Does anyone happen to know or have a good way of determining the reel seat size of the St Croix Victory spinning rods? I measured the OD of the threading, and it’s definitely under 3/4”. So after doing some conversions, that would lead me to believe it’s either the VSS 16, or the 16-15.

I decided to finally start building my own, and I got a little carried away with the recent sale. I bought 5 blanks and carbontex grips for each. Prior to that, I spoke to someone at another company who was kind enough to put together a parts list to replicate the uplocking Victory handle and reel seat configuration (one I like a lot). What they recommended was a VSS 16, and so the grips I ordered are to match that.

The reason I ask, is I’m obviously happy with my Victory reel seat, but after placing the orders, I’m seeing a lot of comments about size 16 being only for very small hands. My hands definitely aren’t the largest, but I wear a large glove. Medium length fingers, fat paws.

I hate to create the headache of returning/cancelling 5 grips and 5 hood covers spread across multiple orders, but I also don’t want poorly fit handles. Unfortunately, I imagine it’s tough to know what will fit well without actually assembling it. Ordering just one set would have been the smart move, but at 30% off, I just went for it and plan to build the first 3 as gifts for my nephews for me to learn on.

The grips are not on sale anymore, which is another factor. But it’s only a difference of around $35. So it wouldn’t be the end of the world to pay full price.

The blanks I went with are the Delta MB664, and the Xray SJ703 with butt diameters of 0.52 if that has any bearing. The size 16 reel seat has an ID of 13mm, so it…should fit?

What say you?

Yes, the Victory uses the VSS 16. Yes, it is too small. At least for me. I also have medium size hands and much prefer the VSS 17 or the IPS (it says 16 but the cork that fits is the same diameter as the VSS 17). As you said, opinions vary and I would think about putting together the VSS 16, press fitting it on a rod with masking tape arbors, and see if you like the feel.

The comments about 16 mm seats were not for your application, but for the use of 16 mm standard pipe design reel seats. Your grip design should be fine, around 25 mm in diameter if I remember right. It's the first I have heard about discontinuing the VSS seat, it is a fairly new design, I had heard about the many decades old IPS reel seat, that came in 16- and 17-mm sizes and is similar in looks, being discontinued sometime soon. Someone may have gotten the two mixed up. The IPS seats and cork were about 1/10" larger in diameter comparing 16 mm sizes. I will use those until there are no more, and the flat front to me is easier to get a good match while installing than the curved. I also use the HPS thread hiding foregrip that gives you a fairly smooth transition of equal diameter.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2024 09:20PM by Spencer Phipps.

Size the seat to fit your hand, not the rod. And keep in mind that a size 16 reel seat has an OD of about 20mm. The seat number is the ID, not the OD.

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A lot of people use the VSS 16 reel seats without any ergonomic issues. It is a very popular and comfortable seat. The OD where you hold the reel is about 23 mm, which about the same OD as a size 20 pipe reel seat. The ODs for the VSS17 and IPS16 where you hold the reel are about 27mm.
Norm

I use the VSS 16 almost exclusively for my spinning builds. Some may feel its thin, but its a personal preference. I find that i have a quicker "swing speed" (terminology from golf) when my hand is gripping something on the thinner side as opposed to a thicker grip like the VSS17 or the IPS16. Being able to hold my rod in my finger tips (I feel) helps with quicker hook sets, easier casting, and especially easier "oddball" casting (flipping, pitching, flicking, skipping, backhanded skipping, etc). Again this is how I feel, it may not be what others feel. I have, on a few occassions, used the APEX skeleton seat. Its thinner than the VSS16, but people seem to like it.

The VSS 16 and the VSS 1615 have the same OD, but they are different on the inside and will need different handle inserts. They will feel identical, so you'd have to go to the VSS17 if your looking for a larger diameter seat/handle to hold.

I don't know about the MB664, but I do know that the VSS16 will fit the SJ703. The SB724 will need the VSS1615, or the VSS17.