Skip to content

In-depth review

Milwaukee 2746-20 M18 FUEL Brad Nailer Review (2027)

The Milwaukee 2746-20 pairs nitrogen-spring brad drive with zero ramp-up firing. Our research-based verdict on the M18 brad nailer.

TGBy TrueGear Research TeamIndependent editorial teamLast updated How we researchResearch-based assessment · Nail Guns
Specs verified against manufacturer docs
No paid placements
Independently funded by readers
Updated 2026-10-30
Milwaukee 2746-20 M18 FUEL Brad Nailer Review (2027) featured graphic
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Brad Nailer, 18 Ga., Tool Only (2746-20)

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Brad Nailer, 18 Ga., Tool Only (2746-20)

Milwaukee's nitrogen-spring brad nailer: zero ramp-up firing, clean nail holes and no gas cartridges.

Check priceAdd to cart

Our verdict

The 2746-20 is the precision brad nailer of the M18 lineup: a nitrogen air spring that sinks brads to proper depth in hard and soft woods with clean holes, a brushless motor with zero ramp-up firing, tool-free depth adjustment, and no gas cartridge to maintain. It suits cabinetry, furniture and fine trim, where a clean hole and an instant shot matter more than raw power. The caveats are specific: a magazine that can stop with a few brads still loaded, weight with a battery fitted, and a bare-tool price that assumes an M18 collection.

What we like

  • Nitrogen air spring mechanism sinks brads to proper depth in hard and soft woods with clean holes
  • POWERSTATE brushless motor with REDLINK PLUS intelligence gives a fast fire rate with zero ramp-up time
  • Tool-free depth adjustment lets the operator fine-tune countersink without stopping for a tool
  • Dry-fire lockout, no-mar pads and a belt hook cover the daily details of trim work

What to watch out for

  • Bare tool cost plus M18 battery investment makes the first purchase steep for non-M18 buyers
  • Magazine can stop firing with a few brads still loaded, which catches owners mid-run
  • Heavier than pneumatic brad nailers, so long overhead trim sessions tire the arm sooner

What owners report: Milwaukee M18 FUEL Brad Nailer, 18 Ga., Tool Only (2746-20)

Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.

Most praised

  • Instant firing stands out on punch-out work, where the tool is picked up, fired once and set down again all day.
  • Clean nail holes that match the brad head make filling and finishing faster on cabinets and furniture.
  • No gas cartridge to buy or maintain removes a running cost and a maintenance chore owners disliked on older tools.

Common complaints

  • Stopping with a few brads left in the magazine interrupts a run and forces an early reload.
  • Weight with a battery fitted feels heavy for a brad nailer, especially on ceiling trim and overhead runs.
  • Bump firing, when tried, jams more often than sequential firing, so most owners stick to single shots.

Who it is for

M18 owners doing cabinetry, furniture and fine trim where clean nail holes and instant firing matter most.

Clean holes and instant firing

The nitrogen spring drives each brad to a consistent depth and leaves a hole that matches the brad head, which shortens the filling and finishing stage on cabinets and furniture. Zero ramp-up firing means the tool is ready the moment the trigger is pulled, with no spool-up wait, which matters most on punch-out work where the tool is picked up, fired once and set down again all day. That instant readiness is the feature that separates this tool from older cordless brad nailers.

Depth control without stopping

Tool-free depth adjustment lets the operator fine-tune countersink as the material changes from soft pine to hardwood molding, without hunting for a tool or breaking the rhythm of a trim run. The dry-fire lockout protects the driver when the magazine empties, and the no-mar pads protect finished surfaces from the nose. These are small features individually, but together they decide whether a trim day feels smooth or stop-start.

The magazine quirk and the weight question

Owners report that the magazine can stop firing with a few brads still loaded, which interrupts a run and forces an early reload. It is a known quirk rather than a failure, but it frustrates owners who expect the magazine to run fully dry before stopping. Weight with a battery fitted is the second complaint, especially on overhead trim, where a pneumatic brad nailer at a fraction of the weight feels far easier by the end of the day.

Key specifications

Power
18V M18 FUEL, brushless, bare tool
Nail gauge
18 gauge brads
Nail length
5/8 to 2-1/8 inches
Magazine capacity
110 nails, per retailer fields
Drive system
Nitrogen air spring, no gas cartridge
Weight
6.59 lb, per Amazon fields

Also consider

Research-based assessment. TrueGear has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.

Questions, answered

Why does my 2746-20 stop with brads still in the magazine?

That is a known behaviour of this magazine design: it can stop firing before the last few brads are spent. Reload a fresh strip rather than forcing the remaining brads, and treat the early stop as the reload signal instead of a fault to fight through.

Is the 2746-20 good for cabinets?

Yes, cabinets and furniture are its best jobs: clean holes, consistent depth and instant firing suit casework where the finish matters and the pieces are handled closely. For heavy baseboard, step up to a finish nailer instead.

Does the 2746-20 use gas cartridges?

No. It uses a sealed nitrogen air spring, so there is no gas cartridge to buy or maintain. That removes a running cost and a maintenance chore that older cordless brad nailers imposed.

Every guide on Nail Guns15 pages