I have a Weber MT Kettle with SnS, Vortex and CB Roti. I have MCS and I want another cooker for more room as well as more overall capacity. I love the kettle. This weekend I was smoking a large pork butt and wanted something else, but I had nothing else to cook on. I really thought of a WSM, but I have been researching the PBC. It appears you can hang more stuff to smoke than you can put on a flat grill. I know I can add hanging racks to the WSM but why when it is all there with the PBC. I never thought about hanging a packer brisket or pork butt until I was on the PBC website. Does anyone have both of these cookers and if so your thoughts and experiences between these two? Thanks in advance for your expert opinions and advice.
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I would pick neither and instead go with the Oklahoma Joe Bronco. See review here:
Essentially, you get a lot more for your money and an outstanding cooker. I will let our resident expert , Panhead John , chime in.
I had a PBC and I would have loved to have this one too. -
I have both the PBC and the WSM (18.5" and 22"). I also have the hanging racks for the WSM's. I have a lot of other smokers too and I can select what type of smoker for what type of meat. IMHO, I'd go with the PBC. You cannot really control the temp in the PBC. You can take out one or both hanging rods, crack the lid, etc. to moderate the temp, but it really is fire it up and let it rip. There never is a low temp issue with the PBC. So with that being said, you're really just checking the temp of the meat.
I don't cook ribs on my PBC (nor do I on the WSM anymore), but I do smoke my pork butts on the PBC. Big hunk of meat, let the fire rip, get good bark on it, pull and rest a couple hours in a cooler. Works every time.Comment
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I have neither a PBC nor a WSM, but spent many years looking at them. Unless I was going with the 22" WSM for super high capacity, I would look at the Oklahoma Joe Bronco instead of the 18" PBC or 18" WSM. More bang for the buck, and heavier duty steel, plus a wheeled cart.Comment
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To continue a theme, go to your local Academy Sports store and look at the OKJ Bronco. Roughly the same size as the PBC, but without the cult hype. It already has wheels for mobility, already has an ash catcher without spending extra, has excellent temp control over a wide range because of the intake and exhaust design (no funky rods to get minimal change), already has a side table, already has a well sealed lid, and I'll stop at that because it sounds like I'm trashing the PBC which I'm not really, but just comparing features between what's included and what others often spend extra to get. The one feature the PBC offers over the Bronco is portability...............it weighs about 1/3 of what the Bronco does because it's got that much less material in it's build. Your call for your app.......... BTW, I suggested Academy because they are currently selling the Bronco at $100 off for a sale price of $350.Comment
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STEbbq Well, thanks for the compliment, but I’m hardly an expert on the Bronco, maybe more of a semi experienced advocate?….
Purc Have you considered looking into the Bronco as a possible choice, to go along with the PBC or WSM? I have never owned a PBC or even seen one in person. I do own a Bronco and until recently I had a WSM for several years. Any of these smokers would be a great choice, they all can put out some damn good food!
Since you mentioned the ability to hang food is important, both the PBC and Bronco come with everything you need. As you mentioned, the WSM does not. So…let’s narrow your choices down to the PBC and the Bronco. There’s been a huge addition of new Bronco owners here in The Pit, mainly because of a couple of recent sales. In my opinion though, a discount alone isn’t the reason for 14 pit members buying a Bronco in just about a 2 week period of time. Not only is the Bronco more versatile than the other 2 smokers, but it also puts out damn good food and is a lot of fun to use.
The main advantages/features of the Bronco over the PBC are several, not insignificant differences. The Bronco’s addition of intake and exhaust dampers allows more control over your cooking temps. And it holds these temps rock solid for hours with very little major fluctuations. The Bronco comes with a hinged lid and a pre installed Kevlar gasket. This seals tightly and also allows your grate probe wires to be run through with no chance of crimping your cables. The addition of a side shelf is also a great feature not found on the other 2 smokers. It comes with a cooking grate of course, but also has tabs for an additional cooking grate if you want 2 levels of smoking. And of course it comes with everything needed to hang your food too.
