Advice on Buying Long Spring Traps
#6288218
07/27/18 03:17 PM
07/27/18 03:17 PM
|
Cysquatch
OP
Unregistered
|
Cysquatch
OP
Unregistered
|
Just what the title says, not sure what to look for in new long springs, I'm aware of Bridger and Sleepy creek. Not sure what to go with or if there are other brands that are better. Looking for minimal modification. Any advice would be appreciated.
Last edited by Cysquatch; 07/27/18 04:02 PM. Reason: clarified my question
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: ]
#6288747
07/28/18 08:30 AM
07/28/18 08:30 AM
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,494
Garden,Michigan
Buck (Zandra)
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,494
Garden,Michigan
|
I've had no problem with Sleepy Creek,great coyote trap
Buck(formely known as Zandra)
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: ]
#6288839
07/28/18 10:13 AM
07/28/18 10:13 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,657
Mountain View, AR
ShaneT
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,657
Mountain View, AR
|
Out of currently in production longspring traps I have only used the Bridger #4 enough to form a solid opinion. The Bridger #4 is one heck of a good trap. So good that another 3 dozen are on my shopping list. Also so good that I wish that Bridger would produce scaled down versions in #2 and #3 sizes. I would buy a pile.
"Good Lord, thank you for your endless bounty. Lord please give me the strength to gather what I need"
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: ]
#6288856
07/28/18 10:44 AM
07/28/18 10:44 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
mainer
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
|
Like others have said, my Sleepy Creeks have performed very well. But I've heard very good things about the the Bridger #4 and hope to test them out in the near future.
Actually, the long spring I really what to give a whirl is Sleepy Creek's 4 1/2. I'm guessing that breaking those beasts over my knee like my 3s wouldn't work too well.
Last edited by mainer; 07/28/18 10:52 AM. Reason: stuff
"...in a very few days we succeeded in taking over one hundred beaver, the skins of which were worth ten dollars per pound."
Jim Beckwourth (1856)
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: eastwood44mag]
#6289453
07/29/18 08:54 AM
07/29/18 08:54 AM
|
Cysquatch
OP
Unregistered
|
Cysquatch
OP
Unregistered
|
Im looking to add a few traps to my collection, I do all land trapping, mostly coyote and raccoon.
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: ]
#6289517
07/29/18 09:54 AM
07/29/18 09:54 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
mainer
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
|
eastwood, Sleepy Creek recommends using their setter to initially break-in the springs over the base, but after initial break-in you really don't need them for the 3s. I've been setting their 3s just fine by hand without the setter. Because I use their setter for 330s, it wasn't an additional expense for me.
I don't remember exactly what the issue was, but some people had problems setting them right out of the box without breaking them in first. I'm sure someone will chime in and provide the details.
"...in a very few days we succeeded in taking over one hundred beaver, the skins of which were worth ten dollars per pound."
Jim Beckwourth (1856)
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: mainer]
#6289583
07/29/18 11:22 AM
07/29/18 11:22 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,123
Illinois/Indiana (depends on t...
eastwood44mag
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,123
Illinois/Indiana (depends on t...
|
eastwood, Sleepy Creek recommends using their setter to initially break-in the springs over the base, but after initial break-in you really don't need them for the 3s. I've been setting their 3s just fine by hand without the setter. Because I use their setter for 330s, it wasn't an additional expense for me.
I don't remember exactly what the issue was, but some people had problems setting them right out of the box without breaking them in first. I'm sure someone will chime in and provide the details. Maybe I'm just weak, but I can't hand set any of theirs above a 2.
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: ]
#6289595
07/29/18 11:55 AM
07/29/18 11:55 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
mainer
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
|
You're not weak. It's all technique - leverage. If I can set them you can. Here are a couple of good videos showing the technique. starts at 2:05 https://youtu.be/FOgRXBF5q6Ustarts at 1:45 https://youtu.be/ZHboJifkrTc
"...in a very few days we succeeded in taking over one hundred beaver, the skins of which were worth ten dollars per pound."
Jim Beckwourth (1856)
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: ]
#6289616
07/29/18 12:43 PM
07/29/18 12:43 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,657
Mountain View, AR
ShaneT
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,657
Mountain View, AR
|
I use the #4 Bridgers on land and in the water. Coyote, cats, otter, and front feet on beaver. Plus they aren't center swiveled so it doesn't feel like a ball peen to the leg when you are setting them. I have played with some Sleepy Creeks as well as other center swiveled longsprings and I am not a fan of the center swivel on longsprings. Makes my setting technique very painful.
"Good Lord, thank you for your endless bounty. Lord please give me the strength to gather what I need"
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: ]
#6289736
07/29/18 04:00 PM
07/29/18 04:00 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
mainer
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
|
Okay, so something's not right with the traps obviously. If I remember correctly, some people were having problems with the base plates deforming slightly when trying to set the 3s and 4s normally - breaking over the knee/thigh. Once the base plate had deformed, the only way to set them was with their setters.
SCM came out with a "solution" that recommended breaking them in with their setters several times before attempting to use the normal setting technique, or just use the setters all the time. I did the former and haven't had any problems setting my 3s since. There was a thread on all of this several years ago but I can't find it.
Anyway, sorry I wasn't much help.
"...in a very few days we succeeded in taking over one hundred beaver, the skins of which were worth ten dollars per pound."
Jim Beckwourth (1856)
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: mainer]
#6290225
07/30/18 09:47 AM
07/30/18 09:47 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,123
Illinois/Indiana (depends on t...
eastwood44mag
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,123
Illinois/Indiana (depends on t...
|
Okay, so something's not right with the traps obviously. If I remember correctly, some people were having problems with the base plates deforming slightly when trying to set the 3s and 4s normally - breaking over the knee/thigh. Once the base plate had deformed, the only way to set them was with their setters.
SCM came out with a "solution" that recommended breaking them in with their setters several times before attempting to use the normal setting technique, or just use the setters all the time. I did the former and haven't had any problems setting my 3s since. There was a thread on all of this several years ago but I can't find it.
Anyway, sorry I wasn't much help. Tried it again last night with some old 4's, and it worked fine. Guess my new ones are still too new.
|
|
|
Re: Advice on Long Spring Traps
[Re: ]
#6295139
08/05/18 05:32 PM
08/05/18 05:32 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,409
Central/Western Texas
AuthorTrapper
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,409
Central/Western Texas
|
I'd get Duke, Victor, or Bridger. If they don't have strong springs buy some auxiliary springs for it.
Last edited by AuthorTrapper; 08/05/18 05:32 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
