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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 1 |
Looking for a decent meat grinder for processing my wild game. Primarily deer and hogs but did manage to get a black bear recently. Any suggestions on brands and price points.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 18,215
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 18,215 |
Not a professional, but here's my .02 worth.. I bought one of these a few years ago from Northern Tool, just to see how difficult it was to do my own processing. It's made in China, it's noisy and it's slow, but it has ground up 5-6 deer with zero problems. It paid for itself in "processing fees" after the first run. We will continue to use it until it falls apart and then probably upgrade.. My cousin is into processing a bit more than I, he purchased [b][color:#3333FF]Cabela's 3/4 hp[/color][/b] grinder. It is head an shoulders above the cheap grinder I have. It's fast and quiet, sounds like a sewing machine when running. I've only used it once, but highly recommend one like that if you can swing it...
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,089 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,089 Likes: 2 |
I have been told that the newer ones might not be as good, but I bought the Northern Tool one probably 15+ years ago and have probably processed 15-20 elk and 20-25 deer and pronghorn with it without a hickup.
Cabelas has there cheap one on sale right now for $89,but I bet the Northern Tool is better. Try to look for one with metal gearing.
Last edited by saddlesore; 08/23/14.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 430
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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I picked up a Megaforce 3000, that was sold on ebay, about 3 Yrs ago. Coincidently, it was a dealer that was located in my hometown. He was nice enough to give me credit for the cost of shipping and some more off on the deal. The unit operates efficiently, powerfully and quietly and seems to be exceptional high quality in all regards. I paid less than 180 for it but can't remember exactly how much. You can still buy one for less than 200 shipped free. It handles anything I could reasonably ask it to do, with ease.-Mike
A PHD Won't help you if you don't know what the hell you are talking about.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943 |
I got the Northern Tool one a couple years ago and have no complaints. You'd have to spend considerably more to get a significant upgrade.
The truth angers those whom it does not convince
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 1 |
Thanks guys,
I will be looking into the Northern Tool.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,389
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,389 |
Bro in law and I both have the 3/4hp cabelas grinder. I picked up a 1hp in the cabelas bargain cave for dad. No complaints with any and they all get a workout. Brother in law (and family ) gets a handful of deer a year , an elk a year , usually a couple butcher pigs , and even an angus bull that was down in the back. Quite the workout.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,734
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2010
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1 h/p cabelas works great, ground many a deer and elk.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 1 |
Seem like all good grinders. I do like that the Megaforce comes with all the attachments? Midway for price point as well? Hmmm?
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,058
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,058 |
I have been extremely happy with my LEM grinder that I have owned for a few years. Mine is .35 HP stainless model (bought on sale for about $275.00), and unless you are going to be doing production butchering it will handle just about anything in grinding. I like the LEM sausage stuffers as well. I have the 5 pound one and it works very well, although I wish I would have purchased the 10 pound one. http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&am...b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4lgy43pw4e_b
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1 |
I wait until after Xmas when cabelas has their big grinder sales, I picked up a 1 HP version last year.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,413
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,413 |
My brother bought a commercial one at a used restaurant sales store and it easily handles anything. Was pretty cheap as I recall it was less than $150 and more than 1 horsepower. Such a store might be a place for you to look for a really good machine at a good price.
SCI Life Member DAV Life Member NRA Life Member North American Hunt Club Life Member
Your true character shows in your conduct
You cannot solve a problem at the same level of awareness that created it - Einstein
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,913 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2007
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Not a professional, but here's my .02 worth.. I bought one of these a few years ago from Northern Tool, just to see how difficult it was to do my own processing. It's made in China, it's noisy and it's slow, but it has ground up 5-6 deer with zero problems. It paid for itself in "processing fees" after the first run. We will continue to use it until it falls apart and then probably upgrade.. My cousin is into processing a bit more than I, he purchased [b][color:#3333FF]Cabela's 3/4 hp[/color][/b] grinder. It is head an shoulders above the cheap grinder I have. It's fast and quiet, sounds like a sewing machine when running. I've only used it once, but highly recommend one like that if you can swing it... Ditto on the cabella's 3/4 hp grinder. I bought one years ago and I have put a dozen deer thru it with no hiccups. Made lots of sausage, bologna, summer sausage, burger and jerkey. It is a bit pricy but catch it on sale and it will pay for itself in 3 hunting seasons and you will always know the quality of the meat your getting, and that it is actually "your deer" you are eating.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 571
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 571 |
i picked up one of the inexpsensive Northen tool ones as well years ago. I processed 13 deer with it before the plastic gear broke. picked up another just like it. Managed to pick the last one up for $49
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 22,690
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 22,690 |
I'm pretty old-school...call it $150 and no gears to worry about getting chewed up
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453 |
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 22,690
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 22,690 |
shamelessly stolen from this guy at sausagemania.combasically a #22 SS manual grinder + 13" flywheel + 1/2HP 1700 RPM motor the pillow block with 1.5" and 4" pulleys reduce grinder RPM to right about 80 not shown in the pic is a deadman's switch (foot pedal) it's basically unbreakable
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453 |
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,424
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,424 |
I've got 2 elk, 4 deer, and 2 antelope through mine.
If you love someone set them free If they come back no one else liked them Set them free again
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,031 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,031 Likes: 2 |
I cut up and process at least 3 deer a year. I have been using a #32 hand grinder for the last 20 years. It will last a lifetime And the motor won't stop when you have a boned out deer ready to grind up. They cost about 100 dollars and are more work but completely reliable.
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