The X-Designation Chart for Fly Leaders
Leaders are usually made from one of two materials, nylon or fluorocarbon. The breaking strain rating may vary in a given diameter between brands.
The 'X' rating is a factor that designates leader tippet diameter. It was established during the era when all leader was made from silk worm gut. If you subtract the 'X' rating from eleven you will arrive at the diameter of the leader in one-thousandths of an inch e.g. 11 - 8(X) = 3 ie 0.003"
The chart below already gives the diameter in millimeteres.
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| "X" Rating | Ø Inches | Ø Actual mm | Ø Nominal mm | Hook Sizes |
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| 8X | .003 | 0.076 | 0.08 | 22,24,26 |
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| 7X | .004 | 0.102 | 0.10 | 20,22,24 |
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| 6X | .005 | 0.127 | 0.12 | 16,18,20 |
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| 5X | .006 | 0.152 | 0.15 | 14,16,18 |
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| 4X | .007 | 0.178 | 0.18 | 12,14,16 |
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| 3X | .008 | 0.203 | 0.20 | 10,12,14 |
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| 2X | .009 | 0.229 | 0.23 | 6,8,10 |
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| 1X | .010 | 0.254 | 0.25 | 4,6,8 |
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| 0X | .011 | 0.279 | 0.28 | 2,1/0 |
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