Sorry but no, I can't say that I have.

They're fabulous. I'm taking 4 racks to the traditional opening day of dove season this coming Labor Day weekend. It's a great old-fashioned breakfast/lunch/dinner family style affair that my neighbor runs.

And PLEASE come back and let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcome so don't be shy.

I looked long and hard and did a lot of research before deciding on the Traeger Ironwood 650 (the older model - not this year's release). There are several different brands out there. I stayed away from the PitBoss (some folks swear by them) because my neighbor has one and has had several problems from augers to temp control, etc. I went with the 650 size because it's usually only my wife and I and I can do pretty much all I want on the 650. It is also big enough to feed a large crowd on those rare occasions. Plus I figured less space = less pellets used during a cook and a smaller footprint on my back porch. I went with the older model because I wasn't sold on the idea that the increase in price for the newer model was worth the extra dollars. I also opted for the Traeger for the app support which is great. All that being said, it's going to be a decision that YOU have to make in the end. There are a ton of various comparison videos out there on brand vs brand and model vs model. Look at ease of use, ease of cleaning, pellet hopper capacity, APP SUPPORT is a biggie, temperature consistency, Insulation, after market items, warranty support, user reviews, etc etc. There's really not a "beginner model" because a pellet grill is not something you want to purchase and then have to upgrade shortly afterwards - unless of course you happen to be independently wealthy. Spend the upgrade money on other types of smokers (kamado, electric, drums, offsets, etc etc).

Glad you liked it!!

I honestly don't know since I haven't compared the specs on the two models you're talking about. If the power on the HD version is less then I'd say opt for the Deluxe. If it's the same and the construction is the same then you're probably just looking at differences in the added extras in the box (like maybe sausage tubes). Plus, you'll need to look at your anticipated usage, how closely/clean you butcher your meat, etc. Take a good hard look at the construction and the power specs, the included equipment, and go from there. This one works very well for us but we only grind a small portion of our harvests. The rest goes into roasts, steaks, jerky, and stew meat. It sees the grind pile of four or five deer per year and has never missed a beat or clogged up on us. In a hunting camp scenario or something similar where you're grinding much more meat per year then definitely up your game to a larger machine than the one in this review.

Glad you think so!

Thanks! I use half apple cider vinegar and half apple juice. Some folks use plain water or a half mix of water/vinegar to avoid any sugar. If I start running low during a cook I just add a bit of plain old water to the mix I have left.

That's exactly why it's titled "Smoked Ribs For Dummies". Much agreed that the offset is the way to go for the best smoke flavor BUT I'd wager there's a minority of folks that actually own and use an offset as compared to a pellet grill. I bought the Traeger Ranger to "set & forget" when we are vacationing with the RV.