| Design | | Acceptable Design - While this drill has one or more design features that received a C rating, it can still be a good choice if that area is not critical to your particular needs. |
| Power | | Below Average Power - Delivers up to 420 in-lbs of torque, about 22% less than the class average. Power can sometimes be traded for weight or cost. |
| Speed | | Below Average Speed - Generates up to 1400 RPM, about 20% slower than the average hammer drill. The Porter-Cable 9977 ranks in the bottom 5% of its class for speed. |
| Weight | | Heavier Than Average - Weighs 5.75 lbs, about 6% heavier than the class average. Heavier drills are often more durable, but you should consider operator fatgue. |
| Battery | | Below Average Run-Time - Battery endurance is adequate for many work applications, but is 24% less than the class average. Uses NiCd batteries with a charge rating of 2 Ah. |
| Hammer | | Below Average Impact Rate - Generates 18200 BPM of maximum hammer blows, about 33% less than the average hammer drill. Not the best for concrete or metal. |
| User Reviews | √ | Highly Satisfied Users - Rated 4.4 of 5 stars by 17 users. Most owners are very satisfied with the performance and value of this cordless drill and would recommend it to others. |
| Power Ratio | | Below Average Power Ratio - Power-to-Weight ratio is 28% below average and ranks in the bottom 14% of its class. P/W is a good indicator of drill efficiency. |
| Gearbox | | Nylon Gears - Transmission includes at least some nylon gears that may need replacing after years of extended use. A nylon gearbox helps reduce drill weight. |
| Chuck | √ | All-Metal Chuck - Dropping a power drill is a common mishap. Having an all-metal chuck provides durability and helps prevent the sleeve from cracking. |
| Motor Brushes | | No External Access - The motor brushes can only be accessed internally by taking the drill apart. While not a coomon problem, external access makes the replacement job much easier. |
| Warranty | √ | Longer Warranty - Backed by Porter-Cable's limited 3-year warranty. This provides extra protection against potential design defects or premature part failure. |
| Bit Change | √ | One-Hand - The single-sleeve chuck has auto spindle lock so the drill bit can be changed with one hand. This is a very convenient feature that makes the job go faster. |
| Charger | | Standard Charge Time - The Porter-Cable 9977 battery charger takes 60 minutes to recharge a battery. Longer charge times are not a big issue if you always have a battery back-up. |
| Belt Hook | | No Belt Hook - Does not include this convenient feature that frees-up both your hands to perform other tasks in-between drilling. |
| Work Light | | No Work Light - Does not include an integrated work light. This is a great feature that is now being incorporated into many of the new cordless drills. |
| Side Handle | | No Side Handle - Omits the option to use a side handle that can provide stable support when drilling and driving larger drill bits and screws where additional torque is required. |
| Fuel Gauge | | No Fuel Gauge - Does not come equipped with a handy battery charge indicator that allows you to glance at your drill and check your battery life while you're working. |
