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Posts: 122
| To those who have had the opportunity to use both, did you find any advantage to the 300 over the 400? I know the 300 has a few more inches of line pickup but is it enough faster that you noticed the difference? Does the 400 feel a lot more powerful than the 300? I've got to make my next purchase decision soon, thanks. |
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Posts: 2097
| 400 is more powerful. Use the 300 for smaller cranks and smaller bucktails. Use the 400 as a universal reel that does everything pretty good. |
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Posts: 532
Location: Ogden, UTAH 10 minutes from pineview reservoir | whats the biggest the 300 d can handle? dooble 8's? cowgirl jr? |
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| Why does everyone seem to prefer the 300? A 400D is significantly smaller than a 400CTE and 400B, and the difference between the 300D and 400D is fairly minute. Aside from the slight difference in line pickup it seems like the 400D would be the obvious choice, yet all I ever read and hear about is the 300. No one wanted a 300CTE due to its smaller size in comparison to the 400CTE, but everyone wants the 300D over the 400D. Quite frankly I'm confused. |
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| all about the line pickup is my take
my experience is with
400TEs/ abu C3s at 25"
abu C4s at 30"
Big difference between 25 and 30.
I've got 400TEs and they're great, like a high end C3. I'd like a calcutta that will bring in line like a C4. If they put the 300D gears in the 400D there would be no issue, I'd take it in a heartbeat.
27" on the 400D just doesn't seem like much an increase from 25"
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Not sure what your dilemna is? If you want a little easier retrieve of higher resistance baits and a little more power, and can handle a little less line pickup and a bit bigger size, go with the 400. If you prefer the line pickup and smaller size and aren't as concerned about the resistance on the retrieve, i.e. double tens, go with the 300. Like anything else match the tool to the intended job and what works for you not the masses. I went with the 400 so I must be in the minority but that's fine with me. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | What's a high end C3?  |
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Posts: 833
| I recently got to handle both reels. They both appear to be an amazing improvement over an already fantastic reel, which is saying something. I plan to replace my 300 Curados and 400TE with 300D/400D respectively as funding allows. I haven't retrieved a Dbl 10 Bucktail with a 300D so I can't say how good or bad it is, but my observation based on size is that it probably would result in excessive abuse to the reel. I get the whole angle of speed plus light weight for the reel, but I suspect any fatigue advantage from the lighter weight reel would quickly be lost due to lack of torque vs. the pull of the double 10. (or 13s) It doesn't seem like the 300D would be in the same league as say the Tranx HG whent it comes to big blades, they are just two very different tools. Again, this is conjecture, I haven't retrieved a DCG with the reel, just handled them in the store.
My initial thought on the 300D was to use it on my small bait MH (8s, downsized baits, etc.) and my Jerkbait rod. I think in the latter case the line pick up plus paddle handles would make an ideal reel for gliders where line pick up can help on the cadence of the retrieve. The reel will also have a superior drag to the 300EJ Curado.
400D seems like a great TE replacement for general purpose baits. |
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| Propster - you sum up the situation well -- my dilemma comes from the line capacity: does the 300D have a spool that will run 80# ? seems like the perfect reel for small tails with 65# line -- but I'd like to use that 30" retrieve for low resistance baits like suicks and ripping jakes, plastic and big gliders -- and I don't want to do that with 65# braid. I want to use 100# if I can. That's the problem. The tool I want has the gearing of the 300D with the spool capacity of the 400. |
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Posts: 358
Location: London, England | Now a 701D, with a synchronised levelwind would be the real (reel) deal... |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | game of inches - 2/19/2013 10:36 PM
Propster - you sum up the situation well -- my dilemma comes from the line capacity: does the 300D have a spool that will run 80# ? seems like the perfect reel for small tails with 65# line -- but I'd like to use that 30" retrieve for low resistance baits like suicks and ripping jakes, plastic and big gliders -- and I don't want to do that with 65# braid. I want to use 100# if I can. That's the problem. The tool I want has the gearing of the 300D with the spool capacity of the 400.
I'm sure the gears from the 300D will fit in a 400D and the 400D gears will fit in the 300D, when I'm not so busy maybe this summer I will swap gears out and be sure they fit. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | I would think that capacity-wise you would be able to fill at least 75-100 yds of 100# on a 300. It calls for 125 yds of 65# and someone earlier said it took 150 yds of 65#. Not sure how that would feel or cast but should not pose a problem. With the disengaging LW I would still go with one of the 8 strand "smooth" braids as Pikemaster suggests. |
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Posts: 833
| I had planned to spool my glider reel with 80# of one of the "smooth" braids as well. I don't see much of an issue with doing this. Most of my casts with those types of baits seldom exceed 20-30 yards. The big reason I want to use it is for the line pick up on the jerk bait retrieve. |
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Posts: 339
Location: Denmark | Just received a 400D today, and I just can't get my arms down anymore. Look good, feels good, can't wait until ice out. |
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Posts: 424
| Guys,
if there is anyone (besides pikemaster) that has both the reels (300D and 400D), try to swap the gear of the reels and let us know if they work well.
esoxone |
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Posts: 432
Location: Eagan, MN | Tim Kelly - 2/20/2013 1:47 AM
Now a 701D, with a synchronised levelwind would be the real (reel) deal...
Throw in a 700te power handle and I'd buy several. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | "if there is anyone (besides pikemaster) that has both the reels (300D and 400D), try to swap the gear of the reels and let us know if they work well."
