DEWALT DCS382B 20V MAX XR Brushless Reciprocating Saw vs Makita XRJ04Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Recipro Saw

The DEWALT pairs a 1-1/8 inch stroke with the fastest speed here for the highest cutting rate, from a brushless motor. The Makita has the longest stroke at 1-1/4 inches, which is worth more than rate once the material gets thick.

DEWALT DCS382B 20V MAX XR Brushless Reciprocating Saw

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The highest stroke-times-speed figure in this group, from the only brushless motor here.

• A 1-1/8 in. stroke at 0 to 3,200 SPM works out to the highest cutting rate of the four.
• Brushless motor, which matters on a saw that regularly binds in a cut and heats the motor doing it.
• The fastest top speed here, useful in thin metal where stroke matters less than rate.
• Variable speed trigger, so the saw can be started slowly enough to keep the blade in the line.

• Bare tool, so batteries and a charger are a separate and significant cost.
• No published vibration figure in m/s2, in common with every saw here.
• 1-1/8 in. of stroke is an eighth short of the Makita, which shows in thick timber.

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Makita XRJ04Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Recipro Saw

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The longest stroke here at 1-1/4 inches, which uses more of the blade and clears the cut better than a faster short stroke does.

• A 1-1/4 in. stroke, the longest in this comparison, so each pass uses more blade and spreads tooth wear.
• Makita publishes real capacity figures: 10 in. in wood with a 12 in. blade, and 5-1/8 in. in pipe.
• The longer stroke clears the kerf more effectively, which is what stops the blade binding in wet or resinous timber.
• Makita states plainly that it has no orbital setting, which is more disclosure than a vague feature list.

• 0 to 2,800 SPM is the lowest top speed here, so the cutting rate lands just behind the DEWALT.
• No orbital action at all, which the more aggressive saws use to speed up cuts in wood.
• At 8.3 lb with a battery it is a heavy tool to hold out at arm's length.

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Side by side

The bottom line

Our overall pick is the DEWALT DCS382B 20V MAX XR Brushless Reciprocating Saw - The highest stroke-times-speed figure in this group, from the only brushless motor here. Choose the Makita XRJ04Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Recipro Saw instead if thick timber, roots and anything where a long stroke and blade life matter more than raw speed.

Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Reciprocating Saws: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).