Milwaukee Dual Battery Chainsaw Review: A Torque Monster With Real Battery Life

Introduction

Milwaukee’s new dual battery chainsaw is one of the most surprising professional-grade battery saws to arrive in a while. Milwaukee rates it at 5.8 horsepower in high performance mode and suggests comparing it to a 70cc gas saw. That is serious territory for a cordless saw, and after extended cutting time it is easy to see why the tool has drawn that comparison. This review covers what it is like to use, how it handles, and who it actually makes sense for.

Power and Performance

The headline numbers are impressive. The saw runs two modes: a standard mode rated at 4.4 horsepower, which Milwaukee says is close to its own professional 262 gas saw, and a high performance mode at 5.8 horsepower. Milwaukee also claims a chain speed of 14.3 m/s.

In practice, the saw feels like an absolute torque monster. It ships with a 3/8 chain in a semi-chisel, anti-kickback configuration, which is a slightly unusual choice at this power level. The semi-chisel chain is on the conservative side, and a more aggressive full chisel chain would likely unlock even more cutting speed given how much torque the motor has. Even so, the power delivery is smooth and relentless, and the saw keeps pulling when you lean into a cut.

Design and Ergonomics

At 15.1 lb without batteries and about 19 lb fully assembled, this is a heavy saw. That said, it is not as noticeable in use because you are carrying a genuinely powerful tool, and anyone stepping up to a 70cc-class gas saw is already used to similar weight.

There are several thoughtful details. Vented housing on both sides helps with heat management, the chain brake sits in a comfortable spot that never got in the way, and the trigger offers good variable speed control, though it does not start out as gently as some rivals. Oil consumption is efficient: after running a full 8 amp hour battery and a full 12 amp hour battery dead, the oil tank was still around half full, with no leaking. One of the best touches is the scrench tool stored securely in the base of the saw body, easy to reach even with gloves on, along with a dedicated spot for hanging the saw.

Cutting Tests and Real-World Use

Pushing the saw hard is where it earns its reputation. When bucking smaller hardwood and deliberately forcing the saw into the cut, it took significant pressure to make it stall out, far more than most riders of a gas saw would expect. Cutting notches into a large, very hard tree stump bigger than the saw’s bar length worked smoothly, and the saw stayed composed under load.

The metal bucking spikes on both sides are a welcome pro-level touch, and the bolts are captured so they cannot be lost in the woods. After extended cutting, the internals looked clean: minimal oil buildup in the clutch area, no excessive sawdust compaction, and the chain stretched very little, which compares favorably to rivals whose chains needed frequent retensioning even when brand new.

Battery Life

Battery life is the second thing Milwaukee nailed on this saw. Working across the included 8 amp hour pack and a 12 amp hour pack over multiple hours of cutting, each battery lost only one bar of charge. That is genuinely useful runtime for a saw with this much power, and it makes the tool practical for jobs that would normally take a tank of gas or less.

The saw is also remarkably smooth, with no meaningful vibration, so hands stay comfortable even during long sessions. You can set it down while running without worrying about it in snow or other conditions where a gas saw would need more care.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is not a first chainsaw. It delivers far more power than a beginner needs, even with its relatively safe anti-kickback chain. It also does not fully replicate the feel of a gas saw: the trigger is a bit firmer and the low-end response is different. If you value refinement and gentler power delivery, some competing battery saws feel smoother out of the box, though they give up outright torque.

The 3/8 semi-chisel chain choice also raises questions, since more aggressive full chisel options would better exploit the available torque. If raw chain speed matters to you, plan on experimenting with chains.

Buying Advice

At $899 with two 8 amp hour Forge batteries, the saw is not crazily priced compared to professional gas saws, and you get the convenience of never buying fuel plus power well beyond a typical homeowner-class saw. If you currently run a homeowner-grade gas saw and want something more capable without the fumes, mixing, or pull starts, this is arguably the first battery saw that makes that upgrade genuinely compelling.

Conclusion

The Milwaukee dual battery chainsaw is a total beast, and it is not an experience commonly found in battery saws. Massive torque, strong battery life, clean internal design, and pro-level details like stored tooling and metal bucking spikes make it a serious option for anyone fairly advanced in their chainsaw work. It is not for beginners, and gas still has its place, but for jobs that fit within a tank or two of gas, this saw may be the most capable battery option available today.