Milwaukee 2722-20 vs DeWalt DCS386B Reciprocating Saw (2026)

Two premium cordless reciprocating saws, measured honestly

The Milwaukee 2722-20 M18 FUEL Super Sawzall and the DeWalt DCS386B FLEXVOLT Advantage target the same contractor audience and sell in overlapping price ranges. Both use brushless motors, both accept all standard blade formats, and both represent the best their respective platforms offer in a full-size reciprocating saw. The spec differences that separate them are small enough to summarize briefly but consequential enough to determine which saw belongs on a particular job.

Stroke length and why 1/8 inch matters

The Milwaukee's 1-1/4-inch stroke length versus the DeWalt's 1-1/8 inch sounds like a rounding error on paper. Over the course of 3,000 cycles per minute cutting through a 2×12 demo wall or a joist-embedded lag bolt, that 1/8-inch difference compounds into a real gap in material removed per unit time. Independent timed tests across wood materials consistently rank the Milwaukee 10–20 percent faster than the DeWalt in head-to-head cuts through thick framing lumber. For an eight-hour demo shift, that margin translates into real output.

The Milwaukee also spins faster at no load: 3,100 versus 3,000 SPM. The 100 SPM gap is less significant than the stroke length difference but adds to the cumulative speed advantage in wood.

Orbital action: a feature the DeWalt lacks entirely

This is the most functionally significant difference between the two saws. The Milwaukee 2722-20 has a selectable orbital dial that adds an elliptical component to the blade's stroke — in wood, this accelerates cutting by driving the blade into the material rather than moving it purely forward and back. In metal, orbital mode causes chatter, so you switch it off for pipe and conduit work. The DeWalt DCS386B has no orbital action mode at any setting.

For a professional whose primary demolition task is wood framing and wall assemblies, the absence of orbital action on the DeWalt is a genuine productivity disadvantage. Gut work — cutting through sheathing, framing, drywall, and insulation in sequence — is exactly where orbital mode makes the most difference. For an electrician or plumber whose reciprocating saw work is primarily pipe and conduit, the orbital omission is irrelevant.

Weight and its practical consequences

The 8.8-lb Milwaukee versus the 7.7-lb DeWalt represents a meaningful ergonomic divergence. A pound of tool weight may sound abstract, but overhead demolition — cutting between floor joists, trimming plates at shoulder height, reaching into wall cavities above head level — makes that pound felt in the forearms and shoulder after the first hour. The DeWalt's lighter build is not accidental: it is a design priority for users who identify fatigue reduction as their primary need.

With a 5.0Ah battery installed, the DeWalt remains lighter than the Milwaukee by a similar margin. Both tools use comparable battery pack sizes for full performance, so the weight advantage is not eliminated by battery selection.

Blade clamping compared directly

The DeWalt's lever-action blade clamp is the faster mechanism for frequent blade changes. One motion releases the blade; one motion locks a replacement. The Milwaukee QUIK-LOK is also toolless but positions the clamp behind the adjustable shoe. When the shoe is extended for deep cuts, the clamp becomes awkward to reach with gloved hands — a genuine friction point during production blade swaps. For occasional blade changes, the Milwaukee is fine; for contractors who cycle through wood and metal blades multiple times per session, the DeWalt's clamp layout saves time and reduces frustration.

Speed control architecture

Milwaukee provides both a variable trigger and a five-speed preset dial. The dial lets you set a low speed for PVC and conduit cutting and use the trigger for on/off without maintaining partial trigger pressure. This is useful for applications where a specific, consistent speed is required across multiple cuts. The DeWalt provides a variable trigger only — adequate for most tasks, but without the preset capability for repetitive fixed-speed work.

FLEXVOLT Advantage and battery ecosystem

DeWalt's FLEXVOLT Advantage circuit allows the DCS386B to draw from 60V MAX FLEXVOLT batteries for a claimed 50 percent power boost. For contractors who already run FLEXVOLT tools — circular saws, miter saws, or the large angle grinder — this is a meaningful extra capability. For buyers who do not own FLEXVOLT batteries, the performance boost requires a significant battery investment beyond standard 20V packs.

The Milwaukee's 5-year limited warranty versus the DeWalt's 3-year limited is a concrete long-term value difference. For professional users who expect to run the tool heavily for years, the extended coverage is worth noting.

Who buys which

Buy the Milwaukee 2722-20 when your primary demolition material is wood framing and wall assemblies, you are on or building an M18 platform, and you want maximum cordless cutting speed. The longer stroke, orbital action, 5-speed dial, and rafter hook are all working advantages in the environment this tool is designed for.

Buy the DeWalt DCS386B when overhead and confined-space work is your primary context, you are on 20V MAX or have FLEXVOLT batteries, and you want the fastest blade-swap mechanism at a lower bare-tool price. For electricians and plumbers whose work skews toward pipe rather than framing, the DeWalt's straight-line efficiency and lighter body are well-matched to the task.