Power tools · owner-verdict comparison

Milwaukee 2746-20 vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Milwaukee 2746-20: 74% of 19 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 56 for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904.

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 M18 FUEL Drill 2904

54%of 56 owners recommend

54% recommend · 37% neutral · 9% don't

Owners praise

Massive power for heavy-duty work, owners reach for the M18 specifically for concrete, tapcons, framing headers, and big fence/deck jobs, often describing it as a 'beast' with roughly 3x the power of the M12
Do-it-all versatility, if you only buy one Milwaukee drill, owners say the M18 covers everything from home repairs to daily contractor use
Auto-stop/kickback protection on the hammer drill shuts the tool off before it wrenches your wrist, which owners repeatedly call out as a standout safety feature

Owners complain about

Heavy and bulky compared to the M12, many owners who have both say the M18 sits unused in the truck 90% of the time and they default to the lighter, more ergonomic M12 for daily tasks
Chuck and trigger reliability complaints, particularly on the hammer drill, reports of chucks coming loose and triggers/hammer mode intermittently failing to engage

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 M18 FUEL Drill 2904 if

✓Contractors drilling concrete, thick steel, or large holes daily
✓Framers and deck builders driving thousands of screws or lags
✓Anyone who wants one heavy-duty system to cover both home and jobsite work
✓Users who value the auto-stop safety feature when hammer drilling or driving lags

Skip it if

Buyers wanting a light, everyday-carry drill (M12 owners say it stays in the truck)
Occasional DIYers who rarely need extra power and prioritize weight over torque

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 M18 FUEL Drill 2904 owners say

“The best use i had for the autostop was driving 5/16 lags. It would just touch when they snugged down and shut the drill down. No broken anything or wrists”
— DiarrheaXplosion on Reddit

“My son has the M18 Fuel drill and driver set. Those are beasts.”
— NYOB4321 on Reddit

“So much so that my rotary hammer drill will only work every 2/3 depressions. Very frustrating.”
— thatsmejp on Reddit

Milwaukee 2746-20 vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904: frequently asked questions

Is the Milwaukee 2746-20 or the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 better?

Real owners lean toward the Milwaukee 2746-20: 74% of 19 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 56 for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904.

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 M18 FUEL Drill 2904?

Owners point the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 at contractors drilling concrete, thick steel, or large holes daily, and framers and deck builders driving thousands of screws or lags.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Milwaukee 2746-20 is misfires needing warranty repair. For the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904, it's heavy and bulky compared to the M12, many owners who have both say the M18 sits unused in the truck 90% of the time and they default to the lighter, more ergonomic M12 for daily tasks.