Foothold trap review

[go_deep]

I bought 8 different traps from a few weeks back. Duke #4 closed jaw, Duke 550, Duke #2 dogless, Bridger #2 dogless, Bridger #3 modified dogless, MB 450, MB 550, NO-BS K9 Jr.


Here's what I found.


Duke #4 needed lots of adjustment, lots!


Duke 550 didn't really have any adjustments and seemed kind of cheap


Duke #2 Dogless 4 coil needed some adjustments, even filling the pan to make the night latch work, and is a pretty solid trap. Equal to the Bridgers, maybe better because they're cheaper.


Bridger #2 dogless 4 coil, needed lots of adjustment, even filling the pan because the night latch wouldn't work.


Bridger #3 dogless modified 4 coil, minor adjustment, seems like a pretty solid trap, and if the options ended here I'd buy it.


MB 450 2 coil. better, but I didn't like the low pan clearance, along with the smaller pan and inside jaw spread. Another thing I noticed is I had a hard time getting my hands on the ears to set the trap. The worst part and really unexpectable was the jaws would hit the ears and I could not set the trap, I had to grind the outsides of the jars to create enough clearance.


MB 550 4 coil, better, but I didn't like the low pan clearance, along with the smaller pan and inside jaw spread. Another thing I noticed is I had a hard time getting my hands on the ears to set the trap. Same as the 450, the jaws would hit the ears and I could not set the trap, I had to grind the outsides of the jars to create enough clearance.


NO-BS K9 Jr 4 coil, zero adjustment needed, by far the heaviest duty of all traps, pan sets below the jaws so the dirt is flat across the top of the trap, verse other traps where the pan is above the jaws, traps come dipped and painted, ready to go trap.

Third picture down is an example of the pan being above the jaws, which would cause a hump in the center. No adjustment to fix that with the dog being over the jaw.

Last picture showed the NO-BS that has the pan below the jaws I'd say about 1/4-3/8" which allows you to have the dirt lay flat across the trap.

The night latch is awesome on all the traps.
My personal option, I'm not a fan of the cast jaws, maybe the long term will change my mind.

Any questions, ask away!

 

[Wheels]

On the Duke 550 you have to bend the dog a bit to level the pan out.
I think the No BS traps are the gold standard but are more expensive than most.

 

[Nine Banger]

I like that 450 Fox. I messed with one at a workshop a few months ago. It's a nice little machine but...what's the point? Just run 550's...

The 2 coil 550's are easy to set but agree that the 4 coils are a PITA. I often consider taking 2 coils out of the 6 or so I have and making them 2 coil but never do it.

The Bridger dogless is the one I popped my finger with while taking it apart and putting it back together to get the pan to lay flat. Not their fault, but I'll hold a grudge for having to do that in the first place. It's not like you need a different level of pan for different applications; they are just slack and lazy and calling it good enough.

I might try a few NO BS traps based on your impression next season if I order some other stuff like lure.

 

[go_deep]

On the Duke 550 you have to bend the dog a bit to level the pan out.
I think the No BS traps are the gold standard but are more expensive than most.

I was able to get the pan to lay flat, but still stuck up away above the jaws.

 

[go_deep]

I like that 450 Fox. I messed with one at a workshop a few months ago. It's a nice little machine but...what's the point? Just run 550's...

The 2 coil 550's are easy to set but agree that the 4 coils are a PITA. I often consider taking 2 coils out of the 6 or so I have and making them 2 coil but never do it.

The Bridger dogless is the one I popped my finger with while taking it apart and putting it back together to get the pan to lay flat. Not their fault, but I'll hold a grudge for having to do that in the first place. It's not like you need a different level of pan for different applications; they are just slack and lazy and calling it good enough.

I might try a few NO BS traps based on your impression next season if I order some other stuff like lure.

I really wanted to like the Bridgers, and they were pretty solid, but I also didn't like all the adjustments I needed to make to them out of the box.
The 450 verse 550, I agree, just use the larger trap, but I do like the idea of having a couple traps a little smaller in the case where it's rocky and that's the only trap you can put in the space available.
I ended up buying 2 cases of the 4 coil NO-BS K9 Jr's. Easy to set with gloves on, only thing I had to do with them was a couple had some dip in the night latch and I ran the corner edge of a file on it too get the extra paint/dip off.

 

[Nine Banger]

I like that 450 Fox. I messed with one at a workshop a few months ago. It's a nice little machine but...what's the point? Just run 550's...

I remember the point now...

In some areas there's a live market for fox for property owners that have huge pens that run dogs. They buy coyotes too.

The 450 FH is in play for live market trappers because a 550 will injure the leg on reds and grays.

 

[WiscoHoundsman]

What do you plan on targeting with these? I noticed you don’t have any in the 650 size range.

 

[go_deep]

What do you plan on targeting with these? I noticed you don’t have any in the 650 size range.

Mostly bobcats, and coyotes, I'm in an area with a slight chance at a wolf, that's why I went with 4 coil fully modified on all my traps.

Most 650's also only have a jaw open of 1/8" bigger than the NO-BS Jr's. Essentially the same trap size.

 

[WiscoHoundsman]

Ah, was just wondering. I use some MB 650’s with the cast jaws 4 coiled and picked up a NO BS K9 extreme that I have yet to try but it’s looks great from the initial fondling.

 

[devildog.34]

My main coyote trap is a fully modified Bridget #3 , with dog and Canadian jaws. I have a dozen Duke 550 and really like them. I will gradually switch to Duke 550s.

 

[brockel]

I run bridger #3s and some Duke #2 square jaws. Usually use the dukes in theft areas. The Duke #2s are also nice because it takes less digging to bed in the winter and less wax dirt to freeze proof with

 

[go_deep]

I run bridger #3s and some Duke #2 square jaws. Usually use the dukes in theft areas. The Duke #2s are also nice because it takes less digging to bed in the winter and less wax dirt to freeze proof with

I was actually thinking about buying a couple dog less #2 dukes and modifying them and using them in places that might have the chance to have a trap disappear.

 

[204_ruger]

The Duke 550's are good traps. The MB 550's are too. U can set pan tension on both . By bending the dog tip up or down. I have caught coyotes in the all but No BS or 450's. I dont have any of them. I like doing my own trap modifications. I bought a wire welder for this. Robert Waddell caught 940+ coyotes in one season. His trap he used the most was Duke #3 offset jaws. I have taken Duke # 3 offset 4 coil traps. Fully modified them. And run them on public land. I like MB 650'S for bobcats with drags. I just got a few Duke 650'S to try out. I have caught a ton of coyotes in #2 traps. The Duke and Bridger #2's. Offset dogless or dog on. Fully modified traps. Bridger #3 dogless or dog on modified traps are good ones too.

 

[204_ruger]

2 Duke 550's and a Duke #2 dogless offset. Full pad catches on them no issues!!

 

[go_deep]

2 Duke 550's and a Duke #2 dogless offset. Full pad catches on them no issues!!
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Thanks for sharing your experience with those traps. The biggest thing I want to do with this thread is exactly that, not steer anyone to or away from any trap, just make them aware of what they're getting with each one. I couldn't find anything out there with this kind of information like this and I just didn't want to buy a couple hundred dollars of one kind of trap and take a chance on what I was getting, so hopefully the information helps a few people out with an future decisions on purchases.

 

[wytx]

We put expanded pans on our MB 550s and love them, Wind River Trap pans.
The K-9 extremes are great traps.