Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2903 Drill/Driver vs Bosch PROFACTOR GSR18V-1330C Drill/Driver
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Quick take: The Bosch PROFACTOR GSR18V-1330C Drill/Driver costs $20 less bare; the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2903 Drill/Driver is lighter (3.2 vs 4.6 lbs); they live on different battery platforms (Milwaukee M18 vs Bosch 18V), so the deciding factor is usually which batteries you already own.
| Spec | Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2903 Drill/Driver | Bosch PROFACTOR GSR18V-1330C Drill/Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Price (bare tool) | $219 | $199 |
| Kit Price | $319 | — |
| Rating | 4.7★ (257) | — |
| Category | Drill/Driver | Drill/Driver |
| Battery Platform | Milwaukee M18 | Bosch 18V |
| Voltage | 18V | 18V |
| Motor | Brushless | Brushless |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs (bare) | 4.6 lbs (bare) |
| Released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Max Torque | 1,400 in-lbs | 1,330 in-lbs |
| Top Speed | 2,100 RPM | 2,200 RPM |
| Chuck | 1/2 in all-metal ratcheting, carbide jaws | 1/2 in all-metal keyless |
| Speeds | 2 | 2 |
| Clutch Settings | 16 | 25 |
| Head Length | 6.88 in | 8 in |
Pros & cons
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2903 Drill/Driver
- ✓Powers 2-9/16 in self-feed bits through dense framing lumber, work that used to need a corded hole hawg or a big two-hander.
- ✓At 6.88 in it is short enough to fit between 16-inch-on-center studs and joists with a bit chucked.
- ✓AutoStop cuts the motor when a big bit binds, so the handle doesn't whip around into your wrist.
- ✓The mechanical clutch slips at the same point every time, which owners of the Gen 3's electronic clutch say they missed.
- ✓Reworked heatsinks and venting let it take long hole-saw sessions without the thermal cutouts earlier generations hit.
- ✓Holds up in shared shop fleets. Owners who hand it to careless crews say it keeps running after years of drops and abuse.
- ✓The side handle comes in the box, which it needs for large bits at 1,400 in-lbs.
- ✗At 3.2 lbs bare it isn't light, and over four pounds with a pack it tires the shoulder overhead.
- ✗Bit slippage under heavy load is a recurring owner complaint, and long-time users say the jaws eventually stop gripping very small bits.
- ✗It runs louder and higher-pitched than the Gen 3 it replaced.
- ✗The LED shuts off after about 10 seconds unless you hold the trigger, which gets old when you're marking holes in a dark cavity.
- ✗At about $219 bare it is roughly $40 more than the DeWalt DCD801 and Makita XFD14, and the side handle and AutoStop account for part of that gap.
- ✗There's no hammer mode, and the 2904 hammer drill usually costs only a little more bare. Unless you want the slightly lighter tool, the 2904 is the more versatile buy.
Bosch PROFACTOR GSR18V-1330C Drill/Driver
- ✓1,330 in-lbs matches the hammer-drill twin, so you give up nothing on wood and steel by skipping the hammer mechanism.
- ✓KickBack Control senses a sudden rotation in a bind-up and kills the motor, which matters on a drill this strong with a 4-inch self-feed bit.
- ✓Electronic Angle Detection lets you lock a target angle and get light feedback while drilling, useful for plumb holes through top plates and joists.
- ✓Two-speed all-metal gearbox with 0-2,200 RPM on high covers small twist bits as well as low-speed hole saws.
- ✓Connectivity slot takes the GCY42 module so clutch response and kickback sensitivity can be tuned from the Bosch Toolbox app.
- ✓Runs on any AMPShare 18V pack, so batteries cross over to Fein, Rothenberger and other AMPShare brands.
- ✗4.6 lbs bare is heavy for a drill/driver, and with a CORE18V 8.0Ah pack it becomes a two-hand tool.
- ✗At 8 inches long it will not fit between studs or joists the way compact drills do.
- ✗The app features need the GCY42 module, which is sold separately.
- ✗Street price runs near $200 bare, well above Ridgid's or Craftsman's drill/drivers.
- ✗PROFACTOR performance is rated with CORE18V PROFACTOR packs, so pairing it with older compact batteries costs output.