High-water mark
685.6800
career-best overall
95.2% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 685.6800 at 4th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship — 95.2% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- Mar 20, 2015
BIG GUNS BBQ
BIG GUNS BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 36 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2023. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 28 at the I Love Barbecue & Music Festival (2013). They are ranked #2102 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1534
peak 1575 · rated over 35 contests
Contests
36
in the data
First seen
Mar 15, 2013
latest Sep 27, 2023 · 10.5 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
4
11 podiums
Overall top-10s
7
19% of 36 contests
Best top-10 run
3
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 46%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
653.61 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 641.95 (+11.66)
Walk rate
53%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±19.48
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 161.13 · weakest Brisket (159.93)
Road miles
20,303
across 36 mapped stops · furthest 1,308 mi
Schedule strength
29%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1539)
Purse competed for
$205K
listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 4 state-championship entries
Master avg
641.95 / 720
35 Master contests · 0 GCs
Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #1309 (60 pts) | #1341 (60 pts) | #1404 (60 pts) | #1348 (60 pts) | #1333 (60 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #1236 (60 pts) | #1225 (75 pts) | #1309 (60 pts) | #1262 (60 pts) | #1245 (60 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1954 (60 pts) | #2012 (60 pts) | #1996 (60 pts) | #1946 (75 pts) | #1990 (60 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #831 (429 pts) | #1028 (339 pts) | #791 (504 pts) | #715 (559 pts) | #691 (579 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #822 (411 pts) | #1250 (241 pts) | #569 (681 pts) | #997 (346 pts) | #853 (421 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #568 (660 pts) | #410 (920 pts) | #748 (495 pts) | #658 (580 pts) | #550 (670 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #174 (1,518 pts) | #134 (1,556 pts) | #240 (1,199 pts) | #129 (1,561 pts) | #119 (1,723 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to BIG GUNS BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
69 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2,108 of the rated field
- Contests
- 41
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 24%
- Peak
- 1558
Careers of much the same size, 41 contests to 36, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#2,107 of the rated field
- Contests
- 31
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 16%
- Peak
- 1541
31 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 16% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#2,096 of the rated field
- Contests
- 30
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 7%
- Peak
- 1535
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 28 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#2,113 of the rated field
- Contests
- 18
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 39%
- Peak
- 1538
They turned up 6 years after BIG GUNS BBQ did, first appearing in 2019.
⚔ Compare careers#2,097 of the rated field
- Contests
- 16
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 13%
- Peak
- 1545
Level with BIG GUNS BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careers#2,098 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1535
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 15 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 21 | 1 | 20 | 5% | ⚔ compare |
| Rogue Hog BBQ | 15 | 2 | 13 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| GOOD SMOKE BBQ | 14 | 2 | 12 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| THE SMOKING HILLS | 14 | 1 | 13 | 7% | ⚔ compare |
| B & C SMOKERS | 13 | 3 | 10 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| Casual Smokers | 12 | 8 | 4 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE ON WHEELS | 12 | 5 | 7 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN ELVISES | 12 | 4 | 8 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG POPPA SMOKERS | 12 | 2 | 10 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| INSANE SWINE BBQ | 12 | 1 | 11 | 8% | ⚔ compare |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| DUSTY ROADS BBQ | 11 | 8 | 3 | 73% | ⚔ compare |
| Outhouse BBQ | 11 | 7 | 4 | 64% | ⚔ compare |
| Bare Bones BBQ Team | 11 | 7 | 4 | 64% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 35 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 176 | 144 | 161.13 | top 51% |
| Pork Ribs | 35 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 173.1200 | 146.8804 | 160.00 | top 50% |
| Pork | 35 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 178.8572 | 145.1426 | 160.88 | top 47% |
| Brisket | 35 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 178.8572 | 137.7142 | 159.93 | top 44% |
“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.
