Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill and Drill Driver Receive Upgrades For Gen 4 Edition
When I first tested the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill it impressed me with its power and balance. In its second edition, it got stronger. In its third, it got more compact. Now, the 4th generation of this impressive drilling and driving tool not only gains more power but also adds new features. Between this and the recent upgrade in battery technology, Milwaukee has upgraded this tool with some details worth talking about.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Hammer Drill Performance
Milwaukee has made some upgrades under the hood of its flagship hammer drill. It’s still a 2-speed system, but low gear runs up to 500 RPM and high gear tops out at 2100 RPM. The Gen 4 hammer drill also boosts the torque to a monstrous 1400 in-lbs. That’s 200 more in-lbs from the Gen 3 model.
If you’re going with the hammer drill version, the hammering rate is 33,000 BPM (a 1,000 BPM upgrade).
Measured Head-to-Head Testing Results
We tested the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 4th-generation hammer drill against over a dozen of its closest peers. After we added up the scores, the Milwaukee 2904 ended up as our best cordless drill overall. That’s high praise given it was up against the likes of Flex, Makita, DeWalt FlexVolt, Hilti, and others.
What’s so odd about Milwaukee’s latest hammer drill has to be the fact that it’s not flawless. In fact, it often got beat by one or two other models in various drill, driving, or torque tests. However, it scored so consistently high in just about everything that it handily won our best overall designation. Check out the testing results below:
| 5.0Ah Battery (vs Primary Batteries Only) | 6.0Ah High Output Battery (vs Primary and Advanced Batteries) | |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Torque | 539 in-lbs (2nd place) | 593 in-lbs (2nd place) |
| Spade Bit | 3.36 sec (5th place) | 2.62 sec (3rd place) |
| Self-Feed Bit | 2.59 sec (3rd place) | 2.21 sec (3rd place) |
| Concrete Bit | 3.74 sec (3rd place) | 3.38 sec (4th place) |
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill Gen 4 vs Gen 3 Compared
Here’s a visual of how the Milwaukee 2904-20 Gen 4 hammer drill compares to the 2804-20 Gen 3 model:
| Gen 4 (2904) | Gen 3 (2804) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Speed | 500 RPM | 550 RPM | -50 RPM in Low |
| High Speed | 2100 RPM | 2000 RPM | +100 RPM in High |
| Hammering Rate | 33,000 BPM | 32,000 BPM | +1,000 BPM |
| Max Torque | 1400 in-lbs | 1200 in-lbs | +200 in-lbs |
| Kickback Control | AutoStop Mode | None | NEW! |
| Length | 6.9 inches | 6.9 inches | – – |
| Bare Weight | 3.3 pounds | 3.2 pounds | + .1 pounds |
| Bare Tool Price | $199 | discontinued | N/A |
The combination of higher speed, BPM, and torque produces a noticeable difference in drilling speed and power. That holds true in both wood and concrete for the hammer drill. Additionally, there’s an increase in the thermal range of the motor, allowing it to do more high-demand work before reaching its protective shutdown temperature.
Editor’s Note: Check out our video review of the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Gen 3 vs Gen 4 Hammer Drill here:
AutoStop – A New Safety Feature
When you’re drilling near the top of the tool’s range, a new feature for Milwaukee comes into play: AutoStop mode. At first glance, this might seem like another kickback control technology, and to an extent, it is.
The difference is that Milwaukee’s Autostop digs deeper. Its algorithm helps reduce the number of unnecessary shutdowns that lower your productivity while still reducing the risk of injury in true over-rotation bind-ups. According to Milwaukee’s data, it has the smallest amount of tool travel before stopping compared to other drills with a kickback control feature.
What’s also unusual is that you can turn AutoStop mode on and off. The tool ships with the mode on. If you want to turn it off, push the forward/reverse control switch to the center position and pull the trigger 5 times. The AutoStop light turns on and then dims until it is off. That’s your indicator that you’ve successfully turned the mode off.
To turn it back on, just reverse the process. The only difference is the AutoStop light will flash to let you know it’s engaged again.
