looks like it might hold on a removeable backstrap is the tricky little pin. You take something like a mechanical pencil or a pin and push that pin in, and it decocks the pistol. You don't have to pull the trigger like you would on the Solo.
Above the trigger is what looks like a big screw. Using a dime, I turned it 90 degrees counter-clockwise. According to the instructions the slide should then slide forward and off the pistol. Of course it did not because I'm such a dumb-ass. If I'd read all the instructions, I might have noticed the part that says to remove the magazine. Will I never learn?
What I really thought was cool was when I put the slide back on and retracted it all the way, the screw rotated clockwise to the locked position.
From a practical standpoint, just pull the trigger, rotate the screw with a dime and the slide will easily come off. If it doesn't say to yourself: "I'm a dumb-ass just like TMan". Then drop the magazine.
Both the Solo and Nano have firing pin block safeties, and neither have a magazine disconnect.
I think I've shot the Solo right after I bought it, and I expect to shoot the Nano and the Solo again some time next week.
Oh, both pistols have the two spring captive recoil rods.
My recomendation having not done a range test: if you can afford it, and can find one, go for the Solo vs the Nano. Otherwise, the Nano isn't bad, and remember we are comparing two 9mm pistols i.e. 9mm Luger not .380's.
Yikes getting late and I have a full day tomorrow. I'll append to this after taking it to the range.
Edited to correct some horrible grammar.
