The short answer: pick Buffalo Bills Ole' Smokies when you want a full size, individually wrapped stick to grab one at a time, and pick Short Shots when you want the lowest cost per stick and do not mind sticks sold loose in a bag. Both are made by Buffalo Bills Premium Snacks in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, from US raised beef, in a USDA inspected facility.
Side by side
| Ole' Smokies | Short Shots | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 9 inches | About 3.5 inches |
| Weight per stick | 1.25 oz | About 0.25 oz |
| Wrapped? | Yes, each stick individually wrapped | No, sold loose in a resealable bag |
| How they are sold | Cups of 15, 20, 24 or 30; 2 lb saddlebags; gift bags and samplers | 30 oz bags of about 120 sticks; 2 bag gift coolers |
| Flavors | Mild, Spicy, Teriyaki, Honey Stung, Pepperoni, Beef and Cheese, Jalapeno and Cheese, Chipotle Habanero, Turkey, Ham and more | Original, Hot, Habanero |
| Protein | 6 to 10 g per stick | 6 to 7 g per serving |
| Typical price | $32.99 for a 15 count cup, about $2.20 per stick; $39.99 for 24, about $1.67 per stick | $39.99 for a 120 count bag, about $0.33 per stick |
| Since | 1990s, the original Buffalo Bills stick | 1994 |
When to pick Ole' Smokies
Ole' Smokies are the stick most people picture when they think of Buffalo Bills. Each one is a full 9 inch beef stick in its own wrapper, so it travels well in a lunchbox, a glove box, a golf bag or a hunting pack. The wrapper also keeps the rest of the cup fresh while you work through it.
They are the better choice for gifts, break rooms and retail counters, where people want to take one stick and go. The 15 count cup is the classic format; the 24 count cup brings the price per stick down, and the 2 lb saddlebag is the value pick for a household that goes through a lot of sticks. Ole' Smokies also come in the widest range of flavors, including cheese blends and turkey.
When to pick Short Shots
Short Shots are the same Buffalo Bills beef in a bite size, 3.5 inch format, sold loose in a 30 oz bag of roughly 120 sticks. At about 33 cents a stick, they are the most economical way to buy Buffalo Bills. Because they are not individually wrapped, they work best when the bag stays in one place: a kitchen counter, an office, a party table, a tailgate or a camp cooler.
Short Shots come in Original, Hot and Habanero. Original is a mild, smoky stick that most people like; Hot has a clear kick; Habanero is for people who want real heat. Once a bag is open, reseal it and finish it within about three weeks.
Can you mix them?
Many customers do: a bag of Short Shots at home for snacking, and a cup of Ole' Smokies for lunches and travel. Both qualify for Beefsticks.com quantity discounts (5% off 3 or more items, 10% off 6 or more) and for Subscribe and Save, which takes 10% off every delivery.
Shop
- Assorted Hot and Mild Ole' Smokies Cup, a good first cup if you are not sure which flavor you want
- Spicy Ole' Smokies Cup, 15 or 24 count
- Original Short Shots, 120 count bag
- All Buffalo Bills
FAQ
Are Ole' Smokies and Short Shots made from the same beef?
Yes. Both are Buffalo Bills beef sticks made in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The difference is the size of the stick and how it is packaged, not the meat.
Which is cheaper per stick?
Short Shots, by a wide margin: about 33 cents per stick in a 120 count bag versus $1.67 to $2.20 per Ole' Smokie depending on the cup size. Per ounce the two are closer, since an Ole' Smokie weighs five times as much.
Do either need to be refrigerated?
Not before opening. Both are shelf stable. After opening a Short Shots bag, reseal it and use it within about three weeks. Ole' Smokies stay wrapped until you eat them.
Which is better for a gift?
Ole' Smokies. The individual wrappers and the cup or gift bag presentation make them easy to share. Short Shots are sold as gift coolers too, two bags in an insulated cooler bag, for people who already know they love them.
