DeWalt 20V MAX XR 16ga Cordless Straight Finish Nailer (Tool Only)

Why I stopped dragging a compressor for trim punch lists

After a month of doors, base, and crown, I left the compressor in the shop and ran my trim punch lists with a cordless 16-gauge finish nailer instead. The DCN662 quickly proved it can handle most of what I ask from a pneumatic, while trimming real minutes off every small job. It doesn’t replace air for every situation, but it’s good enough, fast enough, and clean enough that I now reach for it first.

Setup, balance, and the little things

With a 2.0Ah pack, the DCN662 feels nimble and well-balanced; a 5.0Ah pack shifts it toward the rear but makes it more top-heavy. Bare weight is reasonable for a finish nailer, and the handle is shaped to promote a neutral wrist in odd orientations—important when you’re reaching to tag chair rail or crown in a corner. The adjustable belt hook is stout and reverses easily. I used it constantly on ladders.

The micro nose is the unsung hero. You can see the tip, align with a reveal or a filled brad hole, and confidently place a nail without guessing. The LED work lights are bright enough to matter inside closets and under stair stringers. They also double as basic diagnostics—helpful the one time I induced a stall by trying to bump nails into hard maple faster than the tool wanted to go.

Switching between sequential and contact (bump) mode is tool-free and takes seconds. The depth wheel near the nose has positive detents and gives you real control over countersink without leaving driver marks.

Driving performance and consistency

Power-wise, the DCN662 has the muscle to sink 2-1/2 in. 16-gauge nails into pine and poplar with authority, and it handled MDF without blowing out edges. In oak and maple, I bumped the depth a notch and still got consistent, clean countersinks. It’s not invincible—if you’re trying to pin an extra-lean casing into cured LVL with a dull nail, you can expect a proud head or two—but within normal trim scenarios it performs like a small, well-tuned pneumatic.

Sequential mode is where this nailer shines. Press, place, shoot—repeat. The trigger is predictable with minimal take-up, and the contact tip doesn’t require excessive pressure, so you don’t deform delicate profiles. In bump mode, the cadence is respectable for cordless, though you’ll feel a beat between shots that simply doesn’t exist with a high-flow air rig. For long, straight base runs, contact mode is a timesaver; for everything else, I stayed in sequential for accuracy.

Recoil is modest, and the nose doesn’t jump. I didn’t see the “double kiss” divots that some earlier-generation cordless finishers were notorious for. Nail holes are what you expect from 16 gauge—fillable without fuss, but not what you want for the most delicate face frames. For that, you still want an 18-gauge brad nailer.

Jams, stalls, and maintenance

I ran a mix of 2 in. and 2-1/2 in. straight 16-gauge nails from reputable brands and had only one jam across multiple jobs. Clearing it took less than a minute using the tool-free nose latch; I didn’t need pliers or a hex key. The stall release lever is also tool-free and easy to access. Between those two features, you’re back to work quickly when something goes sideways.

I make a habit of blowing out the magazine and nose at the end of the day. Keep the driver channel free of debris, and this nailer seems to reward you with fewer hiccups. The 110-nail magazine is a good capacity for cordless—enough to run several rooms’ worth of base or a full set of casings without constant reloads. Loading from the rear is fast and intuitive.

Workflow advantages over air

The obvious win is not hauling, setting up, and bleeding down a compressor for a half-day of trim. That alone saves meaningful time. The DCN662 is also quieter in occupied homes and generates less “jobsite friction”—no hoses draped across hallways, no tripping hazards, no hunting for another outlet.

There is a subtle workflow difference worth noting: cordless finish nailers have a slight spin-up feel and a rhythm of their own. Once you settle into that cadence, placement accuracy improves because you’re not fighting hose drag or waiting for a tank to catch up. For tight inside corners, the straight-body design is manageable, but not as graceful as an angled 15- or 16-gauge. I could reach most inside returns by adjusting my stance and using the micro nose; for the tightest spots, an angled gun still wins on access.

One more practical note: straight 16-gauge nails cost less and are widely available. If you run through boxes of fasteners, that adds up.

Runtime and batteries

This is a tool-only purchase, so you’ll need a 20V MAX battery. With a 5.0Ah pack, I completed a full day of base and casing in a mid-size remodel—hundreds of shots—without swapping. A 2.0Ah pack lasts a few rooms and keeps the tool lighter, but I’d carry a spare if that’s your go-to. The brushless motor clearly helps on efficiency; you won’t feel like you’re babysitting your batteries.

If you already own other 20V MAX tools, the convenience is obvious. If you’re new to the platform, factor the battery and charger into your budget.

Precision and surface quality

Trim work lives and dies by clean surfaces. The DCN662’s micro nose, predictable depth-of-drive, and stable recoil made it easy to avoid divots and scuffs. On pre-finished jambs and painted MDF, I saw clean entry holes and consistent countersinks when I let the driver finish its cycle. If you ride the gun or try to pull away mid-shot, you can create a faint crescent—true of most nailers—so it still pays to use proper technique.

The line of sight is better than average for a cordless finish gun. It’s easy to split a line or tag a reveal without shadow guessing. I rarely missed a stud, even working fast.

Durability and duty cycle

I’m confident in the DCN662 for daily trim work, but I treat it like what it is: a cordless finish tool, not a framing nailer. On heavy fastening days—miles of base over hardwood or dense jamb extensions—I still rotate in a pneumatic to keep the cordless cool and extend its life. Used that way, this nailer has held up well. The chassis resists racking, the magazine stays true, and the nose latch hasn’t loosened.

DeWalt backs it with a 3-year limited warranty, one year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction period. That’s appropriate coverage for a pro-grade cordless nailer.

What I’d change

• Include a no-nonsense rafter/belt hook out of the box that’s slightly larger. The current hook is solid but a touch tight on some scaffolding rails.
• Improve tight-corner access. A straight 16-gauge will always be a compromise here, but a slimmer nose cap would help.
• Shave a hair off the cycle time in bump fire. It’s already usable, but faster sequences on hardwood occasionally prompted a stall.

None of these are deal-breakers; they’re quality-of-life tweaks.

Who it’s for

• Remodelers, trim carpenters, and punch-list pros who want pneumatic-like results without the compressor for most finish workflows.
• Pros already on the 20V MAX platform who value battery interchangeability.
• Serious DIYers upgrading from a brad nailer and ready for a reliable 16-gauge that can handle casing, base, crown, and stair skirts.

Who should look elsewhere: cabinetmakers who mainly shoot 18-gauge, crews living in tight inside corners who prefer angled magazines, and high-volume production shops where an air setup remains the fastest, most durable option over years of daily abuse.

Recommendation

I recommend the DCN662 as a primary 16-gauge finish nailer for most trim work, especially if you’re already in the 20V MAX ecosystem. It drives cleanly, places accurately, clears jams quickly, and meaningfully streamlines small and mid-size jobs by eliminating hoses and compressor time. While a pneumatic still wins for all-day production and the tightest corners, this cordless has become my first choice for base, casing, crown, and chair rail. For the way most of us actually work—lots of starts, stops, and room-to-room moves—the convenience and performance are worth it.