Milwaukee M18 SAWZALL (2621-20) review

What the 2621-20 is

The Milwaukee 2621-20 is an M18 SAWZALL reciprocating saw, not the newer M18 FUEL 2821-20 and not a battery kit. The distinction matters: Milwaukee's exact product page lists one saw in the box, and its operator manual identifies the 2621-20 by catalog number. The manual specifies a 1-1/8 inch stroke and a no-load range of 0 to 3,000 strokes per minute. Those figures describe the tool's published specification, not a promise about cutting speed in wood, pipe or nail-embedded lumber.

This is a full-size saw format for two-handed control rather than a one-handed HACKZALL. Its product page lists all-metal gearing and a counterbalance mechanism, and Milwaukee says that mechanism reduces vibration. That is the maker's description of its design; no independent vibration measurement or cutting trial was conducted for this assessment.

Blade changes and work setup

The lever-operated QUIK-LOK clamp is the clearest practical feature in the exact documentation. The manual says the clamp accepts 1/2 inch universal-shank Sawzall blades and instructs the operator to remove the battery before changing one. It also cautions against blades shorter than 3-1/2 inches: the blade needs to project beyond both the shoe and the workpiece through the full stroke. A blade that bottoms against the shoe or work can break, so check the geometry for the actual cut instead of choosing a blade by length alone.

The manual identifies a shoe and repeatedly instructs the operator to keep it against the work. It does not document a shoe-adjustment procedure for this model, so an adjustable shoe should not be counted as a confirmed feature. Likewise, the reviewed 2621-20 page and manual do not establish an orbital selector, a work light or a hang hook. The absence of a listing is not proof that a feature is physically impossible, but it is not enough evidence for a strict shopper requirement.

For a cut where hidden wiring, gas or water lines could be present, Milwaukee's manual calls for checking the work area and securing the material. A reciprocating saw is a rough-cut tool, not permission to cut blindly into a wall or unsupported stock.

Know which battery package you are comparing

The 2621-20 package is tool-only. If you do not already own a compatible M18 battery and charger, include both in the complete setup rather than comparing the bare tool with a kit as if their boxes were alike. Milwaukee's separate 2621-21 page lists the 2621-20 saw, one M18 XC battery, an M18/M12 multi-voltage charger, a carrying case and a blade. The suffix is therefore a functional shopping distinction, not a color or naming flourish. Retailer listings can combine product photos and package titles, so confirm the exact code and written contents before ordering.

The M18 platform answers a compatibility question; it does not identify the motor as brushless. The exact product page and manual reviewed here do not state a motor type, and the brushless claim for the different 2821-20 FUEL model cannot be borrowed. The same applies to weight: I did not find a clearly identified tool-only weight for 2621-20 in its page or manual. If the tool's weight is a hard limit for overhead work or long carry periods, this record cannot certify a match.

Where it sits among Milwaukee's reciprocating saws

Compared with the compact one-handed 2625-20 HACKZALL, the 2621-20 is the larger SAWZALL format; the HACKZALL page calls itself one-handed and its manual specifies a shorter 3/4 inch stroke. At the other end of this small comparison, the separate 2821-20 FUEL SAWZALL page names a brushless motor and a 1-1/4 inch stroke. The 2621-20's 1-1/8 inch specification sits between those two published lengths, but that does not establish a relative cutting rate or make one model better for every material.

The 2621-20 is most defensible for someone already on M18 who wants the standard two-handed arrangement and is comfortable with the exact features that are documented. It is a poor match when the essential requirement is a verified orbital setting, an adjustable shoe, a known bare-tool weight or an included battery-and-charger package. Those are evidence limits, not a verdict on how an individual tool performs. This is a source-based assessment; I have not owned, tested or measured this saw.