Major Craft Benkei Reloaded BIRC-78XH/BB Product Review

Rod Review

Affordable JDM? Major Craft's Benkei Reloaded

Date:	5/2/25
Tackle Type:	Rod
Manufacturer:	Major Craft
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 8.17 - BEST VALUE AWARD

Introduction: Major Craft, one of Japan's long standing rod manufacturers, has been importing their product to North American shores for about a decade now. I've personally fished and reviewed two of their sticks, but that was nearly twenty years ago and both sticks were in the lighter side of the power equation (the Sa Ku Ra DC-644M & Toy II MSS-602UL). So I figured it was high time I got reacquainted with Major Craft and what better way to accomplish that than with a look at a stick in their Benkei Reloaded series?

Major Craft Benkei Reloaded BIRC-78XH/BB Specifications
Material	High mid-modulus carbon blank
Length	7'-8"
Line Wt.	14-30lb
Lure Wt.	3/8-3oz
Pieces	2 (separates at handle)
Guides	7+tip (Fuji SS K-Frame w/ Alconite inserts, semi-micro)
Rear Handle Length	14"
Power Rating	Extra-Heavy
Taper	Moderate
Rod Weight	6.1oz
Origin	Made in China
MSRP	$202.99

Introducing Major Craft's Benkei Reloaded BIRC-78XH/BB

Impressions: The rod in that series I chose to investigate is the BIRC-78XH/BB. This is a seven foot, eight inch (7'-8") stick rated up to three ounces (3oz) in lure weight. The "BB" at the end of the rod's model number, I'm assuming, is an abbreviation for "Big Bait," and with that max lure rating, this stick just fits under that umbrella. It comes in two pieces and in traditional JDM fashion separates at the handle. The rear grip is a split design with EVA hand holds.

This is a 7'-8" stick rated for baits up to three ounces in weight

Guides on the BIRC-78XXH/BB are stainless steel, K-Framed Fujis with Alconite inserts, and a size progression from nine at the stripper to six at the tip top - I think. Measuring the outside diameter of the inserts is never cut and dry for me. I don't understand why guide size is not based off of the inside diameter of the guide instead where measurements can be much more precise. Nevertheless, the guides appeared small to me, which is why I measured them, but turns out, they're about the same as I would use on such a wrap if not larger (I generally run a progression of eight to five and a half, but I'm not a pro at wrapping either).

Matched here with a Revo5 STX

Real World Tests: Still feeling the vibe of Abu Garcia's Revo5 refresh, I paired the Benkei Reloaded BIRC-78XH/BB with my Revo5 STX spooled with some Varivas Avani Casting SMP PE x8 in PE#4 and a top shot of Sunline Saltimate Nylon Leader in thirty pound. While my go to line setup up for throwing big topwater wakes and rats (which are essentially wake baits) is usually hollow braid, Varivas recently discontinued their Monster PE Si-X Vamos, so my search for a new, favorite x8 braid is renewed.

Detailing is very JDM

Casting: First bait up for the BIRC-78XH/BB was a UFO Bait Company six inch wake weighing in at two point nine ounces (2.9oz) - right at the BIRC-78XH's max lure rating, and I'd say the rod's lure rating is a little conservative. Often, when you approach the max lure rating for a big bait stick, or any stick for that matter, there's kind of a lag during the back cast letting you know the stick is near its limit. For the BIRC-78XH, with that UFO bait, I didn't feel that. It was more like I was casting a bait near the rod's sweet spot because I was able to execute casts and pitching presentations for distance and close quarter accuracy, from all different angles and wrist rolls. After the first few casts, I kind of forgot it wasn't supposed to be that easy with that heavy of a bait.

Once the two pieces are joined, it's difficult to tell both in appearance and handling that the handle separates from the main part of the rod

Sensitivity: Major Craft is not very descriptive or specific regarding the grade of the grade of graphite used in the BIRC-78XH's blank but given the rod's taper, it doesn't much matter. This is a stick built for moving baits and given the classification (big) of the moving baits most will choose to sling on this stick, sensitivity is simply not a priority The fact you can feel your bait at all is what matters, and with the BIRC-78XH, you can definitely feel your bait at the end of the line.

Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Major Craft Benkei Reloaded BIRC-78XH/BB against the historical averages of similarly powered rods we've tested over the past twenty plus years

Next: JDM Power at a reasonable price?