Zillion Vs Zillion Type R

[iabass8]

I have no experience with the zillion variants. I'm limited to the 1016 and lexa. What are the major differences between the two aside from the handle and drag? I know theres .3oz difference but i have a spare type r handle that can be put on a zillion to shed that handle weight. Drags an easy upgrade. How does the spool performance differ between the two for 3/8-3/4? Is either spool equal to the rcs1016? Are there any glaring differences between the two or is the zillion type r A zillion with a black paint scheme better drag and nice handle?

[new2BC4bass]

You have probably already read this, but if not......  http://tackletour.com/reviewdaiwazilliontyper.html

[iabass8]

I did. TT reviews are great for specs but for actual unbiased real world testing, I more or less take it /w a grain of salt 

[.ghoti.]

I don't have an R, but I have four other Zillions; a JDM version, a Cabelas 50th, and two USDM versions, all 6.3:1. The two USDM have Lew's carbon fiber 4BB Handles. The others already had 4BB handles.

It is virtually impossible to tell the diference between them while fishing. Ditto for the R. I fished with one for a couple of hours, and did not see a performance advantage over any of mine, and I fished it side by side with two of mine.

Now is a good time to find a bargain on a Zillion. Get a standard version and put a $50 Lew's 4BB handle on it, and you'll have a reel equal to the R or the 50th.

Of course, if you can find an R for less than a standard Zillion plus 50 bucks, I'd go for that, just to have different looking version.

I don't have a comment on the 1016 spool, not having used one. I'm guessing you're interested in how well the Zillion series handles lighter weight baits, and I can't comment on that either. I have mine all mounted on MH or H rods, and don't throw light baits with any of them. But then I don't need them to. I have five Alphas, two TD-Zs and an SS SV. I have the finesse end of the spectrum covered. My Zillions all see heavier duty.

[iabass8]

I don't have an R, but I have four other Zillions; a JDM version, a Cabelas 50th, and two USDM versions, all 6.3:1. The two USDM have Lew's carbon fiber 4BB Handles. The others already had 4BB handles.

It is virtually impossible to tell the diference between them while fishing. Ditto for the R. I fished with one for a couple of hours, and did not see a performance advantage over any of mine, and I fished it side by side with two of mine.

Now is a good time to find a bargain on a Zillion. Get a standard version and put a $50 Lew's 4BB handle on it, and you'll have a reel equal to the R or the 50th.

Of course, if you can find an R for less than a standard Zillion plus 50 bucks, I'd go for that, just to have different looking version.

I don't have a comment on the 1016 spool, not having used one. I'm guessing you're interested in how well the Zillion series handles lighter weight baits, and I can't comment on that either. I have mine all mounted on MH or H rods, and don't throw light baits with any of them. But then I don't need them to. I have five Alphas, two TD-Zs and an SS SV. I have the finesse end of the spectrum covered. My Zillions all see heavier duty.

Thank you for your input sir. 

 

As far as spool performance, I'm more interested in how well or "effortlessly" pitches baits. The RCS 1016 can pitch a bait further than one would expect /w just a simple flick of the wrist. It's primary use, the zillion, would be 3/8-3/4.  Obviously this reel can pitch these baits well but I'm more interested in the spool start up/control and how "effortless" pitching those weights is. I do have an extra Type R handle to put on a zillion which should shave quite a bit of weight off what I assume is a heavier duty handle. for reference sake, the reel will most likely be put on an NRX894 or DX745 /w 20# fluoro and be used for jigs or texas rigs in brush/wood/trees.

[new2BC4bass]

I did. TT reviews are great for specs but for actual unbiased real world testing, I more or less take it /w a grain of salt 

 

 

Not a lot of unbiased reviews.  I figure these guys have to be at least as good as many of the reviews read on such sites as Cabela's and BassProShop.  First time users claiming a reel to be the best thing since sliced bread.....and it is the first baitcast reel they ever used.  Or the first one since a $29.95 Walmart special.  I'd trust TT before 99% of those reviewers.

 

This is an excellent site, but you will find plenty of biased reviews here as well.  It is our job as buyers to separate the wheat from the chaff. 

 

I trust most people on here (and the TT reel forum) to be honest with their ratings, but realize we all have favorites.  Also not everyone has the money to invest in trying a 100 different model reels in order to give a more rounded review.  Personally I have about 42 reels from at least 6 different companies.  Slightly over half are Daiwas yet I am nowhere close to owning an example of every model Diawa ever made...or what Daiwa are making today.

 

If TT says the Type R can handle weights from weightless rigged plastics to massive swimbaits, then I believe the reel will do that very thing....in the reviewer's hands.  Not necessarily in mine since I am not that great of a caster.

 

I am like Gary.  I use my Zillions on MH rods.  I see no purpose in trying to make them into light lure casting machines when I have 3 Alphas, 2 Sols, 3 Fuegos, TD-Z 105H, an Alphas ito103L, 2 older gold colored Carbonlites and 3 1600C Black Max reels.   All extremely capable of handling light lures.  Heck, my 2 Patriarch XTs do an excellent job of handling 10" weightless worms.  My Tournament Pro might, but I can't get it away from my grandson long enough to find out. 

