For folks who have used the SVS #4 for coyotes, what did you think? I've been trying out Montana #3's and liking the old Montgomery style dogless system, but haven't used them enough to see how they perform long term. I'm looking for a trap with at least a couple of pounds of pan tension that requires the absolute minimum amount of adjustment from use to use, not afraid of setting them up initially but I don't like having to tinker with pan tension after every catch (hate pan bolts).

I have seen several mentions of folks that tried the SVS traps, then got rid of them. What were the issues? On paper it looks like they took a lot of good features and put them all in one trap.

I like them myself, more for cats. Everything that has put a foot in them...fox and coyotes, has been there. I haven't used them enough to see any issues with them. I bought them for a winter snow conditions cat trap though.

After fine tuning, they are a hill of a trap.

Any thoughts as a Beaver trap?

I have used them for several years and really like them. I find them easier to bed solid.

Mine are all offsets, so I wouldn't even waste my time setting them for beaver.

What are you finding needs to be tuned, and do they stay adjusted? Appreciate all the replies everyone, love to hear anyone elses experiences.

I know a well known coyote trapper that had five dozen and sold them all. His issues i think was to much tension or least some pan tension problem....Not 100% sure bc its been couple years back. But I know he.sold the last ones for 12 dollars a piece and I hate I didn't buy them to try myself. All traps have problems. Some more then others.

I had every one of mine at 1-3/4 to 2#. Probably the easiest dogless style to file/tune the pan tension.

Original issues were pan drop, pan tension, and slow firing. I had quite a bit of grinding to do to the poor finish on the outside of the jaws, where the spring (lever) rides up to close the jaws. Pans on some of them would bottom out, and still not fire. And tension was all over the place.

I spent 2 weeks on a Bakers Dozen of them, and they were the sweetest traps I owned when I was done with them. I foolishly sold them last winter. I'm sure the buyer is enjoying them. I really liked them.

Sometimes always looking for the magic bullet sucks. There aint no magic bullet...

Its hard to tune traps to everyones liking. we level the pan on every one before it goes out the door. seems like most like more tension than less, so we quit messing with that. my self I don't care for how the wire levers lock down, some do. a little grinding/ smotthing on the outside off jaws will fix that. I rarely have to readjust anything after a catch, maybe 1 out of 50 catches, and then it might be a slight pan adjustment which beats the heck out of replacing a dog.

I definitely agree with you about rather making a pan adjustment then replace a dog, or especially fiddle with a pan bolt.

Can you explain what you mean about the levers locking down? I'm not quite following.

And you are the fellow that sells these, right? Thanks for taking the time to reply.