Shimano Bantam XHS question

All the talk lately about high end equipment, and here comes Sanford and
Son. I have never used a baitcaster. I have always been happy with my
spinning reels, and have read enough posts from bewildered baitcaster
wanna-be's to be put off from learning them. Well, I picked up one dirt
cheap at a garage sale, thinking that if I don't like it, I'm not out
much, and now I'm wondering what I have here. It's a Shimano Bantam XHS.
It even says that XHS is "xtra high speed". The model is partially worn:
BMP**0 where * is either 3 or 5, so maybe BMP550. It also says "Mag
Plus" and is marked 5.1/1 It's mounted on a Abu Garcia Conolon 300 rod
BC60ML. I've been to Shimano's site and done web searches, but the
closest thing I've found was for sale on Ebay. I'm wondering if this is
a decent reel, so if I try it and don't like it, will it be just because
it's a cheap reel? Or is it a good reel and is just so old that I can't
find references to it? I hope this post makes sense to somebody, I'm
fighting a cold and the meds have me loopy.

Henry

It'a a Bantam 250, not a cheap reel at all but made in the 80's..





"If you go to bed stupid, you will wake up stupid"

it was a good reel a few years ago. now it is a little on the low end, but
should work fine. it certainly is not considered high speed anymore at
5.1 - 1 but should do fine for slower fishing.

crownliner


"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
...
All the talk lately about high end equipment, and here comes Sanford and
Son. I have never used a baitcaster. I have always been happy with my
spinning reels, and have read enough posts from bewildered baitcaster
wanna-be's to be put off from learning them. Well, I picked up one dirt
cheap at a garage sale, thinking that if I don't like it, I'm not out
much, and now I'm wondering what I have here. It's a Shimano Bantam XHS.
It even says that XHS is "xtra high speed". The model is partially worn:
BMP**0 where * is either 3 or 5, so maybe BMP550. It also says "Mag
Plus" and is marked 5.1/1 It's mounted on a Abu Garcia Conolon 300 rod
BC60ML. I've been to Shimano's site and done web searches, but the
closest thing I've found was for sale on Ebay. I'm wondering if this is
a decent reel, so if I try it and don't like it, will it be just because
it's a cheap reel? Or is it a good reel and is just so old that I can't
find references to it? I hope this post makes sense to somebody, I'm
fighting a cold and the meds have me loopy.

Henry

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
...
All the talk lately about high end equipment, and here comes Sanford and
Son. I have never used a baitcaster. I have always been happy with my
spinning reels, and have read enough posts from bewildered baitcaster
wanna-be's to be put off from learning them. Well, I picked up one dirt
cheap at a garage sale, thinking that if I don't like it, I'm not out
much, and now I'm wondering what I have here. It's a Shimano Bantam XHS.
It even says that XHS is "xtra high speed". The model is partially worn:
BMP**0 where * is either 3 or 5, so maybe BMP550. It also says "Mag
Plus" and is marked 5.1/1
SNIP

It is a Bantam Mag Plus (BMP) 250. A great reel in its day. I still have
one that is 18 years old. Mine is actually the 251 (left hand retrieve).
To my knowledge, you can't find parts for them. I've tried. I wanted to
have it serviced, bearings replaced, etc., for nostalgia sake, but nobody
seems to have parts. That was my first "non-disposable" a/k/a "Wal-mart
29.95" reel I ever bought and it was a good one. It still works fine, just
a little more play than it used to have. Of course, now that I am used to
the automatic/instant anti-reverse, it has a lot of play!

K

Thanks guys' now I guess I'll see if I can follow Craig B.'s
instructions for cleaning in the FAQ.

Henry