Very nice drill. I got a new Dewalt 14.4XRP and was very dissapointed. Extreme chuck wobble, lousy variable speed control and just a poorly built product.I tried several different Dewalts and gave up. I returned it and waited for this drill to become available. I got one of the first ones.
br /The good points are excellent trigger speed control, zero chuck wobble, very smooth sounding internals and of course the V18 battery.
br /The only bad is the weight. It is billed to be the power of an 18 with the weight of a 14. Wrong. It is a tank. Should last forever as most Milwaukee products do but could be lighter.
br /I don't think that there is a better 18v drill out there. I tried alot including the new Makita 18 Lithium Ion. Much lighter but not near as smooth sounding as the Milwaukee. Go with the Milwaukee in this class.

Recently purchased this tool after much research.
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br /It seems that several brands are experiencing Li-ION battery troubles and pulled their Li-ION tool lines for now. Makita and Milwaukee seem to be the only two who are not pulling their lines. Says a lot about those two manufacturers doesn't it.
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br /In the end I was trying to decide between the Makita LXT and the Milwaukee V18. The V18 won for me in two categories.
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br / Power system. I like the fact that I can use the Milwaukee with very easy to find 18V niCad batteries if needed. Also that the V18 batteries will fit and power other Milwaukee 18 volt tools!
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br / The Makita - I don't think so, batteries and tool seem to be unique to one another.
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br / Milwaukee's battery warranty, 2 yrs/1000 charges complete replacement, with a 5 yr/2000 charge pro rated warranty. The details of which were easy to find on Milwaukee's web site.
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br / The Makita warranty is kind of less defined - limited one year warranty on the batteries.... limited how? How many charges, etc.
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br /Now down to the actual usage.
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br /This tool only needs one word to describe it, AWESOME! Great power, fast, solid. Overall top notch. The chuck rocks, there is no noticeable run out or wobble (as noted on many hack and pecker made dewalts). I put a charge on the first battery and got started on the days work, I ran the crap out the drill and then ran the crap out of it for half the next day before the battery stopped. It was kind of shocking actually, I drove a 4 inch screw attaching a gate hinge to a 6x6 post with no problem and then next trigger pull, click click click.... battery done. they weren't kidding about that no fading thing. I had no idea the battery was about to go. Awesome, just awesome.
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br / Very happy with the performance of this tool. It's a real winner for me.

Lighter, stronger, and an unbelievable warranty on the batteries. I'm a very happy camper. This is the 2nd one we've purchased.

I bought this because I've always found I can depend on all my Milwalkee tools and this one beats them all.
br /I was warned to stay away from the V28 model because of motor failures and when compairing the two they
br /almost match. Both V18 and V28 batteries are rated at 3.0 amps, this is what counts not having more volts.
br /Anyway the ratching 1/2 inch chuck is one of the best I used, the steel gear box with all steel gears will out last the cheaper plastic models but it does add to the weight. The best part of this package is the Lithium-Ion battery, they hold charge while sitting so always ready, a meter on the battery tells how much is remaining so you can have an idea were you stand. Also Lith-Ion cells keep almost full power to the end of each charge, you won't find it slowing down slowly getting weaker, it will just crash. 5 year warr. on the cells with a 2 year 1000 charge replacment. A chip is built in to each battery stamping the first charger date, then counts each charge. This way if you have a claim the factory can tell when it went into service and how many times you charged it. What will they think of next?

I have been very satisfied with this drill/driver and love the battery feature that allows you to touch a button to see how much power is left. I also appreciate the area on the handle for storing 2 bits. It was nice of the company to build a plug adapter into the plug itself, thereby allowing you to plug 3 items into a dual receptacle box. Good weight, and nice size battery that is reversable on the drill. The V18 Lithium-Ion battery is compatable with all my V18 Nicad Milwaukee cordless tools from a previous contractor kit. The drill's shell is part metal and part plastic, which appears to be able to with stand more injury then their previous NiCad model. The drill has a very good clutch system with numbered increments. I bought this after my NiCad batteries ran out of juice and a tool technician warned against the 24V model, saying that the 24V batteries are to powerful for the drill's motor. I have no complaints with the output of this 18V model. So, great tool overall.

