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Post by trappincoyotes39 on May 31, 2006 16:26:50 GMT -6
The reasons I believe the sterling mj600 to be the best coyote trap every made are!
1. Wire levers cut cover better and faster even if frosted conditions exists.
2. The pan is almost dead center within the jaws.
3. MIG welding through out no spot welding.
4. Very high quality springs that last and last even with very heavy use.
5. The strongest swivel on the market and lowest profile.
6. Smooth cast jaws not stamped zero cutting from jaw material.
7. Reinforced throughout the entire frame.
8. Lock up is the best on the market built in and designed into the trap.
9. 4 balanced springs.
10. The entire concept is built to take coyote abuse no matter time or chain length used, again a design of the total product.
11. Best resale value of any modern use foothold.
12. The most copied trap I believe ever made.
13. A trap that will save money over the long run, as no need to replace,springs,pans,chain,swivels etc. For most fur trappers a true lifetime use trap with no add ons or parts needed.
14. The perfect offset and jaw size for a coyote IMHO
15. Jaws an excellent blend of both worlds round and square jaws combined.
16. Lastly to think this trap was designed in the mid 70's and the vision Glen Sr had at that time and what predator control trappers of the 40's,50's and 60's would have given for a trap of this quality?
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Post by chub618 on May 31, 2006 17:38:55 GMT -6
thats great to know but i cant use them here in ohio! but if you have any information on the MJ500 im all ears
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on May 31, 2006 18:52:46 GMT -6
Chub a smaller version of the 600 just not as much hand work but a solid built trap! The base plate is a stamped version but heavy duty,same strong springs and excellent jaws. Pan is a little different you can dial in pan tension on the 500. Good strong swivels and good chain an excellent alternative to the 600 where jaw restrictions limit you to a 5.5" trap! Many of these have been sold out east.
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Post by thebeav2 on May 31, 2006 20:05:44 GMT -6
One other fact that sets the MJ600 apart from any other trap Is the Price tag.
I know you get what you pay for.
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on May 31, 2006 21:20:58 GMT -6
Beav you have to figure out cost over the life of the equipment and that will give you true savings/cost ratio. If I laminate #3 trap and have to replace dogs, pans add springs every few years, change out chain etc, have them run over and that damage the true cost is no more than alot of other traps on the market.
If you look at what other traps have done price wise since the 70's the sterlings have not followed suit, I think they started out at 25.00-26.00 and can be had for 32.00-34.00 an 8.00 increase with no sacrafice of quailty is pretty good I feel. Theft yeh, I would not use these traps in high theft areas, as long as a guy is smart you'll have them for a lifetime and you can still resell for over 20.00 ea no problems after years and years of use.
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Post by lumberjack on May 31, 2006 23:46:56 GMT -6
I bought a bunch used for $20 and sold some for $25. The best, no doubt, but Im afraid to set them for fear of theft.
It seems as if you were paying by the pound the Sterling would be the bargain?
They are built for the long haul. I suppose if my living depended on it and coyotes actually paid real money I would be totally equipped with them.
I can see where a Bridger or eqiuvalent would be almost as expensive after modifications and you still dont have the results or quality of a Sterling.
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Post by musher on Jun 1, 2006 4:30:18 GMT -6
What about the jake?
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Post by Zagman on Jun 1, 2006 5:14:10 GMT -6
TC: You forgot....
17) Both jaws are locked down.
Until you use a trap like this, you really dont realize what a pain (major sometimes, minor most times) that loose jaw is.
With this style trap, you litterally "drill" it into the ground. It's a feature that makes bedding this type of trap a dream.
A loose jaw can be a bedding problem, but also can be a problem when an animal works the set, either by movement (if not bedded properly) OR, with a toe nail or paw scratching at the right place, the beast can "pop" the loose jaw up and out of it's bed.
Not the end of the world, I know......
Bed a few and tell me it ain't a sweet setup...
Zagman
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Jun 1, 2006 12:30:59 GMT -6
oops your right forgot about that one!!! You are correct just twist them into the bed and they are as solid as a trap can get and the points you made are dead on as well. I also use my chain to level out the trap as well on occasion and with no loose jaw the trap is soild and level without having to mess around with dirt on alot of trap sets. 18. Come dyed and waxed and ready to be put into the ground
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Post by musher on Jun 1, 2006 16:25:58 GMT -6
They are steady in the ground. I'll admit that I thought that they were the cat's meow until I lost a timber from one. The wolf chewed the trap and unhooked 1 spring. It then pulled out. there wasn't a huge catch circle but a tongue does bleed alot.
The wolf was the targeted animal as I thought it was a wolf trap.
It's a dandy lynx trap, though!
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Post by thebeav2 on Jun 1, 2006 18:00:18 GMT -6
Yep I caught my first lynx In a MJ600 and then I caught 4 more In It.
