The Beretta Nano is a compact handgun developed for concealed carry. It has a fiberglass infused "technopolymer" frame and a Pronox finished slide. Pronox is a form of ferritic nitrocarborizing finish similar to Tenifer and Melonite. The sights on the Nano are low-profile 3-dot sights. The 9mm version of the Nano holds 6 rounds of ammunition in a single-column box magazine, for a total capacity of 7 if the pistol is chambered and the magazine is fully loaded. The Nano was designed with a removable serial-numbered chassis separate from the frame, an unusual feature notably also found in the SIG Sauer P250-series pistols. This allows the owner to customize their grips with multi-colored frames. without replacing the component that legally constitutes a firearm. Designed to be used as a concealed carry self-defense weapon, the Nano has no external slide lock or release. Additionally, the Nano has no external safety. The absence of these protruding controls reduces the likelihood of the weapon snagging on clothing during an occasion where a quick and clean draw is required. The slide locks in a rear position after the magazine has been emptied. A loaded magazine must then be installed, or the empty magazine withdrawn, and the slide must be pulled rearward, in order to cycle the slide completely. Early owners of the Nano voiced concern about an intermittent failure to eject while using lower quality ammunition with 115 grain bullets. Some users of the Nano counter that 115 grain ammunition would seldom, if ever, see service in the Nano as it is employed to its intended purpose of a concealed carry defensive weapon, although 115 grain ammunition is frequently used in training and range shooting. Many add that the Nano is rated for 9mm +P ammunition, and as such requires ammunition heavier than 115 grains to function as designed, although Beretta did not mention this in the owner's manual or in any of its marketing materials. Most Nano owners agree that the pistol functions best on ammunition with bullets of 124 grains or heavier, and this opinion is seconded by many representatives of Beretta USA. The Nano is now banned from retail sale in the state of California, due to pro-safety legislation.
