DeWalt 20V Max Compact Brushless Drill/Driver DCD777C2 Review

Drilling

As one could expect, drilling performance is important when choosing a drill. Luckily the the DCD777C2 didn't have any problems with this. It easily drilled a 5" hole saw to its full depth in about 17 seconds, cutting through the solid door without any signs of slowing down or struggling.

It packs plenty of power, letting you keep the drill in its higher gear the entire time, and it delivered one of the best performances we have seen to date in this test.

This tool continued its fantastic performance in our steel drilling tests. It drilled through a 16-guage metal sheet with both the ¼" and ½" twist drill with absolutely no trouble at all, taking less than two seconds with the smaller drill and less than four with the larger one.

It finished this metric with another excellent showing in our last test, the 1" spade bit. This drill made it through the wood easily, but it didn't drill the holes quite as fast as the top drills — occasionally getting a little hung up and stalling for a brief moment when in its higher gear.

Driving

The DCD777C2 also did exceptionally well in this metric. It was able to drive a ton of 3" long, #9 screws in quickly and powerfully. It had no problem at all setting the heads to be flush with the surface of the wood and affords you tons of control, so you don't accidentally overdrive the screw.

The more challenging test of drilling a 5" long, ½" lag screw to its full depth proved no match for the DCD777C2. It had no issues and even tied for the fastest speed.

Battery Life

Unfortunately, we weren't impressed with the DeWalt DCD777C2's battery life, mainly due to its 1.5-amp-hour battery. We concocted a drilling and driving circuit, and the DCD777C2 only made it through five complete cycles before quitting; it drilled a single screw of the sixth set before the battery gave out. The best drills were in the double digits before they died.

This drill earned some points by including a spare battery and recharging slightly faster than average — it only takes a little over an hour to completely charge a dead battery with the included charger.

Convenience

The performance of the DCD777C2 rebounded a bit here. The chuck can hold a bit with up to a ½" shank, and the integrated work light on this tool is decent. It's located above the trigger and stays on for about 20 seconds after releasing the button. It can be equipped with a belt clip, but doesn't come with one.

The DCD777C2 has two different gearing ratios to maximize speed or torque for your specific project, but it is one of the heftier drills of the group, weighing in at 3 lbs., 4.1 oz.

It is super easy to install or remove the battery, with the locking tab releasing easily and a new battery sliding right into place without too much effort. However, it does lack a battery indicator to alert you that the battery is running low before it dies.

Should You Buy the DeWalt 20V Max?

Undeniably, the DeWalt 20V Max Compact Brushless Drill/Driver DCD777C2 is an excellent cordless drill. It handled our most challenging drilling and driving tasks with relative ease, often rivaling any other top performance overall. It's not overly expensive and is decently convenient, but we wish it offered better battery life, for the included batteries. The DCD777C2 is a decent value, holding its own against the best drills while having a slightly lower list price. It is still a bit expensive for the casual homeowner, but could be a good pick for someone who wants the exceptional drilling and driving performance of a higher-end tool.

What Other Drill Should You Consider?

If you are loyal to the yellow and black, this drill or any other DeWalt Atomic series or Max XR series of drills are good options for you. Choosing tools from the same brand often means compatible batteries that make the battery life easier to accept since you often have backups to swap with. However, if you aren't already married to the DeWalt brand name, then it might be worth considering our top-performing drill, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" Drill Driver. The M18 offers slightly better driving ability. If neither DeWalt nor Milwaukee appeal to you, and you are just starting out buying tools, then you should consider the Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless Drill KXDD 1424A-03. This all-in-one kit includes a tool, battery, and charger and offers exceptional performance overall.