Daiwa T3 Ballistic

[webertime]

I've got 60lb Sunline Fx2 on it and there's no issues with noise or grooving. 

[J Francho]

If braid damaged a modern reel or rod I suspect it was largely due to sand/grit on the line. Daiwa makes good reals but are typically a little higher priced than competitor's equiv. offerings. I think this is largely due to the exchange rate of the currency.

 

The braid damage came because the user put the reel on a spiral wrapped rod, where the 1st guide was offset from the reel.  Dumb move, if you ask me.

[J Francho]

Moderator note: Since there are a few topics with the same question, I merged them into this singular thread.

[kschultz76]

Does anyone have experience with the T3 1016? Is it a good value at 215? Worth the extra cost over the T3 Ballistic at 125? I'm considering these reels versus a Tatula Type R and Shimano Chronarch.

[webertime]

My understanding is that it has a nicer spool than the Ballistic, a few more bearings (under drive shaft and in knobs).  The drive shaft is Aluminum instead of Brass, that's where the majority of the weight loss is.  Same body and drag as the Ballistic.  At $215 it's a good deal, the Ballistic is a smoking deal at $125 for 95% of the performance of the T3. 

[Arv]

Now I'm really interested. I couldn't find much as far as comparisons though. I don't NEED a new reel, but if this one is worth it to replace one of my others I might jump on the deal. I've already done a bit of spending, so convincing my wife may be tough... so it would really need to perform THAT much better, haha. The reels I would be replacing would either be a 7:1 Gen 2 STX on a Dobyns Champ 735 (for jigs, trigs, etc., and frogs) or a 6:1 Lews Tournament on a Powell Max 683cef (mostly senkos and spinnerbaits). I realize that this is all subjective, but I find yall's opinions valuable.

[DirtyDeuceGoose]

Honestly whenever I get around to pulling the trigger on a champ 735 this is the exact reel that's going on it. Without a doubt in my mind. I'll be using it for frogs.

[webertime]

My T3b replaced a gen2 stx...

Arv check your pm's

[bass1980]

Just bought a second T3! That's two reels in two days. I've gone mad! If anyone wants to get the deals as good as mine and extra info PM me.

[GaterB]

I'm getting ahead of myself here, but where could I find aftermarket parts that fit the T3 Ballistic? I have checked some of the Japanese sites, but from what I've seen the t3's weren't listed as reels that the handles and such would fit. Will parts made for other daiwa reels fit on the t3? I apologize for stealing the thread to ask this but I didn't want to start a completely new one just to ask that question.

[THE_Vue's]

or here for t3B

 

http://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/page/3

[webertime]

Most all Daiwa handles will work on the T3 platform.

The 1016 spool is a bit better than the stock T3B spool.  I've read where some Steez spools will work playing with shims.

Zillion cast control caps work on them.  (No performance gain)

 

I added a Lexa handle (comes with 2 bearings, you can add 2 more). 

Added a 5x9x3 bearing under the drive shaft (replace a bushing).

Added a 5x8x2.5 bearing to the level wind.

Now you have 11 bearings in there.

[Got1Fishing]

Well I couldn't resist the urge to jump into the Daiwa groupies. Pulled the trigger on the 6:3 LH. should be here Dec 4.

 

Have you received your reel yet? What are you initial thoughts on it? I just pulled the trigger on one today and it should be here tomorrow! I ordered the T3BLS100XSL which is the 8.1:1 ratio. 

[iabass8]

Have you received your reel yet? What are you initial thoughts on it? I just pulled the trigger on one today and it should be here tomorrow! I ordered the T3BLS100XSL which is the 8.1:1 ratio. 

I just received my reel yesterday. I can't fish with it due to the water being iced over here and sub 20 degree temps but I have tried 2 different lines on it and casted it in my yard which is very large. The reel is incredibly smooth out of the box. I've never used the dawia magforce 3 break system before but I already really enjoy it. In a nut shell, this reel can cast and it can cast things a good distance. It's very easy to adjust. the reel sits very low on the rod and is about the size of a 200 shimano. The only complaint I have about the reel is how low it sits. I'm very accustomed to 50 size shimano reels so i naturally palm the reel and have my middle finger over the top of the reel. You can't really do that as your finger will get the nut that attaches to the level wind. not a huge deal and i'll take that con over it's many pros so far. As far as the line digging into the lip under the t wing, the line doesn't make any contact with that part of the reel at all when it's on the rod and the line is going through the guides. I put tape there just to find out. It does make contact with it though when you are spooling line from the floor up to the reel if you don't hold the line out. that's where i'm assuming the grooving issue comes from. the reel though is incredibly comfortable to palm and does fit perfectly in my hands when chucking and winding baits. almost forgot...the handle could use an extra bearing in each knob. it still feels smooth as is but you will know what i mean when you get it.  I don't like this reel for pitching. It can pitch a bait like a dream and the t wing makes pitching incredibly easy and effortless but I just prefer the feel of the 50 size shimanos for that. others love this reel for it but i just personally don't. I will be using this reel for swim jigs/spinnerbaits. All in all i'm very happy thus far with just toying with it and i already ordered another one after I came inside yesterday . Not sure what I'll use it for yet but the reels way too good at this price not to find something to use it for.

[J Francho]

I pretty much explained the grooving issue back on post #27.  The reel was placed on a poorly designed spiral wrapped rod, and then used to fish for peacock bass in the Amazon.  I'm not sure why the author chose to list this as a complaint - on ANY other properly designed rod, there would be no issue.  Personally, if you're going to do a spiral wrap, the first guide should be in direct alignment with the reel.  ALL baitcasters are designed to work best this way.

