Review of the REC TEC Grills Bullseye RT-B380 Wood Pellet Grill

The only thing better than having a REC TEC Wood Pellet Grill is being able to take one with you on all of your camping endeavours! Trips up north to the cottage or to a serene, secluded campsite are only elevated by having a high-quality barbeque on hand.

At Fire Food Chef we get that everyone looks for something different in a barbeque, which is why we recommend the very portable REC TEC Grills Bullseye RT-B380 Wood Pellet Grill for those who like to grill on the go.

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If you are searching for a wood pellet grill to up your grilling game, be sure to check out our REC TEC pellet grill reviews to help you make an educated decision. After all, choosing your barbeque is one of the biggest decisions to be made in any master griller’s life.

There are a lot of wood pellet grills on the market, which is why it’s all about finding the one to suit your unique needs whether you are more of a backyard griller or need something that you can take with you on your weekend getaways. The latter, of course, calls for a portable BBQ like the REC TEC Bullseye.

Key Features of RT-B380 BULLSEYE

• 380 sq. inch cooking area gives you enough space for 25 burgers
• The porcelain-coated chamber is extremely well insulated
• Broad temperature ranges from 200 °F to well over 500 °F
• Hit 500 °F in no more than 15 minutes to get searing at warp speed
• Very portable model; ideal for those camping trips

Overview: REC TEC Grills Bullseye RT-B380 Wood Pellet Grill

The REC TEC Bullseye is a simpler crossover grill that might lack a few of the bells and whistles of the more advanced models, but it compensates in other areas. Let’s clear up some confusion straight off the bat.

Some reviews mistakenly flag the Bullseye as a combination gas and pellet grill, but this is simply not the case. It is marketed as hot enough to be compared favourably to a gas grill, but you won’t be cooking with gas!

The Bullseye deviates considerably from the standard-issue REC TEC. In many ways, this model more resembles a classic Weber kettle. The porcelain-coated chamber is a departure from the usual stainless steel but how else does the Bullseye move away from the target?

Design Elements to Take Into Consideration

Well, in an attempt to bring the price down, that PID controller is not in place. Instead, you’ll get a simple knob for temperature control. You’ll need to fiddle with this, and you won’t be able to dial in a temperature. Overall, temperature control lacks a little of the consistency you’ll get across the rest of the REC TEC range.

Why, then, are there no numbered markings on the temperature dial? Well, without a digital thermostatic controller any numbers would be meaningless. We’d suggest you pick up a digital cooking thermometer. REC TEC states that they wanted the Bullseye to bridge the gap between gas or charcoal grills and pellet grills while still bringing the model in at a very competitive price. Given that many fans of gas and charcoal grills prefer simplicity to a feature-rich unit packed with controls, it’s a case of appealing to a particular market at the expense of another.

This need to make small tweaks is a minor nuisance, but there are other areas where the Bullseye makes up for this.

Setting Up and Cooking

The set-up is straightforward and should require no more than 30 minutes. It’s useful to have a second pair of hands although it’s not impossible to undertake solo. There’s little more to worry about putting on the legs and the handles.

You will, of course, lose out in terms of cooking area. The 380 sq. inches at your disposal is enough for 25 burgers, however. You shouldn’t be left hungry!

More or less every review you come across quotes different temperatures and times, so we’ll start off by making one thing clear: the Bullseye is quick to get up to searing heat. In no more than 10 or 15 minutes, you’ll have the grill at well over 500 °F. This is turbo-charged cookery.

You’ll get a couple of 40-pound pellet bags thrown in so you can get going straight out the box. A grill pad and cover are also included.

You’ll be able to perform a decent cross-section of cooking duties with the Bullseye. At a mid-range temperature like 350 °F, you can expect uniform results with crisp and golden-brown chicken.

Longer, slower cooking can be a little frustrating when you’re trying to dial in that temperature. You’ll also always need to keep your eye on the ambient temperature and make adjustments accordingly.

Once you’ve got things evened out, you can get brisket cooked through perfectly. If you plan to do a lot of searing, I’d recommend an extra searing kit to get the browning and crust you’re looking for.

As with all hardwood pellets, store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh. Do this to help preserve flavour.

Where the vast bulk of pellet grills require the lid on at all times due to the heat loss you’d otherwise experience, the Bullseye allows you to cook with it open, a nice touch.

Portable Build for Those On the Go

Portability is one of the key selling points. Weighing just over 50 pounds and measuring up at 22 x 38 x 36 inches, it’s a compact unit ideal for use on the go.

Much like the chamber, the cooking grate is also made of porcelain enamel. The flame deflector comes with some holes around the edges. When you really crank up the heat, flames come up through this. This promotes direct flame cooking when required.

The Bullseye comes with a ceramic igniter that’s built to last.

The hopper is 15 pounds and embossed with the bull. The latch is failproof. There’s no chance at all of the lid coming adrift.

How to Combat Greasiness

One issue well worth highlighting is the fact there are no real means of escape for the grease with the Bullseye. The Bullseye is meant to resemble a kettle, and these don’t come with drip pans. Since the grease tends to accumulate right beside the flames of the fire pot, this is something to keep a close eye on. When you’re cooking low and slow, use some rags to wipe away any excess. Another workaround is to ratchet the heat right up to burn off any grease.

Warranty

While we understand that a 1-year warranty is less than ideal, without the PID controller, there’s far less to go wrong. If you’re happy with that manual feed control, the Bullseye is a great way to get REC TEC quality at a very keen price-point. Also, as is standard with REC TEC grills, you’ll be able to call in a refund at any stage during the first month if you’re not completely satisfied.

Verdict: REC TEC Grills Bullseye RT-B380 Wood Pellet Grill

Despite the quirks involved in adjusting an unmarked temperature dial, if you fancy the benefits of a kettle with a few extra flourishes, the Bullseye is well worth the modest investment. You’ll get all the advantages of a pellet grill without the drawbacks or the manual input required with a charcoal alternative.

This grill is ideal for barbequing on the go, whether you have an annual camping trip to prepare for or spend a lot of your summer weekends hopping from cottage to cottage. After all, what is a summer weekend away without some barbeque?