Pistol-Grip Drills Reviews

My first DeWalt tool and I've been completely satisfied. Plenty of power and torque. Two-way level is very useful. Hand tightened chuck keeps bits locked in place without slippage (which was a concern of mine prior to purchase). Case is nice. Excellent value when compared to others. Will look for DeWalt again for my next tool purchase.

This is a great, reasonably priced drill that has plenty of power. It is not too heavy and the keyless chuck is great. This drill will satisfy most peoples' needs. I use a cordless drill most of the time and get this drill out for more demanding jobs. However, I have since purchased a 1/2 inch chuck hammer drill for even bigger jobs and drilling in concrete. In retrospect, I could have skipped buying the DeWalt, but it is still a great drill.

put down over 500 sq ft of subfloor in one day with this drill - got a little warm at times, but certainly kept right up.

It's sooo smooth. When you get yours out of the box, plug it in and gun it up for the first time, you WILL grin. I think it's impossible not too. So smooth. And there's this high-pitched whine of the gears. Know why? They're all metal - not plastic. One other reviewer pointed out that the 8 amp version is over-powered. He's right. This baby only burns 5.5 amps but you better hold on! I only wrote this review to add my kudos, however redundant. You can stop shopping around, you found THE ONE! It's so smooth!

I was getting no where with a 1" spade bit in my cordless drill, and I needed to drill a lot of holes to run the wiring in my basement. So I tried a self-boring bit, and my cordless drill quickly started smoking. That's when I went and got this drill. It blasts through studs effortlessly with a 1-1/8" self-boring bit. This thing saved me hours of tedious drilling.

I have 7 1/2 in drills, including a Milwaukee 299, a Dewalt, and a Haitachi. This sets the standard. It is so smooth, it is a joy to use.

Over the past 8 years, I have worn out four different manufacturers' 12 volt drills. This panasonic is hands down better than any of the competition. The balance and performance of the drill is pure QUALITY. The chuck says it all. I truly enjoy using this drill. All of my team mates at Habitat-for-Humanity beg to use it.

You will not be disappointed with this drill motor. It is every thing the reviews say it is and then some. I have other brands, the Panasonic has better balance, unexpected power and it's a great bargin. In the future I will buy another Panasonic.

I absolutely love this driver. It has the best balance of all the drivers I've owned and tried and am very impressed with the quality of workmanship.

First of all I want to say that I am a around the house handy man and not a pro but I know quality when I see it and I have had a very decent amount of experience with power tools.

I am guilty of owning a Craftsmen 3/8 inch, 1/3 horse power, 3 amp, corded drill "I got it because it was on sale for close to half price,I paid $20 for it.
When ever I tried to use it as a screwdriver with its so called variable speed trigger,it would almost always rotate to fast which would result in it stripping the screw heads.

Most times when I tried to use it for tightening nuts or drilling metal it would stall,so to make a long story short it was under powered and the variable speed control was almost uncontrollable !! Oh well you live and you learn !!!

So it was time for me to get a "high quality drill".
I now wanted a drill that would have plenty of power and have a "very controllable" variable control trigger and most of all I wanted this drill to be able to last me the rest of my life and I wanted it to be the best darn drill money could buy and at a reasonable price,now is that asking for to much ?

So I went on the net and started reading a ton of reviews,I read up on cordless drills first but I was turned off by their overall price along with the "over priced batteries they use",and lets also remember their not the most powerful drills you can buy,they simply cannot supply you with the torque a corded drill can,and when you push a cordless drill it puts a tremendous strain on the battery and in return the same battery that might have held its charge for hours using it for light duty will now lose it's charge in a matter of minutes when you use it for heavy duty use.

I have heard of some of the best batteries losing their charge within 3 minutes after using the cordless drill to do a really tough job.

I still think cordless would be nice for light duty jobs as a second drill if you can afford one!

