Hope John don't mind me posting his reply in an article on snares
Although Graham agrees 1x19 cable is strong, dense and hard, holds a good loop and kills quickly, he prefers 7x7 cable. He gets requests for snares built with 1x19 1/16-inch cable - usually from trappers who are targeting bobcats or foxes and expecting an occasional coyote. Also, some wolf and wolverine trappers in Canada and Alaska favor 1x19 3/32-inch snares,
Still, Graham prefers 7x7 cable. He finds no problem with a teardrop shaped loop in land trapping, and said the most crucial element is the height of the loop off the ground. Extra loop height is not a problem.
He said the teardrop can be made more round by positioning the lock at 2 o'clock - the position he prefers anyway. Wind is a serious problem in prairie and western states, and this lock position is better than the customary I o'clock position at preventing loops from firing too easily.
While we talked on the phone, Graham opened a 1x19 1/16-inch snare to an 8-inch loop. The height measured 10 inches. Next, he opened a 7x7 1/16-inch snare to the same 8-inch width, and the height measured 11 inches. This was with both locks at 2 o'clock - not much difference.
He then told me that although the smoother Ix19 snare fires faster at first, it slows rapidly because of its stiffness.
Graham pulled slightly on the bottom of the Ixl9 snare and it fired quickly, but the 8-inch loop stopped closing by itself at 6 inches. When he began to pull it shut, it started to drag at 5 inches, and took increased force to pull it completely closed.
Then he pulled at the bottom of the 7x7 snare. It fired a bit slower at first, but the loop dropped easily all the, way down to 3-1/4 inches, and was easily pulled shut with no drag.
In his opinion, the 7x7 cable might start a fraction of a second slower, but actually closes more easily than the stiffer lx19 cable. For this reason, Graham believes the IxI9 cable produces more, body catches on canines and bobcats.
Graham also believes "loading" a cable to make it fire faster and give it a rounder shape is unnecessary. In windy areas, where trappers don't want light firing snares, it should be avoided. Quality 7x7 cable, he said, should produce a fairly round loop by itself
In Graham's opinion, 5/64-inch 7x7 cable is the best all-around choice for coyotes, foxes and bobcats. It also works well with a variety of locks. The1x19 1/16-inch cable is his second choice. He said IxI9 5/64-inch cable is particularly slow to close, and he doesn't like to use it.
Some trappers still use 3/32-inch cable for coyotes, particularly for the larger eastern and northern animals. Many trappers think heavier cable is needed for larger animals - in part to prevent chew-outs. But Graham said chew-outs are caused by bad lock systems, not cable diameter.