The mode defaults to whatever state it was in last, even if you remove the battery.
Recommended Maximum Capacities
- Spade Bit (Wood): 1 1/2 inches
- Auger Bit (Wood): 1 1/2 inches
- Hole Saw (Wood): 3 1/2 inches
- Self-Feed Bit (Wood): 2 9/16 inches
- Screw Diameter (Wood): 5/8 inches
- Twist Bit (Metal): 1/2 inches
- Twist Bit (Masonry): 1/2 inches (hammer drill only)
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Hammer Drill Design
Size and Weight
On the surface, there’s not much that looks different about these tools. Both the drill driver and hammer drill maintain the 6.9-inch length of the previous editions. There’s only a slight increase in weight from 3.2 pounds up to 3.3 pounds. With a 5.0Ah battery, you’re looking at about 4.9 pounds total.
Milwaukee One-Key Models
As expected, you also have Milwaukee One-Key options for either the drill driver or hammer drill. These currently come with bare tool options only, though you can get a fourth-generation two-tool kit with One-Key versions of these tools. The Milwaukee One-Key Gen 4 hammer drill comes as model 2906-20.
Additional Highlights
- All-metal chuck
- Mechanical clutch
- Brushless motor
- Includes side handle
- LED light
- All-metal belt clip
- Compatible with all Milwaukee M18 batteries
Milwaukee 2904 M18 Fuel Cordless Hammer Drill Price
Both the drill driver and hammer drill kits come with two 5.0Ah batteries and a charger. The Milwaukee 2903-22 drill driver kit is $289 and the 2904-22 kit is $299. As bare tools, the 2903-20 drill driver is $189 and the 2904-20 hammer drill is $199.
Also, there will be a Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill and Impact Driver combo kit (model 3697-22) that includes the Gen 4 hammer drill and Gen 4 impact driver.
Milwaukee 2906 M18 Fuel Hammer Drill w/ One-Key Price
As expected, you also have Milwaukee One-Key options for either the drill driver or hammer drill. These currently come with bare tool options only, though you can get a fourth-generation two-tool kit with One-Key versions of these tools. The Milwaukee One-Key Gen 4 hammer drill comes as model 2906-20.
Like the standard tools, the M18 Fuel hammer drill with Milwaukee One-Key and the One-Key drill are sold as bare tools. The Milwaukee 2905-20 drill driver runs $239 and the 2906-20 hammer drill version costs $249. With only $10 separating the two, I can’t imagine too many will opt for the drill driver.
Milwaukee Tool also has their M18 Fuel Hammer Drill and Impact Driver with One-Key combo kit (model 3696-22) that includes the Gen 4 hammer drill and Gen 4 impact driver with One-Key for $449.
Final Thoughts
The 2904 provides very quick drilling and about as much low-speed torque as you can hope for in a handheld drill. Add in the value, ergonomics, size, and the fact it consistently placed in the top 3–5 positions—and you can see why it was Pro Tool Reviews’ #1 pick for the best cordless drill. You can find a cheaper drill. You can find a more powerful drill. I doubt, however, that you can find anything that delivers the power-to-weight ratio of the 2904—especially for the money. Hopefully, Milwaukee takes its sweet time upgrading to the 5th-generation hammer drill…my pocketbook can’t take the strain right now!
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Hammer Drill Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2904-20, 2906-20
- Power Source: Milwaukee M18 battery
- No-Load Speed: 0–500 / 0–2100 RPM
- Maximum Torque: 1400 in-lbs
- Maximum Hammer Rate: 33,000 BPM
- Chuck: 1/2-inch
- One-Key support (2906-20)
- Length: 6.9 inches
- Weight: 3.3 pounds bare
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Drill Driver Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2903-20, 2905-20
- Power Source: Milwaukee M18 battery
- No-Load Speed: 0–500 / 0–2100 RPM
- Maximum Torque: 1400 in-lbs
- Chuck: 1/2-inch
- One-Key support (2905-20)
- Length: 6.9 inches
- Weight: 3.3 pounds bare