Good hammer drill/driver. A bit heavy and tall. The battery does slip slightly front-to-back but this doesn't seem to affect operation. It can be reversed and the drill seems better balanced with the battery in the "reverse" position.
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br /It should be noted that Milwaukee Tools is now owned by Techtronic Industries who also own AEG, Ryobi, Stilleto, Homelite, Hoover, Dirt Devil, and Vax. They are registered in Hong Kong and their stock is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
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br /According to Techtronic's web site the company is currently undergoing a "Repositioning". They have transfered all Milwaukee cordless tool production to the PRC. Their corded tool production will be transfered to the PRC by the end of 2008 and they will close their two factories here in the USA by the end of 2008. Even their highly rated Sawsalls will be soon made in China.
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I have owned Makita cordless drills for years. My most recent model's chuck started slipping and one battery was dead. I began looking at reviews on cordless drills and found the Milwaukee was highly rated and also featured a hammer mode. I decided to give it a try. I have used the new drill quite heavily since I got it a couple weeks ago and its performance blows me away. The keyless chuck is first class all the way. It is simply fantastic. I have not had it long enough to know how well it will hold up over time, but if its fit and finish along with incredible performance are any indication, this baby is a winner from start to finish. I will NEVER own another Makita after using this machine. If you buy one you will be smiling in your sleep.

This kit was purchased mostly for the lithium battery upgrade because the price was only a little more than the batteries and charger alone, and who can't use an extra drill, right? The only problem is that I would never want to use this one after having used my older one, the Lok-Tor Hammer drill model 0624-20. Whereas the Lok-Tor is smooth as silk and the fit, finish, ergonomics, and feel of the drill just ooze quality, this one is very loud and heavy with below-average ergonomics and a tawdry look obviously designed to be as flashy as possible for marketing reasons. Trouble is, it's all hat and no cattle. Yes, it's a powerful drill, and yes, it will definitely get the job done. But the reason I bought Milwaukee tools at their premium price is not simply because they get the job done, but because they made the highest quality tools and using them was truly enjoyable. They always felt a step above anything from Dewalt, Makita, or even Bosch, and their slogan, "Nothing but heavy duty," seemed to be a real mantra of the company that its employees took pride in rather than simply a catchy but empty marketing line. I also appreciated the fact that they were one of the only power tool companies to make most of their stuff in the USA (although the Lok-Tor drill is from the Czech Republic - still, I'd much rather have that than one from China). This drill was made in China with the goal of minimizing costs, and it shows.
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br /It's not that China can't make good stuff, but when companies move their production there, that's generally a sign that they put the making of money, by whatever means, ahead of pride in the product that actually creates the wealth. And once that attitude takes root, the company starts cutting corners wherever it can to minimize costs while generating a huge marketing push to sell products based purely on flashy images and slogans rather than substance, which no longer exists. Despite what the brand loyalists might say, this drill is no better than the offerings from Dewalt, Makita, or Hitachi, yet it is much heavier than the other brands.
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br /It's a shame what the company has become since I bought my first Milwaukee tool, a magnum hole-shooter, 12 years ago. The changes began when they were bought out a few years ago by the same China-based company that makes Ryobi and Ridgid, and now Milwaukee is pretty much just Ridgid in red instead of orange. They still make a few tools in the USA that have remained unchanged, such as their corded circular saws, sawzalls, and I believe the magnum drills. If you need them, you better get them while you can, because slowly but surely I see more and more Milwaukee tools showing up that are made in China, and it's only a matter of time before it happens to these old standbys. In cordless tools, nothing about Milwaukee stands out from other brands except the weight. If you aren't too concerned with weight, I'd say Bosch is now probably the most consistently high quality of the main brands. For the weight conscious, Makita or Hitachi are your best bet.
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br /On the plus side, the lithium batteries are terrific and make my old tools just a bit more powerful than fully charged nicads, and believe it or not, they are made in Canada (yeah, I'm scratching my head on that one, since the vast majority of our electronics have been made in China for a long time already). But if Milwaukee were to maintain the honesty of the slogan regarding their actual tools, it should be changed from "Nothing but heavy duty" to "Nothing but heavy, period."

its tough, it lasts all day, its comfortable, i sat i next to my bosses dewalt and it over shadowed his 18v i drill stuff he cant i drive screws he cant and i do on one battery what he needs two for, i can drill concrete as fast as his plug in hammer drill, he needs multiple drills to do what my one drill can do if your looking for a new drill this is the one

