WERA - 05051493001-838 RA-R M Bitholding Screwdriver with Ratchet functionality, 1/4", 1/4" x 123.5 mm
Wera
Best for
Best premium bitholder
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 1 trusted source
Updated May 19, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Wera 838 RA-R M is the precision pick — a bitholding ratcheting screwdriver (not a multi-bit driver with internal storage) built around a 36-tooth fine-pitch ratchet with a 10-degree return angle and an unusually clever 'screw setting' feature: r/Tools commenters explain that the green actuator ring lets you start a screw with fingertip rotation before engaging the ratchet, which a high-trust r/Tools thread describes as 'works intuitively' and another calls 'amazing.' A separate r/Tools comparison thread between the 838 RA-S and RA-R M notes both have very low backdrag relative to most ratcheting drivers. The disagreement is on the record and worth surfacing. A high-trust r/Tools thread titled 'very underwhelmed by my Wera ratcheting' captures the dissenting view — and even within positive threads, users acknowledge this is an assembly/precision tool rather than a heavy-torque workhorse.
What reviewers liked
- 36-tooth fine-pitch ratchet with 10-degree return angle praised across r/Tools for precision work
- Unique 'screw setting' feature lets the actuator ring spin independently — r/Tools commenters call it intuitive and useful
- Very low backdrag relative to other ratcheting drivers, per r/Tools comparison threads
- Switch position is hard to accidentally toggle off, per long-term r/Tools owner feedback
Where it falls short
- r/Tools 'very underwhelmed by my Wera ratcheting' thread documents real dissatisfaction
- Bitholder only — no in-handle bit storage and you supply your own bits, unlike the Megapro or Klein multi-bits
- Premium pricing without the multi-bit versatility of comparably-priced competitors
- Better suited to assembly/precision work than heavy-torque jobsite use, per r/Tools consensus
Across the reviewers we read, the Wera 838 RA-R M is the precision pick — a bitholding ratcheting screwdriver (not a multi-bit driver with internal storage) built around a 36-tooth fine-pitch ratchet with a 10-degree return angle and an unusually clever 'screw setting' feature: r/Tools commenters explain that the green actuator ring lets you start a screw with fingertip rotation before engaging the ratchet, which a high-trust r/Tools thread describes as 'works intuitively' and another calls 'amazing.' A separate r/Tools comparison thread between the 838 RA-S and RA-R M notes both have very low backdrag relative to most ratcheting drivers.
The disagreement is on the record and worth surfacing. A high-trust r/Tools thread titled 'very underwhelmed by my Wera ratcheting' captures the dissenting view — and even within positive threads, users acknowledge this is an assembly/precision tool rather than a heavy-torque workhorse. If you want a single multi-bit driver that does everything, this isn't it; it's a bitholder that expects you to bring your own bit set.
At 4.6 across 940 Amazon reviews the verified-purchase signal is solid, and the YouTube reviewer pool around the 838 RA-R M is unusually deep — multiple dedicated review videos, which suggests genuine enthusiast interest rather than incidental coverage.
- Bitholding screwdriver with Rapidaptor quick-release chuck for bits with 1/4" external hexagon drive as per DIN ISO 1173-C 6.3 and E 6.3 and Wera series 1 and 4
- Ratchet mechanism integrated in the handle
- The integrated ratchet with fine toothing ensures fast and safe working
- High working speed
- The ratchet mechanism allows to "spin" when screwdriving
- Ergonomic intuitive switching to clockwise/counterclockwise or position 0
Works perfectly, the mechanism is smooth after months of use, and the switch is in a position where it's hard to accidentally toggle off - kept ...
Wera 838 RA-R M is not large at all and has a new (to me) function where you can start a screw with your finger tips before ratcheting.
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“NEW! WERA Ratcheting Screwdriver 838 RA” · R / It's Not ...
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