BallReviews

Equipment Boards => Columbia 300 => Topic started by: Snakster on August 15, 2013, 07:29:26 AM

Title: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Snakster on August 15, 2013, 07:29:26 AM
My sin and I were at a local center the other day. The second closest to our house. We were thinking of switching to this place for his juniors for a couple reasons and he wanted to go there again just to make sure.

Anyway...the pro shop had night time hours that day and I recently lost a finger grip so we went in. As I usually do, I checked out all the balls on display although I generally don't expect to see anything I haven't seen before. Well that wasn't the case. I saw a few balls that were completely unknown or that I knew to be fairly old. The one that I was unaware of turned out to be quite old and is the reason for this post.

He had on display both a 15 and 16 pound Columbia Action. New mind you. I looked it up later and saw that it was from ~2005(!!!). I noted that it was a solid with a super low RG (2.43 or thereabouts). Obviously predates the current 'legal' specs.

The price tag he has on them is under 100. Was/is this a good ball? The core specs alone have me interested based in my lower rev rate. In the whiskey world we call such a find a 'dusty'. Have I found one here?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: spmcgivern on August 15, 2013, 08:49:10 AM
From what I remember, the Action was a pretty good ball.  The better of the series was the Action Packed.  That was a great ball with a better combination of cover and core.  The Action would probably be characterized as a medium/medium heavy ball by today's standards.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: billdozer on August 15, 2013, 09:22:12 AM
The action line was great, action attack was also a good one...the first one was very good tho especially for <100!
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Impending Doom on August 15, 2013, 09:42:23 AM
I would grab that in a heartbeat. M80 is still plenty strong for most of what you will run into.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Snakster on August 15, 2013, 11:28:04 AM
Thanks for the great feedback. I'll keep it on my radar until after the storm/Roto demo in September. If it has lasted 8 years, it should last another month.

From an irrational point of view, I like the color combo too.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: makpa on August 16, 2013, 04:23:34 AM
Do you know if he would ship over seas? i would love to buy them. Do you have some contact, email etc?
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: tmoore300 on August 16, 2013, 10:27:24 AM
you should have that ball drilled already, lol. Big Wes shot 299 on tv using that ball, a buddy of mine set the record in pasadena, tx with 867 also with that ball. Great find!!!
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: hallofamer on August 16, 2013, 03:47:23 PM
Great ball. Well worth the price. Buy now. 
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: kidlost2000 on August 16, 2013, 09:55:19 PM
The 15lb ball could easily be resold online for a little profit new in the box.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Strapper_Squared on August 18, 2013, 08:50:51 AM
My sin and I were at a local center the other day.

Typo or intentional?  Either way, funny. 
The Action had a very low th strong core, paired with a strong cover.  I remember the ball being very good for the heavier shots at the time.  Unlike the other poster, I felt it was the best of the action series.  My buddy shot three 800s in one week with his (then again, he's shot high 7s with his cow vis-a-ball).
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Snakster on August 18, 2013, 08:05:01 PM
Yeah typo. When typing on my phone with otter box case I always type I's instead of O's. when the I word is a real word, it doesn't auto correct.

Gotta say you guys are talking me into it.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Arone24 on August 28, 2013, 09:46:28 AM
I'd buy it in a flat second! Owe my highest series and only 300 to the action series (packed and max)
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Jesse James on August 28, 2013, 11:41:11 AM
Great ball! My anchorman still uses his and has a 228 average with it. Lots of 279's and 280's!!
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Snakster on September 11, 2013, 06:46:52 AM
So I was in that pro shop last night and I was looking at this ball again. For about the fourth time. And I noticed something that I had not before. On the back side of the ball was a small, stamped, white 'X'.  Assuming this means its an x-out ball. Am I wring in thinking that the owner is a little shady having a 'new' ball for sale in his shop that's an x-out and not identifying it as such?  I wouldn't be as troubled if it was on the ra k where the used balls are of another secondary rack that he has next to his counter. But this is in the main display with all the other actual new equipment.

I'll admit a certain level of ingnorance to the proprieties. Am I wrongfully irritated by this practice?
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Impending Doom on September 11, 2013, 08:49:57 AM
Many people wouldn't even know what an x-out is. Ask what the reason is. Low top? High top? Short pin or long pin? Color mistake?
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Snakster on September 11, 2013, 09:52:05 AM
I would if it wasn't for the fact that I usually get blank stares whenever I ask an even moderately complex question in there. (Which would be any question beyond "how much does this cost?")

Too many good options to spend any more brain cells on this for my taste. Probably look to get a new ball as a birthday present in October. Just wont be this one.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Snakster on October 19, 2013, 09:38:17 AM
So I was looking at this again this morning during my sons league. It would appear it has a zero pin. CG is stamped right on top of the pin. Would that be a reason for an x-out?  If so, what are the ramifications of such a thing? Big deal?
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Impending Doom on October 19, 2013, 09:43:58 AM
Depends on what the top weight is. If its like 3.5 or more, you're going to be limited with what you can do. Less than 3, a few more options. 2 or below, more.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Arone24 on October 19, 2013, 09:44:58 AM
Probably so. That pretty much just limits you to a pin down drilling which has been a great layout on the action packed for me.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Snakster on October 19, 2013, 09:52:56 AM
For that ball I'd be looking for pin down layout anyway. Thanks for the quick reply. Back on my radar now.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Arone24 on March 25, 2014, 03:57:18 PM
Did you end up buying the Action? If decided not to could you provide me with the info? I'm in the market for one with a short pin.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Snakster on March 25, 2014, 04:18:47 PM
Didn't buy it, and it's been gone for a little while.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Arone24 on March 25, 2014, 04:25:23 PM
Oh okay man I appreciate the response.
Title: Re: Dusty Gem? Or not so much?
Post by: Balldoctor on May 03, 2014, 08:20:57 PM
Wasn't Action balls  the last produced in San Antonio?