In-depth review
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2727-20 16 in. Chainsaw Review (2027)
The Milwaukee 2727-20 pairs a 16 inch bar with a maker-rated 40cc gas equivalent. Our research-based verdict for M18 owners cutting firewood.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2727-20 16 in. Chainsaw (Tool Only)
Milwaukee's 16 inch M18 FUEL saw, rated to gas-engine performance up to 40cc, for serious cordless bucking.
Our verdict
The 2727-20 is the battery saw in this guide that most convincingly replaces a small gas saw: a 16 inch Oregon bar, a POWERSTATE brushless motor, a maker-rated 40cc gas equivalent and up to 150 cuts per charge on the HD12.0 pack. It is heavy at 13.9 lb, it is bare tool only, and its rated output assumes the large pack. For M18 owners who buck firewood and clear storm damage, those caveats are worth accepting. For pruning-only buyers, they are not.
What we like
- Maker-rated gas performance up to 40cc, which puts it in genuine firewood territory rather than the pruning class
- Up to 150 cuts per charge with the REDLITHIUM High Output HD12.0 battery, per the maker claim
- Variable speed trigger with full throttle in under one second, so the chain is at speed before it meets wood
- Dual-stud bar retention, automatic oiling and onboard scrench storage keep the working end organised
What to watch out for
- Bare tool, and rated output assumes the large HD12.0 pack, which is a second substantial purchase
- At 13.9 lb it is a heavy saw to carry and manoeuvre through brush all afternoon
- The 16 inch bar still stops short of large-diameter felling and big hardwood bucking
What owners report: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2727-20 16 in. Chainsaw (Tool Only)
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- Firewood cutters report it replacing a small gas saw for routine bucking, with none of the starting ritual
- The onboard scrench storage gets singled out by owners tired of hunting for the tool mid-job
- It holds speed through a cut instead of bogging, which owners notice most on the second and third logs
Common complaints
- The saw feels nose-heavy with the big pack fitted, and wrists notice it on overhead limbing
- Small M18 packs drain fast enough that owners end up buying the HD12.0 anyway
- The price of admission for non-M18 households, tool plus large battery, surprises first-time buyers
Who it is for
M18 owners, firewood cutters and property owners who want gas-class bucking without gas upkeep.
Power that survives contact with wood
Maker gas-equivalence claims are easy to print and hard to honour, but the 2727-20's combination of a 16 inch bar, 6,600 RPM and a brushless motor built for sustained load gives the claim more weight than most. Owners cutting firewood report it holding speed through cuts rather than bogging, which is the practical test of a bucking saw. The variable speed trigger reaching full throttle in under a second helps on limbing work, where the chain must be at speed before it meets a branch under tension.
The HD12.0 question
The 150-cut claim belongs to the REDLITHIUM High Output HD12.0 battery, and that matters. On compact M18 packs the saw runs, but it is a diminished tool, and owners who bought it expecting flagship output on a small pack report disappointment that is really a battery problem. Budgeting for the large pack is part of buying this saw, not an optional extra, and first-time M18 buyers should price tool plus pack together before comparing it with kit saws.
Weight, handling and the working end
At 13.9 lb the 2727-20 is a serious saw to carry through brush, and its nose-heavy feel with the big pack fitted is the most consistent handling note from owners. Against that, dual-stud bar retention holds the bar steady under hard bucking, the automatic oiler does its job without attention, and onboard scrench storage ends the mid-job tool hunt. It is a saw built for the woodpile, not for threading through hedgerows, and it should be bought for the woodpile.
Key specifications
- Power
- Milwaukee M18 FUEL, POWERSTATE brushless motor
- Bar and chain
- 16 in. Oregon bar and chain
- Gas equivalent
- Up to 40cc (maker claim)
- Cuts per charge
- Up to 150 with REDLITHIUM High Output HD12.0 battery (maker claim)
- Chain
- 3/8 in. Low Profile pitch, 0.043 in. gauge
- Weight
- 13.9 lb
Also consider
DEWALT DEWALT 60V MAX FLEXVOLT 18 in. Brushless Chainsaw Kit (DCCS672X1)
DEWALT's most powerful cordless saw here, an 18 inch FLEXVOLT kit rated at 2.85 peak horsepower.
Why consider it: The DEWALT rival with an 18 inch bar and 2.85 peak horsepower, sold as a kit
- Power: 60V MAX FLEXVOLT, brushless motor
- Bar and chain: 18 in. bar and chain
EGO EGO Power+ CS1611 16 in. Chainsaw Kit
A 56V kit with battery and charger in the box, aimed squarely at homeowners stepping up from pruning saws.
Why consider it: A complete 16 inch kit with battery and charger for buyers starting from zero
- Power: 56V ARC Lithium
- Bar and chain: 16 in. bar and chain
Research-based assessment. TrueGear has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
Can the 2727-20 replace a gas chainsaw?
For moderate firewood and storm work, owners say yes. For all-day felling and heavy hardwood bucking, gas stamina still wins. The 2727-20 covers the middle ground that most property owners actually live in.
Which battery does the 2727-20 need?
Any M18 pack runs it, but rated output and the 150-cut claim assume the REDLITHIUM High Output HD12.0. For bucking work, that pack is effectively part of the saw's specification.
Is it too heavy for pruning?
For dedicated pruning, yes. At 13.9 lb it tires arms on overhead work, and a compact saw like the DEWALT DCCS620B or the RYOBI PSBCW01B is the better pruning tool. Buy the 2727-20 for bucking, not for the garden.
Every guide on Chainsaws15 pages
- Topic hubChainsaws
- Best ofThe Best Chainsaws (2027)
- This ranking covers only battery saws, because the battery decision is the whole purchase. The ranking separates on three things: bar length against the wood you cut, the battery platform you already own, and whether the box is a bare tool or a working kit. A flagship on a small pack is ranked below its headline, and a kit with a small included battery is flagged for it. Gas saws are excluded here, not judged inferior, because they answer a different question.The Best Battery Chainsaws (2027)
- Firewood cutting is the hardest honest test in this guide, because it combines diameter, volume and duration. A pruning saw cannot fake it, and a battery saw with one small pack cannot sustain it. This ranking weights bar length for the rounds you actually buck, sustained output over a session, and refuel or battery-swap stamina. Pruning specialists are excluded even when they are excellent saws, because firewood is not their job.The Best Chainsaws for Firewood (2027)
- Pruning rewards the opposite virtues from firewood: light weight, short bars, easy starting and control in tight spaces. This ranking excludes the heavy gas saws and the long-bar battery saws, even though they can prune, because carrying them through brush all day is the wrong tool for the job. Weight, balance, tensioning ease and starting effort decide this ranking more than peak power.The Best Chainsaws for Pruning and Limbing (2027)
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