Bullet sinker problem? Will it damage line? & Mono>braid conversion ?

[cheezledzul]

I'm assuming I'm being over paranoid and cautious but I'm worried about the line constantly getting frayed and breaking. Never used bullets or braid so not sure. I'd like to avoid spending money on better ones but will if I have to. I rather spend $7 for 4 then $3 for 5 if I'll be constantly losing hooks, bait and line. Buying bait, line, and hooks for 3 people. Plus just got a new rod and reel. Was hoping these would save me some money. 

 

The holes, for all 5, at the point are pinched. The holes at the bottom seem fine for the most part. (See image below.)

Will be used on 15lb braided and 10lb braided for t-rig. You cant use these for deep rigs right? What kind would I need to get?

 

Also I have a small old 5'6" spinning rod I want to set up for my girlfriend to first use but the ratings are for mono and only go up to 6lb. I want to use 8lb or even 10lb braided. This should be fine since braided is thinner right? I know the length wont be exactly accurate and I'll have to try to gauge when to stop filling the spool. (Image below)

[Beetlebz]

I would spend the money on good weights. You never know when the weight will chafe your line and break off on a bite of a lifetime. Good tungsten weights pay for themselves by not breaking off. Saving a couple bucks on cheap weights costs more in the long run because you lose them.

 

For line, the spool rating is just for capacity... and braid is way thinner than monofilament. 20lb braid is normally around 6lb diameter. I'd personally go with at least 20lb braid for Texas rigs, though I fish my Texas rigs on 15lb monofilament. 

[J Francho]

Are those lead weights?  Lead is soft enough, it wont damage your line.  If that steel, or tungsten, ditch them, since they will mess up your line.

[fishwizzard]

I will clean up lead weights with a steel punch/pin, but moslty just for my piece of mind. 

[WRB]

Those are some of the worst bullet weight holes I have ever seem coming out of a package! 

With spinning tackle I prefer 1/8 oz mojo style weights with a slip shot or finesse C- rig over a traditional bullet weight Texas rig. If lead is banded where you fish, use black painted brass weights like Top Brass Pro-Jo cyclinder weights or bullet weights, tungsten can be problematic with rough hole edges and expensive.

Regarding line frying or degradation, with good quality smooth weigh holes you shouldn't have any issues.

Tom

[cheezledzul]

 

15 minutes ago, Beetlebz said:

I would spend the money on good weights. You never know when the weight will chafe your line and break off on a bite of a lifetime. Good tungsten weights pay for themselves by not breaking off. Saving a couple bucks on cheap weights costs more in the long run because you lose them.

 

For line, the spool rating is just for capacity... and braid is way thinner than monofilament. 20lb braid is normally around 6lb diameter. I'd personally go with at least 20lb braid for Texas rigs, though I fish my Texas rigs on 15lb monofilament. 

 

10 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Are those lead weights?  Lead is soft enough, it wont damage your line.  If that steel, or tungsten, ditch them, since they will mess up your line.

The website does not say what its made of but the other options have lead or tungsten in the name. I just assumed it was steel.

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/bullet-weights-slip-sinker-16buwu116blckblltter/16buwu116blckblltter

 

Is there any difference between these 3? theyre $8, $8, $8.50 respectivley for the 3/16.

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/eagle-claw-lazer-sharp-tungsten-worm-weight-16lshulzrtngwrmwgter/16lshulzrtngwrmwgter

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/strike-king-tour-grade-tungsten-weight-17skiutgtngwrmwt3ter/17skiutgtngwrmwt3ter

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/vmc-tungsten-worm-weight-17vmcutngstnwrmwtter/17vmcutngstnwrmwtter

 

Theyre all described as worm weight but I see one that is called a Flip'n Weight that looks the same but more money. The worm weights are what I need right?

 

Ill look around for better prices/options even though i doubt its going to be more or less than $1 difference. Dicks is pretty much my only option locally. I need them by this weekend but for sure by 8/3. Leave at 4:30am 8/4 for my first trip. ?

[J Francho]

I've use the Strike King Tour Tungsten weights.  They're quality.

 

The Bullet Weights are probably steel, if you got them in NY state.

[WRB]

The price point indicates tungsten.

Tom

[cheezledzul]

2 minutes ago, WRB said:

The price point indicates tungsten.