Another feature it has is the heat deflector, which is placed on a lip above the coals and allows for more even heat distribution through the barrel. Turn the heat deflector over and place your charcoal basket on top…then you have the ability to also grill. Having had a WSM before and knowing what I do [from here] about the PBC, I’d buy the Bronco hands down over the others. And that is not a knock against the other cookers, just my opinion.Last edited by Panhead John; June 6, 2022, 08:28 PM.Comment
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Get one, none, or all ... You can't go wrong with any (or all) of them.Comment
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Mr. Morgan, are you drunk? 😂 This is The Pit! We’re here to help other members spend the most amount of money possible.Last edited by Panhead John; June 7, 2022, 06:49 AM.
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Another vote for the Bronco, which I own and love although I’ve only cooked on it a few times. Great adjustability, easily set up for both grilling and smoking, and built like a tank. It’s everything the PBC should have been, at least by now.
Have you considered getting a 26" kettle with a Slow ‘N Sear?Comment
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You hit the nail on the head Sid! It is everything the PBC should have been. Honestly, I’d love to see the PBC replaced on our "recommended products" side, by the Bronco. I think the PBC was a great recommendation at one time, but now there’s something better that deserves space there…IMOLast edited by Panhead John; June 7, 2022, 06:49 AM.
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I highly recommend WSM's very much set and forget. I have PBC, 18 & 22 WSM and i just got a Bronco Pro. Haven't used the Bronco yet as I just had back surgery (lame) I use the 22 more than the 18, but they both are awesome
Edit:after using I may be on the Bronco fan train in this thread. I have a very strong feeling I will It is really awesome Heavy Duty piece of cooker.Last edited by JohnPaul; June 6, 2022, 08:15 PM.Comment
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Big Bronco Pro fan here. I have owned the Bronco Pro, WSM 22" and PBC and would rank them in that order. The BP is more comparable to a WSM than a PBC, in terms of how it works and the flavor it produces. And nearly all the mods you would do to a WSM come standard on the Bronco Pro (wheels, hanging system, large capacity charcoal basket and lid hinge). And if you were determined to add a fan controller, you could just get the BBQ Guru universal adapter and drill a hole in the side of the drum. It's not needed, though.
The cost is $850 vs. quite a bit less for the other two, but they do go on sale. I got mine for $550 on sale at Lowes, which is about what you would pay for a new WSM 22" with none of the bells and whistles.Last edited by Steve R.; June 7, 2022, 09:33 AM.Comment
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I’ll start by saying that I’ve never actually seen a PBC. Never, not once. None of my friends or family have one.
With that out of the way, I USED to have a 22†WSM. Loved it. Easy to setup & control…and seems more versatile than the PBC as the temps can be adjusted. So it can easily do low & slow as well as hot & fast. And a rack can be added if one want to go PBC-ish. With or without a water pan…yada, yada, yada. I gave mine away when I got my WSCGC. Silly move.
I’ve thought about picking up another one…or perhaps getting the Bronco. For the reasons given already. It too seems more versatile, which is a plus to my way of thinking.Comment
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If capacity is the thing you are looking for ..... WSM 22 is the undisputed champion out of all the cooking rigs we are talking about. If you want a really cool smoker that looks pretty and cooks great, and don't need to be able to cook 12 racks of ribs at once, then the OK Joe is the way I'd go. And there is certainly an argument to be made for the PBC, which has significant capacity and ease of use.
Here's me cooking a few things on my WSM 22
If I remember right, that was an 18 lb brisket
Here's 6 racks of ribs, laid flat .... 3 on bottom, 3 on top. Could do 12 if I used rib stands
23 lb turkey, spatchcocked
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I would only add that the Bronco Pro (and probably the Bronco) can easily handle 12+ racks of ribs if you hang them. I still have my Hunsaker hanging thingy that I bought for the WSM. It fits the Bronco Pro and might allow even more hanging capacity.
Beyond that, a second 21.5" can be placed just above the diffuser plate and you would be able to use it just like on the WSM. Less clearance from the top grate, but plenty of room to lay 3 more racks of ribs flat.Last edited by Steve R.; June 7, 2022, 05:10 PM.
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LOVE my PBC... easy, fun, great food, won't disappoint. Having said that... if I were buying today, it would definitely be the Bronco.Comment
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