The Snap On CT4850HO hasn't been out for too long (neither has the "ol" MG725) so I doubt that's the one you have experience with or have seen on the truck for 2 - 3 bills. I have one and it rarely gets used. It's big, heavy and a PITA when you don't need that much torque.
I generally use my Mastercraft 14.4 impact ($150cdn!) or my IR 2135ti in the shop as they are much handier in tight spots. CT4850 is pretty much relegated to road work. It is a good impact though and would work well for the scrap yard.
I understand your sentiments but the work experience I spoke of is from a tractor / trailer shop where
most of the tools themselves but for electrical repairs are big heavy and a PITA! This is good and bad... I do indeed have experience with the 4850HO, one of my good friends is a Snap-On dealer and I'm on his truck at least once or twice a week and he's always serving up the kool-aid; he has sold the HO to most of the guys at said trailer shop (also got me my job there) and as a punk kid who didn't want to spend $500 bucks on a new one, I used the other 4+ in the shop on a regular basis when working (learning) and the service manager let me borrow his for service calls.
I also did see a Snap-On 1/2" on the truck, it was dirty and scuffed, small crack in the housing but still worked well. It was traded in by my coworker, so I suppose it could have been an older model if the older one was similar looking to the 4850HO, but I'm fairly sure this was it; though I wasn't interested enough to really pore over it. Where I worked, tools got
used and didn't look new for very long, so this is what's fogging my memory, also why I refer to my purchased two-weeks-after-release MG725 as the 'ol snap on because it's a little dinged up compared to my other tools. (Also good for making fun of my buddy with his big MAC IR gun) "Don't make me get the 'ol Snap-On gun!" "Is that IR gonna take off those slider holddowns?"
I'm not sure just how much power Rusty67 needs but if he has the time to look, and can find someone that got rid of their snap-on HO on the truck (financial reasons, lack of use like yourself, whatever) or is selling it, I think it would be a good buy due to the greater power, durability and it may still be under warranty. I also don't remember the guys I worked with having any issues with their cordless guns (sadly, unlike the XT7100 and MG.) The SO will probably have enough power for whatever he foresees and maybe some things he doesn't, but I can also see it being more expensive than his use will justify.
EDIT:
Rusty67 said:
The CT4850HO is just way too expensive. I'm looking at the Milwaukee setup for $460.
Forty bucks more for the Snap-On with a lot more power, man. I didn't realize you were considering spending this much, if you wait and look around you can find the Snap-On for that or less in good shape. At least where I live.
