A buddy texted me that he’s thinking about getting the Pit Boss 340 Pellet Grill. Academy has them on sale for $199. He wanted to know my thoughts. I know nothing about pellet grills. I read Max’s review and he gave a bronze.
Seems to me for $200 it’s probably not a bad way to get started. But I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with them. Here is a link to Academy. Thanks in advance for feedback.
I have never used it, but if Max gave it a bronze... At $199, you really can't get into a pellet grill any cheaper. Warn him that he will fall in love - and that the replacement (when it's time to replace) will likely be more expensive.
I pulled the trigger on a pellet grill that I knew nothing about, could find very few reviews on (except Max's, and he gave it a Bronze), but I have been very happy with it.
That bronze rating is for the list price, not the actual. So for $200 it might jump to silver. The MSRP is $399 by the way, so $199 is significantly lower. I’m assuming all the Pit Boss grills are the same except for size. The one reviewed had a stainless steel heat plate / drip pan but I don’t think that is a super big deal, unless you live on saltwater front property (and if you do then your idea of a tight budget and my idea of a tight budget aren’t even close to the same).
I say tell your friend to go for it. While there are better units out there, they aren’t $200. There is always time to upgrade later. I used an electric smoker for 2 years before upgrading, and certainly a pellet smoker would have been better than that.
Be careful when you seal it up. Do it step wise. In the cheaper smokers, I have hear of things like smoke coming out of the pellet hopper and such. This could lead to hopper fires. I would test it out first without doing any sealing.
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Yeah, I haven't looked at the relative prices in a while - thought they were reasonably close. But then again, it turns out to be a matter of what capabilities you're after. You won't be going wrong with that Napoleon. SmokeyGator
The only complaint that I have heard about them is that it is on the smaller side. I have not seen any complaints about how it operates. It would be a great way to get started.
I did the same thing with a Camp Chef Smoke Pro SE, buying it on clearance after the labor day season was over. It works great, but I now have MCS for a much better one.
I did find out, for a reasonable price, that I enjoy cooking with pellets. That alone was worth it.
Weber Performer, Weber Jumbo Joe, Weber Smokey Joe (which I made into a mini-WSM), Weber Q 120 (which I converted to a portable flat top griddle), Oklahoma Joe offset cabinet smoker, Lodge hibachi, Pitt Boss Tailgater
Maverick ET 733
Favorite Cook - Sausage, any kind of sausage!
I recently purchased a Pit Boss Tailgater (very similar to the 340, but with collapsible legs for portability) and so far I love it. Looking forward to trying different types of pellets to see what difference that makes, but so far the 40# bag of Pit Boss Competition Blend I bought with it has done some fine q. I wanted the Tailgater so we could fold it up and put it in the bed of our truck when we take our camper out for our "excursions." At $200 he will be pleased.
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