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DeWalt 20V Max Compact Drill/Driver Kit DCD771C2 Review

A good option if you value driving performance above drilling power
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DeWalt 20V Max Compact Drill/Driver Kit DCD771C2 Review
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Price:  $118 List
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Manufacturer:   DEWALT
David Wise
By David Wise ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  February 14, 2022
Contributions From: Austin Palmer
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 22
  • Drilling - 35% 8.1
  • Driving - 35% 10.0
  • Battery Life - 20% 4.2
  • Convenience - 10% 5.6

Our Verdict

While the DeWalt 20V Max Compact Drill/Driver Kit DCD771C2 scored quite well and surprised us with its essentially unmatched performance in our screw driving tests, this cordless drill didn't merit an award. Its drilling performance was great, but it still couldn't quite compare to the top drills, and we found its performance in our battery life test to be overall on the disappointing side. It is decently convenient to use, with plenty of helpful features and functions, but it also has a list price on the higher side. This brushed drill won't disappoint most people, though we would usually pick another model unless this drill was on sale at a discounted price or there were some other extenuating circumstances.
REASONS TO BUY
Phenomenal driving performance
Solid drilling power
REASONS TO AVOID
Subpar battery life

Our Analysis and Test Results

This drill finished just behind the Milwaukee M18 and ahead of the Porter-Cable PCCK607LB. The DeWalt DCD771C2 is in the middle of these two drills in terms of list prices, but it did the worst in our battery life performance tests of this group. However, it is the best at driving in this trio and better than the Porter-Cable when drilling, though the M18 did a bit better than both in our harder drilling tests.

dewalt 20v max compact drill/driver kit dcd771c2
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Drilling


The DCD771C2 did decently well with a hole saw, drilling to the full depth of the saw with no issue. It drilled the hole nicely and smoothly, not even stalling as it got close to the full depth. It took about three times longer than the top-performing drills to reach this depth, but it was still less than a minute.

dewalt 20v max compact drill/driver kit dcd771c2
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

With a paddle bit, the DCD771C2 did particularly well. It can drill through the 2' of lumber in its higher gear, the vast majority of the time, only requiring us to downshift if we were drilling through a knot or other particularly difficult bit. It offers you a ton of control, but we could tell that it did have slightly less power than the best drills, though this was barely discernible.

dewalt 20v max compact drill/driver kit dcd771c2
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The DCD771C2 did well drilling through the steel sheets, never struggling or stalling. However, it did bind up a bit with a larger bit right as it punched through, requiring us to drop it down to the lower gear.

dewalt 20v max compact drill/driver kit dcd771c2
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Driving


This cordless drill is phenomenal when driving in the normal wood screws. It set the screws very quickly with tons of power and had absolutely no problem setting the screw heads flush. The DeWalt DCD771C2 offers tons of control, letting you set the screw head to the perfect depth.

dewalt 20v max compact drill/driver kit dcd771c2
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Battery Life


This model made it through four full cycles of our testing trials, dying after driving in the first two screws of the fifth. For comparison, the best drills did over ten cycles, but most of those had a 1.5 Ah or 2 Ah battery.

The DCD771C2 redeemed itself a bit by including two batteries, so you can at least always have one on the charger while you are working, and by charging faster than average. It takes less than an hour — 58 minutes — for the included charger to completely recharge a dead battery.

dewalt 20v max compact drill/driver kit dcd771c2
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Convenience


It's super easy to swap batteries on this drill, with an easy-to-release locking button, and the battery slides in and out effortlessly. However, this drill lacks a battery meter, so you don't have a concrete way of knowing how much battery life you have remaining. The DCD771C2 is about the average weight for these products — just shy of 3.5 lbs with the battery installed.

It has two different gear ratios, with rpm ranges of 0-450 or 0-1800. The chuck can expand to up to ½", but we were a little bummed out that this drill did not include a belt clip, though one can be equipped if purchased separately.

The DCD771C2 also has a built-in work light above the trigger. It provides decent illumination of whatever you are working on and stays on for about 20 seconds after you let go of the trigger — a feature we found to be incredibly useful in a DIY tool.

dewalt 20v max compact drill/driver kit dcd771c2
Credit: Jenna Ammerman


Should You Buy the Dewalt DCD771C2?


The DCD771C2 is another exceptional drill that gets the job done, even if it can't quite match the overall performance of the top tools. We found that it offered an unparalleled amount of control and power when driving in screws, though we wish it had a bit longer battery life. This drill can handle almost every task you throw at it — though it might take a little longer than the top-tier tools. This drill isn't a fantastic value, as it has a somewhat higher list price, but we found it offered at significant discounts on sale, making it a much more attractive bargain buy.

What Other Drill Should You Consider?


If Dewalt is your tool of choice, or you find a good sale (which happens frequently), the DCD771C2 is a good choice. While the battery life is low, swapping batteries is easy enough, and if you own other Dewalt tools, you'll likely have some on hand. If you need something smaller for tight work and smaller locations, the DeWalt Atomic 20V Max Brushless Compact 1/2 In. Drill/Driver Kit DCD708C2 is a good choice with better battery life and similar performance during testing. Alternatively, if you want the best of the bunch and brand isn't a concern, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" Drill Driver has better driving ability and longer battery life.

Side-by-Side Comparison
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David Wise and Austin Palmer