So after reading mega reviews on the net, I was still having a little trouble trying to narrow it down to one drill,but the Milwaukee 0300-20 and the "Milwaukee 0302-20 a keyless version of the 0300-20" caught my eye with it's 8 amp motor and with the claim that it has the best power-to-weight ratio in its class.
All I could think was yum yum,MASSIVE POWER and TORQUE galore, and lets not forget that it's made by Milwaukee!!!!

Now I'm thinking I've got to have this drill no matter what, so I called a local tool store and asked if they had the 0300-20 and they said yes,so out of curiosity I asked them if they felt that the 0300-20 was the best in it's class and to my surprise he burst my bubble and told me no, and he said that the
Milwaukee 0234-6 Was The Best In It's Class !!!

Man I was so surprised at what he had said,and the man that I talked to was the owner of that shop, so I'm thinking to myself he must not know what he's talking about,I knew a little something about the 0234-6, I knew that it had a 5.5 amp motor and that it was a very old model, and I also knew that the 0300-20 was a much newer model with an "8 amp motor" and they cost around the same,so I'm thinking to myself "Duh" that sounds like a no brainer to me...old vs new, 5.5 amps vs 8 amps,come on, give me a break!

I was also thinking to myself do the math Mr. Tool shop owner! So I got off of the phone with him and called another local tool shop and talked to the boss who's name was Mike and asked him the same set of questions and low and behold he gave me pretty much the same answer which was the 0234-6 is a much better drill then the 0300-20,then Mike went on and told me that the 0234-6 is the best drill on earth bar none !!!

He said that he has had his 0234-6 for 15 years and he used it as a pro and in 15 years it never failed him once,and it never needed any repairs !

Now I'm thinking I must be in the Twilight Zone and I'm also thinking does Mike not know that the 0300-20 has 8 amps and the 0234-6 only has 5.5 amps and the 0300-20 is a much newer model.

I need to also tell you that some people think the 0300-20 and the 0302-20 are just like the 0234-6 but only with more power......WRONG !!!!

I even called Milwaukee tools and talked to a rep and he told me the 0300-20 was just an updated and more powerful version of the 0234-6...."I found out later that the rep Was WRONG"!!!

After thinking for awhile I decided to get the 0300-20 over the Keyless 0302-20 for these reasons...

Keyed vs. Keyless Chucks
Keyed chucks are tightened and loosened with a small hand tool, achieving a tighter and more secure lock on the drill bit than keyless chucks. They also provide greater torque for when you need extra power. On the other hand, keyless chucks require you to manually turn the chuck, making for quick and easy bit changes.
* Keyed chucks are especially advantageous when removing screws
* For those who may be prone to losing a key, a keyless chuck would be a sound selection !

So today I went to Lowes and had already decided in my mind that I was going to buy the more powerful 0300-20, which is supposed to be "the so called newer version of the 0234-6".

When I got to Lowes, their they both where side by side the 0234-6 and the all powerful 8 amp 0300-20,but wait just a minute the 0300-20 does not have the same rock solid sturdy side handle that is screwed into the metal frame of the 0234-6, so when I held the 0300-20 in my hands and put a lot of pressure on the side handle it flexed and I said to myself "Oh No" I don't like this handle and most of all I hate the way that it is attached to the drill,it is attached by a metal band instead of being screwed into the metal frame,like they did with the 0234-6!I think the handle on the 0300-20 is attached in a very cheap,tackie and not very strong manner!!!

So the side handle on the 0300-20 was almost a deal breaker for me,I could not break the handle ,but I sure did make it flex more then I think it should have!

Now on the other hand I tried to make the 0234-6 side handle flex or bend, no such luck it was rock steady , and the entire 0234-6 is built like a tank and I'm not kidding.

Next I tried out the trigger on the 0300-20 and the action of the trigger was not smooth at all, it was very choppy at best,let me tell you their is no way on earth for you to use a drill as a screwdriver if you don't have smooth trigger action.

Plus the trigger was a short one or two finger trigger,unlike the long and Luxurious trigger on the 0234-6!!!

I will go one step further and say I feel that it is potentially dangerous to try and use a super powerful drill when its side handle is not very steady and when its variable speed control trigger is choppy.

