Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hammer Drill Tones Up With More Muscle And Smaller Size
The original Milwaukee M12 Fuel hammer drill was an excellent tool, so much so that its second-generation update was primarily about shrinking the size. Now we’re seeing the third generation and there’s a lot to talk about.
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hammer Drill Performance
One of the big deals about this update is a big increase in torque. Gaining 50 in-lbs, the Milwaukee 3404 now has 400 in-lbs and exceeds what you can find on some compact 18V/20V Max drills.
This version sacrifices a little speed for the additional muscle, though. Low speed is still 450 RPM, but high speed drops 150 RPM down to 1550 RPM. Along with that, the hammering rate drops on the hammer drill, shedding 3000 BPM and dropping to 22,500 BPM.
None of those numbers are bad, it just means you’ll see a little slower drilling and driving speed with smaller bits and fasteners. On the other hand, you’ll pick up some capabilities thanks to the extra muscle in low gear.
Recommended Max Capacities
- Spade Bit (Wood): 1 1/4-inch
- Auger Bit (Wood): 1-inch
- Hole Saw (Wood): 2-inch
- Screw Diameter (Wood): 1/2-inch
- Twist Bit (Steel): 1/2-inch
- Twist Bit (Masonry): 3/8-inch
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hammer Drill Design
Size and Weight
Having already dropped more than an inch in size from Gen 1 to Gen 2, Gen 3 couldn’t be that much smaller, right? Guess again. The design team managed to shrink another 0.7 inches off the length, bringing it down to just 5.9 inches.
The weight doesn’t change a whole lot, but there is a slight 0.1-pound reduction as the Milwaukee 3404 is just 2.2 pounds bare and 2.6 pounds with the smaller 2.0Ah battery.
Additional Highlights
- 2-speed gearbox
- Mechanical clutch
- All-metal 1/2-inch chuck
- All-metal belt clip
- LED light
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hammer Drill: Gen 2 Vs Gen 3
| Gen 2 (2504) | Gen 3 (3404) | |
| Low Speed | 450 RPM | 450 RPM |
| High Speed | 1700 RPM | 1550 RPM |
| Max Hammering Rate | 25,500 BPM | 22,500 BPM |
| Max Torque | 350 in-lbs | 400 in-lbs |
| Length | 6.6 inches | 5.9 inches |
| Bare Weight | 2.3 pounds | 2.2 pounds |
| Bare Tool Price | $139 | $149 |
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hammer Drill Price
As a bare tool, the 3403-20 drill driver runs $129 and the 3404-20 hammer drill is $149. If you want a kit, those come with the tool, a 2.0Ah battery, a 4.0Ah battery, charger, and soft case. With the drill driver kit at $169 and the hammer drill kit at $179, the increase of just $30 makes them solid in the value department.
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hammer Drill Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 3404
- Power Source: Milwaukee M12 battery
- No-Load Speed: 0 – 450/1550 RPM
- Hammering Rate: 0 – 6750/22,500 BPM
- Max Torque: 400 in-lbs
- Bare Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Length: 5.9 inches
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Drill Driver Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 3403
- Power Source: Milwaukee M12 battery
- No-Load Speed: 0 – 450/1550 RPM
- Max Torque: 400 in-lbs
- Bare Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Length: 5.9 inches
Discover more at Milwaukee’s website!
These are powerful and have great batteries but you should measure the runout tolerances. I went through seven of these m12 hammer drills. Each one had such extreme chuck wobble they were useless for applications requiring any bit of precision. Milwaukee even sent me a hand selected one and guaranteed it was within factory specs. Well, their factory specs aren’t very good.