Power tools · owner-verdict comparison

Milwaukee 2746-20 vs Milwaukee 2997-22: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Milwaukee 2997-22: 84% of 105 owners recommend it, vs 74% of 19 for the Milwaukee 2746-20.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Milwaukee 2746-20

74%of 19 owners recommend
74% recommend · 5% neutral · 21% don't
Owners praise
  • Reliable, jam-free nailing
  • Cordless, no compressor or fuel cells
  • Worth the money
Owners complain about
  • Misfires needing warranty repair
  • Heavier than air nailers
Full owner report →

Milwaukee 2997-22

84%of 105 owners recommend
84% recommend · 14% neutral · 2% don't
Owners praise
  • Exceptional durability, owners report these tools still running strong after 8, 10, even 15 years of regular use, including daily abuse
  • Excellent value for DIY and homeowner use, described repeatedly as more than enough tool for the price of the kit
  • Holds up to light trade and even full professional/industrial use despite being the non-Fuel line
Owners complain about
  • The bundled flashlight is considered the weakest/most useless item in the kit and goes largely unused
  • Batteries drain quickly or lose punch over time, the angle grinder is called a 'battery hog' and older tools feel like they've lost their get-up-and-go
  • A handful of individual tools eventually failed or smoked out, an impact driver or two, a circular saw, and one drill on first use
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Milwaukee 2746-20 if
  • ✓Trim carpenters wanting cordless, compressor-free nailing
  • ✓Daily jobsite use on trim and jamb work
  • ✓DIYers upgrading from pneumatic or fuel-cell nailers
Skip it if
  • Those needing the lightest possible nailer
  • Budget shoppers deterred by the higher price
Get the Milwaukee 2997-22 if
  • ✓Homeowners/DIYers wanting a one-and-done starter kit for house projects
  • ✓Light-trade pros (HVAC, plumbing, handyman) needing durable tools without FUEL pricing
  • ✓Buyers who abuse tools daily and still expect years of service on a budget
  • ✓Anyone building a battery ecosystem who plans to add FUEL tools later
Skip it if
  • Commercial/industrial users running tools 8+ hours a day, every day
  • Buyers wanting the angle grinder or included flashlight for real work

What Milwaukee 2746-20 owners say

“The gun performed fantastically throughout the entire project with no jams of misfires.”
— @ericcaira7338 on YouTube
“Not one issue with this gun. Love it worth every penny.”
— @scottmoore7417 on YouTube
“Mine does it too. But if I put a shim under the red safety so it pushes it in farther it fires.”
— ExtraYogurtcloset771 on Reddit

What Milwaukee 2997-22 owners say

“These are great. I have both lines in my job as a millwright for concrete plant assembly and they work side by side everyday. Going strong for 2 years now.”
— Nimbian-highpriest on Reddit
“Been using base model brushed drill at least once a week for the better part of a decade now. Keep saying I’ll get fuel when it stops working but it just won’t quit.”
— yemoodle on Reddit
“I was very disappointed with the non-FUEL line. Let the smoke out of the drill the first time we used it.”
— Cody0303 on Reddit

Milwaukee 2746-20 vs Milwaukee 2997-22: frequently asked questions

Is the Milwaukee 2746-20 or the Milwaukee 2997-22 better?

Real owners lean toward the Milwaukee 2997-22: 84% of 105 owners recommend it, vs 74% of 19 for the Milwaukee 2746-20.

Who should get the Milwaukee 2746-20?

Owners point the Milwaukee 2746-20 at trim carpenters wanting cordless, compressor-free nailing, and daily jobsite use on trim and jamb work.

Who should get the Milwaukee 2997-22?

Owners point the Milwaukee 2997-22 at homeowners/DIYers wanting a one-and-done starter kit for house projects, and light-trade pros (HVAC, plumbing, handyman) needing durable tools without FUEL pricing.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Milwaukee 2746-20 is misfires needing warranty repair. For the Milwaukee 2997-22, it's the bundled flashlight is considered the weakest/most useless item in the kit and goes largely unused.