I am a perfectionist, so selecting a drill was like everything else...a difficult and arduous task. Two years ago I went through the same process when I bought my umpteenth cordless drill. I selected the best DeWalt 18v drill I could find (DC987KA from Lowes). I am an occasional drill user. Sadly, I learned the hard way that NiCad (XRP) batteries are not suitable for such use, which brought me into the drill market again. I will not be buying any more DeWalt products. I have returned or no longer use almost all of my DeWalt products (belt sander, 2 different vacuums, and now an expensive drill). Thanks to the fine folks who leave Amazon feedback, I now know why...DeWalt is owned by Black Decker. Once a company is bought and absorbed by a bigger company, it loses its soul. Fortunately, it's not that way with Milwaukee (as far as I know)...and it shows. There were many fine choices, but there is one clear winner. This is THE DRILL. Here's why:
br /1) Lithium-Ion is much better suited to occasional drill users...batteries should last much longer.
br /2) quality is head and shoulders above all other drills I have owned. The drill has a substantial and solid feel to it. All of the various settings have a good solid click...unlike the DeWalt which had 3 gears but actually using them was often problematic (if the gears weren't lined up just right, I could not change gears...the switch would just jam until I rotated the chuck a bit).
br /3) the motor sounds cool...way cooler than a drill should
br /4) the batteries have LED indicators on them...I just press a button and can see how much juice is left in them...awesome!
br /5) the batteries have rubber on the bottom...nice attention to detail...nice touch!
br /6) the batteries can be inserted from front or rear...which will come in handy later.
br /7) I can actually get the screwdriver bit out of the handy on-board clip without using a pry-bar.
br /8) The case is HUGE. Biggest drill case I've ever seen. Why is that a good thing? I'll tell you why. Others expect you to re-wind the charger cord like the factory does...into an impossibly small bundle, in order to jam it into a case designed for just such a bundle and no more...so you are always fighting with the case. Not so with Milwaukee...they spent the extra 5 cents to add another 1/4 cup of plastic. There is plenty of room in there for me to put the charger in and even the attached cord too! And it gets better! There's even EXTRA SPACE FOR DRILL BITS. Furthermore, the case is super high quality, which is immediately felt with clasps that are better than some metal toolboxes I own. This case will last as long as the drill, if not longer.
br /9) judging by looks alone, this drill blows the rest away...I love red and this drill has few curves and a lot of straight lines. A lot of work went into aesthetically designing this drill to be visually appealing...heck even the charger looks cool.
br /I LOVE THIS DRILL. By the way, my other Milwaukee products have not let me down in any way (Hole Hawg, Orbital Sawzall). I won't be able to give you a review on performance because I will forget.
br /Oh by the way...my first one came with a problem. One of the red buttons on one of the batteries had no spring tension. Returned for exchange. Second one good. Amazon's return procedure is always quick and efficient.

Milwaukee wins hands down with its V18 lithium ion line of tools over the lithium ion tools offered from other manufacturers. The drill while a little on the heavy side, is well balanced and offers huge amounts of torque when needed. The charger will also charge 18 volt NiCads and the case is perfectly molded to fit the tool and accessories. The batteries in this kit have great run time and lighter weight than the older NiCads. In addition, these V18 batteries rated at 3.0 amp/hours are able to fit perfectly and operate older NiCad Milwaukee cordless tools. Another manufacturer has recently offered their version of an 18 volt lithium line of tools. Unfortunately, the amp/hour rating of their new lithiums are only 2.4 amp/hours (the same as their older nicads) and the batteries, while they do fit in the older nicad tools, are undersized and appear rather awkward in the tool. It seems as though the other guys want you to buy a whole new set of cordless tools. I believe the greatest attribute to the Milwaukee V18 line is the fact the batteries can give new life to the older line of Milwaukee tools. Bottom line--buy this drill kit--you won't be disappointed in its performance and features for the price.

Great value quality. I am a professional signmaker - we use cordless drills on a daily basis. Milwaukee drills are ALL we use now!

I was leery about buying yet another quality "American" tool now manufactured in China, but despite the cheap made in China connotation this is a very well constructed designed, powerful tool.
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br /I have found the batteries charge much faster than stated, about 30 minutes from empty to full and they last much longer than any NiCad tool I own. When they deplete, unlike NiCads, the tool will completely stop with little warning. This was a little unnerving at first (I thought drill broke). The built in battery life meter can prevent this from happening. Reversible battery actually feels more balanced in backward position, but not a noteworthy feature in my opinion, other than if a connector ever fails there is a backup.
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br /The tool has a steel chuck that has a distinct ratcheting locking mechanism which can be tightened or loosened one handed. Locks very securely and releases easily, I haven't had a drill bit or driver come loose yet.
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br /Drill/driver/hammer drill selector and gear select are all easy to operate and readily accessible but not likely to be selected inadvertently. Same applies for the forward/reverse switch. Nice having the drill and driver as separate selections - allows selection of drill without changing the torque setting of the driver mode when going between pre-drilling and fastening sequence.
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br /All together a solid tool that feels good in your hand with ample power.
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br /Note: I bought the tool only Sawzall 6515-20 (which is listed as a NiCad saw) and the batteries that come with this drill are a match. Cheap way to get a $200+ Li-Ion Sawzall...
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After carefull evaluation of half a dozen cordless drills available and having used a Milwaukee drill of a friend of mind in the field, the Milwaukee drill out performed all of them. It had much more power and the battery lasted much longer than all the others I observed.
br /Rich

