The DeWalt DCF860 meets
the Hercules 20V Brushless
The fastest impact driver money can buy. We tested it head-to-head against the Hercules 20V Brushless ($70) across 5 key dimensions.
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
DeWalt DCF860
- Fastest impact driver in Project Farm's and Philly Fixed's speed tests, both for standard screws and heavy lag bolts
- 2,500 in-lbs rated torque, tied for highest in the group, with 1,886 in-lbs measured on Project Farm's clamp load tester
- Nine built-in LED lights around the chuck with a 20-minute work light setting (Project Farm)
- Heaviest bare tool at 2.8 lbs, 200g heavier than its predecessor the DCF887 (Tools & Stuff)
- Collet tolerances so tight that driver bits jammed during extreme lag screw tests, requiring pliers to remove (Tools & Stuff)
- Exceptionally loud at 96-111 dB under load, earmuffs required for extended use (Tools & Stuff, Project Farm)
Hercules 20V Brushless
- Only 0.2 seconds behind $150+ flagship models driving standard deck screws, effectively tied within margin of error (Philly Fixed)
- 1,882 in-lbs static torque measured by Project Farm, virtually identical to the DCF860's 1,886 in-lbs
- 5-year warranty and full kit with 5Ah battery and charger available for under $100 (Philly Fixed)
- Electronic protection shuts the tool off under extreme loads at 350-400 ft-lbs, preventing continuous heavy-duty nut busting (Philly Fixed)
- Intense hand vibration compared to smoother premium models, visually demonstrated in Project Farm's slime jiggle test
- Louder than average at 99.4 dB under load (Project Farm), requiring hearing protection for extended use
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The DeWalt DCF860 won because it is, measurably, the fastest impact driver you can buy. Project Farm clocked it at 4.95 seconds average on 5/16" x 5" lag bolts, a full 1.3 seconds ahead of the Hercules and half a second ahead of Milwaukee's Gen 4. On standard #10 screws, it averaged 1.41 seconds. No other tool in the 25-video dataset beat both numbers.
DeWalt DCF860
The DeWalt DCF860 won because it is, measurably, the fastest impact driver you can buy. Project Farm clocked it at 4.95 seconds average on 5/16" x 5" lag bolts, a full 1.3 seconds ahead of the Hercules and half a second ahead of Milwaukee's Gen 4. On standard #10 screws, it averaged 1.41 seconds. No other tool in the 25-video dataset beat both numbers.
- You build decks, frame walls, or drive lag bolts regularly and need the fastest tool available
- You're already on the DeWalt 20V MAX platform and want their flagship impact driver
- You prioritize raw speed and torque over compactness and low weight
- You work outdoors where noise isn't a concern and always wear hearing protection anyway
- You want the tool that won the most independent speed tests across our 25-video dataset
Hercules 20V Brushless
The Hercules HCB81B from Harbor Freight costs $70 as a bare tool. A full kit with a 5Ah battery and charger runs $98. That's less than what Milwaukee charges for the bare tool alone.
- You handle standard deck screws, furniture assembly, and general renovation without heavy structural work
- You want a full kit (tool, 5Ah battery, charger) for under $100
- You're not locked into any battery ecosystem and want maximum performance per dollar
- A 5-year warranty matters to you, especially on a tool this affordable
- You can tolerate rougher vibration and higher noise in exchange for saving $70-110 over premium alternatives