DeWalt Atomic DCH172 Review: A Pocket-Size SDS Plus Rotary Hammer With Real Power

Introduction

DeWalt has added a pocket-size SDS Plus rotary hammer to its Atomic compact series, and it fills a gap that has been growing for a while: the need for a hammer drill that handles small anchor holes all day without weighing down the user. The DCH172 is a 20-volt tool with a slightly different design than the 12V Extreme version released earlier, and in side-by-side use it carries noticeably more power in its class.

This review walks through the tool from top to bottom, then looks at real voltage readings under load to work out which battery gets the most out of it.

Key Specs and Drilling Range

The DeWalt Atomic compact series 5/8-inch rotary hammer is model number DCH172. It is available as a bare tool or in a kit, and its optimum drilling range runs from 5/32 inch up to 3/8 inch.

Key numbers:

• Impact energy: 1.4 joules
• No-load speed: 0 to 1,600 RPM
• Blows per minute: 0 to 4,980 BPM
• Tool length: just under 11 inches
• Tool weight: just under 4 pounds

Those figures put it firmly in the small-hole category. This is not a tool for big masonry work, but for the 5/32-inch to 3/8-inch holes that make up most anchor and fastener tasks, the size and weight savings are the whole point.

Design and Controls

DeWalt changed the styling slightly on this tool. The forward lockout and reverse switch sits on the top, where it stays out of the way and remains easy to reach. The depth stop can interfere slightly when pushing the switch over, but it is a minor trade-off for the placement.

Rather than a dial on the side, DeWalt uses a lever to switch between drilling and hammer drilling. There is no chipping mode, so the choice is simply drill or hammer drill. A pocket clip is included, which is genuinely useful for overhead work, and the tool is small enough that overhead use is not a problem.

One downside shared by all 20V tools: the battery meter is hidden inside the tool, so you have to remove the battery to check it. Vents sit on the bottom, an LED light sits up front, and the variable speed trigger is classic DeWalt. It feathers smoothly from a slow crawl up to full speed, which makes starting holes accurately much easier.

Handling, Comfort and Everyday Details

The auxiliary handle moves around easily and can be set in effectively infinite sliding positions if you extend it further out, then locked down. Pulling it back engages locking positions, so once tightened it does not rotate or slide under load.

Bit changes follow the standard SDS Plus flow: pull the chuck back and bits drop right out, push them in and they seat securely. Easy in, easy out is exactly what you want on a repetitive anchor job.

At just under 11 inches long and just under 4 pounds, this is a tool you can carry clipped to a pocket and use overhead without fatigue setting in quickly. That combination of compactness and capability is where the Atomic series earns its name.

Battery Choice: Getting the Full Power

Voltage readings under load tell an interesting story about which battery to pair with this tool. Testing covered the 2Ah kit battery, the compact PowerStack, and the larger 4Ah battery, across both 5/32-inch and 3/8-inch bits.

The 2Ah battery held up reasonably well. Its worst voltage dip came with the 3/8-inch bit, falling into the mid-15-volt range under load. By contrast, both the PowerStack and the 4Ah battery stayed in the 17-volt range even with the larger bit. That is a significant jump in available power, and it is clearly felt in the handle as well.

The 3/8-inch testing also showed cutouts as the battery neared the end of its charge with each pack, which is expected behavior as the bit finishes its deepest cuts.

The practical takeaway: if the included 2Ah battery feels underwhelming, the tool is not the problem. Stepping up to the PowerStack or a 4Ah pack unlocks noticeably more power. For a compact tool like this, the PowerStack makes the most sense, keeping the overall package small while delivering performance close to the larger pack. As long as you stay at 3/8 inch and below, where DeWalt recommends using it, the tool has plenty of capability on tap with the right battery.

Buying Advice

This rotary hammer makes sense for electricians, mechanical trades, and installers who spend their days drilling small anchor holes in concrete. The optimum range of 5/32 to 3/8 inch covers the majority of typical anchor and fastener work, and the sub-4-pound weight is the reward for accepting that limit.

For the best experience, pair it with the PowerStack battery. It preserves the compact footprint while delivering most of the voltage stability of the larger 4Ah pack. If runtime matters more than weight, the 4Ah is the stronger choice.

Conclusion

DeWalt’s Atomic DCH172 continues a trend worth appreciating: smaller tools that still deliver the power needed for the task at hand. It will not drill huge holes, but for frequent small-hole work its size, weight, and smooth variable-speed trigger make it an easy tool to like. With a PowerStack or 4Ah battery on board, it comfortably earns its place in a trade toolkit.