|
Post by Cliffy on Jan 18, 2004 22:55:30 GMT -6
Got a dozen bridger #2 off sets to try on the line this season.
Base plated, short chained with 3 swivels, night latched but left the springs as they came (not a 4 coil fan).
So far they are 100% unacceptable as far as damage goes.
If I remember correct awhile back Steve you were looking them over and possibly trying them out.
How did they work out for you?
Has anyone else come up with mods that stop the damage?
I laminated one and the coyote in it showed no difference in the amount of damage but since I only do a handfull of coyotes a year I don't have the numbers or knowledge to say for sure.
Cliffy
|
|
|
Post by briankroberts on Jan 18, 2004 22:58:07 GMT -6
I've got a couple dozen of them decked out laminated, baseplated , four coiled and 3 swivels shock springs and short chained and There working pretty good, hardly and damage.....B.....
|
|
|
Post by coyote on Jan 19, 2004 7:06:01 GMT -6
Hi, Cliffy.
I have the fully modified, offset, laminated, 4 coiled ones and am pretty happy with them for coyotes.
I also caught a darn house cat a MILE from the nearest residence (in the middle of Nowhere) with no damage to its foot from the trap.
did you file off any burrs from under the jaws (from the factory production)?
|
|
|
Post by Steve Gappa on Jan 19, 2004 9:58:08 GMT -6
Brian- thats exactly how my Bridgers are set up.
I did have a lot of foot damage when I first started using them. I was told that you have to file down the jaws- or the edges just are too sharp. Thats very true-
I finally just locked them open with a vicegrip and really ground on them with my dremel. I finally got them to the point where the damage is reduce- but still there. Ric from Hal's forum gave me some jaws laminated with flat stock- and those seem better.
I personally think that in a #2 size- a regular jaw MIGHT be the best bet. I think the slight movement allowed by the offsets is what causes the cutting. But I don't know- its just speculation- any thoughts from those who use BOTH regular and offsets in a #2 Bridger or similar trap?
I have never caughht a dog in one- and I almost wish I would. I also have a theroy that a domestic wouldn't work the trap as hard as a coyote- but again, I don't KNOW.
I do like them as a coyote trap. I haven't caught tat many yotes in them -i'm guessing 25 or so- but I can't remember any pullouts or partial catch circle- when those Bridgers were snapped- there was usually fur.
i'm going to get more this summr- but am still waffling between reg jaws or offsets.
|
|
|
Post by briankroberts on Jan 19, 2004 10:09:39 GMT -6
I modified mine myself, when I had the springs off and was welding the baseplate and laminating the jaws I took the grinder and the wire wheel to thre jaws, made a big difference. Its really not that hard to disassemble these traps and do this and it makes a world of difference. Steve this past week I was in southern IL ( stray dog capitol of IL) caught 6 strays none had any foot damage, one was hanging around a farm I was trapping and the landowner looked at him 2 days later and said he was fine, this was a boxer type dog around 50 lbs. One thing I've noticed is that dogs don't fight a trap as hard as a Yote will. I haven't used any regular jaws only offsets so I don't know about that, except I would be leery about 4 coiling with regular jaws. After this last week and the stray dogs I caught I'm not worried about foot damage in the traps.....B.....
|
|
|
Post by 17kiss on Jan 19, 2004 10:51:05 GMT -6
The only cutting I saw, on greys especially, was where they stamped the offset out. 2 tits on each jaw. Me being the hard head i am , and ususally short on time , Just set them open , held my thumb under pan , and ran them across bench grinder. Visually a huge difference. Other than that see no downfalls with the 2s.Right now they are my trap of choice. Though I do like B's #4 sleepycreeks.
|
|
|
Post by Steve Gappa on Jan 19, 2004 11:52:05 GMT -6
Thats what I thought might be the case with dogs.
Well, unless something earthshattering occurs- I think I'll continue adding the #2 Bridgers 4 coiled offsets.
I know I'll loose a few small coon- but I trade that off for a little beefer trap for coyote specific locations.
|
|
|
Post by briankroberts on Jan 19, 2004 12:28:00 GMT -6
Jim have you used those Sleepy creek 4's on yotes yet???.....B.....
|
|
|
Post by Zagman on Jan 19, 2004 13:32:54 GMT -6
I have really come to the belief that DAMAGE often comes down to the individual animal.....
I have caught more than a few coyotes in those #2 Bridgers...all offsets, laminated, and 4-coiled.
One coyote will be banged up and then the next 5 will be fine.
Same with 1.75's, #3 Monties, Jakes. etc......
In other words, I have seen no defined pattern in any of the traps I have used for the past 10 years....