Nice trap just can't use them where I trap.
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Post by bubcat on Jun 1, 2006 18:05:51 GMT -6
I don't know as I've ever seen one, so I don't know. But I do have 3 dozen MB-650's, and "if" this 600 is capable of catching, holding, and going back in for more any better than an MB-650 you'd have to explain it a little better If I were to believe it. They're a pretty relentless and dependable trap, but for the notch needing tweaked every once in a great while.
I caught a bear in one once grubbing out a dirt hole, and much as wanted to, she weren't going nowhere till she got released, and the same trap got brushed off and back in the ground for more.
How's this MJ gonna do a fella any better?
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Jun 1, 2006 18:29:15 GMT -6
1st the 650 is a heavly copied version of the mj600. I don't like the fact of having those thin jaws and they should do away with that version as it is not coyote friendly. The differance is the pan for one, you have a dead spot on the 650 up close to where it makes contact, also No sterling swivels not a big deal but they are very strong and low profile less trash build up.
I also like the stake ring found on the sterling gives you excellent swiveling around the stake head and can be cross staked without having to add anything to the trap. While I haven't had 650's for years I would be surprised if those springs last as long as the sterlings, may be but the springs on an mj600 are top of the line and last many years.
As far as wolves they have held some but where never made or sold as a wolf trap, now they have the mj800 designed for wolves and lions. I guess to me I stay with the orignal and like the pan with no dead spot and will pay a few dollars more when compairing cast to cast models.
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Post by bubcat on Jun 1, 2006 19:26:16 GMT -6
"not coyote friendly..." I'd go along with that. I haven't seen a coyote yet that really cared for em. ;D I hear you though in the jaw thickness, I've got mine outside laminated, and don't have any problems "that way". One of the neighbors dalmation was out tresspassing where he shouldn't a been without a leash, and I brought him home, no harm, no foul. On the "dead spot",... eh... you're talking, like an area 1/2 the size of a penny, and shift over the same width, and press your finger on that 'dead spot', and you'll probably yell something like eureka! or golly gee that tingles. I don't think I've ever seen the MJ600, and don't have any buddies that use em. If I see a couple out and about, I might try em out for kicks. I don't mind paying for good equipment.  |
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Post by Hornhunter on Jun 2, 2006 4:47:11 GMT -6
I've bought probably at least one of every coyote trap out there. Just to see what was better. Bought one 600, Friends birthday was coming up so I gave it to him. Have picked up the 500 to try.
Bought a dozen of JC's Jake traps. These are one great trap in every catagory.
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Post by Zagman on Jun 2, 2006 6:38:36 GMT -6
I like the dog/pan hookup on the Sterling better than the MB....I find the Sterling easier to set. Any of the Sterling copies take some time in getting comfortable setting them, especially if one is used to coming in under the loose jaw of a conventional trap and setting the trap safely. While I mentioned the advantages of the locked down jaws on the Sterlings/Brockers etc, I must admit that I do like setting my Jakes due to the loose jaw and ease of setting. JC designed this loose jaw, in my mind, ingeniously, in that the jaw rests on the extended tang of the cross piece of the trap. While it is not locked down, it is machined perfectly and the jaw almost seems to snap into place there on the extended tang. Still, if a coyote does things the way you dont want him to, you can end up with this:  This was waiting for me this season, but I had a coyote in the other set there, so hopefully I caught the lucky SOB. Zagman |
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Post by CoonDuke on Jun 2, 2006 6:42:21 GMT -6
I really need to get some of those 500s. I always pull the pan down to the night-latch notch once the trap is bedded anyway, by holding the jaws with my thumb and forefinger.
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Post by Stef on Jun 2, 2006 6:49:36 GMT -6
LoL Zag, looks like nice clay to work with there?
I own a couple MB650.
Like the trap but the trigger system is very dangerous... seems that everytime I waxed those traps.. the scraping/torch etc.. methods doesn't work... they always need a "very light" filling job.
Somebody have a tip for me?
Stef
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Post by thebeav2 on Jun 2, 2006 7:06:08 GMT -6
Although If a coyote does what you don't want him to do he can still drag a fixed jaw type trap up out of the bed If he catches the fixed jaw when digging. Maybe not as easy but It still can happen. So the fixed jaw thing Is not the silver bullet.
I think the fixed jaw thing Is a bigger asset when your trapping those big footed flat tails then It Is with dirt trapping coyotes.
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Post by robertw on Jun 2, 2006 7:22:39 GMT -6
One thing about the MJ600s, they can be some real thumb busters when the notch starts to wear down (esp. with wax)....Re-filing the notches is also a REAL pain....Then you have to worry about over doing them an increasing the pan tension...for all of the positive qualities of the MJ 600 the trigger system can be a lot hassle to maintain if you use them heavily.
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