A deer gives you 30 to 60 pounds of trim to grind, much of it laced with silverskin and sinew. You want a grinder that pulls meat in without much pushing, doesn't slow on connective tissue, and won't overheat halfway through. That means a #8 at minimum and ideally a #12.
- Best for deerLEM #12 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (1780)$599.99 list
- Best for one deer a yearLEM #8 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.5 HP (1779)About $420
- Best for elk and big seasonsLEM #22 BigBite Meat Grinder, 1 HP (1781)$729.99 list
- Best with a stuffing kitWeston Pro Series #8 Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (10-0801-W)$479.99
Side by side
| Model | Price | Size | Motor | Output (maker) | Plates | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEM #12 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (1780) | $599.99 list | #12 | 0.75 HP | 11 lb/min | 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing | 5 years |
| LEM #8 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.5 HP (1779) | About $420 | #8 | 0.5 HP | 7 lb/min | 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing | 5 years |
| LEM #22 BigBite Meat Grinder, 1 HP (1781) | $729.99 list | #22 | 1 HP (750 W) | 13 lb/min | 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing | 5 years |
| Weston Pro Series #8 Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (10-0801-W) | $479.99 | #8 | 0.75 HP (560 W) | 4–6 lb/min | 4.5 mm, 7 mm | 5 years |
LEM #12 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (1780)
- Price
- $599.99 list
- Size
- #12
- Motor
- 0.75 HP
- Output (maker)
- 11 lb/min
- Plates
- 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing
- Warranty
- 5 years
0.75 HP, #12 plates and a rated 11 pounds a minute. The big throat takes larger chunks, so there's less cutting and fewer clogs.
Pros
- Rated 11 lb/min
- Big throat
- Five-year warranty
Cons
- $599.99 list
- 33 lb
LEM #8 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.5 HP (1779)
- Price
- About $420
- Size
- #8
- Motor
- 0.5 HP
- Output (maker)
- 7 lb/min
- Plates
- 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing
- Warranty
- 5 years
Smoked BBQ Source found the BigBite handled untrimmed sinew without slowing. For one deer a season it's all the grinder you need.
Pros
- Handled sinew in testing
- About $420
Cons
- Smaller throat than the #12
LEM #22 BigBite Meat Grinder, 1 HP (1781)
- Price
- $729.99 list
- Size
- #22
- Motor
- 1 HP (750 W)
- Output (maker)
- 13 lb/min
- Plates
- 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing
- Warranty
- 5 years
1 HP and #22 plates, rated at 13 pounds a minute. For elk, hogs or four deer.
Pros
- Rated 13 lb/min
- #22 plates
Cons
- $729.99 list
- 50 lb
Weston Pro Series #8 Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (10-0801-W)
- Price
- $479.99
- Size
- #8
- Motor
- 0.75 HP (560 W)
- Output (maker)
- 4–6 lb/min
- Plates
- 4.5 mm, 7 mm
- Warranty
- 5 years
If venison sausage is the plan, Weston's ¾ HP #8 includes four stuffing funnels and a knife sharpener.
Pros
- 0.75 HP
- Full stuffing kit
Cons
- $479.99
Timed results come from Smoked BBQ Source, which ground a 4 lb brisket once and a 6 lb pork butt twice on each grinder. Output ratings are the makers' own claims. We haven't run these tests ourselves, and we say whose figures are whose.
Venison tips
Trim silverskin and tendons before grinding, keep the meat near 32°F, and add fat; venison is very lean. Mississippi State Extension recommends about two parts lean to one part fat for sausage. See how to grind venison.
After grinding
Package it flat in one- or two-pound portions and freeze it. Our sister site covers the best vacuum sealers for hunters, and The Dehydrator Report has venison jerky safety.
Sources
- LEM: #12 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP
- LEM: #8 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.5 HP
- LEM: #22 BigBite Meat Grinder, 1 HP
- Smoky Mountain Knife Works: Weston Pro Series #8 (10-0801-W)
- Smoked BBQ Source: The best meat grinders, timed brisket and pork-butt tests
- Mississippi State University Extension: Making Sausage at Home
- Vacuum Sealer Report: The best vacuum sealers for hunters
- The Dehydrator Report: Venison jerky safety