By field size and state
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 14 | 0 | top 44% |
| Large (40+) | 21 | 0 | top 48% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I love Barbecue & Music Festival | 4 | 3 | 0 | top 33% | Jul 2, 2016 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 3 | 306 | 0 | top 73% | Sep 27, 2023 |
| Big Blue BBQ Championship | 2 | 12 | 0 | top 43% | Jun 3, 2016 |
| Red, White and Que | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 37% | Sep 6, 2014 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2013
14 contests
Contests a season
3.6
across 10 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
KS
11 of 36 contests · 12 states in all
Contests visited
28
4 of them more than once
Opponents faced
2,653
finished ahead 2,574 times, behind 3,601
Longest layoff
2 yrs
Sep 12, 2019 → Sep 16, 2021
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20231 milestone
- Most recent contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest
20191 milestone
- Career-best single call (Pork)178.8572 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
20161 milestone
- 25th tracked contest Smoke in the Spring
20152 milestones
- Career-best overall score685.6800 4th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship
- Peak power rating (1575) 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open
20137 milestones
- First tracked contest 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship
- First call New York City BBQ Cookoff
- First overall top-10 New York City BBQ Cookoff
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score650.8566 New York City BBQ Cookoff
- First overall podium I Love Barbecue & Music Festival
- 10th tracked contest Troy Pig Out
- First category win (Pork) Red, White and Que
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +13.5 | New York City BBQ Cookoff | Apr 19, 2013 |
| +13.4 | Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle | Jun 22, 2013 |
| +13.2 | Central MD Swinetastic BBQ Festival | Jun 14, 2013 |
| +12.7 | I Love Barbecue & Music Festival | Jul 4, 2013 |
| +11.8 | Roc City Rib Fest | May 24, 2014 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -15.3 | Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK | Mar 15, 2013 |
| -12.2 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | Aug 19, 2016 |
| -10.6 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | Sep 27, 2023 |
| -10.4 | The Lexington Battle-Green BBQ Festival | May 18, 2013 |
| -9.2 | Smoke in the Spring | Apr 8, 2016 |
Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — tap a meat to add it)
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
How entries end (by meat)
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 89% | 87.5% | 87.5% |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 61% | 91.7% | 91.7% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 70% | 89.6% | 89.6% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 49% | 91.8% | 91.8% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 34% | 93.2% | 93.2% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 67% | 89.6% | 89.6% |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 40% | top 60% | 91.3% | 88.4% |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 50% | top 34% | 95.2% | 91.3% |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 67% | top 43% | 92.1% | 88.9% |
| 2013 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 71% | top 39% | 92.5% | 88.3% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 431 / 487 (630.1600) | 377 (161.7144) | 410 (158.2744) | 336 (163.4056) | 462 (146.7656) |
| Oct 1, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 306 / 505 (660.4800) | 395 (161.1200) | 150 (171.4172) | 380 (161.0856) | 216 (166.8572) |
| Sep 16, 2021 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 329 / 467 (644.9712) | 22 (176) | 143 (169.7028) | 424 (150.1828) | 415 (149.0856) |
| Sep 12, 2019 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 227 / 468 (661.0856) | 53 (173.7256) | 415 (153.0972) | 4 (178.8572) | 362 (155.4056) |
| Sep 15, 2018 | 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 161 / 467 (671.3600) | 196 (167.9772) | 213 (166.8572) | 22 (176.5828) | 310 (159.9428) |
| Sep 1, 2017 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 273 / 407 (644.9484) | 223 (165.6800) | 378 (148.5032) | 205 (166.2168) | 197 (164.5484) |
