Pit Boss Competition Series 1600 Full Review

After 4 months of heavy daily use in this video we will cover all the pros and cons of the Pit Boss Competition Series 1600.
If you are looking for a pellet smoker make sure the Competition Series is on your radar!
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[@MrWashko]

I absolutely love my 1600! Smoking two spiral cut hams today.

[@adamtarver]

I would sacrifice the grill space for pit boss to come up with an upgrade to these grills to add in pull out racks. Ran into the exact issue you were talking about last night. Had thighs on the grill along with a drumstick rack that i was cooking at the same time, and it was definitely a pain and a challenge to dust the thighs that were under the drumstick rack. So with the amount of cooking space that is there, I'd sacrifice an inch on each side to be able to mount in sliding racks. Would make it a lot easier to remove those two top racks while the grill is either cold or hot. Wouldn't have to turn them in all kinds of crazy directions to get them out.

[@bed685]

I bought the Competition Series 1600 back in May and I really like it. The app was a problem, but that got resolved. Smoking with this grill couldn't be easier. My biggest learning curve was regular grilling. Finding out how to grill those quick cooks like burgers and steaks was hard to figure out, but am finally getting the hang of it with this grill. My only design hang up is the three levels of cooking. I've never used the top rack. It's never been in the grill. I would rather evenly space two racks vs. having three racks. And I do agree about the slide out racks. Nice Review!

[@grizzlypug8520]

Do you have any advise on the quick cooks?

[@itsajimithing]

Awesome review. Thanks for posting. All the pros you acknowledged are what I love about it. It heats up fast, even in Minnesota winters. And I agree, the biggest peeve is not having slide out racks. I'm in the process of retrofitting mine with slide out grill grates

[@GrillSergeant]

If you make it happen I would love to know about it!

[@buzznuttz]

Same

[@leviathanatos6886]

My rolling lid rubs. I'm having issues getting it adjusted and PitBoss customer service is no help. They gave me a $50 credit to buy paint to fix the spots where rubbing took off paint. It was shipped from GA to RI, so it arrived with some dents and I have issues with the grates not fitting snuggly (they are sending replacements). Otherwise, it's huge and holds temp really well. I've been impressed with it, coming from the 820 PS.

[@leviathanatos6886]

Also, I replaced the two stainless bolts on the back with 1/4" x 1-1/2" stainless bolts so that it can hold both upper racks vice one.

[@GrillSergeant]

That is a great idea! Thanks for sharing! 🇺🇸

[@MAGA5.56]

Thanks for your review. Super informative on helping me make a decision between the CS1600, PS1150, and the Savannah. Looks like I’m going with the CS.

[@Mike-in-Texas]

I love this review. I purchased this pellet grill from Academy and the review is spot on. At $800 it's a good deal. Personally I wish I had spent the extra money and picked up the 1600 Pro Elite from Lowes for $1300. The main reason I went with this one is the price. The Pro series looks amazing with the stainless steel, has a larger hopper at 32 pounds, the walls are insulated whereas this one the walls are not, but the greatest difference is the grates are so much better and fit perfectly.

[@Mike-in-Texas]

I failed to mention, the Pro series has oven style grates to that slide in and out making it easier to manage your meat placement.... we all know it's very important where you put your meat...

[@GrillSergeant]

@@Mike-in-Texas The Pro Elite does look nice! My issues with the Pro Series 1150 was the initial heat up time. And insulated walls are deff nice but I have found zero issues with the Comp 1600 holding temps, sure it might burn pellets a tad bit faster but I can't get over how fast this grill goes from being turned on to ready to go. Thanks for commenting Mike! See you around.

[@akamanonthemoon]

@@Mike-in-Texas Thanks Mike I didn’t know about the Elite series so will be heading to Lowe’s to snag one though may see if any Black Friday deals!

[@larrysioxson2567]

Really enjoy your videos. Tons of helpful information. Are you going to have a “Smoke Off” or “Cook Off/Showdown” with all your smokers? I’d really like to see this smoker go head-to-head against the Brunswick.

[@william1252]

Hell yeah! I'm glad you like it. I am loving mine. I'm just getting mine warmed up right now. I'm making usda prime sirloins and stuffed mushrooms to night and rolling some smoked out meat loafs tomorrow.

[@william1252]

Oh, the tank version of this is the platinum elite. That's around 1300. This is like a slimmed down Infantry version of that for almost half the price.