I purchased this kit at in town for $219 after trying out the Makita LCT200W Driver Drill/Impact Driver combo. After a great deal of research and much deliberation, I decided on the Milwaukee for several reasons:
br /1. It feels more solid
br /2. The chuck is much higher quality (all-metal with carbide teeth)
br /3. More power (I actually used both drills with a 1" space bit on a 4x4 post. The Milwaukee didn't have a hiccup while the Makita bogged several times.
br /4. The warranty is better on the Milwaukee
br /5. All the switches and actions feel much more solid on the milwaukee. Switching torque settings feels VERY solid and same with transmission gears and hammer/drill/screw selector.
br /6. The attenuation on the trigger is very smooth. To me, that says a lot about the quality. There is very good control of the speed you are drilling/driving at.
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br /Many will mention I compared this drill with the compact Makita (which I did). I didn't consider the Makita BHP451 because I didn't feel the need for three speeds and feel it's just one more thing to break. I originally bought the Compact Makita combo but after bringing it home and trying it out (the store didn't have any with good batteries), it just didn't feel as solid as I wanted. I was more than willing to get the Milwaukee despite the almost three pound increase. To me, weight is not as important as getting a quality tool that will last for years. Besides, the Milwaukee feels really good and the weight isn't that noticeable at all.
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br /To sum it all up, the tool feels great after some general use, and I will have this around for a long time.

gets the job done well. ever since i got this cordless drill I stopped lugging around my corded power drill! bec. theres enough power for everything. the hammer drill function works great. br /Cons: no light, no magnet holder (like ryobi), and no belt holder (nothing so important) highly recommended!

I've had this drill for a little while now and it sure does pay off to buy quality tools. This thing surpasses my old black and decker cordless by miles. I was skeptical about the hammer drill function, but it works very well in a pinch without the need to drag a cord to the site.
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br /The batteries hold a charge for a long time. Unless I was building a deck, I don't think I could use up a battery before the second one is done charging (Less than a hour). It drives 3" screws through 2x4s without even breaking a sweat.
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br /Finally, they really mean it when they say the lithium ion batteries will just stop when they are dead. I was driving 1 1/2" screws through plywood and part way though one screw, it stopped. The drill wouldn't even move without a load on it. I did not notice any less power before the battery died. Put on the second battery and was back off to work.
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br /I have used many dewalt high end XRP models, and almost bought one. I think that this drill is built better than the dewalts, but either would be a great choice.

Outstanding quality, attention to detail, precise switches etc. A little heavy, but not bad. Tons of power, fun to use.

i use a dewalt 18v at work all the time because it's what we have, but when i work for myself this is what i use. it's solid as hell that's for sure.
br /the bad: it's heavy. the hammerdrill isn't very powerful.
br /the good: it's heavy duty. it's as powerful as you're likely to need in the non-hammerdrill mode.
br /i haven't tried the milwaukee compact drill/driver, but i might err on the side of getting that unless you really want to have a hammerdrill and will only use it for small holes (under 3/8") in masonry. if you're going to use a hammerdrill more than once in a while i would definitely recommend going with a corded hammerdrill or rotary hammer. if you're using it a lot then go with a bosch bulldog ($220), if not then go with the bosch hammerdrill that goes for about $120.
br /overall i'm happy with the purchase. it does what i need it to do and then some. versatile and should last a long time.

I researched other hammer drills on Amazon and this was the best rated hands down! I couldn't be happier with the purchase and it has the best chuck I've ever used. I had two Makita's and a Dewalt in the past and there's no comparison. If you're looking for a Lithium Ion hammer or drill driver - Go with a Milwaukee - there's nothing better on the market according to my research.Milwaukee 0824-24 V18 Lithium-Ion Hammer Drill Kit

Hopefully this drill out performs my last chinese made drill. This drill is advertized as an american made drill. My hitachi lasted 1 year. So far so good with this drill-- a year from now watch for my review-- People do not mind paying good money for quality prouducts, if this one doesn't last I'm gonna send it back broken. Hard to review after 1 month--