Recently, in the same day, I caught 3 fox (2 greys and one red) in #3 Bridgers......2 were fine, one was banged up. The coyote I caught that day was in a #4 SC, right across the pad.....
Greys, as you know, could hurt themselves in a #1 longspring.....
I wonder, with weak springs or stock trap with the swivel on the end vs. center swiveled, if there is some sliding, cutting, sawing, etc. I have seen it with my #3 Monties where, while base-plated, the d-ring is off-center. When I pull up to the coyote, he is slid over to the side away from the chain hookup......he didnt start that way, sheer force and physics had him ending up there.......
In my opinion, in other words, if you are using laminated offset #2 Bridgers, I see no reason why your damage would be higher than with other traps..... I think you need a bigger sample before drawing any definitive conclusions.....
|
|
|
Post by Steve Gappa on Jan 19, 2004 13:38:27 GMT -6
I'm thinking you are probably right on the small sample size Zags- I just didn't want to get too many of them if damage was going to be a major problem.
One other thing- 90% of the yotes I have taken in the traps have been in spring and summer- and many of them pregnant females or nursing- so I knew that they were hitting the trap harder than normal.
My main concern was did people notice damage to dogs- and the concencious seems to be no.
|
|
|
Post by 17kiss on Jan 19, 2004 14:08:02 GMT -6
B , no. Will have them out in Mi. Just redid all my land traps. I will have approx. 75-125 legholds out down there. (If all goes well)95% of them will be Bridger2s and 3s. So I should be able to draw some preliminary conclusions. I ran about 25 or so #2s this season with no pullouts and some cutting , but the cutting problem should be fixed.
|
|
|
Post by Zags on Jan 19, 2004 14:14:04 GMT -6
Won't mention numbers, but I catch dogs and cats each year, and they usually belong to the landowner where I am trapping....
I let them all go with confidence.....this is where I am sure offsets help....on the cats. I let them all go, and to quote Tom Krause, "They'll hit the ground on all fours, I betcha"
Dogs and cats just dont seem to fight as much as coyotes, fox, etc. If they did, there'd be more of a catch circle.......This helps in the damage-dept.......
I set these traps with confidence...I am not setting amputators, and I can sleep at night.
Zagman
|
|
|
Post by PAMINK on Jan 19, 2004 15:17:43 GMT -6
I agree with Zagman 100% on what he said above. I am so pleased with Bridgers set up the way I like them I'm going to be adding #3 Bridgers to my line. I have full confidence with the proper modification they will be just fine.
I find it"s the individual animal that causes his own damage whether it's a #1 -1/2 or a #3 it makes no difference.
Low lever Montys and such will be sold this summer. I have no need for them anymore. Terry
|
|
|
Post by skidway on Jan 19, 2004 16:56:31 GMT -6
I've used 2 dozen Bridgers all season and the only damage I've had is a bent dog. Fully modified traps with 4 coils. I'm not sure that was necessary but it's done so I've nothing to compare it with. No excessive wear on the coyotes. I'm satisfied.
|
|
|
Post by Steve Gappa on Jan 19, 2004 17:00:05 GMT -6
Now you guys really got me thinking...#3's? oh my Lord...Sleepy is sitting up right now..."whose talking Big iron..?"
I have to say- I have caught many domestics years ago in UNMODIFIED #3- with the expected results.
But I would like to run some "big iron" just for comparison purposes if nothing else.
So how are you guys setting up these #3- 4coiling?
|
|
|
Post by 17kiss on Jan 19, 2004 17:33:06 GMT -6
Steve , just set up about 3 dozen 3s for the trial run. Mine were just the usual adjustments and chain preference. See no need at present time to 4 coil and baseplate , but you never know , that may change with usage. 6.5 inches of kill area , baby. Now that is some iron! If all works out will use on my fox/coyote trapline in Pa. next season. Then we will see about pattern misses! Come on Z some input? ??
|
|
|
Post by z on Jan 19, 2004 17:34:23 GMT -6
wanna buy some 1.65/75's? Z
|
|
|
Post by dj88ryr on Jan 19, 2004 18:29:21 GMT -6
Steve, I think you will have an awesome #3 in stock soon that you could use to compare. ;D
|
|
|
Post by mike692 on Jan 19, 2004 19:02:08 GMT -6
All this talk of big traps has me shopping. ;D
Who has experience with the MB 650?
|
|
|
Post by PAMINK on Jan 19, 2004 19:07:20 GMT -6
Steve I 4 coil with laminations only. I have to inside laminate #3's to stay legal here in PA I don't use #9 wire for lamination either. 3/16 or 1/4 JC Conner laminations are all I use. Center swivel baseplate also. Terry
|
|