[@william1252]

Well, unfortunately the igniter went out on my grill today. After lunch steaks but before I got the meatloaf on. Got a new one on the way under warranty so that works.

[@stevesmith9936]

Your “pro tip” got you a thumbs up! Thx

[@yesitsmario88]

Looks like a good pit and plenty of space, nice review!

[@davidzemke2549]

I have the lows 1600, nice job... It is interesting to see the changes.... Keep up the great work...

[@dillonlinker9252]

Somebody needs to make a pro vs competition video

[@WYD505]

at 08:51: "Don't be dumb." Good words to live by 🤣

[@GrillSergeant]

Grill Sergeant 2024 “Don’t be dumb” 😂

[@Erick_The_Green]

All they would need to do for the pellet issue is add a xbox controller vibration motor that vibrates the pellets once in a while with the controller board.

[@Erick_The_Green]

do it yourself seperately with a 555 timer chip and a transistor and a 9v battery

[@nihil7002]

Great video! Also thank you for the extra tips and tricks in the comments. Subscribed!

[@etsh8835]

Great video as usual, we need more videos for brisket and comparison between pallets

[@GrillSergeant]

Hisham! How are you??

[@meals24u]

Oval cooking chamber? Dual-walled Insulated cooking chamber? That’s what wins my $ up north here where it’s super cold! But that speed is nice, I’d love to see that in action. My old Traeger, though smaller in size, heats up super quick too, but my newer unit doesn’t rush that fast.. Controller Programming? Nice review, looks like a decent grill 🙌

[@GrillSergeant]

Thanks for stopping by! Here is an epic cook you might enjoy...this smoker does it all. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH3LaHatnK9_ecU

[@joesolis2]

Re: Pellet Guard: I use a paint stirring stick to move the pellets around on my Austin XL.

[@GrillSergeant]

I would use a yard stick on my Pit Boss Brunswick. 😂

[@SJCOOKS]

looks like a great grill. Nice Review Andrew

[@TheBeardedItalian]

Excellent review!! I have the 850 pro series so I’m very much interested in what new grills PB cones out with!! 👊🏼🍻

[@robv13m40]

The Lorado has the same issue with the pellets- First thing I did after the first cook on it was remove that guard and throw it away-

[@RicsBBQSpecialties]

Nice Rig! Happy to hear you know it has a Big auger Hole 😮

[@ScottysBackYardBBQ]

love my little pit boss. . looking into a bigger one for spring time.. great video nice job.

[@jessd460]

Great video! I liked that you did a bit of a comparison between this and the PS2 1150. Have you considered doing a more in depth comparison video between those? One thing I noticed was that they each have a different controller. I'd be interested to hear how the experience differs between the two units (e.g. need for 2 vs 4 probes? any changes in the Smoke IT app? Other functions/features that are different, etc.)

[@GrillSergeant]

Hey Jess! If you want to learn more about the PS2 1150 I go over all the specs here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKOle3WHa9uGfdk In short, they both have their pros and cons but in my book the precise controller on the competition series with the lightning fast heat up times far outshines the nice build quality of the 1150. The app is the same for both and I don't really care for probe ports because I use different probes anyway (not that the Pit Boss ones don't work) it's just the Pit Boss Probes are really thick and I find a thinner probe is easier to use but that sounds wrong and very sexual. I'm sorry. lol You won't go wrong with either grill but that Competition Series is baller.

[@jessd460]

@@GrillSergeant Super helpful, thanks! P.S. Welcome to San Antonio!

[@GrillSergeant]

@@jessd460 Thank you!!

[@ebonyman23]

@Grill Sergeant. Could you do a review on the new Pit Boss Pellet/Charcoal combo grill? I haven't seen a review anywhere and not sure if I want it or a Tregar.

[@judgewepbbq]

As always, great review and info! 🥩

[@jakewarden820]

I just got my 1600 competition series. Have you had problems with it going above 400? I had a 820 pro series for years and just upgraded and never had a problem with it going above 400.

[@MakBOB]

Nice.... Thumbs up and thanks for sharing 👍

[@dubbadubdub82]

Super honest question I'm in between the competition and pro series, which one would personally recommend of the two?

[@GrillSergeant]

I’ve had both. I like the Competition Series a hair better.

