What electric drill under $200

[MT_mulies]

I'm switching from gas to electric and I'm going the cordless drill route. I just sold my Eskimo. I loved it and it did great, but I have seen and been around the electric drills that I'm going that way. I am turning an 8 inch auger. I drill through about 12-18 inches of ice most of the time. If I was drilling through 24 inches or more consistently I would have stayed with gas. Please no bashing as I really liked my gas one. The electric is just lighter is the main reason I'm switching haha. I'm leaning towards a Ridgid octane. Thanks

[Deal Ninja]

You’re going to get a hundred opinions.  My auger of choice is an 8” Nils PowerPoint with a Milwaukee Mud Mixer Head.  2” inches per second, give or take.  It’s a real attention getter around these parts.  We rarely have 18” to cut through though.

DN

[DR.SPECKLER]

My first season with the octane,clam plate and 8” mora was impressive.cuts 8 to 12” of ice faster than a gas auger.had a few cutouts but it chews ice up.i got the plate so i wouldnt strip or break off the side handle on the drill plus makes it so easy to hold the setup steady.i use the mora because i can get blades anywhere.i did get a mini nero also but that thing cuts so good by hand i havent mounted it to the clam plate yet.

[Muggsy]

Which 8" auger are you using?

[Tom1983]

I don’t have one yet, but from what I’ve seen on YouTube tests, the rigid octane and 9.0 ah battery is an awesome combination!  And lifetime warranty is pretty good too!

[FishGut]

My Rigid ate through ice like nobody's business. Thirty holes one after another through 12-18 inches of ice, day in and day out. Yeah, it cut out a bit when the temps were in the single digits, but it never quit altogether. I'm pleased with the investment

[Baetis62]

Best under $200 imo is the rigid.  I really like the Milwaukee too even at $299. I have that 5ah battery set up to drill holes then run my Marcum 5 if I the game plan for that day calls for quick and light.  Rigid is heavy but it’s a big battery so life is remarkable.  In either case consider the plate. 

[hardwater diehard]

I would suggest a refurbished/reconditioned Milwaukee 2803 or 2804 ...there are several tool factory outlets that have sales/discount codes from time to time … you can sometimes get them for less then $ 200   ..the Milwaukee drills have been tried and tested for several years now . I started with DeWalts..but eventually switched to a refurbished Milwaukee 2704 w/5 ah batteries when I got the 8" Kdrill. I have no complaints with my refurbished drills ..DeWalt 995 and Milwaukee 2704 and 2804. 

PM sent

[RStock521]

If you wait for a deal, you can get the Milwaukee 2804 kit with 2 batteries for $229ish. I'm glad I went Milwaukee, because I just bought a house and will be sticking with the Milwaukee ecosystem for some of my yard tools that will use the same battery.  That way, I can justify additional 9.0 or even a 12.0AH battery purchase with my old lady 

[Unclegillhunter]

My first season with the octane,clam plate and 8” mora was impressive.cuts 8 to 12” of ice faster than a gas auger.had a few cutouts but it chews ice up.i got the plate so i wouldnt strip or break off the side handle on the drill plus makes it so easy to hold the setup steady.i use the mora because i can get blades anywhere.i did get a mini nero also but that thing cuts so good by hand i havent mounted it to the clam plate yet.

Great to hear, I got a mini Nero at the end of last season then we lost the ice so haven’t used it yet.
Keep it safe! JDL

[tater140]

You will like the mini nero.  I havent put mine on a drill yet either.  I use mine only when i go big water walleye fishing and really dont need to drill a lot of holes.  I like the fact that there is no maintenance or charging, and its lightweight.  it drills 18” of ice relatively easily.  Now if i popped more then 4 or 5 holes when i set down i would have it powered.

[papadarv]

I went with Milwaukee Fuel both Mud Mxer and 1200 IP 2804. Each were under $200. Mud Mixer like Rigid Octain have a thermo cut off which shut down after 5 or 6 consecutive 15" holes for about 5 min.. Plenty of power but didn't like the stopping. The 2804 on a 9ah battery is awesome drilled 20 holes and still had 3 bars, no stopping. I also made chuckless adapters connected to the ION quick connect. Never loose a drill and don't require a float or plate on my modifier Mora converted hand drills. Over 20" I go back to gas which drills 35" ice in about 17 seconds.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I'm switching from gas to electric and I'm going the cordless drill route. I just sold my Eskimo. I loved it and it did great, but I have seen and been around the electric drills that I'm going that way. I am turning an 8 inch auger. I drill through about 12-18 inches of ice most of the time. If I was drilling through 24 inches or more consistently I would have stayed with gas. Please no bashing as I really liked my gas one. The electric is just lighter is the main reason I'm switching haha. I'm leaning towards a Ridgid octane. Thanks

Milwaukee 1200in/lb
9ah battery
10in mora
8in nils
6in lazer
2gen clam plate

Sold my jiffy model 30

Drill up to 36in of ice 24in pretty common

No issues

[Peccavi18]

I run a Milwaukee 2704 drill with Nils. Zero pressure needed, no plate needed. Super light and lighting fast.

[chilly-willy]

MillWaukee or rigid with 1300 inch pounds people were haveing problems last year?  with small batteries and the milwaukee and the rigid drills?  i have a 9 ah battery and a 8 inch nils and no problems at all.. same with my 7 inch mora I converted to laser blades no problem.. did have a problem on my 8 inch nils and my small 750 inch pound and a 2 amp battery ..  people using standard laser ans mora's had problems why don't know? Same with some of the kdrill owners?  why no clue? I think it's a saftey feature from too much amperage passing threw a sensor some ware?? I like mine so hay what can you do?

[Chris338378]

There was a video someone posted on here where they tested a few different battery operated drills including Milwaukee and Dewalt and in the end it came down to a toss up between the two of them.  HomeDepot runs sales on both of them pretty regularly and so does Ace Hardware.  I have a few friends who are in construction and it's pretty much a Ford or Chevy thing when you ask them which one they recommend.  I never used this set up before but I know a guy who does and he's using a Milwaukee drill but I'm not sure which model number it is.