Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless 20V 1/2 in. Hammer Drill Kit

First impressions and setup

Pulling the Skil 20V hammer drill from the box, it feels like a serious upgrade over the budget kits many of us start with. The housing is cleanly molded, the rubber overmold is generous without being mushy, and the 1/2 in. metal ratcheting chuck gives off the right “this will survive a drop” vibe. Bare weight is light on paper, but with the included 2.0Ah pack mounted it lands in that comfortable midweight spot—easy to hold overhead, substantial enough to stay planted when you’re pushing a masonry bit.

The kit is straightforward: tool, 2.0Ah battery, PWRJUMP charger, belt clip, and a PH2 bit. Skil’s battery with the built-in USB port is a thoughtful touch; I topped up a phone on-site more than once without hunting for an outlet.

Ergonomics and controls

The grip angle and balance are excellent. With the battery installed, the drill sits neutral in my hand and doesn’t nose-dive. The variable-speed trigger has a wide, controllable range, and the two-speed gearbox is geared well: low (0–480 rpm) for control and torque, high (0–1,800 rpm) for smaller bits and faster drilling.

One quirk I noticed: there’s a subtle hesitation at the start of the trigger pull, like a momentary soft start. It’s not a deal-breaker—after a couple of screws I stopped noticing—but it’s there. The mode selector gives you three choices: screwdriver (clutch active), drill (clutch bypassed), and hammer. The detents are positive and easy to feel with gloves.

The LED work light is actually useful. It pre-lights as your finger approaches the trigger and stays on briefly after you release it. That pre-light makes hitting a mark inside cabinets or dim corners a lot easier.

Chuck and bit holding

The single-sleeve, keyless, metal ratcheting chuck is a nice step up in this price bracket. It grips round-shank bits firmly and doesn’t loosen under vibration. It’s worth tightening by hand until the ratchet clicks; this chuck isn’t one you “cheat” by gripping it and pulsing the trigger. Proper hand-tightening gives you predictable holding power, even on larger spade bits and masonry bits.

Wood and metal performance

In wood, the Skil 20V hammer drill is stronger than its size suggests. In low gear, it drove 4 in. exterior screws into treated 2x material without drama, and the 17-step clutch did a good job stopping consistently when assembling cabinets and fastening hardware. High gear shows off the brushless motor’s smoothness with twist bits up to 3/8 in. in pine and poplar, clearing chips cleanly and staying on line.

Hole saws are where you feel the limits of a compact pack; it will power a 2-1/8 in. bi-metal saw through a door for locksets, but you want low gear and a steady hand. In thin steel, a set of cobalt bits ran fine up to 3/8 in., and the motor maintained speed without chattering. The variable speed control makes it easy to keep metal cutting temps in check.

Masonry and the hammer function

This is where the second personality kicks in. On brick and mortar, the hammer action at 27,000 bpm is lively and effective. With a 3/16 in. carbide bit, I knocked out tapcon pilot holes around a ledger in short order. The drill sheds dust decently, doesn’t bounce off course, and vibration at the handle is low enough that a couple dozen holes won’t numb your fingers.

In cured concrete, the story is more nuanced. Up to 1/4 in. holes, it’s perfectly serviceable so long as you let the hammering do the work and don’t lean on it. Past that, you’re better off stepping through sizes or moving to an SDS-Plus rotary hammer. That’s not a knock—it’s reality for compact 20V hammer drills.

I did experience occasional stubbornness getting the hammer mode to “wake up.” Once or twice, after switching from drill to hammer, the tool spun but didn’t immediately engage the percussion mechanism. Cycling the mode selector to drill and back to hammer resolved it every time. It feels like the pawls sometimes need a rotation to seat. It’s minor, but worth noting if you’re switching modes frequently.

Speed, power, and runtime

The motor is brushless, and it behaves like it: efficient, quiet for the class, and with a linear throttle. In real use, low gear supplies the torque you want for lag screws, while high gear maintains bit speed well in softer materials. The published speeds align with what I felt at the trigger.

The included 2.0Ah battery is a sensible match for a compact kit, but it does define how you’ll use the tool in a day. For punch-list tasks and mixed drilling/fastening, it’s fine. If you’re planning a long run of anchors or large-bore woodworking, I’d pair the tool with a 4.0–5.0Ah pack.

Skil’s PWRJUMP charger is fast enough to change how you stage breaks. A short coffee break gave me meaningful charge back, and topping a pack mid-task becomes practical instead of a last resort.

Features that add up

• On-battery USB (PWRASSIST): I used it. It’s handy. It also means one less power bank in the bag.
• Belt clip: Strong enough to trust when climbing a ladder; doesn’t splay under the tool’s weight.
• Pre-light/after-glow LED: Genuinely helpful for accuracy.
• 17+ clutch settings: More fine-grained than many in this tier, which helps when you’re working with mixed hardware and softer materials.

Build quality and durability

Nothing rattles, the gearbox selector is crisp, and the chuck has no wobble beyond the normal tolerance you’d expect. The overmold is placed to protect the corners that actually hit the ground. After a weekend of carpentry and some masonry work, the tool shows only minor scuffing and no loosening at the nose. Brushless motors tend to be kinder to internals over time, and this one runs cool unless you’re really leaning on a hole saw.

What I didn’t love

• Trigger lag: The split-second hesitation at startup is noticeable. You adapt, but precision starts on delicate work take a touch more focus.
• Hammer engagement quirk: Rare, but real. Toggling the mode ring fixes it, and once engaged, hammer mode is effective.
• Small starter battery: The 2.0Ah pack keeps weight down but limits runtime on heavier tasks. A second battery or higher-capacity pack is almost a must if you’re working continuously.
• Platform availability: If you like to buy batteries and add-on tools off the shelf locally, check what your nearby retailers stock. I had to order an extra pack online.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners and DIYers who want one tool to cover daily drilling, fastening, and light masonry. This will feel like a big jump in capability without the size and cost of pro-tier kits.
• Trades who need a compact hammer drill for punch lists, service calls, and anchor holes up to 1/4 in. in brick and block. It’s a good companion to an SDS on the truck.
• Anyone who values quick charging and a well-balanced tool over max runtime from a single compact battery.

The bottom line

The Skil 20V hammer drill hits a sweet spot: brushless power, a sturdy metal chuck, fast top-offs on the charger, and thoughtful quality-of-life features like a pre-light LED and on-battery USB. In wood and metal it’s confident and controllable, and in brick and mortar it punches above its weight so long as you keep bit size reasonable. It has a couple of quirks—the soft-start feel and the occasional need to reseat hammer mode—but neither undermines the overall experience.

Recommendation: I recommend this drill for homeowners and value-minded pros who want a capable, well-built hammer drill without overspending. It’s strong in general drilling and fastening, genuinely useful for light masonry, and the kit’s fast charger reduces downtime. If your day is dominated by large-diameter concrete drilling or you demand all-day runtime from a single compact pack, pair it with higher-capacity batteries or step up to a dedicated rotary hammer for those tasks. For everything else, this Skil delivers solid performance and features at a very fair price.