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Pro Tool Reviews tested Metabo HPT’s NR1890DRBQRY, an 18V cordless framing nailer built around the company’s Air Spring Drive + System. The review reports strong driving power, a firing rate of up to six nails per second and a comparatively light design, while flagging the price and tool-required jam clearing as drawbacks.
Pro Tool Reviews has tested Metabo HPT’s NR1890DRBQRY, an 18V cordless framing nailer designed to deliver a pneumatic-like feel without an air hose or compressor. The review reports up to six nails per second, strong performance driving 3½-inch nails into laminated veneer lumber, and a comparatively light build, while noting that clearing a jam requires a Torx wrench and that the tool is relatively expensive.
In its hands-on tests, Pro Tool Reviews said the nailer drove 3½-inch framing nails into a section of LVL. The tool initially drove nails too deep, but reviewers said they were able to set the depth adjustment and drive nails flush. The review lists 120 joules of driving power and a firing rate of up to six nails per second. That rate is the publication’s reported specification; it is not a promise that every user or task will sustain that pace.
The nailer offers sequential and bump-fire modes, selected with a button at the base of the grip. The review describes little delay after pulling the trigger, but also notes noticeable recoil, particularly when bump firing into harder material. Reviewers said the aggressive nose claw and slim nose profile helped with toe nailing and access between studs.
Pro Tool Reviews measured the bare tool at 8.2 pounds and the tool with its included 18V 10.0Ah battery at 10.3 pounds. It said the balance made the nailer manageable overhead and during toe nailing, though the grip may feel large for people with smaller hands. The publication also reported that jam clearing requires removing two screws with the onboard Torx wrench and sliding the magazine down. It advised removing the battery and remaining nails before clearing an obstruction.
Speed Without an Air Hose
The test addresses a common practical trade-off for framing crews: cordless mobility versus pneumatic speed and feel. A nailer that can drive quickly and handle demanding framing nails without a hose or compressor may reduce equipment to set up and remove from a work area. The review’s results suggest the NR1890DRBQRY could be useful for high-volume tasks such as sheathing or subflooring, where bump firing can help maintain pace.
Those findings are based on the publication’s hands-on tests, not a guarantee of equal results across materials, nail types, or job conditions. The reported firing speed also comes with noticeable recoil, and precision work may call for sequential firing rather than running the tool at its maximum pace. Weight, fit, battery needs, and cost remain relevant to a buyer’s decision.
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How the Review Tested It
The source review places the Metabo HPT model in a category where battery-powered framing nailers have improved but can still feel different from pneumatic tools. Its central question was whether the company’s Air Spring Drive + System could deliver a more familiar pneumatic-like experience on an 18V platform. Pro Tool Reviews used its standard hands-on tests, including driving long framing nails into LVL and evaluating firing modes, handling, and toe nailing.
The publication compared its reported weight with Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2744, stating that the Metabo HPT weighed 10.3 pounds with a 10.0Ah battery, versus 11.3 pounds for the Milwaukee with a 5.0Ah battery. Because those figures use different battery capacities, they do not establish a like-for-like weight comparison. Metabo HPT also claims up to 1,170 nails per charge with the kitted battery; the source review presents that as a company claim, not as a runtime figure independently established by its reported tests.
“Metabo HPT absolutely hit the mark.”
— Pro Tool Reviews
Runtime and Jobsite Results
The source material does not provide the review’s publication date, the nailer’s price, or a detailed account of how the claimed 1,170 nails per charge figure was measured. It also does not report a direct, controlled test against a pneumatic nailer or establish performance across a range of wood types and site conditions. Reviewers said they did not experience a jam during their hands-on testing, so the tool-based clearing process is a design observation rather than a report of a test failure.
It remains unclear how the tool’s battery life, recoil, and firing pace will compare during extended work for different users. The source also does not give enough information to judge total ownership cost or whether the weight advantage holds when compared with competing tools using batteries of equivalent capacity.
What Buyers Should Check
The source review does not announce a follow-up test or future product milestone. For buyers, the next practical steps are to check current pricing, battery-kit details, and nail compatibility with a retailer, and to handle the nailer before purchase if possible. Pro Tool Reviews specifically suggests trying the grip in person because it may be large for smaller hands.
On a jobsite, users will also need to account for the magazine and firing-mode procedure and keep the supplied Torx wrench accessible. If an obstruction occurs, the source review says to remove the battery and remaining nails before opening the firing area. The available report does not establish whether Metabo HPT will change the clearing design or publish further independent runtime results.
Key Questions
What did the review test?
Pro Tool Reviews tested the Metabo HPT NR1890DRBQRY, an 18V cordless framing nailer, including its driving performance, firing modes, handling, and toe-nailing access.
How fast can the nailer fire?
The review reports a rate of up to six nails per second. That is the stated maximum, not a guarantee of sustained speed for every task or user.
How heavy is the tool?
Pro Tool Reviews measured it at 8.2 pounds without a battery and 10.3 pounds with the kitted 18V 10.0Ah battery.
What are the main drawbacks?
The review identifies tool-required jam clearing and a relatively high price as drawbacks. It also says the grip may be large for people with smaller hands and notes recoil during fast bump firing.
Is the claimed battery capacity independently verified?
No independent confirmation is given in the source material. The figure of up to 1,170 nails per charge is attributed to Metabo HPT, as reported by Pro Tool Reviews.
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