Q: I’m interested in buying a framing nail gun and wondered what the pros and cons were for Clipped-Head vs. Round-Head. I’ll be framing a basement, a deck and possibly a garage.
A: First and foremost, check your local building codes. Some codes specify round-head only. Also, check what types of nails are readily available in your area. Manufacturers generally report that with properly designed nails, there’s no difference in holding strength between round-head and clipped-head. Keep in mind that clipped nails can be tricky to pull if you have a misfire. You can’t really go wrong with a round-head nailer.