[@matthewvonnahme4235]

Do you know the dimensions of the bottom rack on the inside? My wife got me a cast iron griddle for inside one of these and my current grill is too small so looking to upgrade.

[@lorenoconnor5789]

Nice video, has the hopper ever caught on fire?

[@GrillSergeant]

Nope. And I’ve run this thing multiple times at 500+ and then did the shutdown and zero issues with not even smoke in the hopper.

[@jeffsanford2335]

Do you have any issues with removing the top and middle racks? I haven’t quite figured out the correct angle to get them in and out yet. Other than that Im loving mine! Picked it up a couple weeks ago

[@GrillSergeant]

Maybe I should do a video on how to take them out. 😂 You have to drop one end low and pull the other side out at an angle.

[@jeffsanford2335]

@@GrillSergeant you’d have at least one viewer 😂 I’ve been having a hell of a time with them and in order to access all of the bottom rack you need to have the others out

[@kscrip]

Love your videos! Just have a quick question for ya! I currently have the pit boss vertical series 4. I’ve had it for about 5 years and man it has been great! But I’m looking to replace it and am wanting to know if the competition smoker would be a good upgrade and if I got away from the vertical smoker how would that affect my cooking. I currently also use a smoke tube and it makes a big difference when using it.

[@GrillSergeant]

So the big question is do you want to stay with getting a vertical smoker? I started this channel using the Vertical Pro Series 4 and LOVED that smoker, then I upgraded to the Brunswick. I gave away all my smokers right before I moved out here to Texas and after trying the Competition series 1600, I have yet to find a smoker that heats up as fast as it does. Now I know they make a competition series vertical but I have not tried it out. Do you need the space of a vertical? If not the barrel style smokers are really really nice.

[@kscrip]

@@GrillSergeant don’t need the but didn’t know how much of a difference there is. Thank you for the fast reply I appreciate it

[@adansaenz8752]

Awesome video, looking at 1250 n this 1600. Did tou assemble it?

[@GrillSergeant]

They are easy to assemble. I would recommend the 1600 over the 1250 just because you have access to the removable burn pot on the 1600. You can’t do that with the 1250.

[@adansaenz8752]

@@GrillSergeant Thought they both had that. Good point checking now. Thanks

[@sephiros9883]

Do you know if the competition series 850 has the burn pot removal? The pro 850 doesn’t. Thanks!

[@GrillSergeant]

It does not. The burn pot is totally worth getting the bigger model…

[@kerrywedge6977]

So I hear a lot about getting good smoke flavor and a good smoke ring on pellet grills being a tough issue. How did this pellet grill do with that like when you were cooking a brisket? Also what else would be your favorite pellet grill in this price range?

[@siretsap2]

If you tested the pro series elite 1600, how do you compare both? I live in Canada, the competition is available here, but the elite means I have to go in the US to get it, want to make sure I get the best of the 2 . Thanks Michael

[@stevesmith9936]

What did you notice as far as temperature variation? Usually one side is hotter?

[@GrillSergeant]

I found the right side is slightly hotter and the back of the smoker is slightly hotter than the front of the smoker. Look up the biscuit test and that will help show the smoker hot spots.

[@mattw.7197]

Would you take this grill over the pro series. New to the pellet grills. Buying next week. More for grilling. But plan to smoke also. Getting a 800 sq inch size of either. Which would you choose... keeping in mind. Its cold 5 months out of the year and will need a blanket to heat it fast. With no smoke stack... is this an issue

[@devonbell7396]

Where is the "smoke" setting. I'm coming from camp chef with high and low smoke. The dial only shows Temps so where is the smoke setup???

[@jordanmcclellan9315]

What’s your thoughts on the unconventional exhaust? Debating between a pellet and gravity fed. What’s your thoughts ?

[@31577bowie]

Did they fix the issues it had when it came out a few years ago?

[@NewBQBackyardBBQ]

I have a friend that swears by his pit boss. I personally don't have one, although I've been tempted to get a pitboss but I'm just to fond of my oklahoma joe rider 900 dlx

[@philm.4991]

Nice video. Do you like series 1600 better than Brunswick vertical smoker?

[@GrillSergeant]

I think they are two different smokers for different purposes. The Brunswick is a backyard smoking machine and does it very well. The Comp is more of a jack of all trades and can do it all. My frustration with the Brunswick is the heat up time was like 45 mins to get to 250

[@philm.4991]

Thanks for the additional info, and quick reply.

