If you're searching for Epiroc drill rigs for sale, particularly the Epiroc Boomer face drill rig, you've probably already noticed that the answer isn't straightforward. The price depends on your tunnel size, desired automation level, and whether you need a new unit or a refurbished one.
In my role coordinating logistics for urgent mining equipment deliveries for an equipment dealer, I've handled over 40 rush orders for drill rigs and parts in the past four years. That includes a memorable one in March 2024 where we had 48 hours to arrange delivery of a Boomer S2 to a mine site that had a catastrophic face drill breakdown. I've made mistakes—and learned a few things about what actually matters when you're committing to a piece of capital equipment like this.
So, rather than pretending there's one universal answer to "how much does an Epiroc Boomer face drill rig price run?", let's break this down by the three most common scenarios I see.
Scenario A: You Need a Brand-New Boomer for a Major Underground Expansion
This is the straightforward case. You're planning a new decline, a major development project, or replacing an aging fleet. You want full warranty, the latest automation features (RCS 5, maybe even ABC—Automatic Boom Control), and you're budgeting accordingly.
As of January 2025, a new Boomer face drill rig—let's say an S2 or an M2—will cost you somewhere in the range of $650,000 to $1.2 million USD, depending on configuration. That's based on quotes I've handled for clients in Canada and Australia over the last 18 months. The biggest cost driver? Automation level. A fully rigged unit with RCS 5, on-board logging and telemetry can be a good 30% more than a base model.
My take: If you're in this scenario, don't nickel-and-dime on the boom control system. I saw a client in Q3 2023 try to save $40,000 by opting for manual boom positioning instead of the semi-automatic system. They had to retrofit it six months later—cost them $55,000 and three weeks of downtime. As I've learned the hard way: 5 minutes of verification beats 5 days of correction.
Scenario B: You're Looking at Used Epiroc Drill Rigs for Sale—Strict Budget, Fast Timeline
This is where most of my rush orders land. A mine has a rig go down unexpectedly, the production target is at risk, and the procurement manager calls me on a Thursday afternoon saying they need a replacement by Monday.
For used Epiroc drill rigs for sale, you're typically looking at $250,000 to $550,000 USD for a Boomer that's 3–6 years old with 5,000–10,000 hours on it. I want to say the average I've seen is around $380,000, but don't quote me on that—it varies wildly by region and service history.
Critical mistake I've seen: Judging a rig solely by its hour meter. I still kick myself for not learning this lesson sooner. In 2022, I assumed a Boomer with only 4,200 hours was a steal at $310,000. Didn't verify the maintenance logs. Turned out that rig had been run hard in a particularly abrasive rock formation—the boom bushings were shot, the feed was bent, and the drifter needed a rebuild. We spent another $65,000 in the first year. Now I always ask for drilling data: how many meters drilled, not just hours, and what rock type?
I have mixed feelings about buying Boomers purely based on price. On one hand, I've seen some fantastic deals on units that were well-maintained by mine sites that upgrade every 4 years. On the other, I've seen the operational chaos that a poorly-spec'd used rig causes. My advice: if you can, pay a third-party inspector—like one of the independent hydraulic drilling consultants—to run a borescope through the main valve block. It costs about $800–1,500, but it's saved me on at least three deals.
Scenario C: You're Working with an Extremely Tight Budget (Under $250,000)
This is a tough spot. For under a quarter million, you're usually looking at a Boomer that's 10+ years old, a major rebuild candidate, or a unit that's been sitting for a while. I've processed orders in this bracket for smaller contractors or for mines in developing markets.
Let's be honest: at this price point, the acquisition cost is not the real number you should care about. The total cost of ownership—specifically, the availability of parts and the cost of those parts—is what will make or break you. A friend of mine at a mining operation in West Africa bought a 2012 Boomer for $190,000. Sounded like a good deal until the main hydraulic pump failed. Even with Epiroc's generally robust parts supply chain, getting it to that location cost $12,000 in air freight alone. They lost 14 days of drift development.
If you're in this scenario, here's what I'd focus on:
- Parts availability for that specific model: Is it still actively supported by Epiroc? Some older Boomer models have parts that are getting harder to source. Check with your distributor.
- The condition of the drifter: The rock drill is the heart of the rig. A rebuilt drifter can set you back $25,000–45,000. Factor that into your negotiation.
- The boom alignment system: Manual or semi-auto? A fully manual older boom is going to be slower. Can your operators handle that, or will it slow down the development cycle?
How to Figure Out Which Scenario You're In
I realize this is a lot of information. Let me give you a simple litmus test I use when a client sends me a spec sheet:
Question 1: What is the expected life of this rig in your operation? If the answer is 3–5 years of heavy use, lean toward Scenario A (new or nearly new). If it's a short-term stop-gap (12–18 months), Scenario B is fine.
Question 2: How much is your lost production worth per day? If a day of face drilling downtime costs you $10,000+, then an extra $50,000 for a newer rig pays for itself in a week. If the value is lower, then a used Epiroc drill rig at $350,000 is a more rational choice.
Question 3: Do you have a reliable partner for parts support? If you're in a remote region, the Epiroc Boomer face drill rig price is a secondary concern to the availability of the consumables: shank adapters, drill bits, and hydraulic filters.
In my experience, the biggest regret I see isn't paying too much. It's buying the wrong spec for the application. I'd rather buy a less-automated Boomer that fits the tunnel profile perfectly than a fully-loaded one that doesn't. Based on our internal data from 40+ rush jobs, a properly matched machine is 30% more productive than a poorly matched one, regardless of age.
If you're actively looking for Epiroc drill rigs for sale and want a sanity check on a specific machine, I'd recommend reaching out to your local Epiroc distributor directly. They can give you a service history and help you configure a package that actually fits your budget and your rock.
