Milwaukee
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2904 Hammer Drill
The 2904 is Milwaukee's Gen 4 M18 Fuel flagship hammer drill, bumping torque 17% over the Gen 3 2804 to 1,400 in-lbs while staying just 6.9 in long and 3.3 lbs bare. It was the first non-One-Key Milwaukee drill with AutoStop kickback control, and it returned to a mechanical clutch with improved motor cooling. Pro Tool Reviews named it best cordless drill overall in its head-to-head against Flex, DeWalt, Makita, and Hilti.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Won Pro Tool Reviews' best-overall cordless drill head-to-head by consistently placing top 3-5 in every wood, concrete, and torque test against Flex, DeWalt FlexVolt, Makita, and Hilti.
- ✓Class-leading power-to-weight ratio - Home Depot reviewers note it delivers 1,400 in-lbs from a tool that is lighter than similarly powerful hammer drills at 3.3 lbs bare.
- ✓The 6.9 in head length is among the most compact in its class, and owners love how it fits between studs and into cabinets.
- ✓AutoStop kickback control earns praise from owners for reliably cutting power in bind-ups without false triggering during normal use.
- ✓Masonry performance stands out - testers found it outdrilled the competition in concrete and Home Depot reviewers echo how easily it hammers through block and brick.
- ✓Milwaukee's return to a mechanical clutch on Gen 4 is praised for more consistent, predictable torque delivery than the Gen 3 electronic clutch.
- ✓A redesigned heatsink and added motor ventilation let it sustain hard drilling; the platform carries a 5-year tool warranty.
- ✓Backward compatible with every M18 battery since 2008, so owners can run it on packs they already own.
Cons
- ✗Multiple ToolGuyd commenters reported chuck problems, with bits slipping or failing to lock properly under load.
- ✗Owners say Gen 4 runs noticeably louder and at a higher pitch than the 2804 it replaced, with some reporting excessive gear noise.
- ✗Only a 2-speed gearbox - low gear tops out at 500 RPM, so it lacks the mid-range gear DeWalt's 3-speed flagship offers.
- ✗A Home Depot reviewer noted the tool gets quite hot when drilling very dense masonry for extended periods.
- ✗Pro Tool Reviews found heavy High Output batteries (8.0-12.0Ah) make it top-heavy and compromise the otherwise excellent balance.
- ✗The $229 bare-tool list price at Home Depot is premium; getting it cheap means waiting for holiday or Slickdeals promos.
- ✗The 2904-22 kit ships with standard XC5.0 batteries rather than the High Output packs that maximize the motor's performance.
- ✗No One-Key inventory tracking on this model - Milwaukee reserves that for the pricier 2906.
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