 

If you want to turn the Zillion into a more rounded reel (meaning also capable of handling lighter lures fairly well) then it has been suggested that you install a 100M spool in it.

[iabass8]

Not a lot of unbiased reviews.  I figure these guys have to be at least as good as many of the reviews read on such sites as Cabela's and BassProShop.  First time users claiming a reel to be the best thing since sliced bread.....and it is the first baitcast reel they ever used.  Or the first one since a $29.95 Walmart special.  I'd trust TT before 99% of those reviewers.

 

This is an excellent site, but you will find plenty of biased reviews here as well.  It is our job as buyers to separate the wheat from the chaff. 

 

 

I didn't start this thread to get in on a debate on whether or not TT reviews are unbiased or not. There's an overwhelming about of evidence for and against them that can point the needle in either direction.

 

 

I trust most people on here (and the TT reel forum) to be honest with their ratings, but realize we all have favorites.  Also not everyone has the money to invest in trying a 100 different model reels in order to give a more rounded review.  Personally I have about 42 reels from at least 6 different companies.  Slightly over half are Daiwas yet I am nowhere close to owning an example of every model Diawa ever made...or what Daiwa are making today.

 

 

cool...

 

 

If TT says the Type R can handle weights from weightless rigged plastics to massive swimbaits, then I believe the reel will do that very thing....in the reviewer's hands.  Not necessarily in mine since I am not that great of a caster.

 

 

I'm not sure what that has to do /w anything but the weight range baits a reel can cast was never in question..

 

I am like Gary.  I use my Zillions on MH rods.  I see no purpose in trying to make them into light lure casting machines when I have 3 Alphas, 2 Sols, 3 Fuegos, TD-Z 105H, an Alphas ito103L, 2 older gold colored Carbonlites and 3 1600C Black Max reels.   All extremely capable of handling light lures.  Heck, my 2 Patriarch XTs do an excellent job of handling 10" weightless worms.  My Tournament Pro might, but I can't get it away from my grandson long enough to find out. 

 

I see no purpose in making the into casting machines either...never said I want to.(see the post above yours in case you aren't reading the topic). I'm glad you have a lot of rees....cool story. 

 

 

If you want to turn the Zillion into a more rounded reel (meaning also capable of handling lighter lures fairly well) then it has been suggested that you install a 100M spool in it.

I didn't say I wanted to turn the zillion into a more rounded reel (I'm aware of what that means) and I also don't need it for light weight lures. (again...read the OP and the post above yours)

[Hogsticker]

No. None of the stock Zillion spools will match the performance of the 1016 spool. Personally, I don't feel the performance of the type r warrants the price increase over the standard version. The comment above made sense to me. If you want 1016 performance, you'll need a 100m or jdm spool.

[new2BC4bass]

I did read Gary's post and your original post.  However, I see now that I let some of my own thoughts influence what you actually said.  Sorry about that.  You asked for any difference between the spools using 3/8-3/4 oz. yet I let my mind wander away from the subject after re-reading the TT review.  Light weight lures and heavy lures weren't part of your original post, and thus have nothing to do with your OP.  Nor does turning the Zillion into a more rounded reel have squat to do with your OP.  Also I need to censor what I post.  Maybe think about not posting except on rare occasions.  So after this post............?

 

I don't have a Type R Zillion, nor have I ever used one. I do have an SHLA, PE and 50th Anniversary...a couple T3-1016s and the T3 MX version.  Personally I don't find much difference between them when it comes to casting.  The type of braking has more affect than the spool as far as I am concerned.

 

I can say this positively, tho,  the 1016s and 50th are easier to cast day in and day out than the SHLA.  Could be my lack of expertise.  I freely admit I don't have the casting expertise most have.  It was also pointed out to me by an expert that it had to be me when I mentioned I couldn't get the side cover off a Curadoi 51E and about the brakes stuttering on a Fuego in the same post,   So obviously I'm a few bulbs short of a chandelier.  Never mind that the side cover on my other 51E pops off effortlessly and the drags on my other 2 Fuegos work perfectly.

[.ghoti.]

iabass8, two of my Zillions are used for moving baits; one for deep cranks, and one for frogs/buzzbaits. The other two get used for plastics and jigs; 3/8oz and up. They pitch very well with 3/8oz and heavier weights.

Again, I can't compare the Zillion spool to the 1016. But, I will say this; I've never felt the need to upgrade the spool in any of the Zillions. They are great casters as is.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I have both. The type R is a sweet reel and the Zillion is just a pure workhorse. The type r feels a lot smoother, but as far as handling those weights, the regular zillion will do a great job pitching that!

[Jeff H]

I agree with hogsticker.  Everything he said.  My only experience with the 1016 spool is in my TD-Z 103P and it is incredible.  If I had a fleet of TD-Z's a bunch of them would have that spool in it.