Power tools · owner-verdict comparison

Milwaukee 2746-20 vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge Impact Driver: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 74% of 19 Milwaukee 2746-20 owners recommend it, vs 72% of 125 for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge Impact Driver.

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 Surge Impact Driver

72%of 125 owners recommend

72% recommend · 10% neutral · 18% don't

Owners praise

Dramatically quieter than a standard impact, thanks to the hydraulic drive
Smooth with great trigger control and precision for driving screws
Plenty of power for most small-to-medium fastening and everyday jobs

Owners complain about

Less peak torque than a standard FUEL impact, not ideal for heavy structural screws or big lags
Some owners hit reliability issues like gearbox failures or oil leaks

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 Surge Impact Driver if

✓Tradespeople working in occupied buildings who need quiet operation
✓Electricians and cabinet installers driving screws all day
✓Users bothered by noise and hand vibration from standard impacts
✓Anyone driving small-to-medium fasteners smoothly and controllably

Skip it if

Breaking loose seized or stuck fasteners
Driving large lags and structural fasteners regularly

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 Surge Impact Driver owners say

“you need an impact driver that accepts the 1/4 hex bits. You’ll be able to adapt it for sockets as well. I recommend the Milwaukee Fuel Surge.”
— ElekChiken on Reddit

“Milwaukee M18 Fuel Surge you have my heart”
— BeastlyIguana on Reddit

“I really don't like that it cuts out so quickly.”
— @Skwish6952 on YouTube

Milwaukee 2746-20 vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge Impact Driver: frequently asked questions

Is the Milwaukee 2746-20 or the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge Impact Driver better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 74% of 19 Milwaukee 2746-20 owners recommend it, vs 72% of 125 for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge Impact Driver.

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 Surge Impact Driver?

Owners point the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge Impact Driver at tradespeople working in occupied buildings who need quiet operation, and electricians and cabinet installers driving screws all day.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Milwaukee 2746-20 is misfires needing warranty repair. For the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge Impact Driver, it's less peak torque than a standard FUEL impact, not ideal for heavy structural screws or big lags.