Milwaukee M18 FUEL Dual Battery Chainsaw: Torque Monster with One Simple Chain Upgrade

Introduction

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL dual battery chainsaw has built a reputation as a torque monster, and in our experience that label is deserved. This saw puts out around 5.8 horsepower and ships with an anti-kickback semi-chisel chain that prioritizes safety over outright cutting speed. Out of the box it is probably not a great beginner saw, because there is a lot of power on tap and the stock chain makes you work for it.

There is also one very simple modification that transforms how this saw feels in a cut, and it costs little more than a trip to your local saw shop.

Who This Chainsaw Is For

This is a saw for landowners, firewood cutters, and serious DIY users who want gas-class performance without fuel and maintenance headaches. If you regularly cut through hardwood or large diameter pine and want a saw that pulls itself through the wood, this fits that brief, especially once you address the chain.

If you are a first-time chainsaw owner, be aware that the power here is significant, and the standard semi-chisel chain requires some pushing to keep the saw moving through the wood. That is not the most confidence-inspiring setup for a beginner.

Main Strengths

The headline numbers are impressive: roughly 5.8 horsepower, dual battery operation, and a weight of around 20 pounds as configured with the 8 Amp Hour batteries. When the manufacturer says to compare it to a 70cc gas model, that comparison holds up in how the saw cuts. At $899 for the saw, we think it is a deal, particularly since it works with the Forge battery line.

Runtime is another genuine highlight. Testing was done on the standard 8 Amp Hour batteries that come with the saw, and even larger 12 Amp Hour packs have been used without any noticeable difference in cutting performance. The 8s do just fine, and the runtime on this saw is amazing.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main consideration is the stock chain. The included anti-kickback semi-chisel chain does not push the saw’s torque at all. In practice, you have to lean on the saw and push it through the wood to keep it cutting, and that is not safe either. You should never have to force a saw through a cut.

There is also the kickback trade-off to think about. Any change away from an anti-kickback chain reduces safety margin, so treat this as an informed modification rather than a default setup.

The Simple Chain Upgrade

The fix is a chain swap to a full chisel chain. A full chisel chain delivers faster cuts, more precision on square corners, larger chips, and it actually lets the saw use all of its torque. Instead of pushing the saw into the wood, the chain pulls it down through the cut on its own, which is both faster and safer in normal use.

The key specs to match: the saw runs a .325 pitch chain with a .050 gauge rail, and 78 drive links in stock form. A full chisel Stihl chain was sourced with extra drive links, and three links were simply removed at a local saw shop to reach the correct count. Ace Hardware handled the job easily, and most knowledgeable saw shops can do the same.

In back-to-back cutting on pine, the difference was striking. The full chisel chain threw long, aggressive chips and cut dramatically faster. The stock semi-chisel still threw good chips, but the cuts were visibly slower, the chips much smaller, and the saw needed constant forward pressure, even using the bucking spikes. There was also noticeably more heat and smoke from the stock chain during prolonged cuts.

One honest caveat: it is not entirely clear whether the improvement came from going full chisel, from moving away from the anti-kickback design, or from the Stihl chain itself being better than the Oregon original. A full chisel Oregon chain would likely deliver similar results. The key takeaway is that the chain that ships on the saw is simply not a great match for the power available.

Buying Advice

If you want this saw to behave more like a professional saw, buy the full chisel Stihl chain in .325 pitch with a .050 rail, have your local saw shop remove three drive links, and fit it. The comfort factor alone makes it worthwhile, because a chain that pulls the saw through the cut means you stop leaning on the tool and simply let it do its thing.

The MSA 300 from Stihl is the natural comparison point in the battery saw category, and it is expected that this Milwaukee will be faster in most cuts while carrying a bit more weight.

Conclusion

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL dual battery chainsaw is a genuinely powerful cordless saw with excellent runtime, gas-class torque, and a fair price for what it delivers. Its one weakness is the semi-chisel chain it ships with, and a simple swap to a full chisel chain turns it into a saw that cuts faster, throws bigger chips, and feels dramatically better to use. Buy it, upgrade the chain, and you have a serious alternative to a 70cc gas saw.