MEAT! Your Maker vs LEM (2026): Which Grinder Should Hunters Buy?

MEAT! Your Maker and LEM are two of the best-known grinder brands built for hunters. Both sell stainless electric grinders from #8 to #32, both have a one-pass double-grind option, and both are built around processing your own deer. On a spec sheet they look nearly identical. So which one gets you more grinder for your money?

We lined them up head size by head size: same #8, #12, #22 and #32, same horsepower, plus each brand's small dual-grind model. For each pair we compared price, the grind speed each maker claims, weight, warranty and the return terms, then divided price by stated speed. Every number comes from meatyourmaker.com and lemproducts.com, checked on September 24, 2026.

How we compared MEAT! Your Maker and LEM

This is a research-based comparison, not a hands-on grind-off. We haven't run these grinders ourselves. Grind speeds are each maker's own "up to" claims, and real speed depends on how cold and well-trimmed your meat is. Where MEAT! gives a range (for example 7–10 lb a minute), we used the top number, the same way LEM states its figure. We read MEAT!'s on-site owner ratings; LEM's product pages don't expose ratings without a browser, so we don't quote any for LEM.

Horsepower lines up exactly: .5, .75, 1 and 1.5 HP at the #8, #12, #22 and #32 sizes for both brands. For a closer look at MEAT!'s whole lineup, see our MEAT! Your Maker grinder review.

Price vs price: every matching size

Prices, stated grind rates and weights from meatyourmaker.com and lemproducts.com, September 24, 2026. "Less $ per lb/min" = price ÷ top stated grind rate. Grind rates are the makers' claims. The MEAT! .5 HP Dual Grind page lists no weight. LEM's #22 was listed as pre-order. Prices change often.

The split is clean: LEM is the better buy at #8, the #12s are a tie, and MEAT! is the better buy at #22, #32 and in the dual-grind #8. Most hunters who process a deer or more a year end up at #22 or bigger, which is why MEAT! comes out ahead overall.

Head-to-head, size by size

#8 / 0.5 HP: $90.91 vs $62.86 per lb/min

LEM wins the small class on paper. The BigBite #8 is $60.00 cheaper ($439.99 vs $499.99), LEM rates it faster (up to 7 lb/min vs 5.5) and it's lighter (28.66 lb vs 35). That works out to $62.86 per lb/min against $90.91 for the MEAT! .5 HP. MEAT!'s answer is the warranty (lifetime vs 5 years) and a strong owner score (4.8/5 from 396 reviews on its site).

MEAT! .5 HP #8 → LEM BigBite #8 →

#12 / 0.75 HP: $55.00 vs $54.54 per lb/min

The #12 class is a coin flip on speed per dollar: $55.00 per lb/min for MEAT! vs $54.54 for LEM. MEAT!'s .75 HP is $50.00 cheaper, while LEM rates its #12 slightly faster (up to 11 lb/min vs 7–10) and it weighs 14 lb less (33.07 vs 47). LEM's #12 listing describes all-metal gears with roller bearings and a rifled head for an easier second grind. MEAT! sells a $281.99 Dual Grind throat for its .75 HP; LEM sells a #12 DualGrind bundle for $769.98.

MEAT! .75 HP #12 → LEM BigBite #12 →

#22 / 1 HP: $46.43 vs $58.46 per lb/min

This is MEAT!'s strongest matchup. The 1 HP #22 is $110.00 cheaper than LEM's ($649.99 vs $759.99) and MEAT! rates it at up to 14 lb/min vs LEM's 13. That's $46.43 vs $58.46 per lb/min. It also has a deep review base: 4.7/5 from 711 reviews on MEAT!'s site. LEM's #22 is lighter (49.6 lb vs 57) but was listed as pre-order when we checked.

MEAT! 1 HP #22 → LEM BigBite #22 →

#32 / 1.5 HP: $51.67 vs $58.82 per lb/min

MEAT! wins the big-grinder class too: $929.99 vs $999.99, up to 18 lb/min vs 17, so $51.67 vs $58.82 per lb/min. The MEAT! 1.5 HP #32 is its most-reviewed grinder (4.8/5 from 760). LEM's #32 is 13 lb lighter (57.32 vs 70.5) if you need to move it around.