You cannot control the speed with a choppy trigger...so that was the deal breaker for me, a bad handle and a choppy trigger !!!!

Next I tried the trigger action on the 0234-6 and it was super smooth, I was truly impressed with the 0234-6 and very disappointed with the 0300-20.

At this point it was obvious to me that Milwaukee Cut Some Corners When They Made The 0300-20 and the 0302-20,and here's 3 prime examples !!!!!

1.The poorly attached handle

2.The short and "choppy action" trigger

3.Plus,It does not have the Removable brush cartridge,like the 0234-6 has!!!!

How else do you think Milwaukee could sell an 8 amp drill for the same price of a 5.5 amp !!!!
Do the math please,and think about which one you want quality or
quantity!!!!

Well I chose quality over quantity so needless to say I took the 0234-6 home with me.
When I tried it out, I was so thrilled and shocked by the super high quality of this work of art !!! The speed control when using the trigger was superb ,you can use this drill as a super screwdriver any day of the week, I could get it to spin at the slowest speed imaginable,and when I pulled the trigger in all the way this high quality drill spun with such smoothness and power that I found myself laughing out loud and thinking to myself this drill is a master piece.

Speaking of power, the 0234-6 has a whole ton of power and I can't ever imagine it stalling on me or anyone else for that matter"Just read all the write ups on it"!!!

Don't be fooled by the other drills that have 8 and 9 amps, to many of the high amp monsters have a short life span and none of them not a single one of them can hang with the 0234-6 as far as quality and durability is concerned.

So as far as the 0300-20 vs 0234-6 goes
their really is no challenge here, the 0234-6 is the King of all drills and the 0300-20 and the 0302-20 are no competition what so ever, the poor trigger action and the bad handle on these 2 super high powered drills should make them some hard to control monsters,and lets not forget that they don't have the removable brush cartridge,like the 0234-6 has!!!!


Before I did my homework I was impressed with the larger number of amps the 0300-20 has, "8 amps sounded so much better then 5.5 amps, but now I know a lot better!!!

Be smart and consider the overall picture when buying anything!!

Quality is far more important then pure power alone, and let the truth be known, you could hurt yourself badly with a very powerful tool if you don't have complete control over it and use it with extreme caution.

Since the 0300-20 and the 0302-20 have such a poor side handle and a choppy moving trigger,in short that means you could never have full control over the 0300-20 and the 0302-20 and don't you ever try to use it as a screwdriver,I read a write up that claimed that they could not get the 0300-20 to rotate under 300 RPM no matter how hard they tried.... well with it's choppy/non smooth trigger action what else could you expect, and with all that power they have,you better watch out.

I am a very strong and large 300 pound "body builder" and I simply don't trust the 0300-20 and the 0302-20,and I hate the fact that Milwaukee Cut Some Corners When They Made The 0300-20 and the 0302-20!!!!

Now on the other hand, when speaking about the 0234-6,I simply and truly love this drill so much, that I don't even want to get a scratch on it! I might buy a second 0234-6 for use and put this 0234-6 in a picture frame or in my trophy case,because it is truly a mechanical work of art....a real master piece and oh man....what a prize!!!!

This is a very powerful and smooth heavy-duty drill. The trigger is responsive to the touch so that you can control the speed with you finger pressure easily. I have not found anything this drill cannot do. Don't get the cheap drills. This is THE drill.

I bought this drill about 6 months ago, and have been using it to mix 60 lb. bags of thin-set mortar for tile floors. I have abused this drill and it has performed every time. I really should have bought a lower rpm drill for the mortar, but already have it. I will be easing up on the abuse now, as I'm sure that I was being unreasonable to this drill and I'm not determined to break it, but I am still very impressed!

What I Like

1) Ergonomics are excellent. Adjustable t-handle, probably the most solid construction of all the drills.

2) Lots of power for its size.

3) VERY HEAVY DUTY CHUCK. Not keyless, but we're talking strength here, not quick-changing screwdriver bits.

