Milwaukee M18 Dual-Battery Chainsaw Review: 77cc-Class Cutting Power Without Petrol

Introduction

Battery chainsaws have long been divided into small pruning tools and serious petrol replacements. The Milwaukee M18 dual-battery chainsaw firmly lands on the serious end of that divide. Milwaukee rates it as a 77cc-equivalent saw, which makes it the biggest battery chainsaw of its kind we have covered, and it ships with a genuine 20-inch (500mm) bar.

The kit includes the saw itself, two 8Ah Forge batteries, and a dual charger. Milwaukee positions the 8Ah Forge packs as the optimum pairing for this tool, and the configuration deserves a close look because it shapes how the saw balances, handles, and runs.

Who This Chainsaw Is For

This is a full-size saw for landowners, firewood cutters, and property maintenance users who want petrol-class capability without fuel mixing, starting pulls, or exhaust fumes. It fells standing trees, cuts up fallen timber, and handles rotten and hard wood alike, as demonstrated across a full day of varied cutting.

If your regular work involves long sideways cuts in big timber or all-day felling, it is worth understanding the weight trade-offs discussed below. But if your previous assumption was that a battery chainsaw could not carry a 20-inch bar, this tool makes that assumption outdated.

Main Strengths

The headline specification is a peak torque of 9.5Nm paired with a chain speed of 14.3 metres per second and tool RPM up to 7,400. The chain uses a .325-inch pitch and a .050-inch gauge. Milwaukee has clearly chosen torque over outright chain speed, and in practice the saw cut cleanly through hardwood logs around 225mm (9 inches) wide without stalling when the cut was managed sensibly.

The build details are thoughtful for serious use. Multiple prominent felling sight lines sit on the housing, bucking spikes appear on both sides of the bar, the bar nuts are captive so they cannot be dropped and lost in the dirt, and the scrench (combination wrench) is a long one that clips securely into storage on the underside of the tool. There are also two filter covers with large, easy-to-work screws on either side of the handle.

The two-speed system offers a standard mode and a peak power mode, selected with a simple switch on the top housing. A safety trigger guard engages naturally as you grab the handle, and the rounded trigger is more comfortable than the square designs found on many top-handle saws. The variable speed trigger also allows surprisingly fine control, and it handled a rip-style cut in hard, wet tea tree far better than expected.

Battery life is genuinely impressive. Through a long day of repeated cuts on a range of wood sizes and hardnesses, the two 8Ah Forge batteries were still driving the saw confidently on one bar each before finally running flat. Swapping in 6Ah, 5Ah, and 12Ah packs showed the saw kept cutting on everything, though the smallest packs obviously deplete fastest. The 8Ah Forge cells sit at the best balance of power and weight, which is presumably why Milwaukee sells the kit with them.

There is also no power switch. Load the batteries, and a small white indicator lights up showing the selected mode; pull the trigger and it is instantly running. It is efficient and convenient, though worth weighing against your household safety situation.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Weight is the primary trade-off. Without batteries the saw weighs 6.9kg, and with two 8Ah packs it reaches roughly 9kg. That is the feel of a big petrol saw, and it becomes more noticeable in sideways cuts, where the batteries sit on top and pull downward.

Bigger batteries make it worse. The 12Ah high-output packs fit, but they add bulk and width, and they start getting in the way of the hand. The battery placement is functional rather than elegant; more integrated housings would have kept the profile tidier.

Cutting speed is the second consideration. Compared with a true 70cc-class petrol saw from established petrol brands, the chain speed is only about two-thirds as fast, and the petrol saw with fuel onboard is a couple of kilograms lighter. This saw cuts well rather than cuts fast, and you will feel the difference on long, deep cuts.

The two-speed modes showed little noticeable cutting difference in testing, so most users will likely just leave it on peak power and accept the slightly faster battery drain. Also note this is effectively a 36V tool: two 18V batteries running in series deliver 36V at 8 amp hours, not 36V at 16 amp hours. Finally, new chains stretch, so expect to re-tension the chain periodically during early use.

Buying Advice

If you want one battery saw to replace a large petrol saw around a property, this is a very capable and confident choice. It cuts hard, wet, rotten, and standing timber without issue, and the included 8Ah Forge batteries and dual charger mean the kit is ready to work out of the box.

Skip it if lightweight handling or maximum cutting speed is your priority, or if you would regularly pair mismatched battery types; draining a small pack alongside a large one is likely to flatten the small battery disproportionately. And if you have children around, the no-power-switch design deserves an honest safety assessment before you buy.

Conclusion

The Milwaukee M18 dual-battery chainsaw proves a 20-inch bar and petrol-class capability can run on batteries. Its two honest weaknesses are weight and chain speed, and its strengths are torque, thoughtful build details, strong runtime, and the simple convenience of no starting procedure. For property owners who value that convenience enough to carry roughly 9kg, it is a satisfying and genuinely capable saw.