MEAT! 1.5 HP #32 → LEM BigBite #32 →

Dual grind #8: $101.81 vs $133.33 per lb/min

Both brands sell #8 grinders that do two grinds in one pass. MEAT!'s .5 HP Dual Grind is $40.04 cheaper ($559.95 vs $599.99) and rated faster (5.5 lb/min vs 4.5), so $101.81 vs $133.33 per lb/min. But it's MEAT!'s lowest-rated grinder (4.4/5 from 95). At the #22 size, MEAT!'s 1 HP Dual Grind costs $789.99 vs $999.99 for LEM's DualGrind #22; neither lists a grind rate for those.

MEAT! .5 HP Dual Grind #8 → LEM DualGrind #8 →

Everything else, side by side

Where LEM wins

• The small #8 class: $439.99 vs $499.99, and rated at 7 lb/min vs 5.5.
• Lighter at every size, by 6 to 14 lb. That matters if the grinder lives in a closet and comes out once a season.
• A broader return promise: LEM's 30-day guarantee covers items "deemed unsatisfactory," while MEAT! requires new condition in original packaging.
• A meat stomper and bushing tool in the box on every BigBite.

Where MEAT! Your Maker wins

• Cheaper speed at #22 and #32, the sizes most hunters buy: $46.43 and $51.67 per lb/min vs $58.46 and $58.82.
• Lower prices at #12, #22, #32 and in dual grind, by $40 to $110.
• A lifetime warranty vs 5 years, within its limits.
• A 2 HP #42 (up to 23 lb/min) if you ever need to go bigger. LEM's BigBite line tops out at #32.

Which should you buy?

Buy MEAT! Your Maker if you're shopping at the #22 size or bigger, which is where most hunters who process their own deer land. The MEAT! 1 HP #22 is the best value in this whole comparison, and the 1.5 HP #32 beats LEM's #32 on price and stated speed.

Buy LEM if you want a small #8 for one deer a year and cabinet storage. The LEM BigBite #8 is cheaper, faster on paper and lighter than MEAT!'s .5 HP. LEM is also the pick if a lenient return window matters more to you than a lifetime warranty.

At #12, it's close. MEAT!'s .75 HP is $50 cheaper and has a lifetime warranty. LEM's #12 is rated a bit faster and weighs 14 lb less. Pick on warranty vs weight.

Still deciding on size, or looking at other brands? Our best meat grinders for deer hunters ranks ten options, and our hunting essentials list covers the rest of your kit.

Frequently asked questions

Is MEAT! Your Maker better than LEM?

At the sizes most hunters buy (#22 and #32), MEAT! is cheaper, rated slightly faster and has a lifetime warranty vs LEM's 5 years. LEM is the better buy at the small #8 size and is lighter at every size. Both use stainless construction and matching horsepower.

Which is faster, MEAT! or LEM?

By the makers' own figures: #8, LEM (7 vs 5.5 lb/min); #12, LEM (11 vs 7–10); #22, MEAT! (up to 14 vs 13); #32, MEAT! (up to 18 vs 17). These are "up to" claims, not our tests.

What warranty do MEAT! and LEM grinders have?

MEAT! offers a limited lifetime warranty for the original owner, excluding commercial use and normal wear. LEM's BigBite pages list a 5-year warranty plus lifetime customer support; LEM asks for proof of purchase, and buying direct registers the grinder automatically.

Can I return a MEAT! or LEM grinder?

Both give 30 days on direct orders. MEAT! needs the grinder in new condition and original packaging, and refunds less shipping. LEM's guarantee covers items "deemed unsatisfactory," but you must call for a return authorization first and shipping isn't refunded.

What size grinder do I need for deer?

A #12 (.75 HP) handles one deer a year. If you process more than one animal or grind for family, a #22 (1 HP) is the better long-term buy, and at that size MEAT!'s 1 HP #22 is the best value in this comparison at $649.99.

Are LEM grinders sold on Amazon?

LEM's warranty page mentions buyers who purchased through Amazon and other retailers. We link to LEM's own store, where prices and specs are listed and direct orders qualify for LEM's 30-day guarantee.

The bottom line

MEAT! Your Maker and LEM build grinders in the same class, with the same horsepower at every head size. The difference is where each one is priced. LEM is the smarter small grinder: its BigBite #8 is cheaper, rated faster and lighter. From #22 up, MEAT! Your Maker gives you more stated speed for less money and a lifetime warranty, which is why the MEAT! 1 HP #22 is our pick for most hunters. Buy the size you'll grow into, not the one that's cheapest today.

Shop MEAT! Your Maker →

Talk soon,
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