One cook with the TS pellets done, my opinion so far.
Every bag at tractor supply had a hole in it that was taped over. Some big some small. The bag I brought home still had a full 40 lbs in it though.
The pellets themselves are really pale. Much lighter in color than the lumberjack or Bear Mountain I usually cook with. The pellets are also very small. The longest were under 1/2”.
Smoke production was very light. I started off at 160* for 30 min and the smoke was very very light. I usually get really noticeable smoke when I run this low for a reverse sear.
My grill seemed to really struggle getting up to temp for the sear.
Based on this cook alone I would pass and stick to Bear Mountain or Lumberjack. With lumberjack getting scarse around me I may try Cabela’s or go with Cookin Pellets.
A few thoughts on some of these.
The short pellet could be do to the way they were handled, given that the bags had taped up holes.
Short pellets should burn hotter as you will get more volume in to the fire pot per auger revolution, and they will feed much nicer.I used Hamers Hot Ones and they are usually very short have never had feed issues.
Color would more than likely be the wood used, I know the pellets I am heating with I will get a bag or so of lighter colored pellets, with in the same ton. I never notice much difference in the way they burn or heat when I paid attention.
Not sure on who makes them, could probably contact TS to find out. I had read in the heating pellet forum a while back that the heating were made by lignetics but in some cases they used regional suppliers.