So Pit Boss vertical pellet smoker or horizontal pellet grill...

[keithd]

I've kind of narrowed it down to either the Copperhead 5 vertical:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pit-Boss-5-Series-Vertical-Pellet-Smoker-4-6-cu-ft/876324460

or the Austin XL hoizontal:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pit-Boss...Grill-w-Flame-Broiler-Cooking-Probe/793230399

My experience so far has been with a MES40 (which I still have) and I've run a small offset smoker a few times. I am looking at a pellet burner as the MES40 does not produce a smoke ring really at all even with an AMNPS.

I think I want the Copperhead 5 (I saw a 7 in person, too large) as it's close to the MES. I've never used a horizontal pellet grill, so I don't know if it works better/worse for my needs. I plan to get a small propane grill anyway, so I don't think I need the grill function of the Austin XL.

Something like a Yoder or even a RecTec is out of the budget right now, and if I could justify the cost I'd just get that Lang stick burner I've lusted after since forever. :D

 

[ross77]

Your MES may not produce a smoke ring but do you like the flavor? A smoke ring has nothing to do with flavor. It's just a byproduct of a wood fire.

 

[keithd]

Everyone I've cooked for has really liked the brisket/ribs I've made so far, but I'd really like to be able to make that ring. I liken it to taking your craft to the next level a bit. I like the smoke ring visual. Plus the MES doesn't make it as smoky as I'd like, and there's not much bark.

I know pellet burners don't produce smoke flavor like a stick burner does, but it should be better than a MES if you also use an AMNTS, right? The pellet smokers also allow a bit of convenience vs a stick burner. If it weren't for that, I'd have bought a Oklahoma Joe Longhorn reverse-flow already. Then again, I kind of like the Zen feeling of attending a stick burner, but overnight is a no-go.

 

[mike243]

you will need to use another method to help with smoke on most any pellet grill if you like a lot of smoke,lower temps produce more smoke and I run mine low fore many hrs and then step it up,then I get enuf for me and no to much for my wife,time is key and having the time isn't always possible so other methods have to be used

 

[keithd]

OK, so I thought I would want a stick burner, but with my life/lifestyle, I won't have time to babysit a stick burner very often. I watched several pellet grill/smoker videos, and pellet burners can produce a decent bark and plenty of smoke flavor with a good smoke ring.

If I get a vertical, I can just replace my MES40. Since you can't sear in a vertical, if I need to do that I can just use a Searzall or a weed burner/blow torch.

 

[oldsmokerdude]

Both the vertical and horizontal will ultimately provide you the same smoke flavoring and ease of use that pellet cookers provide. Both will have variations in temp from one end of the grill to the other (or top and bottom) but that comes with the territory. The one advantage to the horizontal that I frequently use is that it can be used as a grill and reverse searing your meat is a fundamental cooking technique that you couldn't do on the vertical.

But ultimately it's what are you most comfortable with and most likely to used more?