FRUSTRATION !!!!

definitely under cooked.... not cooked long enough... and then you have to make sure that the smoker is actually running at the temps set at....

deerjohn, the cooking method that you described is almost exactly like mine with 1 exception. My smoker likes to run at 260-275*. I smoke my CSR's there for about 3 hours on a bradley rack, laying on the grate. Then into a foil pan with a braise and covered for approx. 1 hour. This is all that I do. They sit in the braise covered and in the foil pan to rest just for about 15-30 minutes. The result is a perfectly done, very tender, juicy CSR.

Check your therms, try the higher temp and good luck, Joe

Could there temp on your MES be off? Were you using another thermometer/probe to verify temp?

IMHO CSRs do best on a hot grill, seared and then cooked indirect until done, usually 20-30 minutes. Not everything needs to cook for 3 or 4 hours to taste good.

 CSRs are from the shoulder area and are inherently tough. Only time and low temps will cook that out of them. I do mine just like the spare ribs.

I was actually talking about them today at work and planned to do some tomorrow. I like to dip them into my pinto beans….  

CSRs are cut up pork butt, not really ribs.  They require cooking to a high IT to make them tender.  They are also very forgiving with the cooking temps, high and fast, or low and slow, doesn't matter.  Just cook them till they are fall apart tender and you are good to go.

Mike

I guess I'm the oddball, whole cuts of pork (non organ meat) is done at 145. I treat them more like a pork chop and smoke them at a hotter temp until they hit that IT, then take them off let rest for a bit and eat. They don't fall apart but are tender and moist with a great flavor.

I am eatting while reading this, possibly the very best spare ribs I have had all year long!

I did 'em at 220 and it ended up 4/2/2. AND they didn't fall off the bone, but were tender with the perfect bite and had just little drawback. So why did I smoke 'em this long and get such great ribs. I looked at the ribs. I poked and bent, I didn't cut one but would have had there been any question. 

Remember that we we talk about here is great and normally works fine but don't get so locked into the ABC's that you forget to look at the meat yourself. Stick it with a knife if in doubt, poke it with a toothpick, hell my Pop always had the pit's share usually when he was doing alot or away from home or on a differnt pit or whatever. We always over cook, thats cook more meat than needed, use it and enjoy it

Seriously 4/2/2 and they still had a bite to 'em! Perfect ribs. But I waited till the skin cracked when bent, that's my go to check with ribs. 

Don't get looked into time/temp it will work great till when its an important smoke and you'll get that Oh Sh*t and it will need more. Develop you skills of sight, smell, hearing, touch, they all talk to you when cooking. Never put all your faith in a battery!

Sorry about your CSR's, but know that we have all done it before, some of us more than others, hard-headed is all I can say....LOL Things be going good and you forget some small thing that changes the whole smoking profile and if you don't use your experience, knowledge, and a dash of good ol'common sense not only will you not reakize it, but you'll never recover. Everyone talks about how easy it is smoking meat, but you got to think just a little bit about it.

I am babbling again...... so know we all have done it, remember what you want to change, and try it again.