Going to buying some for coyotes. I herd there real strong just 2 coiled any input.

In my opinion 2 coil is plenty strong. No need for 4 coil here.

2 coil will get you by just fine

Unless your cover freezes rock hard nightly, 2 coil is plenty.

I have some that are 4 coiled but I might take 2 coils off this off season. I can't set them with my hands with 4 coils...have to use my feet. My 2 coiled 550s are very equal in strength to my 4 coiled Bridger #2s...that is no exaggeration. It's just the difference in the MB music wire.

The new 550s are crazy strong with two coils. Pan tension is over four pounds.

If your trap covering freezes solid then the trap won't go off when stepped on so a 4 coiled trap Is of no use.
I took the extra coils off my #2 Dukes because they were to hard to set.

As was stated, the new 550's have much stronger springs than the older ones. You could probably get by...as tons of guys do.

I bought, or 4 coiled a couple dozen new 550's this past season. The pan tension was more work to get perfect with the four coil, but still obtainable. I set mine all at 1.5#-2#.

You can buy them 4 coiled, and pop the extra pair of coils on or off to suit your fancy. They are a nice trap.

I use waxed dirt and when the temps fall over night from 50 with rain to 10 with snow you'll have a crust, not froze solid. That's the conditions that call for 4 coils. Not for holding power but to fire thru CRUSTED dirt... I use the JC Conner lightning springs, they are just enough to balance the power exerted to both sides of the levers, thus a mechanical advantage. I bend the dog and debure the contact points to get 2# tension no problem. The extra springs that come with the 4 coiled 550s are too strong.

I trap the big woods of northern Maine & some of my 550's are < six years old. I pulled up on a big coyote this year and while I was deciding to shoot or stomp he slipped the trap from the top of the paw to the toes. I'll be adding a set of smaller helper springs to all of my older 550's before next season.

Put the springs back on and call Dave the setter guy.

I use waxed dirt just about all the time. It's not about freezing weather It's about rain In the fall and early winter conditions. And when the conditions turn bad I start hanging Snares. I'm not going to deal with all that Iffy stuff when coyotes are only worth $15.00 around here.
I'm In It for something to do. LOL

Hey Beav, What's up with your coyote prices? I would expect better than $15. What do they grade?

Well I'll tell you this last season I had 5 coyotes go for $7.00 three went for .50 cents each. LOl
We don't have good coyotes In this part of the country. Lots of rubs and poor color. I think It must be partially do to genetics. Well you have to blame It on something.

Killed 33 tossed 6. But I do have one labeled skin on this first sale the other 10 didn't grade to bad but a few were graded DMG but that's mostly about rubs. so we will see how that turns out.
I'll have to wait till May to see how the others do.

Your problem isn't genetics Beav. Your problem is you're using cheap traps. You're just catching the weak, all the healthy coyotes are getting away.

The helper springs that come stock with the 4 coiled models work very well for the older models. MTP sells them separate, Just ask Jeff at MTP.

No ifs about 4 coiled traps and over waxed dirt. No fired empty traps at all since I started running 4 coils.

LOl
Those 12 $99.00 coyotes didn't get away. In fact If I remember right I only had one sprung and empty trap In those 10 days. Was real odd caught a coon and a grinner and one skunk. Normally I'd be run over with non targets.

Love my Dukes

Thanks for the help.gonna run with the 2 coils when i order. Main reason am getting them is because we have a lynx law can only use inside jaw spread of 5 3/8.