DeWalt 16 Gauge 2-1/2 in 20° Angled Finish Nails (2500 count)

Why these 16-gauge angled finish nails earned a spot in my kit

I lean on 16‑gauge nails for a lot of finish work—door and window casings, crown returns, and the heavier side of cabinetry installs—so I’m picky about consistency, penetration, and how cleanly a nail sets. These 2‑1/2 in, 20° angled finish nails from DeWalt have been through several projects with me now, and they’ve proven to be a reliable, predictable fastener with a few caveats worth noting.

Setup and compatibility

These are plastic-collated strips made for 20° angled, 16‑gauge finish nailers. I ran them in a cordless 20° 16‑ga nailer and a pneumatic angled 16‑ga from another pro brand without any fit issues. The strips load smoothly and lock in as they should. If your gun is a straight 16‑ga model, these won’t fit—this is strictly for the angled-magazine class.

Plastic collation does what it’s supposed to: feeds reliably and breaks away cleanly. As with any plastic-collated fastener, you’ll get small chips kicking out at the nose on firing. They’re minimal here, but wear eye protection and expect to sweep up a few slivers on the floor after a run of base or casing.

Performance in real materials

• Softwoods and MDF: Through primed pine casing into SPF studs and MDF crown into pine backing, these nails drive cleanly and seat consistently. The chisel point is doing its job—angling slightly with the grain rather than following it and blowing out the side. I had fewer splits on delicate returns than I typically see with generic 16‑ga sticks.

• Hardwoods: In poplar and maple face frames, the nails penetrated predictably at 2‑1/2 in without stalling or ricocheting. If I’m pinning thin appliqués or fragile trim, I drop to 18‑ga brads; but for 3/4‑in stock into hardwood substrates, these held as well as any premium 16‑ga I’ve used.

• Framing irregularities: On out-of-plumb wall sections where I needed a little toe-in to catch solid wood, the 20° format plus the chisel point let me steer the nail without surface bruising. Holes were uniform and easy to fill.

Depth-of-drive was impressively consistent across both nailers. With the dial set for a slight countersink, I was getting tidy, repeatable heads below the surface that needed only a dab of filler. The heads are round and not oversized, so you don’t get cratered pockets in softer trim.

Holding power and finish quality

A 16‑gauge smooth shank is a sweet spot for a lot of trim work. These bite well into studs and jambs without the bulky hole of a 15‑ga nail, and they’re stout enough to keep 3‑1/2 in casings tight while adhesive cures. Smooth shank also means less fiber tearing at the entry point, so paint-grade surfaces need less touch-up.

If you’re installing heavy 5/4 trim or hanging thick jamb extensions where you’d lean on the nails more than adhesive, a 15‑ga might be the safer call. But for standard 3/4‑in casing/base and crown up to, say, 5‑1/4 in with proper backing, these hold up fine.

Jams and feed reliability

Over a few thousand shots combined, I had one stoppage that traced back to a loose plastic chip lodging at the nose—cleared in seconds. Otherwise, feed has been uneventful: no double-feeds, no half-driven fasteners, no bent nails in the magazine. Collation is consistent, sticks are straight, and there’s no odd flash that drags in the channel.

One tip: keep your nailer’s driver nose clean. Plastic collation can cake when you’re firing rapidly in hot weather; a quick wipe keeps the driver from carrying melted residue into the next shot.

Corrosion resistance and where to use them

These nails are galvanized/coated for corrosion resistance. On exterior paint-grade trim (primed pine fascia returns and porch beadboard), I’ve had them out for a season with no rust bleed-through under paint. For most exterior painted trim away from salt air, they’re a practical choice.

That said, I wouldn’t use them on coastal jobs, cedar where tannin bleed is a concern, or in direct contact with pressure-treated lumber. In those cases, stainless steel is the safer move. Think of these as “exterior-capable with paint and proper sealing,” not a cure-all for harsh conditions.

Angled access advantages

The 20° angle matters more than you’d think if you’ve only run straight-mag 16‑ga guns. The angled strips let you sneak into inside corners—like tight casing returns and stair skirt details—without contorting the tool. The nails themselves don’t care about the angle, but having a fastener that matches your angled gun opens up cleaner approaches in cramped spots, and these strips feed smoothly even when you’re pushing the magazine into an odd posture.

Packaging and handling

In the shop, the “brick” packs are tidy, and the sticks stay intact after normal handling. Shipping, however, is a weak point. I had one order arrive with the internal box partially burst, which left a bundle of loose strips rattling around. The nails themselves were fine—but broken collation strips are a nuisance on site.

If you can, pick these up in person or at least inspect the box before leaving with it. On the truck, store the bricks upright and strapped; plastic-collated strips don’t love lateral crush.

Value and quantity

The 2,500‑count box is a sweet spot for pros and advanced DIYers. It’s enough volume to get through a couple of interior trim jobs without reordering, and the price per nail is competitive in the branded category. More importantly, the cost is justified by the consistency: clean seating, repeatable holes, and minimal waste from jams or crooked shots.

Where they shine—and where they don’t

Use these nails when:
- You’re installing interior casings, base, and crown with adhesive assist.
- You need reliable, cleanly seated fasteners with small, easy-to-fill holes.
- Your nailer is a 20° angled 16‑ga model and you work in tight corners.

Consider other fasteners when:
- You’re in coastal or highly exposed exterior environments (choose stainless).
- You’re fastening into pressure-treated material (stainless or approved coated fasteners).
- You’re hanging unusually heavy trim or jamb build-ups that benefit from 15‑ga nails.
- You’re tacking fragile moldings or veneers where 18‑ga or 23‑ga pins are more appropriate.

Small details that add up

• Chisel point: Noticeably reduces splitting in narrow returns and helps the nail track straight in mixed-grain softwoods.
• Smooth shank: Better finish at the surface and adequate holding when paired with adhesive—my go-to combo for clean results.
• Round head: Consistent, predictable hole size that disappears with a quick fill and sand.
• Plastic collation: Cleaner than wire-welded in terms of gun wear, with the tradeoff of plastic chips to sweep.

Recommendation

I recommend these 16‑gauge, 2‑1/2 in angled finish nails for anyone running a 20° 16‑ga finish nailer and doing a mix of interior trim and paint-grade exterior work. They drive straight, seat consistently, and leave small, uniform holes that finish nicely. The galvanized coating has held up for me on exterior paint-grade trim in typical conditions, and feed reliability has been solid across cordless and pneumatic guns.

The main caveats: avoid them for coastal or pressure-treated applications (go stainless), and be mindful of shipping—if you’re ordering online, inspect the package or consider store pickup to avoid dealing with busted strips. Within those bounds, they’re a dependable, pro-grade consumable that does exactly what you want a finish nail to do: disappear into the work and stay put.