[deaknh03]

I pretty much explained the grooving issue back on post #27.  The reel was placed on a poorly designed spiral wrapped rod, and then used to fish for peacock bass in the Amazon.  I'm not sure why the author chose to list this as a complaint - on ANY other properly designed rod, there would be no issue.  Personally, if you're going to do a spiral wrap, the first guide should be in direct alignment with the reel.  ALL baitcasters are designed to work best this way.

It would seem especially so for the t wing system..

[J Francho]

Any baitcaster.  I have a spiral wrap like mentioned in the article.  It didn't start that way, but my friend repaired the 1st guide, and low and behold - it's 45* off center - to the right.  With a Calcutta 200b, Chronarch 200e, Zillion SHA, and a few other test reels, the line eventually stacks up on the right.  I'm convinced this is bad design.  On a reel with a narrow exit point from the guide - T3, Calais, D-series Shimano, older Quantums, this will be a bigger problem than just line winding.

[J Francho]

BTW, that rod is on my deck in the pic to the left.  It's the big swimbait stick.  It'll be fixed (again) this winter.

[bass1980]

Those guys on TT are great at their reviews but some of their reviews leaves me scratching my head. Example like stated above the T3B and spiral wrapped rod. Another one is the MGX got a pass on the reel falling apart because it was used in amazon fishing peacock bass. Why even take it out there and do a review and give it positives on it and disregard the negative? Another one I can think off the top of my head is the Revo Gen 3 lineup. AG advertise these reel to have 20lb drag but TT tested the STX and the Winch and it only came out to around 10-11lb of drag. Almost 50% off. You would think they would question it but they gave it a free pass too.

[J Francho]

I don't care if you give a pass on a shortcoming, or tank something for something totally unrelated to the manufacture, but you must quantify your opinion!  Even if it's just, "I love/hate everything else about this reel."

[bootytrain]

Those guys on TT are great at their reviews but some of their reviews leaves me scratching my head. Example like stated above the T3B and spiral wrapped rod. Another one is the MGX got a pass on the reel falling apart because it was used in amazon fishing peacock bass. Why even take it out there and do a review and give it positives on it and disregard the negative? Another one I can think off the top of my head is the Revo Gen 3 lineup. AG advertise these reel to have 20lb drag but TT tested the STX and the Winch and it only came out to around 10-11lb of drag. Almost 50% off. You would think they would question it but they gave it a free pass too.

They certainly have their brand preferences (and more than a few of their reviews show it) at TT but I figure they are allowed since they purchase most of the tackle with their own money. But yeah some of the reviews leave a little to be desired but keep in mind that it is one guys opinion of the reel/rod, etc...so that's what they are going to write about. But for the most part I love TT, an awesome site with great articles.

[bass1980]

Agree.

[webertime]

The TT reviews are pretty strange.  The Lamiglas Excel 7116 test, I'm pretty sure they didn't catch a fish with it.  Lamiglas Excel 734 test called it a mh rod...  it's got less backbone than a ML Fenwick.  The 2 T3 tests were silly too.

[bass1980]

Yeah the T3 and T3B should have been tested by the same person because they made a point of comparing the two reels when they was going to test the T3B. Also it was tested on completely different elements.

I agree that they are entitled to their opinion, just like motortrend and car and driver which the article is based on the writer. I don't agree with them not even making a complaint on The Revo's max drag when it's half off from advertise. 10lbs is plenty for LMB but in such a competitive market false advertisement makes a difference.

Back on track I've been casting the T3 I just got in the back yard. Right off the bat I can tell I'm going to like this reel. At $215 jump on it over the T3B.

[Got1Fishing]

I just received my reel yesterday. I can't fish with it due to the water being iced over here and sub 20 degree temps but I have tried 2 different lines on it and casted it in my yard which is very large. The reel is incredibly smooth out of the box. I've never used the dawia magforce 3 break system before but I already really enjoy it. In a nut shell, this reel can cast and it can cast things a good distance. It's very easy to adjust. the reel sits very low on the rod and is about the size of a 200 shimano. The only complaint I have about the reel is how low it sits. I'm very accustomed to 50 size shimano reels so i naturally palm the reel and have my middle finger over the top of the reel. You can't really do that as your finger will get the nut that attaches to the level wind. not a huge deal and i'll take that con over it's many pros so far. As far as the line digging into the lip under the t wing, the line doesn't make any contact with that part of the reel at all when it's on the rod and the line is going through the guides. I put tape there just to find out. It does make contact with it though when you are spooling line from the floor up to the reel if you don't hold the line out. that's where i'm assuming the grooving issue comes from. the reel though is incredibly comfortable to palm and does fit perfectly in my hands when chucking and winding baits. almost forgot...the handle could use an extra bearing in each knob. it still feels smooth as is but you will know what i mean when you get it. I don't like this reel for pitching. It can pitch a bait like a dream and the t wing makes pitching incredibly easy and effortless but I just prefer the feel of the 50 size shimanos for that. others love this reel for it but i just personally don't. I will be using this reel for swim jigs/spinnerbaits. All in all i'm very happy thus far with just toying with it and i already ordered another one after I came inside yesterday . Not sure what I'll use it for yet but the reels way too good at this price not to find something to use it for.

Got my reel today! This thing feels so comfortable in my hand. I definitely see what you mean about the handle, it could use some smoother bearings. I went outside and castes a couple of times, but my yard isn't big enough to really see it perform. I pitched it with some 12lb Tatsu, D Bomb and a 3/16 tungsten weight. I was impressed how easy it is to pitch with it. I'm stoked to go try this reel on the water next week. I've never owned a fast retrieve reel, so I'm excited to see that come into play.