Milwaukee 2731-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4" Circular Saw Review

The case for the Milwaukee 2731-20

Among pro-tier 7-1/4-inch cordless circular saws, the Milwaukee 2731-20 M18 FUEL holds one clear advantage over every competitor in the class: weight. At 7.5 lbs bare, it is the lightest full-size 7-1/4-inch brushless saw from any major brand, and lighter than the DeWalt DCS573B by nearly three-quarters of a pound. That gap sounds modest until you consider that a framing carpenter carries the saw for eight or more hours and makes hundreds of cuts overhead, vertically, and at awkward angles. By midday, lighter is noticeably better.

The POWERSTATE brushless motor is Milwaukee's argument that light does not mean underpowered. At 5,000 RPM no-load, the 2731-20 sits slightly below the DCS573B's 5,500 RPM, but the motor's ability to maintain that speed under load through dense lumber is what matters in practice. Cutting 2x10 Douglas fir or pressure-treated deck boards, the saw tracks through without the RPM dropping audibly the way standard brushed or less-capable brushless motors do.

Build quality

The magnesium shoe is the right choice for a saw in this price and weight class. Magnesium is lighter than aluminum by a meaningful margin, stiffer than stamped steel, and more dimensionally stable than plastic-reinforced composites. It holds its reference plane under the lateral forces of a long rip cut and does not require flattening out of the box the way some stamped-steel budget shoes do.

The upper and lower guards are also magnesium, which keeps them from cracking in cold weather or after hard contact — a recurring failure point on lighter guards in other saws. The body itself is compact enough to work in tight quarters: fitting between 16-inch on-center studs to make a plunge cut or entering a roof cavity are not awkward maneuvers.

The LED work light is positioned to illuminate the cut line rather than the user's hand, which is a consistent M18 FUEL design detail that makes a real difference in low-light conditions — in a crawlspace, under a deck, or in a partially sheathed framing bay early in the morning.

Battery and runtime in context

Milwaukee's 300-cuts-per-charge figure with an XC5.0 battery is credible for standard framing cuts in dimensional lumber. For a single-family residential framing crew making mostly 2x4 and 2x6 cuts, one 5.0Ah pack per saw per half-day of cutting is a realistic expectation. Step up to a HIGH OUTPUT HD9.0 or HD12.0 and the runtime extends substantially, at the cost of more weight on the back of the tool.

The M18 platform is the broadest 18V ecosystem in the professional market, with well over 200 tools sharing the same pack. That breadth matters for a framing crew running M18 FUEL framing nailers, reciprocating saws, grinders, and drills alongside the circular saw — one charger and a set of batteries serve the whole site.

Cutting capacity and bevel range

The 2-1/2-inch depth at 90 degrees handles standard 2x framing cleanly, and the 1-7/8-inch depth at 45 degrees is sufficient for beveled cuts through dimensional lumber at typical rafter angles. The 50-degree bevel limit covers most residential framing tasks including hip-roof rafters at common pitches.

Where the 2731-20 falls slightly short of the DeWalt DCS573B is bevel range: 50 degrees versus 57 degrees. Some hip-roof rafter cuts and certain compound-angle work on steep-pitch roofs require bevels past 50 degrees. For a general framing crew, that gap rarely matters; for a contractor who regularly cuts steep-pitch compound angles, the DCS573B's extra 7 degrees is worth considering.

How this saw fits the lineup

Compared to the DeWalt DCS573B: the Milwaukee wins on weight and platform breadth among pro contractors; the DeWalt wins on bevel range and the FLEXVOLT scalability option. Both cost roughly the same as bare tools. The decision almost always comes down to which battery platform you are already on.

Compared to the Ryobi PBLCS300B: the Ryobi is a capable budget tool that genuinely performs well for homeowners and light professionals. The Milwaukee is in a different durability and performance class — magnesium shoe, faster and more consistent motor, better guard construction — and costs roughly twice as much as a bare tool for a reason. For production professionals, the Milwaukee's durability pays for itself in reduced downtime.

Compared to the Skil 5280-01: the Skil is a corded saw at $70 that delivers 5,300 RPM indefinitely without battery management. For a stationary workshop setup or a single-project homeowner, the Skil's economics are unbeatable. For portable job-site work, the Milwaukee's cordless convenience wins.

Final assessment

The Milwaukee 2731-20 is the standard that other pro-tier cordless circular saws are measured against. Its combination of low weight, consistent motor performance, magnesium construction, and deep M18 FUEL ecosystem integration makes it a clear choice for professionals already invested in M18 and a compelling reason to enter the platform for new buyers who plan to build a full cordless lineup.