DeWalt 15 Gauge Angled Finish Nails (2 in, 2500 count)

A reliable 15‑gauge DA nail for everyday trim work

I’ve run a lot of 15‑gauge angled fasteners through both cordless and pneumatic guns over the years, and these DeWalt 2-inch DA nails have become one of my go‑tos for interior trim. They’re not flashy—nails never are—but they’re consistent, they feed cleanly, and they hold the kind of work most of us actually do with a 15‑gauge nailer: baseboard, casing, stair skirts, thick crown backed with blocking, and beefier door jamb assemblies.

What you’re getting

This box is a 2,500‑count pack of 15‑gauge, 34° DA‑style, glue‑collated nails with a chisel point and smooth shank. The coating is a galvanized finish intended for interior use. That last bit is important: while the zinc coating adds some corrosion resistance for normal indoor environments, it’s not the heavy‑duty protection you’d want for exterior exposure, wet areas, or pressure‑treated lumber. For those jobs, switch to exterior‑rated galvanized (hot‑dip) or stainless steel fasteners.

At 2 inches long, these sit in the sweet spot for fastening 3/4‑inch trim through drywall into framing, generally landing you in the heart of the stud without excessive blowouts or tip wander. It’s also a handy length for assembling door jambs and tacking sub‑assemblies during installs.

Driving performance and feed

I tested these nails in a DeWalt 15‑ga angled finish gun and a Milwaukee M18 15‑ga angled finish nailer. In both, the strips fed smoothly with no odd binding at the follower. The geometry feels right—the tilt and strip stiffness sit nicely in the magazine, and the collated glue leaves minimal residue. After a couple hundred shots, I didn’t see the gummy buildup that some bargain nails leave behind on the driver blade or nose.

Misfires and jams were basically non‑events during my runs. The strips break cleanly as you get to the end of a rack. If you’re experiencing jams with a 15‑ga angled nailer, it’s often a compatibility mismatch rather than the nail itself. There are two common 15‑ga angled standards: DA (34°) and FN (around 25°). These are DA nails. Many DeWalt angled guns (you’ll see “DCA15” noted on the magazine) take DA nails; some other brands and older models take FN. Mixing them will cause feeding headaches. Check your gun’s markings and manual before buying.

Holding power and finish quality

A 15‑gauge finish nail isn’t shy. It has noticeably more holding power than an 18‑gauge brad and even a bit more bite than many 16‑gauge nails, thanks to the larger shank. The smooth shank here is appropriate for finish work where you want strong shear and sufficient withdrawal resistance without tearing fibers when you have to pull one or make a slight adjustment. Pair these with construction adhesive on large runs of trim and you’ll get the kind of bond that resists seasonal movement well.

The chisel point does what it should: it starts cleanly and reduces splitting compared to a blunt cut. In hardwoods, I still angle the nail slightly with the grain and avoid firing too close to the edge, but I had no edge splits in poplar, MDF, finger‑jointed pine, or prefinished oak casing.

As for the finished surface, the heads set flush with a predictable, round dimple. A 15‑gauge hole is bigger than what an 18‑gauge brad leaves—no surprise there—so plan on a touch more filler on highly visible faces. For stain‑grade work, I’ll often switch to pins or 18‑gauge brads in the most conspicuous spots and use the 15‑gauge nails where the profile is thicker or hidden. On paint‑grade trim, two quick passes with lightweight filler and a sanding block blend the holes away.

Materials and corrosion considerations

The interior‑rated galvanized coating is a plus in humid seasons and for houses that see wide swings in moisture. I had no surface staining through primer on pine or MDF. With high‑tannin woods like oak and walnut, I’m always careful: any steel fastener can sometimes react with tannins in damp conditions. If you’re working in a bathroom, mudroom, or near fresh cement, err on the side of exterior‑rated galvanized or stainless fasteners to avoid black staining or corrosion long‑term. And if you’re fastening pressure‑treated lumber or exterior trim, these interior‑rated nails are the wrong choice—step up to the proper exterior spec.

Accuracy, blowouts, and control

Two‑inch 15‑ga nails can blow through the back of narrow casing if you’re careless or if the stud isn’t where you think it is. That’s not a knock on the fasteners; it’s the nature of the gauge and length. I appreciate that these chisel tips tend to track straight with the grain, but if you’re nailing close to the edge on thin trim, consider angling the gun slightly and dialing back depth to reduce risk. In consistently dense hardwoods, I found tip wander minimal and well within expectation for the class.

Depth of drive was uniform across my runs. With both the pneumatic and cordless guns, the heads set consistently below the surface without crushing fiber around the hole. That consistency matters when you’re chasing a crisp paint‑grade finish across a hundred feet of baseboard.

Compatibility and fit in the magazine

These are DA‑style nails and sit at a 34° back angle. The strips feel tight and consistent, with no odd curvature or offset that can make some magazines balk. They’re glue‑collated, not plastic, so you don’t get the little plastic shards all over the floor. The glue is low‑smear; I didn’t notice stringing or tackiness breaking strips apart in warm weather.

If you work across multiple guns, check your fleet. Some brands sell both DA and FN versions of their 15‑ga nailers. Keep the boxes separated and labeled in the shop and on the truck; it’ll save you a headache on site.

Use cases where they shine

• Baseboard and shoe molding into drywall and studs
• Door and window casings, especially thicker or back‑banded profiles
• Stair skirts and treads where you want more bite than a brad
• Cabinet face frames to carcasses in concealed locations
• Interior jamb assemblies and shimming before final fastening

For hardwood flooring, I only use 15‑ga finish nails for trim and transitions—not as a primary floor fastener. For exterior trim or fencing, switch to the appropriate exterior fastener.

Value and pack size

A 2,500‑count box is a sensible buy if you’re trimming multiple rooms or a small home. You’ll burn through more than you think on a full base and casing package, and it’s nice not to ration strips. While prices fluctuate, these typically land in the “worth it” bracket for pro and serious DIY use—more consistent than bargain‑bin nails and not meaningfully more expensive than other reputable brands.

There’s no real “warranty” to speak of, which is typical for consumables. What matters is consistency, and these deliver: straight shanks, clean tips, and strips that don’t crumble in the magazine.

Limitations and alternatives

• Interior only: The galvanization here is not for outdoor or wet environments. For exterior trim or pressure‑treated, use hot‑dip galvanized or stainless steels.
• Hole size: If your finish standard demands the tiniest possible holes, step down to 18‑ga brads where holding power allows.
• Length: 2 inches is versatile, but if you regularly fasten thicker profiles or need to punch through multiple layers and still bury deep into framing, keep some 2‑1/2‑inch 15‑ga nails on hand.

Bottom line

These DeWalt 15‑gauge angled nails are exactly what I want in a daily‑use interior fastener: consistent strips, clean feeding, reliable depth of drive, and solid holding power for thick trim and jamb work. They play nicely with DA‑style nailers across brands and don’t leave a gummy mess in the nosepiece after a long day.

Recommendation: I recommend these for interior trim carpentry with any DA‑style 15‑ga angled nailer. They’re dependable, widely compatible, and the 2‑inch length covers most base, casing, and jamb tasks. Just be mindful of their interior‑only galvanization—if your job crosses into exterior or wet conditions, choose an exterior‑rated galvanized or stainless alternative in the same DA format.