2 Pit Boss Pellet Smokers: Fight For No 1 Spot

Last Updated on March 2, 2022

Whether you’re big on outdoor entertainment or feeding a pack of hungry little wolf-kids, you’re going to need quality equipment. Pit Boss Pellet Smokers are a great choice. Pit Boss has a reputation for building pellet smokers that are big, hot, and hugely innovative.

They will last for years, provide hours of enjoyment and delicious meals that will satisfy all those hungry mouths.  If it’s a trusted brand that you are after, Pit Boss is it.

But with so many different models available, how do you go about choosing one that suits your circumstances?

In this article, we compare two of Pit Boss’s big sellers: the 72-700sc bbq, and the PB850G Navigator. Both models are wood pellet smokers with a range of excellent features, but which one will come out on top? 

There is only one way to find out, continue reading!

PIT BOSS 72-700SC BBQ Pellet Grill And Smoker

Up first is one of Pit Boss’s most popular pellet smoker grills, the 72-700sc, having earned an average Amazon customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5. So, let’s take a look at what makes it so popular.

Ease of use

One of the great things about this model, that it has in common with many other models across the Pit Boss range is, it features a digital control panel.

This way, once you have supplied the wood pellet fuel and ignited it, you simply set the temperature and leave the grill to do the rest. Remarkably easy to use.

It has several different uses, too, you can really vary how your foods are cooked. It’s an 8-in-1 machine capable of so much more than grilling and smoking. It can also bake, roast, sear, char-grill, braise, and barbecue. Super-versatile.

BTU value & temperature range

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the acronym BTU, it stands for British Thermal Unit, and it’s a measure of how much heat is thrown out. The greater the BTUs, the more heat is thrown out.

The 72-700SC throws out a whopping 20,700 BTUs of heat, and it can cook your food within a very wide temperature range, starting from 180 degrees and going up to a whopping 500 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Cooking space

This Pit Boss Pellet Smoker also has a very generous 700 square inches of total cooking space. And better yet, most of it is all primary cooking space, for direct rather than indirect heating and cooking. And that’s not all, there’s also an S Tier rack for indirect heating as well.

For those of you who can’t visualize just how big 700 square inches is, we’re pleased to report that it’s enough room to cook a whopping 20 burger patties at a time.

Or, if you wanted to cook something larger, you could fit a full brisket or two whole turkeys.

Hopper capacity

The Pit Boss 72700sc features a compact hopper, with a capacity of 21 pounds. This means that you can load up to 21 pounds of pellets at one time and smoke your meats for long periods of time without having to keep refilling.

The capacity is smaller than other Pit Boss grills but will still enable you to cook for hours without having to do a thing.  

Features

One of the things we love about the 72700sc Pit Boss Pellet Smoker is that you can buy it with a fold-out side shelf, and believe me this sure can come in handy. You can use it for food prep, plating up, or simply for keeping your condiments close at hand.

It also features a handy cabinet underneath, which is great for keeping your utensils in until you need them. 

But what’s even more convenient, is the lid-mounted temperature gauge that’s easy to read and gives you precise measurements, all without the need of lifting the lid or fussing around with meat thermometers.

Portability

If you don’t want to invest in a cover for your pellet grill, you will have to keep it indoors away from the elements, and just bring it out to the backyard when you need it.

Fortunately, dragging the grill outside is a breeze, thanks to the large handle at the front, and the four castor wheels which will lock into place to provide all the stability you need as you cook your food. 

Durability

Another of the great things about Pit Boss grills is their impressive build quality and durability. And this certainly goes for the 72700sc. It features an upgraded cart, heavy-gauge steel components, cast iron grill grates, and is definitely built to last.

Value for money

We all wish wood grills weren’t so expensive. No one ever wants to spend hundreds of dollars in one go. But we would argue that the 72700sc Pit Boss Pellet Smoker is quite reasonably priced, especially if you buy the version without a side shelf and lower cabinet. 

Warranty

We were also pleased to learn that the 72700sc comes backed by an incredibly lengthy warranty, which lasts up to a whopping 5 years from the date of purchase.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Cooking Capacity
  The biggest pro of this grill has to be its sheer cooking space capacity, which comes in at a massive 700 square inches, which is quite a lot by anyone’s standards.

• Versatility
  And the next pro is the grill’s versatility, and how it can be used for 8 different kinds of cooking methods.

• Portability
  The four wheels, handle and compact design of this grill make it one of the most portable that Pit Boss offers.

Cons

• Tricky Assembly
  One of the biggest cons reported by customers is that it does require some assembly when it arrives, and some have found this a little tricky.

• Limited Temperature Control
  And another thing that concerned customers was temperature control. Realistically, you’re just not going to get to a high temperature as soon as you get the heat going.

Check Out Availability &Today’s Price:
PIT BOSS 72-700SC BBQ Pellet Grill Smoker

PIT BOSS PB850G Navigator Wood Pellet W/Fitted Grill Cover

With Free Shipping

Next up, it’s the PB850G. This pellet grill may not have received quite as much attention as the 72-700SC, but it has gone down incredibly well with those who’ve bought it. So, let’s take a look and see how the two grills compare. 

Ease of use

This is where the PB850G really stands out against the other models. It features a dial-in digital control panel, complete with an LED read-out.

Moreover, like the 72700sc, it’s an 8-in-1 machine capable of so much more than grilling and smoking. It can also bake, roast, sear, char-grill, braise, and barbecue. Super-versatile.

BTU value & temperature range

The PB850G sure does throw out an incredible amount of heat – a whopping 40,000 BTUs to be exact, significantly more than what the 72700sc can achieve.

But the temperature range is the same, starting from 180 degrees and going up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Cooking space

A glance at the photos for the two grills would have you believe that the PB850G is significantly smaller than the 72700sc, but appearances can be deceptive.

The PB850G offers a staggering 879 square inches of total cooking space.

Hopper capacity

The PB850G also has an impressive hopper capacity, coming in at 28 pounds, significantly higher than that of the 72700sc. This makes it more desirable for those who love to smoke slow and steady over many hours.

Features

The PB850G has some great features. For one, it features a simple side-plate flame broiler for indirect cooking. 

And there’s an included meat temperature probe, for even more precise readings of your meat temperatures, so you can assure everything gets cooked to your liking. 

Portability

The PB850G is very portable. It features 4 caster wheels for easy maneuverability, including two very large ones on one side, which are great for rolling over difficult terrain.

But don’t worry, the wheels will lock in place when you’re ready for them too.

Durability

The PB850G is really built to last, with its premium heavy gauge steel build and porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates.

Value for money

The PB850G does cost a little more than other Pit Boss pellet grills, we admit. But, we would argue that if you intend to throw big cookout parties, it is 100% worth the extra money. 

Warranty

We were also pleased to learn that the PB850G comes backed by an incredibly lengthy warranty, which lasts up to 5 years from the date of purchase.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Cooking Capacity
  The main pro is the incredibly large cooking space, which comes in at 879 square inches in total.

• Hopper Capacity
  The massive hopper capacity, which comes in at 28 pounds, is significantly higher than that of the 72700sc.

Cons

• Expensive
  The most obvious con to this model is the price tag. It’s not cheap, and that’s an understatement.

Check Out Availability &Today’s Price:
PIT BOSS PB850G Navigator Wood Pellet W/Fitted Grill Cover

Conclusion

So, we would argue that despite the 72700sc being a more popular model, having sold well on Amazon and elsewhere, the PB850G is actually a far superior model, both in terms of its greater cooking space, and its greater hopper capacity. In our view, that makes it worth the extra money.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns then please contact us. We are here to help.

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