Tom

The ones I bought were only $2.70. I guess the craftsmenship is what makes them so cheap even though theyre tungsten.

 

$7-$8 the average price for 4 tungsten weights?

[Choporoz]

I get some tungsten from Siebertoutdoors....some Reins from TW when on sale, and all the rest from OMfishingsinkers.com

[J Francho]

2 minutes ago, cheezledzul said:

The ones I bought were only $2.70. I guess the craftsmenship is what makes them so cheap even though theyre tungsten.

 

$7-$8 the average price for 4 tungsten weights?

The Bullet Weights sold at Dick's in NY for $2.70 are steel.

[WRB]

Siebert Outdoors, site sponsor has good prices on tungsten bullet weights, painted high quality that range 30 cents each to 70 cents each for 1/8 to 1/4 oz weights.

Tom

[Catt]

7 minutes ago, cheezledzul said:

The ones I bought were only $2.70. I guess the craftsmenship is what makes them so cheap even though theyre tungsten.

 

$7-$8 the average price for 4 tungsten weights?

 

The weights in your first link that you spent $2.70 for are lead.

 

How do I know?

 

PACK QTY:
1/16 oz.: 15

1/8 oz.: 12

3/16 oz.: 10

1/4 oz.: 10

3/8 oz.: 8

 

Ya aint buying tungsten at the price in those quantities!

[Beetlebz]

I dont really see a benefit to bullet weights over flipping weights, I stock 1/4, 1/2, 1oz and 1.5oz flipping weights only. That covers me for pretty much everything I do. I buy from siebert, tackle supply depot or tackle warehouse when I'm ordering other things.

[J Francho]

20 minutes ago, Catt said:

The weights in your first link that you spent $2.70 for are lead.

Steel.  Lead is illegal in NY, and Dick's only stocks steel from Bullet Weights in NY.

[cheezledzul]

Just now, J Francho said:

Steel.  Lead is illegal in NY, and Dick's only stocks steel from Bullet Weights in NY.

I bought it online so it may be lead but i dont think so. On their website they have other weights for the same price that are called "Lead". I think you are right, steel.

[J Francho]

When you go to check out, they won't ship lead to an address where it's banned.  Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, and TackleWarehouse does the same thing.

[WRB]

Steel bullet weights in smaller sizes are $1.99 for 10 each at TW for reference.

It looks like the weights were painted and bye passed the deburring process, quality control problem imo.

Tom

[thinkingredneck]

The closer to the fish, the better quality your gear needs to be.  Terminal tackle is more important than line, line more important than rod, rod more than reel.  IMHO.  But don't equate price with quality.  You have to spend a lot more to get that last 10 per cent in quality.

[cheezledzul]

Thanks everyone. Gonna return these and get either the claw or strike king. Same price so I'll close my eyes and pick. 

 

Gotta order all the bait, line for 3 rods, hooks and sinkers tomorrow. 

If I had more time I would shop around and maybe buy from the links you provided but they say over a week minimum for shipping.

As it is dicks is 7-10 days. My new rod and reel was delivered today in just under a week but cant trust it. 

 

Going on a glamping/fishing weekend 8/4 so I have to have it all before then. Should have known something was fishy when the weights were less than half the price of all the other name brands lol. 

 

Thanks again. 

[Catt]

14 hours ago, J Francho said:

Steel.  Lead is illegal in NY, and Dick's only stocks steel from Bullet Weights in NY.

 

Steel bending that easily?

 

 

 

[J Francho]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

Steel bending that easily?

Sounds like they're defective.  I've messed up steel weights bouncing them off rocks.  They're harder than lead, but indestructible like tungsten.

[Catt]

35 minutes ago, J Francho said:

but indestructible like tungsten

 

Don't sound to indestructible to me ?

 

[J Francho]

38 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Sounds like they're defective.  I've messed up steel weights bouncing them off rocks.  They're harder than lead, but indestructible like tungsten.

 

1 minute ago, Catt said:

 

Don't sound to indestructible to me ?

 

 

Crap!  I forgot a VERY important word.

 

They're harder than lead, but NOT indestructible like tungsten.

[Catt]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

Crap!  I forgot a VERY important word.

 

They're harder than lead, but NOT indestructible like tungsten.

 

More better ?