Review of Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker 20060416

Below is a review of the Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet smoker. According to a recent report, the global grill market has reached $6.8 billion. With so many smokers and equipment to choose from, it can be difficult to know which one is best.

The answer to this question depends on your unique cooking needs and style. This article will help you determine if the Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker is the right smoker for you. 

Note: most links in this article are Amazon.com Affiliate links, see Affiliate Disclosure, thank you.

Review of the Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker (Basics)

We will kick off this Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet smoker review with some essential information about the item. This covers some basics about the build of the smoker and what comes with it.

You can treat this information as a summary of what you are getting with the Masterbuilt Bullet. But it is also essential for understanding conclusions about it in the subsequent “Pros” and “Cons” sections later in the article.

Masterbuilt has been around since 1973. For 50 years, they have created innovative cooking products, including premium-quality smokers. They produce a variety of grills and smokers to accommodate a range of cooking needs.

As the name suggests, the Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet is a charcoal smoker. You can use lump or traditional charcoal briquettes. It is a barrel smoker that utilizes rising heat from the bottom-sitting coals.

The charcoal capacity in the Masterbuilt Bullet smoker is about eight pounds. This still allows room for about four 3×3-inch wood chunks.

The Bullet is made from stainless steel, including its three legs. Since there are no ceramic parts, it is suitable to use lighter fluid or “easy light” charcoal.

The smoker measures approximately 20 inches in diameter and is 31.5 inches. The barrel has a side door that allows you to access the bottom charcoal bowl.

The smoker comes with two porcelain-coated racks. You get approximately 395 square inches of cooking space spread across them.

It also comes with a charcoal pan and a water pan (which doubles as a drip pan). The lid has sturdy handles and a built-in thermometer. It also includes an adjustable vent.

Pros

There are many different benefits that the Masterbuilt Bullet has to offer. Here are the main ones to consider before purchasing.

Simple Assembly

The Masterbuilt Bullet is extremely easy to put together. You only need a Phillips head screwdriver or impact driver. 

The smoker comes with easy-to-follow assembly instructions. You can completely put it together in a half hour, but numerous online users have noted that it is possible in less than 20 minutes.

Also, the dimensions of the grates and bins for the smoker are common across brands. This makes them easy to replace either after they wear out or to supplement with similar components.

Ease of Use

One of the biggest advantages of the Masterbuilt Bullet is that it is extremely easy to use. It has a simple design, so getting coals started is seamless.

When in use, it is easy to add charcoal or wood chips to the coal bin, using the door on the side of the smoker. This also keeps you from disrupting the cook by removing the lid, which aids in maintaining consistent temperatures.

The Bullet also has a top air vent, which helps in controlling airflow in the smoker. It is a feature that is often lacking in many barrel smokers.

In terms of airflow, you might consider picking up a third rack to lift charcoal briquettes (or wood) out of the bowl. This will encourage circulation and produce a better burn.

Lightweight and Portable

The Masterbuilt Bullet is a very lightweight and compact smoker. At a little over 15 pounds, it is ideal for toting to social gatherings or other remote events. Besides transporting it around, this also makes it easy to store and set up at home, and in very little time.

Durability

The Masterbuilt Bullet is extremely well made. With basic care, you can expect the stainless steel to last for decades.

It also comes with a 90-day warranty. While this is not extensive, if there are any defects or other issues with your particular smoker, you can be sure the company will repair or replace it.

Versatility

Another big benefit of the Masterbuilt Bullet is that you can also use it as a grill. Simply utilize the top pan for coal (to get them closer to the grates. You can also use the lower or upper grates, depending on the level of heat (and proximity to the coals) you need.

While you cannot easily switch between smoking and grilling, this is a convenient feature. It combines both capacities into a single item.

Affordability

The Masterbuilt Bullet is very affordable, especially for a smoker of this quality. It is usually priced at well under $100. You will be hard-pressed to find another smoker of this caliber anywhere close to that price point.

A lower price can be a huge plus for any cooking device that you are transporting to public places, especially ones that are light, compact, and easy to walk off with. If you are at a tailgate or other social function and something happens to the smoker, it would not be the end of the world.

It is worth pointing out that the low price of this smoker makes it a prime candidate for modifications. Keep this in mind as you read about the negative aspects of the Bullet. There may be some DIY alternatives that can help mitigate these drawbacks.

Cons

Now this review of Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet smoker will turn to common “cons” to consider. Here are the major ones that you should know about before buying.

No Adjustable Intake Vent

While the Masterbuilt Bullet does have a top vent for regulating airflow, it lacks a bottom one. This can restrict the ability to control cooking temperatures in the smoker.

If you are unfamiliar with how these work together, think of the bottom vent as the accelerator in a vehicle and the top vent as the brake. The bottom vent allows you to adjust how much air is getting to the coals, while the top vent lets you dial in the temperature after it stabilizes.

The lack of a bottom vent is not a deal-breaker for a basic smoker. However, the free flow of air to the burning charcoal is a concern. Special care will be needed to control the burn rate through other means, like loading less charcoal more often.

Small Charcoal Capacity

Small charcoal capacity is another drawback of the Masterbuilt Bullet, but only if you are considering this smoker for longer cooks. You can still get upwards of five to seven hours of smoking from eight pounds of charcoal. Also, as mentioned, it is easy to add charcoal to the pan mid-smoke.

In fact, for its size, some might argue that the Bullet has a relatively large charcoal capacity. The point is that, given these limitations, you will not be able to let it go for very long smokes without adding coal to it.

Lack of Insulation

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Bullet is the lack of insulating qualities. Being so lightweight, this is unavoidable–and it may be a minor deficit if you are only interested in shorter smokes–but it is something to consider.

The smoker is made of thin metal. While this contributes to its durability, it detracts from heat retention. 

There is another downside to this besides shorter smoke times: charcoal use. You will get far less out of your charcoal with this smoker than you would with a kamado or other well-insulated box smoker. 

Summary

According to this review of the Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet smoker, this is an extremely durable, compact, and easy-to-use outdoor smoker that doubles as a grill. You also get a lot of bang for your buck as well as peace of mind that this smoker will not break the bank if something happens to it. You can expect it to last a long time and work just as well years down the road as it did the first time you fired it up.

The main limitations of this smoker boils down to smoke times, capacity, and temperature management. While it is not ideal for a 20+ hour brisket smoke, it is great for chicken, steaks, pork loins, and small roasts.

Learn More About the Masterbuilt Bullet Smoker

Now that you have a grasp of the pros and cons of the Masterbuilt Bullet, you can decide if it is the best charcoal smoker for your preferences and lifestyle. It can be a great smoker for seasoned cooks, beginners, or anyone who values simplicity and ease of use.

We hope you found this review of the Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet smoker helpful. If so, be sure to take a look at some of our other reviews, cooking tips, and recipes. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have about the Masterbuilt Bullet or other smokers and smoker accessories.