DeWalt 3/8 in. Cordless Impact Wrench With Hog Ring Anvil

Why I reached for this 3/8-in impact

I keep a 3/8-in impact wrench in my kit for the gray area between an impact driver and a 1/2-in mid-torque: brake jobs, engine bay work, suspension hardware that isn’t outrageously stuck, and anything in tight quarters where a 1/2-in head won’t fit. This DeWalt 3/8-in impact promised compact size, quick socket swaps via a hog ring, and on-paper power well above the typical compact. After several weeks across automotive and equipment tasks, it’s a capable tool with a few caveats worth knowing before you buy.

Build, balance, and ergonomics

The tool feels tough and well-finished, with a comfortable overmold and a forward/reverse selector that’s easy to flick with a gloved thumb. The belt clip is handy and sturdy enough that I actually used it. Bare weight is about 2.7 pounds; with a 5.0Ah pack it remains well-balanced and never felt wristy during extended use.

The head is short front-to-back (about 5.9 inches in length overall), which is great for working in front of strut towers and between frame rails. But the nose is on the chunky side. That “short and boxy” profile is a mixed bag: it slips into some spaces a longer tool can’t, yet the square nose sometimes blocks access to bolts nestled in tight flanges or between hydraulic fittings. I ran into this trying to snug 3/8-16 bolts on a pump flange; a wobble socket solved it, but I’d have preferred a slimmer snout.

Controls and lighting

There’s no dedicated speed selector or bolt-removal mode. It’s simply a variable-speed trigger that tops out around 2,850 RPM with 3,250 impacts per minute. The trigger curve is easy to modulate, which makes it friendly for starting fasteners without cross-threading. The LED ring around the anvil is excellent—no harsh hotspot and enough spill to find the next fastener in a dim wheel well. I wish more impacts used a ring light like this.

Socket retention: hog ring trade-offs

The 3/8-in hog-ring anvil makes socket changes quick. Retention is positive but not overly tight; chrome sockets slide on and off easily, and impact sockets stay put. Thin-walled wobble sockets can wiggle a bit more than they would on a detent pin, but I never had a socket fall off in use.

Power: what it will and won’t do

DeWalt rates this model at 250 ft-lbs fastening and up to 400 ft-lbs breakaway. In practice, impact wrench “breakaway” numbers are best-case with a fresh, high-capacity battery and ideal conditions. Here’s what I saw:

• Brake hardware: Sail-through on caliper bracket bolts torqued to 85–100 ft-lbs. Even with some surface rust, it zipped them off quickly.
• Suspension fasteners: Tie-rod ends, sway bar links, and smaller control arm bolts came out fine. Subframe bolts and heavily corroded knuckle bolts required patience and, occasionally, stepping up to a 1/2-in mid-torque.
• Automotive lug nuts: With a fully charged 5.0Ah pack and proper impact sockets, it consistently broke loose lugs torqued around 90–100 ft-lbs—especially on cars that see regular maintenance. On older, corroded lugs (or over-torqued ones), it sometimes stalled. In those cases, my 1/2-in impact was the right tool.
• Equipment and machinery: It handled M10–M12 fasteners well. On flange bolts that had been heat-cycled and threadlocked, it occasionally ran out of steam, reminding me this remains a compact-class 3/8, not a mid-torque 1/2.

If you pair it with a compact 2.0Ah battery, expect a noticeable dip in removal performance on stubborn fasteners. A 4.0–5.0Ah pack makes a real difference here.

Speed and control

Top speed feels brisk without being wild, and the hammer mechanism engages smoothly. There’s enough finesse to run nuts down to contact and then bump them snug before finishing with a torque wrench—exactly how a 3/8 impact should be used. Without a precision or auto-stop mode, you’ll want to be disciplined about final torque; the tool is great for removal and rundown, not for setting final specs.

Access and form factor

The headline dimension is its short length, and that is genuinely helpful under hoods and inside wheel wells. The trade-off is the squarish head that can foul on bosses, flanges, and fittings. If your work often involves hydraulic flanges, manifold bolts tucked into corners, or hardware surrounded by fittings, keep in mind you might be reaching for wobble extensions more often than with a slimmer, slightly longer 3/8 design.

Vibration, noise, and heat

Noise is typical for the class—loud enough to want ear protection, but not out of line with other compact impacts. Vibration is well controlled; the hammer action feels tight and the grip absorbs a fair bit of buzz. During extended removal jobs, the head gets warm but never overheated on me. No unusual smells or slowdown beyond what you’d expect as the battery drains.

Battery life

With a 5.0Ah pack, I made it through a brake job, a pair of sway bar links, and miscellaneous engine bay work with charge to spare. The tool sips power when doing light rundown and only draws heavily during sustained hammering. If your day is mostly small fasteners with occasional stubborn ones, a single 5.0Ah will cover a lot of ground.

Durability and service

Fit and finish out of the box were excellent: no wobble in the anvil, consistent impact sound, and no odd rattles. After a couple of drops from waist height onto concrete, it picked up scuffs but kept going. The 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service, and 90-day satisfaction period add confidence, especially if you’re choosing it as a daily driver.

What I’d change

• Slimmer nose profile: The short length is useful, but a less boxy head would improve access to flange bolts and fittings.
• Mode options: Even a simple “low/high” toggle or a bolt-removal mode would broaden its versatility, particularly for avoiding overdriving smaller fasteners.
• Kit option: It’s commonly sold bare. A kit with a compact and a 5.0Ah battery would let buyers tap its best performance out of the box.

Who it’s for

• Mechanics and DIYers who need a compact 3/8 for general automotive work, appliances, and equipment maintenance.
• Trades that benefit from short length and good trigger control—HVAC techs, maintenance crews—especially when working around sheet metal or confined spaces.
• DeWalt 20V users who already own 4.0–5.0Ah batteries and want a capable 3/8 without stepping up to a heavier 1/2-in gun.

Who should look elsewhere

• If your day involves frequent, heavily corroded fasteners, truck lug nuts, or large suspension hardware, a 1/2-in mid-torque will save time.
• If access around flanges and fittings is your primary constraint, consider a 3/8 with a slimmer, longer head, or keep wobble sockets close by.

The bottom line

This 3/8-in impact is a strong performer for its size class, with excellent ergonomics, a useful LED ring, and power that covers most day-to-day 3/8 jobs. It’s short, nicely balanced, and the hog ring keeps work moving. Its limitations are honest ones: a slightly bulky nose that can hamper access in certain spots, and real-world breakaway performance that depends on battery choice and the condition of the fastener.

Recommendation: I recommend it to anyone already on DeWalt’s 20V platform who needs a compact 3/8 for general-purpose work. Pair it with a 4.0–5.0Ah battery and it shines on brake jobs, engine bay fasteners, and medium-duty maintenance. If your work regularly pushes into seized or high-torque territory, keep a 1/2-in mid-torque alongside it—or consider a slimmer-headed 3/8 if access around flanges is your biggest pain point.