Ridgid 18V Cordless Hammer Drill Review R861152

Apr 28, 2023

There's no question the Ridgid R861152 is the flagship of its 18V cordless hammer drill lineup. With its performance level and decrease in size and weight, it's a legitimate contender among professional drills. As we expect from Ridgid, this model carries a lower price tag than its premium counterparts, making it a smart choice for contractors who want to save money without sacrificing performance.

The Ridgid R861152 18V Cordless High-Torque Hammer Drill rounds its next-gen series of drill models. We ran it through a series of tests to see where it fits among the best cordless drills. We also compared it to Ridgid's other drills, including the discontinued Octane model to help you decide which one is the best fit for you.

For its flagship hammer drill, it's no surprise to find a brushless motor at the heart of the matter. It's geared for high torque and maxes out at a muscular 1250 in-lbs. That's in the range of some of the top models out there. Milwaukee's Gen 4 M18 Fuel hammer drill sports 1400 in-lbs and Makita's 40V XGT model is sitting at 1250 in-lbs. That's some solid company to keep.

In the speed department, low gear produces 550 RPM and high gear jumps up to 2000 RPM. Most Pro-level drills are geared to either 2000 or 2100 RPM on the top end. There are some notable exceptions from Flex and Metabo that run higher, though.

When you’re working in hammer drill mode, you get up to 32000 BPM. Like the speed, that's right where we expect a Pro-grade model to be, though you can find some that go a bit higher.

A welcome addition to this model is kickback control. With so much torque available, it's a feature you really want to have and can save you from painful wrist/elbow injuries.

When it comes to design, the size and weight of this model are worth pointing out. The previous Octane hammer drill was strong but bulky. The Ridgid R861152 drops a full inch off of the length and 1/2 a pound of weight. It's now much more in with premium heavy-duty hammer drills. The only real trade-off is 50 in-lbs of torque, and that's not something we noticed during our testing.

So which Ridgid 18V cordless drill is right for you? Now that there are three distinct classes Ridgid has brushless options available in, it might not be an easy choice. Here's a quick comparison:

What's interesting is that the high-torque model has a shorter head length (I double-checked them side-by-side to be sure). The mid-range model is dialed in for speed and is the best all-rounder for the majority of drilling duties. If you’re looking at rough-in projects or other jobs where big bits are the norm, the high-torque R861152 is the way to go.

The flagship Ridgid 18V Cordless High-Torque Hammer Drill is available as a bare tool for $149. There's not an official kit yet, but Home Depot does have a bundle that includes two 4.0Ah batteries and a charger for $426. That's the bare tool plus the AC93044SBN battery/charger starter kit at their regular prices.

If it's the best value you’re looking for, go with the R92082 2-tool combo kit. It includes the High-Torque Hammer Drill, the R862312 18V Brushless 4-Mode 1/4 in. Impact Driver, a 6.0Ah Max Output battery, a 4.0Ah Max Output battery, and a charger for $379. Plus, it comes with a hard case. That's a fantastic value compared to piecing all of those together individually.

There's no question the Ridgid R861152 is the flagship of its 18V cordless hammer drill lineup. With its performance level and decrease in size and weight, it's a legitimate contender among professional drills. As we expect from Ridgid, this model carries a lower price tag than its premium counterparts, making it a smart choice for contractors who want to save money without sacrificing performance.

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