I currently have a Strikemaster Laser Mag gas ice auger 8". It runs great, but I've been thinking of turning to a Strikemaster 40 Lithium. Anybody have one? Would like an opinion before I buy one.

If my Stikemaster w/ the 2 hp Tecumseh ever dies, I'll definitely go electric.

But, until that happens, I see no point throwing money at it.

I don't like the exhaust when I drill the holes inside my fish house. Not fond of having to always make sure I have gas. I don't care for the smell of gas on my hands and clothes.

I have one, I wouldn't go back to gas. It powers through ice way better than my gas auger.

What is your style of fishing? Inside a hard house? Otter type flipover? Outdoor run and gun?

The new lithium augers work great, if I had a hard house I'd own one. For my style of fishing I'll stick with what i have.

Oops I see you mentioned you have a hard house, you'll be satisfied with one.

I wish Milwaukee would come out with one lol.

I like the idea of using a drill hooked up to a hand auger ..... Waiting for the ridgid octane hammer drill to go on sale .... The only problem I see with the strikemaster is eventually u will need a new battery ....

Have you considered pairing an auger bit to a heavy duty cordless drill?

I ditched my Jiffy model 30 last winter in favor of the Ridgid Octane drill and couldn't be happier. I started off with a 6" Strikemaster lazer auger paired with an adapter I got on Ebay. Then I found a great deal on the 9ah Octane battery, so I upgraded my hole size to 8" with a Strikemaster Mora auger and Kovac adapter. Fast forward a month and I saw a heck of a deal on the new Strikemaster Lite Flite 8" and picked up one of those and sold my 8" Mora, but I'm keeping the 6" lazer for early ice when I dont want to haul the drill. My current setup weighs in right at 13 pounds with the big battery. I can shave a few pounds off that by dropping down to the 6" bit and 3ah battery.

And I never get to my spot only to pull and pull and pull and pull and pull only to have my auger not start.

It's not the perfect setup for everyone, but it makes sense for me. I didnt have a big drill for hole projects, and bought everything on sale. All in im at about $400 for the drill, 2 batteries (3ah and 9ah), 2 chargers and the auger. Many guys use the Milwaukee drills, but I liked the sale price of the Ridgid and the lifetime service agreement on the drill and batteries. Also the Lite Flite will drill overlapping holes so I can use it to drill my sturgeon spearing hole in February. Could also use it to cut holes for under ice beaver.

Plus the drill can be used for drilling dirt holes.

I have a hard house and two flip overs for when I go scouting.

i have a cpl of the old 12v electric strikemasters... i bought a 12v lithium off ebay.. works great... wouldn love to have the new 40v but no need.... run mine off 4 wheeler plug when run n gun... off the big battery in shack..when off the little 12v lithium i can get 20+ holes through 2 ft ice... and it charges back up fast on cig outlet.. im definitly a strikemaster guy

I need one to drill holes for my 29" Belisle 660s

its called a chain saw

Like I said, it drills overlapping holes!

I bet with my ice pick I'm quicker

I've got a Strikemaster Lithium 40v, 10". I used it all last year, very nice, lots of power, no gas on the gloves, noise or fumes in the fish house. Depending on the details of each trip, I may take a spud, convertible 6" Nils (cordless drill or manual) or a 10" power auger.

I traded my old 10" gas auger for a flip-over shanty. I was wondering how I'd every get rid of it in the age of lithium augers.

-NC

You're not kidding about selling the gas ones. There are dozens for sale on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace around here. I was lucky and was able to sell my Jiffy in non-working order for $75 with an extension. The market is definitely flooded with gas augers right now, you can get a real decent one for under $150 from guys who got smart and made the switch to electric.