Ryobi 18V Brushless 15-Gauge Angled Finish Nailer Review PBL375B - Pro Tool Reviews

Oct 19, 2024

Back in 2016, we reviewed Ryobi’s first generation 18V 15-gauge Angled Finish Nailer (P330), and I have to admit, it was an impressive step forward for the brand. It offered confident firing power and allowed you to ditch the compressor and hoses for good! Now, 8 years later, I’m diving into the brand new Ryobi 18V Brushless 15-gauge Angled Finish Nailer—featuring improved power, performance, and ergonomics.

At its heart, the Ryobi PBL375 features a brushless motor that is capable of firing around three nails per second with zero-ramp up. With a 4.0Ah High Performance battery, Ryobi tells us to expect around 1,500 nails per charge, giving you true all-day runtime. As far as nails are concerned, this nailer accepts fasteners ranging from 1-1/4 inches, up to 2-1/2 inches.

A big part of my testing process for nailers is to fire them into an LVL beam, as well as our hardwood Oak test block. This is to determine if they can successfully drive a fastener in denser material, and even though LVL isn’t exactly in this nailer’s wheelhouse, it reveals strengths and weaknesses.

After firing a series of 2-1/2 inch fasteners into both materials, it’s abundantly clear that Ryobi means business. It fully sank the nails in both firing modes, and left very little doubt in our minds. This confident firing power is thanks to Ryobi’s Airstrike Technology, which delivers pneumatic power without the noise, hoses, and compressors that come along with it.

No nailer is perfect, and while I didn’t experience any jams during my testing, it’s only a matter of time for the Ryobi 15-Gauge Angled Finish Nailer. When that happens, the access door on top is easy to open by flipping the latch release forward, exposing the firing chamber. For added safety, be sure to remove the battery and nails first to prevent potential injury.

As you would expect, this nailer has a selectable mode switch that allows for either contact actuation or single sequential driving. You’re not likely to bump fire at a crazy rate with a finish nailer, but I was able to consistently drive 2 1/2-inch nails at roughly a 1/2-second interval without an issue. It’s possible to shoot faster than that, but it’s tough to get good results no matter what nailer you’re using.

I’m glad to see that Ryobi redesigned the nose of this nailer. It’s much slimmer than the P330, and this allows you to fire your nails much more accurately than before. This is a big deal when you’re installing cabinets, trim, or door casing, where hitting your mark the first time is paramount.

The Ryobi PBL375 weighs in at 6.1 pounds as a bare tool, 7.56 pounds with a Ryobi 18V Edge 4.0Ah battery, and measure 13-1/2 inches from tip to tail. This is pretty lightweight for a cordless nailer, which has traditionally been a pain point when compared to the pneumatic variety.

Looking back at our review of the P330, there were a lot of positives concerning ergonomics. However, I have to say that Ryobi stepped up their game with the PBL375. The rubber overmold grip features large grooves to channel away sweat, and the front of the grip hand a finger-style mold to improve your grip and control. This style of grip is something we often find on One+ HP products, and I must say, it’s a welcomed addition.

The overall feel of this cordless nailer is really quite pleasant. It’s well-balanced and doesn’t feel too top or bottom heavy. Admittedly, there is a slight forward lean, but that’s to be expected with most nailers in this class.

The tool-free depth adjustment is a pretty standard thumb-wheel style. This isn’t anything new to the world of nailers, but it’s a welcomed feature!

The Ryobi 18V PBL375 retails for $279 as a bare tool and comes with a 3-year warranty. As of right now, there are no kit options available, however, it is fully compatible with all Ryobi 18V batteries.

The big deal here is that Ryobi was able to make vast improvements on an already impressive tool. The Ryobi 18V Brushless 15-gauge Angled Finish Nailer displayed confident driving power in both hard and soft woods, and its lightweight design was a welcomed bonus. Based on my experience, this is a full-featured Pro-grade tool that I would easily recommend to anyone who’s ready to ditch the air hose and compressor.