4) This is important, FIVE YEAR WARRANTY!!!!!!

5) I might be wrong, and please, if anyone else out there knows differently please say so, but I believe that Milwaukee has more domestic content than anyone else out there right now, and I'll reward quality made here in the USA.

What I wish were different

1) Didn't come with a case. No big deal though, I'd still buy another.

Summary

It's GREAT! I wish I knew about the 5 year warranty before buying some of the other tools I currently own!!

I use this drill almost every day for carpentry work, from fine to rough, including use on wood, metal and plastic. It has ample torque, even with large bits. This drill has almost entirely replaced my large two-handed 1/2" corded drill. It has excellent speed control and torque at both low and high speeds.

The drill is a bit heavy due to the large battery size, but the batteries go an amazingly long time before needing a recharge. The plastic case is useful, but it is quite large and bulky. The ergonomics are excellent, although I do tend to occaisonally bump the forward/reverse switch into neutral from time to time.

Extremely happy about this purchase. The Drill works great. It shipped on time. It came with (...) a third battery and light, which shipped very early.

This drill throws a powerful punch for being such a small and light drill. I tried several other 18 volt drills and because of their weight and size they were awkward and difficult to use over an extended time period.

I've had this drill for about a month, and used it to drill 3/8" cast iron plate. This drill has plenty of power and torque, it will not bog down. It has a very comfortable fit in your hand, and has a two finger trigger which is very nice. If you need a strong hand drill, you won't disappointed.

One thing to watch out for is the trigger lock, if you don't pay attention you can set it without knowing it, and if the drill bit binds. You can not hold this DRILL, other than that, for the money a excellent drill

We've never owned a really good drill before so this one was such a pleasure to use. It just works. I haven't had reason to use the detatchable driving handle much but it's nice to have. The best part is the electric brake. It has prevented a lot of stripping. This thing is heavy and without a strong hand, the mixture of the powerful torque and something like a hole saw could rip this drill right out of your hand; that's where the electric brake comes in but watch your wrist. So, hold on tight because this is a great drill.

I just got this drill and used it to secure some oak planking on a bridge we are building. The drill had plenty of power to sink 4" lag screws through the 2" thick oak planks (after drilling pilot holes, of course) and into the underlying structure. An older Craftsman drill that another guy had couldn't even get the screws started into the hard oak planks.

The removable side handle is a must in situations where you need a lot of torque. I let someone else try to use this drill and the first time it spun itself right out of their hands. The grip is very comfortable with just a little bit of rubber to help prevent slipping and I really like the two finger trigger. As another reviewer mentioned, the brake works well and the drill stops quickly. Overall an excellent drill, I am very pleased with my purchase.

If you can deal with a cord, you can't do better than this drill. It's very impressive. Amazon is selling them a little high, so check around. I got mine on ebay for $80 brand new.

POWER is the word! I was on a ladder drilling with a 4" hole saw overhead. You can see where this is leading. Use to wimpy 18 volt guns I was 1 handing it when hole saw hooked up and stopped! My new magnum however kept on turning. I hung on for 1 turn and got clobbered on the following 2! I love my drill! It broke my wrist and I still say it's the best! It's the Top-Fueler's of screw guns.

The 302's long fault is that it needs a cord.
I have had this drill for 3 years and I don't use it much.
I use my cordless drills including my powerful Dewalt 988.
Today I used a 3 in holesaw to drill thru a 2 by 4,once I used the Dewalt,It struggled but drilled the hole. Then I used the
Milwalkee 302,it drilled It with ease and didn't even slow down.
I was very impressed.I will use the Milwaukee for the really heavy drilling from now on.I will use the cordless drills for
light to fairly heavy use (about 95% of the time). Why put unneeded strain on a good cordless drill?
If you are looking to buy a strong corded drill,look at Milwaukee first.

