Milwaukee vs DeWalt impact wrenches - daily use comparison?

Hey all, looking at upgrading my impact wrench setup. Been eyeing the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" and the DeWalt 20V XR. I'm a precision machinist but do a lot of side work on equipment - need something that can handle daily abuse on rusty bolts and heavy assemblies. Anyone have real-world experience with both? Battery life, durability under constant use, and that instant torque matter most. Not interested in spec sheets - tell me how they actually hold up after 6+ months of daily use.

Larry, as a landscape architect I'm not wrenching all day, but my crew abuses tools. We standardized on DeWalt 20V for everything. The XR impact has survived 2 years of being dropped in mud, left in rain, and used by guys who think 'finesse' means hitting it harder. Battery interchangeability with our other tools is huge - one charger for everything. That said, our sparky subcontractors swear by Milwaukee for pure power. If you're doing precision work though, DeWalt's trigger control might be better for delicate stuff.

30-year GC here. Both are good tools, but for DAILY professional use: Milwaukee. Period. Their brushless motors outlast DeWalt's in my experience. We run 12 Milwaukee impacts across 3 crews. Oldest is 4 years, still original brushes. DeWalt we retired after 2 years when the anvil started slipping. Milwaukee's warranty service is faster too. Only advantage DeWalt has is price when on sale at Tool Discount Club. But buy once, cry once. Milwaukee batteries also seem to hold charge longer in cold weather - matters for outdoor work.

Thanks both. Tim - that anvil issue concerns me. Dave - good point about trigger control for precision work. Follow-up: anyone have experience with Makita's XGT line? Heard they're stepping up their game. And what about serviceability? I like to maintain my own tools when possible. Milwaukee's local service center is 50 miles away, DeWalt's is 30. Not a dealbreaker but worth considering.

Makita's great for woodworking tools but their impact game is behind IMO. We tested one - felt underpowered compared to DeWalt/Milwaukee. As for service, check if Tool Discount Club does repairs - ours sends out DeWalt tools for warranty work, saves the drive. Pro tip: buy the bare tool and get batteries separately during their holiday sales. Saved 30% last Black Friday. Oh and Milwaukee's One-Key app is gimmicky unless you're managing a fleet - don't pay extra for that feature.