[@bridgeboys4593]

I like the 9:34 comments

[@scottintexas]

How would you compare a smoked brisket on this one vs your Brunswick?

[@GrillSergeant]

Brisket cook faster on the Competition Series 1600 way faster. When you close the lid on the Brunswick it takes a lot longer for the chamber to come back up to temp.

[@acsinc07]

How does this smoker hold up in really cold temps or windy days? I live in southern Alberta, Canada lol

[@jessd460]

Also, do you happen to have a rough idea of the difference in heat up times between the competition and pro series 2?

[@GrillSergeant]

I feel like the comp series heats up in about 1/4 the time.

[@jessd460]

@@GrillSergeant I just got back from looking at this in-person. They had one setup at the Academy off 1604 and NW military - seemed like the front shelf was maybe assembled wrong though (felt flimsy & didn't really lock into place) 🤔... Other than that, real nice grill... Hoping for a bit of a price break as turkey day approaches 🤞

[@janisse2004]

Have you ever hung meat to smoke on the 1600 smoker?

[@GrillSergeant]

No. That works WAY better on on the vertical Elite.

[@tdog5878]

Do the top grills not pull out?

[@GrillSergeant]

On the Pro Series Elite they do but not on the Competition Series

[@freightdawg6762]

how accurate is the temp controller? any wild swings in temp?

[@GrillSergeant]

Pretty much stays dialed to what it’s set at. Rarely will it swing 5 degrees up or down.

[@freightdawg6762]

@@GrillSergeant i live in wis how do you think it would hold temp in cold weather? Im debating getting the pitboss or recteq 590, but the pitboss offers so much more accessories like inner and outer shelving and racks , pellet dump , char vent ect plus its less money

[@GrillSergeant]

@@freightdawg6762 My chiropractor has a 590 and loves his. You really can't go wrong either way. To me, the Pit Boss is the better bang for the buck. As far as colder temps, the coldest it got here (in San Antonio, TX) was 17. Have not run into any issues with it yet.

[@matthewanitamarion4860]

How long does it typically take to heat up?

[@GrillSergeant]

Not long at all. Maybe 5 mins, if that.

[@matthewanitamarion4860]

@@GrillSergeant ok we just got ours and it seems like 10 mins. 🤔 is it a setting issue?

[@GrillSergeant]

@@matthewanitamarion4860 I highly recommend watching this video. In it I show you how to get the smoker started faster. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4a2g4yYa8qgpJY

[@jbaeza915]

Hey ​@Grill Sergeant what's the difference between the 1600 Competition (Academy Exclusive) and the 1150 Pro V3 (Lowes Exclusive)? Besides the cooking space. I heard you say the build quality is better or seems better due being heavier on the pro. Other than that any other key differences? I need some help deciding which to buy. This will be my 1st smoker.

[@SATrentman]

Bought the PB1600CST 6-1-24, still haven’t been able to do the burn off. It will connect to Bluetooth but won’t connect with WiFi. Igniter malfunction light goes off during start up. Contact Customer Care, keep getting the run a round, conversation cut off with no attempt to resolve any of my issues. Right now, I HATE THIS SMOKER, but open to changing if my issues get resolved. Either way this will be my last Pit Boss because of Customer Care. Yes I can manually light the grill but with a $1200 price tag, I refuse too!

[@bradsharp3417]

how do you put it on smoke setting.

[@michaelrose1388]

Did you ever get an answer to this question?

[@bear4353]

Go over a step by step demo of the control.

[@Goesinya69]

Sold me

[@ivandabney]

I'm stuck between pro and competition.

[@GrillSergeant]

Which pro series would you get?

[@ivandabney]

​1150 and how are they with quick cooking and warm up time

[@GrillSergeant]

@@ivandabney I would get the competition series. Quicker start up time and you can change the temp by 5 degrees.

[@ivandabney]

Have you messed with the combo series.?

[@GrillSergeant]

@@ivandabney I have an older triple combo (gas / pellet) but really just use it for pellet smoking.

[@ericmyers8135]

Can you smoke a suckling pig on it Thanks Eric Myers Stafford VA

[@frisconotomato]

WTF did you just call me?

[@GrillSergeant]

A Grillbilly is a BBQ term of endearment that subscribers voted to be called. 😂

[@leecampbell2477]

Pellet issue I’ve seen cocking with a Traeger