I purchased this drill because I wanted a powerful 1/2" drill. I like this drill because its rpm's match its purpose. I originally purchased the same drill with 2 speeds and the hammmerdrill function. I thought it was to big and really didn't like worrying about something else to break. The rpm range is ideal for heavy drilling. I received the drill, contractor bag and a set of spade bits for $99.00. I tried the drill out using a 1 inch spade bit through an 8 inch oak branch. It drilled straight through and never bogged down. I am glad I got the 7.8 amp drill versus the 6.7 amp drill. I really recommend this drill.

This is the toughest drill I have ever used that stands up to everyday use. Be careful to use the handle, that this drill comes with, otherwise the drill will easily overpower you!
Enjoy!

Upon initial examination, the Dewalt DW235G is a very well made 1/2" drill. I purchased it because I needed to drive bits (.75", .875", 1", 1.25" w/ 1/2" shank) that were large enough for toggle bolts fit through. It did what it is supposed to without a hitch. Since then, I have used it for a variety of household projects. I can recommend this drill to anyone who needs a 1/2" drill without reservation.

This drill is great. I have this and the 7751 1/2" hammer drill and they are the pair of the century. This drill stacked up against every other drill I tried. The only other drill that came close was the Milwaukee, but it was much heavier. I highly recommend this one. The 2620 is tough, lightweight & powerful.

The keyless chuck version of this drill model is my right hand in the shop and I depend on it daily. It's solid PorterCable quality ready to do anything I ask of it. Put it up against the 3/8 inch Milwaukee magnum model and it will keep pace with it. The ergonomics are better for gripping than the Milwaukee and it's much lighter, too. I also have the 1/2 inch PorterCable drill model, and what a team they make. I keep them in a metal Sawboss case for easy portability to jobsites. It's PorterCable all the way for me!!

I bought this drill, and its 1/2" sibling, and have nothing but praise for them. It has good power, smooth speed control, and a very nice, heavy-duty chuck. The only thing I did not like about it was the leather chuck-key keeper; but this was easily replaced with Milwaukee's rubber version for $4.00. Before buying it, I tried out the Bosch 1005VSRK, the DeWalt DW106K, the Milwaukee 0233-21, and the Makita 6408K. The Porter Cable drill was far superior to all but the Milwaukee, and was Milwaukee's equal. (The Milwaukee had a little bigger motor, but was a little too front heavy and had more rpm's than I needed; it was built like a tank, though). The Porter Cable had the perfect blend of power and comfort. With the metal gearcase and bearing plate, it seems it will take whatever punishment you can dish out.

Smooth and torquey. Very easy to handle. For most jobs I prefer this to a heavier model. It is refreshing that this power tool comes in a useful case that actually can hold more than the tool and a bit. I'm not big on the plastic cases supplied with power tools these days since they take up too much room and have no space inside for anything else. This metal case is actually useful. The supplied bits are pretty high quality too.

I've had my 5397-6 3/8" Heavy Duty Hammer Drill for a few months and used it a lot. It has performed flawlessly. I have yet to do any all day drilling in hard granite, but it goes through concrete and limestone like butter. It has the solid feel and smooth action you expect from a Milwaukee tool. It switches out of hammer mode with a simple turn of the chuck collar. I do wish it had the detachable power cord like the 1/2" model, but that is a minor issue. The depth stop mechanism is a little cheesy, but it seems to work fine (I dont use it that much). The 3/8" capacity is plenty for most applications, I'm usually drilling for Tapcons, and its perfect. The case is typical Milwaukee, very sturdy. The set of bits included with the drill are good quality. I am very happy with the 5397-6 and would recommend it without reservation.

I run a large automotive repair shop. We relocate equipment and perform building maintenance on a regular basis. Our technicians have asked for a hammer drill for a long time. I finally broke down and got them one. In the past we borrowed a 1/2" hammer drill(a different brand). Our techs claim the 3/8" Milwaukee drills faster with less vibration.They love the balanced lightweight design.The masonary drill bits included are first rate, I have not replaced any of them yet. The case is top quality and has enough room to hold some of our most common fasteners. The depth guage does seem a little cheesey at first, but it works fine, mounting behind the removeable side handle. Overall truly a 5 star product