I don't have both, just the 400. However both schematics are up on Shimano's web site now. They both use the same exact part numbers for drive shaft, drag washers, metal washers, set plate etc. The main gear and pinion gear are different part numbers, I assume because of the different gear ratio. I have to think that because of using the same washers and set plate, the dimensions of the two gears and the location of the holes are the same and therefore could be swapped. |
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Posts: 424
| Keith,
if was possible to swap the gears (as I think and as Richard Pikemaster said) ,we'd have a 400D with the ratio of a 300D : a real very cool and badass all purpose reel !!!
esoxone |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Would you be looking for a higher gear ratio with a bit more spool capacity basically? What I can't predict is how that bigger spool, even though it's now turning a bit more with each crank of the handle, would affect overall performance. Inches per crank should increase even over the 300 but not sure how that would feel. And I'm sure it would be a higher resistance on the big blades. Interesting thought though. I'm toying with the idea of getting a 300. If I do I might attempt it just for giggles. If anyone is interested in trying this and has a 300, I'd be willing to try it. Or better yet get a 400 and I'll buy the two 300 gears and do it on yours. Cost you about $28. The pinion gear is nearly $16 on these vs $8 for a TE. |
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Posts: 424
| Here in Europe size 300 and 400 are not in commerce ( only the 201D model ).
But if swapping the gears will work very fine,if someone had going to buy a 400D or a 300D ,could make this swap.
esoxone |
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Posts: 127
| Propster - 2/26/2013 7:19 PM
Would you be looking for a higher gear ratio with a bit more spool capacity basically? What I can't predict is how that bigger spool, even though it's now turning a bit more with each crank of the handle, would affect overall performance. Inches per crank should increase even over the 300 but not sure how that would feel. And I'm sure it would be a higher resistance on the big blades. Interesting thought though. I'm toying with the idea of getting a 300. If I do I might attempt it just for giggles. If anyone is interested in trying this and has a 300, I'd be willing to try it. Or better yet get a 400 and I'll buy the two 300 gears and do it on yours. Cost you about $28. The pinion gear is nearly $16 on these vs $8 for a TE.
Gut feel - you would have a reel that would be a great all purpose reel or jerkbait reel with a ton of power!
-IPT comparable to Curado 300EJ
-Line capacity of a 400D
-Torque from the 300D (perhaps slightly less, not much less though)
If it works, I would do this in a heart beat.
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Ok as of right now I have over 20 Calcutta 400 D reels I'm doing the 5 Bearing upgrade on so if anyone has a set of 300D gears send them to me asap and I'll see if they fit in a 400D reel.
send them to RICHARD W SCHMITZ 90 HILLSMAN LANE SENECA IL 61360
I'm home for the next few days I have a cold from hell so I'm not going to Wausau Show this weekend so I'll be working on reels and if someone sends me gears from a 300D I see if they fit. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Interesting discussion. My assumption is that during mid retrieve the 300 and 400 are picking up the same amount of line (the 400 might even be faster) and it's only with a full spool that the 300 has a higher rate. I'm also guessing that the 300 is slower than the 400 at the end of the cast. For example, if you put 65# braid on each reel and made a 100ft cast you will have cast about 27% of your line off with the 300 but only about 19% with the 400. Though it doesn't sound like much, that is a significant difference when spool diameter means everything. |
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Posts: 2014
| Will Schultz - 2/28/2013 10:13 AM
Interesting discussion. My assumption is that during mid retrieve the 300 and 400 are picking up the same amount of line (the 400 might even be faster) and it's only with a full spool that the 300 has a higher rate. I'm also guessing that the 300 is slower than the 400 at the end of the cast. For example, if you put 65# braid on each reel and made a 100ft cast you will have cast about 27% of your line off with the 300 but only about 19% with the 400. Though it doesn't sound like much, that is a significant difference when spool diameter means everything.
Exactly - People put way to much "stock" in listed inches per crank... the Tranx PG (and 700TE) make excellent reels for 10's - I always hear people say well a 400TE, Toro 60 (Your average size muskie reel) has a 25-27" retrieve why would I get a Tranx PG with only 30"?.....because the spool is nearly twice as big, most of your line is still on the spool at the end of a cast, you get way more speed through the entire cast, and the power (gear ratio) makes fishing big blades effortless. |
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| I hear that, but for me I have always hooked fish in the last 1/3 of cast or 8 with bucktails, so the smaller equipment works out just fine for me. I can see why people use the saltwater reels though. BR |
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Posts: 2014
| BenR - 2/28/2013 11:05 AM
I hear that, but for me I have always hooked fish in the last 1/3 of cast or 8 with bucktails, so the smaller equipment works out just fine for me. I can see why people use the saltwater reels though. BR
I catch many on the last 1/3 of the cast as well...but where do you think these fish engage the bait? I get way more strikes on the first 1/3 of the cast when the bait is "screaming" to start. |
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Posts: 981
| for those of you who got the 300/301...what rods did you pair them up with? Mine just came in the mail and idk how long it might take me to warm up to it...it looks too small for the big nasty and im contemplating sending it back to see if I can get a 401 D or another curado. The reel is so narrow! |
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Posts: 256
Location: plant earth | I hear you ronix i have a BN and put a 400d on it and the 400d looks small on it!!!!!but the feel is good. i just cant get used to the 400 te not on it. |
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Posts: 981
| my buddy got a 401 and it felt great, but I got the 301 thinking it would be like the curado but its even smaller and feels different when I grip it. I may try to exchange it for a 401 D, regardless it is such a smooth reel as everyone has been saying |
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Posts: 256
Location: plant earth | You think its smooth now let pikemaster do the bearing upgrade on it. I am going to have him do that to my 400d its so effortless now i cant even imagine what 5 more bearings will do and its only $30. The new stuff is turning out to be above par for sure i just waited to hear some positive reviews before dropping the cheddar for one. |
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