Could you elaborate on the pan configuration a little. Looking to get some dbl longs for cats and coyotes but I would like a bigger pan

Bearcat2, that wolfs paw makes that 4.5 look like a #2 long!

I tack-welded round electrical box covers on pit pans that I installed on some 3 and 4 victor double long springs to enlarge the pan for exposed sets. They were still bright and shiny when I decided to use them mid-season. So I just glued a piece of sandpaper on - temporary to get me through the season. I'll take the sandpaper off and paint them (brown latex thinned with acetone) when it warms up. I'll dust the wet paint with a little sand. The idea is to make the pan resemble a comfy flat stone to step on. Some trappers just hot glue a round piece of asphalt shingle on the pan.

Back a few pages I see where you are using Bridger dogless pans onyour long springs. I would like to do that to some of my #3 victor longs. What size works bridger 2 or 3 dogless. And could someone post a picture of where you are welding the pan screw attachment. I do appreciate your help.

Here is one i dod on a #4 dbl victor, only i used an expanda pan. This was a pan for a #2 bridger dogless, and i had the factory pan on before this. I don't actually have a picture of where I mounted the bolt attachment, but what I did was very simple. Went to surplus city and got a roll pin the correct size, cut it to length, wired the springs open, then bolted the roll pin to the pan, and just found the right spot for it UNDER the trap frame, and once I found where it let the pan sit level with it hooked on the jaw, I just tacked it, double checked everything, and welded it fast

Thank you I’ll be making some mods.

Has anyone ever used a #5 Duke Long Spring on Wolf or mountain lion?

I've not had ahold of a Duke, but I've got a Bridger 5 and in my opinion I would have to do some mods before I would trust them to hold a wolf. But Enigmatic Gwichin has caught quite a few in Bridger 5 longsprings without mods, so they will do it. Advantage of them is I can set them over my knee, unlike the Sleepy Creek.

Lions don't generally fight a trap as hard, but they can be dang powerful if they do.

Between Bridger and Duke #5s, which one has the better springs? Wanting to play around with a franken trap. I'm guessing LPC would be the best, but they're proud of their springs for sure

Duke for sure on the longsprings

Duke #5 springs are stiff and they're center swiveled. Duke used to have a reputation for weak springs, but everything I've gotten from them in the past couple years has been night and day difference, they must have started sourcing spring steel from elsewhere or changed their tempering process because they're very strong now

What mods do you think the #5 Duke needs to hold a wolf or lion ? Surprised it’s not considered more than enough as is ?

The Duke #5's would hold a wolf from the factory, once. They could use some beefing up to be consistently used to that end. But they do have stronger springs and a better attachment point than the bridgers do, so I'd buy those first if I was in the market

I have caught and held several full gown wolves in an MB550 ment for coyotes.