I can't speak to the 2-1/2f ferrule, but I've cast a few 2f ferruled Heddons and although I do like them I find the Phillipson taper to be a little more capable of long casts and very responsive. The 2f rods have felt like they had thick butt sections and somewhat soft tips while the 8-1/2' and also 9' Phillipsons have a more even power curve butt to tip with a more forgiving loading in the butt section and stronger tips giving it a better feel when carrying long casts.
Now all bets are off if you are comparing tapers with the Heddon #60 which in my experience has a very different taper than other Heddon models. The 60 I own has the unmovable wood grip combined with a relatively narrow width exiting the grip which then narrows only very very slightly going into the first ferrule. That creates a hinging effect in the #60 that the other Heddons didn't have and it leans every so slightly toward a parabolic taper providing smooth long casting more like the Phillipsons.
Now all bets are off if you are comparing tapers with the Heddon #60 which in my experience has a very different taper than other Heddon models. The 60 I own has the unmovable wood grip combined with a relatively narrow width exiting the grip which then narrows only very very slightly going into the first ferrule. That creates a hinging effect in the #60 that the other Heddons didn't have and it leans every so slightly toward a parabolic taper providing smooth long casting more like the Phillipsons.
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