| Oct 29, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 317 / 557 (650.1484) | 483 (152.5372) | 290 (164.5372) | 147 (169.1428) | 256 (163.9312) |
| Aug 19, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour South Windsor, CT | 23 / 26 (619.2456) | 24 (150.2284) | 17 (158.2288) | 15 (162.8456) | 20 (147.9428) |
| Jul 2, 2016 | I love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY | 9 / 28 (632.5140) | 23 (147.4056) | 4 (165.1316) | 3 (167.4284) | 15 (152.5484) |
| Jun 3, 2016 | Big Blue BBQ Championship Marysville, KS | 14 / 30 (657.6116) | 16 (158.8000) | 18 (156.5488) | 14 (163.4056) | 1 (178.8572) |
| Apr 8, 2016 | Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS | 84 / 109 (624.3772) | 53 (165.6800) | 96 (150.8116) | 77 (158.8228) | 92 (149.0628) |
| Oct 3, 2015 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO | 213 / 606 (662.7544) | 428 (158.8344) | 367 (161.6688) | 235 (166.2512) | 23 (176) |
| Jul 3, 2015 | I Love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY | 15 / 31 (623.9200) | 27 (146.7772) | 1 (171.4516) | 24 (149.1428) | 14 (156.5484) |
| Jun 5, 2015 | Big Blue BBQ Championship Marysville, KS | 12 / 30 (658.1828) | 23 (156.5028) | 1 (173.1200) | 11 (165.1428) | 13 (163.4172) |
| Mar 20, 2015 | 4th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA | 12 / 100 (685.6800) | 37 (170.2744) | 37 (168) | 17 (173.1428) | 12 (174.2628) |
| Oct 2, 2014 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 412 / 552 (631.2456) | 469 (154.2172) | 238 (165.6916) | 494 (150.2284) | 301 (161.1084) |
| Sep 6, 2014 | Red, White and Que Cresskill, NJ | 10 / 31 (638.2512) | 2 (171.4628) | 18 (151.9772) | 14 (156.5256) | 10 (158.2856) |
| Jul 4, 2014 | I Love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY | 11 / 27 (616.0464) | 14 (157.1428) | 16 (146.8804) | 15 (151.4288) | 7 (160.5944) |
| Jun 20, 2014 | Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT | 19 / 32 (643.9544) | 4 (168.5600) | 27 (150.2744) | 9 (166.8456) | 23 (158.2744) |
| May 24, 2014 | Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY | 8 / 86 (663.4284) | 5 (170.2856) | 25 (162.8456) | 26 (162.8572) | 13 (167.4400) |
| Mar 21, 2014 | 3rd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA | 29 / 69 (646.2744) | 46 (159.9772) | 20 (163.4744) | 26 (160) | 19 (162.8228) |
| Oct 3, 2013 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 372 / 535 (623.3372) | 314 (158.8800) | 343 (155.9772) | 477 (147.9428) | 228 (160.5372) |
| Sep 7, 2013 | Red, White and Que Cresskill, NJ | 11 / 26 (640.5828) | 16 (156.5484) | 20 (152.5600) | 1 (176.0228) | 8 (155.4516) |
| Aug 16, 2013 | Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY | 17 / 51 (642.1712) | 7 (168.5600) | 36 (154.8000) | 6 (168.0112) | 35 (150.8000) |
| Jul 20, 2013 | Wakefield Rotary Campus CookOff & State BBQ Championships Kingston, RI | 13 / 46 (653.7028) | 40 (150.2628) | 13 (164.5828) | 3 (169.1428) | 4 (169.7144) |
| Jul 13, 2013 | Troy Pig Out Troy, NY | 12 / 32 (626.8688) | 12 (159.9772) | 20 (152.5944) | 22 (149.7256) | 6 (164.5716) |
| Jul 4, 2013 | I Love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY | 3 / 28 (638.8572) | 4 (165.7142) | 12 (152.5716) | 2 (166.8570) | 10 (153.7144) |
| Jun 22, 2013 | Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle Washington, DC | 4 / 42 (665.7138) | 2 (169.1426) | 18 (164.5712) | 17 (161.7142) | 4 (170.2858) |
| Jun 14, 2013 | Central MD Swinetastic BBQ Festival Frederick, MD | 7 / 63 (660.5712) | 17 (165.1428) | 13 (164.5714) | 27 (159.4286) | 4 (171.4284) |
| Jun 7, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Asheville, NC | 11 / 26 (645.7140) | 24 (150.8572) | 10 (164) | 13 (161.7140) | 6 (169.1428) |
| May 25, 2013 | Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY | 25 / 80 (625.7142) | 2 (173.1430) | 8 (165.7142) | 55 (149.1428) | 69 (137.7142) |
| May 18, 2013 | The Lexington Battle-Green BBQ Festival Lexington, MA | 25 / 31 (593.7146) | 29 (144) | 21 (156.5714) | 24 (146.8572) | 24 (146.2860) |
| Apr 19, 2013 | New York City BBQ Cookoff Staten Island, NY | 4 / 33 (650.8566) | 19 (158.2854) | 5 (166.8572) | 8 (160) | 2 (165.7140) |
| Mar 15, 2013 | Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK Miami, OK | 54 / 55 (600.5714) | 41 (160.5714) | 52 (149.7142) | 54 (145.1426) | 53 (145.1432) |
| Mar 15, 2013 | 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA | 26 / 57 (633.1426) | 13 (163.4286) | 29 (156.5714) | 47 (149.7142) | 17 (163.4284) |