DeWalt 20V MAX XR Hammer Drill and Reciprocating Saw Combo Kit

Why I reached for this combo

I took the DeWalt XR combo out on a week of mixed tasks: setting wedge anchors into block, boring holes for 1/2-inch bolts through treated 4x4s, trimming copper and EMT, pulling a few rotted deck boards, and making flush cuts on door jambs during a flooring patch. I wanted to see if a two-tool kit could cover real work without constant battery babysitting or tool swapping. Short answer: it can, and it does, with a few caveats around weight and charging speed.

Build and design

Both tools are brushless, which you feel more in runtime and cool operation than sheer top-end speed. The hammer drill is the heavy hitter of the pair—substantial in the hand, with a 1/2-inch ratcheting metal chuck that has carbide inserts. That chuck matters. It grips slotted and round shanks without micro-slipping, even during hammer drilling into concrete. Bit changes are crisp; I didn’t have to re-tighten mid-hole.

The drill’s 3-speed gearbox covers a useful spread: low for big bits and fasteners, middle for general carpentry and metal work, and high for small-diameter drilling. The 3-mode LED is more than a gimmick. The spotlight setting with a long shutoff time is genuinely handy when you’re indexing holes overhead or working deep in a cabinet—no headlamp needed.

The reciprocating saw is a compact unit built to fit between 16-inch on-center studs. That’s not marketing fluff; I was able to get the shoe inside wall cavities for nail-cutting without tearing out more drywall. The 4-position blade clamp makes flush cuts cleaner and lets you turn a bi-metal blade sideways to sneak into tight corners. Blade swaps are quick and positive.

The kit rounds out with two 5.0 Ah 20V MAX XR batteries, a charger, a belt hook, and a contractor bag. The bag swallows both tools, batteries, and a small organizer for blades and bits; it’s a practical throw-in, not an afterthought.

Performance: hammer drill

With masonry bits in hammer mode, the drill chewed into block for 3/8-inch anchors with convincing pace and no perceptible chuck wobble. It isn’t the lightest hammer drill in this class, so bracing the side handle is advised for larger holes. In wood, speed 1 with an auger or spade bit is confident and controlled, while speed 2 covers most day-to-day work. On speed 3, with smaller twist bits, it feels quick but not brittle; the electronic brake consistently stopped the chuck without overspin.

Driving lag screws into PT lumber, the drill stayed cool and never stalled when I pre-drilled appropriately. The clutch selection is broad enough to avoid stripping cabinet screws, and shifting between modes is deliberate—no vague detents.

Noise in hammer mode is what you’d expect; ear protection is smart. Vibration is well managed, and the tool’s mass actually helps in concrete, keeping the bit planted.

Performance: reciprocating saw

The compact recip saw trades stroke length and brute force for access and control. Paired with a good demolition blade, it zipped through 2x stock and embedded nails without bucking or chatter. On copper and EMT, it was easy to feather speed to avoid work-hardening. The shorter housing and well-shaped front overmold made one-handed cuts feasible when I needed a free hand to steady material—though two hands is always the safer play.

The 4-position clamp was the highlight for me. Rotating the blade to horizontal gave me a clean approach for flush cuts along base plate nails and door casings. There’s no orbital action, which full-size demolition saws use to eat through thick lumber faster. For heavy demolition—stacked LVLs or wet timbers—this saw will do the job, just not as quickly as a big-body, orbital saw. As a compact, that’s an acceptable trade-off.

Battery life and charging

Runtime is the kit’s quiet strength. With two 5.0 Ah packs and brushless motors, I was swapping batteries because of task changes more often than because I’d run one flat. The built-in fuel gauge is accurate and visible from most angles. On a mixed-use day (drilling masonry, general carpentry, light metal cuts), I made it through without touching a second charge cycle.

Charging is steady rather than fast. If you’re used to high-output rapid chargers, plan ahead. For job-site use, two 5.0s are enough to rotate continuously unless you’re cutting non-stop with the recip saw. For shop or home projects, the included charger is fine—just top them off while you pack up.

Ergonomics and control

The drill is on the heavier side for a cordless hammer drill, especially with a 5.0 Ah pack. The upside is stability under load; the downside is fatigue on overhead or ladder work. The grip contour is familiar DeWalt—neutral wrist angle, deep texturing—and the balance point with a 5.0 Ah battery sits right at the trigger guard, which helps with precise starts.

The recip saw’s compact length makes a bigger difference than a few ounces of weight. It gets into cavities, between studs, and under sinks where a full-size saw is clumsy. Vibration control is solid for its class; I didn’t experience trigger finger numbing after repeated cuts. The shoe is sturdy and keeps good contact, which helps blades last longer.

Controls and switches are clear and positive. The LED on the drill illuminates a wide enough area that I could mark and drill without re-aiming the light. The belt hook is robust and lands the drill vertically; it’s not a crane hook, but I trusted it on framing and ladders.

Durability and maintenance

Between the nitro-carburized metal chuck and brushless motors, this combo is built for a long service life. The chuck’s carbide inserts protect against bit spin damage, which is often the first failure on cheaper chucks. I didn’t baby either tool: dust, a light drizzle, and a few trunk tosses left only cosmetic scuffs.

Maintenance is minimal: keep the battery contacts clean, blow out dust from vents, and don’t neglect blades and bits—the tools only perform as well as what you put in them. DeWalt backs the kit with a 3-year limited warranty, a year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction period. The tools carry common safety listings as well.

Where it fits

• Pros who need a capable hammer drill and a compact recip saw for remodels, MEP work, and punch lists will appreciate the access, runtime, and chuck quality.
• Serious DIYers tackling decks, fencing, and occasional masonry will get a durable setup that won’t feel underpowered as projects grow.
• If you primarily do heavy demolition, a full-size orbital recip saw is faster; consider this compact as the complement, not the replacement.
• If weight is your top concern for all-day overhead use, a smaller drill without hammer function may be more comfortable.

What I’d change

• A faster charger would better match the two 5.0 Ah packs, especially for users who lean on the recip saw all day.
• The hammer drill’s weight is the trade-off for its power and construction. A side handle in the kit would be welcome for large-bore tasks.
• The recip saw’s lack of orbital action limits raw cutting aggression in thick lumber, though it remains excellent for trim, plumbing, and tight-space demo.

Value

As a two-tool foundation, this kit makes sense. You get two high-capacity batteries with fuel gauges, a durable drill with a truly premium chuck, and a compact recip that solves access problems all the time. If you’re already on DeWalt’s 20V MAX platform, it’s an easy addition. If you’re not, the included batteries let you expand into other bare tools without another big outlay.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt XR combo to pros and advanced DIYers who want a robust hammer drill paired with a compact, versatile recip saw. The brushless motors deliver real runtime gains, the drill’s metal chuck is outstanding for grip and longevity, and the saw’s size pays dividends in tight spaces. The kit’s few compromises—moderate charging speed and a heavier drill—are easy to manage with two 5.0 Ah batteries and sensible task planning. If your work skews toward heavy demolition or you need featherweight tools for overhead tasks all day, there are better niche options. For most mixed carpentry, MEP, and remodel work, this combo is a reliable, long-term solution.