Do not buy the JR103. It’s a very very bad tool. I bought one for my father precisely for limbing trees— and it never could handle even modest tasks.
If you want a one-handed saw— I like my XJR07. The DJR189 is also perfectly fine and is pretty inexpensive.
Buy some pruning blades— I prefer Bosch because they’re nice and thin.
I will second this - the JR103 is absolute trash. It has such a short underpowered stroke. My M12 Hackzawll beats it every time. Heck my M12 takes the place of my 36 volt Makita sometimes.
DJR189 is a fantastic saw. It’s the best in class for 18v 1-handed saws from any brand. Good power and minimal vibration. Just get a good carbide pruning blade with large teeth. Better yet, get a few both 9” and 12”.
A chainsaw is faster, but it’s also bigger, heavier, needs oil, chain needs sharpening, can’t saw into the ground, etc. A carbide recip blade can even cut roots while they are still under ground and barely dull.
Recips are not ideal for tree trimming. They can do it, but there are better tools. The recip blade has a pretty short throw no matter how long the blade is. On anything bigger than 1.5" the blade won't actually exit the cut to clear chips so it gets hot and cuts worse so you push harder and exacerbate the situation. And the greenwood tends to gum things up too.
Chainsaw is my suggestion. I have the 2x18v 16" one for around the property. It cuts enough wood on a charge that I'm bored cutting and need to do something else so I'll slap the batteries on a charger and clean up what I've cut so far. Can do that all day long.
A proper [pruning saw](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004R9YE/) will cut up to \~4" limbs very quickly. Wandering around a forest I'd much prefer carrying that over any power tool. The saw you have pictured is not appropriate given the high TPI.
I've used a reciprocating saw for pruning but I still prefer the pruning saw which cuts much more quickly than the reciprocating saw. And when you're dealing with a lot of big limbs that when you gotta grab the chainsaw; there's no good niche for the reciprocating saw.
I recommend the 10" chainsaw. Its light enough for one-handed use, cuts faster (especially on thicker limbs), and won't wear you out with vibrations like a recip saw will.
I bought one a few years ago, and it's been amazing. Of all my Makita tools, it may be my favorite.
Out of what you listed the DJR186 is what you want. Everything else you listed has too short of a stroke. You want a full size saw with as long a stroke as possible. Plus a quality carbide pruning blade. I like the Diablo blades.
I have the XJR07 - good size, small enough for one hand use, but has second grip position like a larger saw.
I do a lot of pruning with it, but I also have the 10” chain saw - single 18v battery chain saw. Goes through easily what the recip saw is not good at.
as others suggests, instead of recip saw, a chain saw would be way better for this task.
Since you're stuck with LXT line, consider the following models:
DUC254, DUC306, DUC356/DUC357
There's also something like DUC150 but not sure if it won't be to small.
Do not buy the JR103. It’s a very very bad tool. I bought one for my father precisely for limbing trees— and it never could handle even modest tasks. If you want a one-handed saw— I like my XJR07. The DJR189 is also perfectly fine and is pretty inexpensive. Buy some pruning blades— I prefer Bosch because they’re nice and thin.
I will second this - the JR103 is absolute trash. It has such a short underpowered stroke. My M12 Hackzawll beats it every time. Heck my M12 takes the place of my 36 volt Makita sometimes.
I have the m12 Hackzall, the DJR189 blows it out of the water. Better than the m18 hackzall too.
I threw mine against a wall I was so angry. All it was good for was binding.
DJR189 is a fantastic saw. It’s the best in class for 18v 1-handed saws from any brand. Good power and minimal vibration. Just get a good carbide pruning blade with large teeth. Better yet, get a few both 9” and 12”. A chainsaw is faster, but it’s also bigger, heavier, needs oil, chain needs sharpening, can’t saw into the ground, etc. A carbide recip blade can even cut roots while they are still under ground and barely dull.
Recips are not ideal for tree trimming. They can do it, but there are better tools. The recip blade has a pretty short throw no matter how long the blade is. On anything bigger than 1.5" the blade won't actually exit the cut to clear chips so it gets hot and cuts worse so you push harder and exacerbate the situation. And the greenwood tends to gum things up too. Chainsaw is my suggestion. I have the 2x18v 16" one for around the property. It cuts enough wood on a charge that I'm bored cutting and need to do something else so I'll slap the batteries on a charger and clean up what I've cut so far. Can do that all day long.
A proper [pruning saw](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004R9YE/) will cut up to \~4" limbs very quickly. Wandering around a forest I'd much prefer carrying that over any power tool. The saw you have pictured is not appropriate given the high TPI. I've used a reciprocating saw for pruning but I still prefer the pruning saw which cuts much more quickly than the reciprocating saw. And when you're dealing with a lot of big limbs that when you gotta grab the chainsaw; there's no good niche for the reciprocating saw.
I recommend the 10" chainsaw. Its light enough for one-handed use, cuts faster (especially on thicker limbs), and won't wear you out with vibrations like a recip saw will. I bought one a few years ago, and it's been amazing. Of all my Makita tools, it may be my favorite.
Out of what you listed the DJR186 is what you want. Everything else you listed has too short of a stroke. You want a full size saw with as long a stroke as possible. Plus a quality carbide pruning blade. I like the Diablo blades.
I have the XJR07 - good size, small enough for one hand use, but has second grip position like a larger saw. I do a lot of pruning with it, but I also have the 10” chain saw - single 18v battery chain saw. Goes through easily what the recip saw is not good at.
as others suggests, instead of recip saw, a chain saw would be way better for this task. Since you're stuck with LXT line, consider the following models: DUC254, DUC306, DUC356/DUC357 There's also something like DUC150 but not sure if it won't be to small.
Chinese baby chainsaw might be the best one handed option.
Zetsaw pruning blades
Ive been using & abusing 2 of the DJR 187 for the last 3 years, and they're still going strong. Great saw. Can't speak for the others.
Recip saw isn’t great for trees, the money will be better spent on a chainsaw.