I bought four Victor 330's last year to try my hand at beaver trapping. I see Duke 330's on sale. Price is inviting. Any real difference anyone see's between the two when using? Pro's vs Con's. Thanks.

i know some people say the bars on the dukes will bend after a catch due to the impact of the bar hitting the backbone. i had this problem with a duke 160 and a coon.

I've got a couple of dukes and they're slightly bent. Granted I'm no big time beaver trapper, I've caught 7 in my whole life, but after those seven beavers, both of my 330s are bent about a 1/4-3/8 inch. It's enough to obviously see.

I 've caught 1000s of beaver In Duke 330s they will kill beaver just fine.

The Duke is not a 10" x 10" trap, it is a little shorter than that set. That being said, I use them right along with every thing else.

I know mine aren't square, but they fit my stands just fine. I assume they're something like 9"tall by 10" wide.

I have several brands, and I have had good luck with the Dukes. If I am setting for otter I really like them. They are easier to hide in shallow runs.

Thanks everyone. They are advertised as a 10" x 9" trap. I only caught 1 beaver and 2 otter last year, but only had the 4 Victors to use. The canal I'm trapping has state reg's only allowing a 10"x10" for body grip size. Footholds 4-1/2" inside or less. Under water. Not a beaver trap. Can't even use a dog roof for coons, and them bandits are everywhere.

dukes for me

Make that 10 beaver and 2 otter last year. Typing too fast.

I have killed plenty of beaver and otter in Duke 330s. Just a few days ago I had a beaver by the back foot in a Duke. They work just fine.

FnT got em on that special. Get em while the gettin is good. I have some bent Dukes and some that have yet to bend. I say go with it they eat beaver just fine IMO.

3togo are you on some special hunt unit or something ?

Golf ball, It's the Hennipen Canal. State owned. Bike path on one side, mowed "horse trail" on the other. Only access by foot. PITA. Loaded with coyotes, otter, and beaver. Runs about 60 miles east-west. Ends down by Moline.

I bet the 10 inch regulation is a maximum size, and the Dukes are probably ok.

3 togo steve is rite our state land has the same coni law no bigger than 10x10 dukes will pass so will all 280s. That 4.5 jaw spread law is crazy! all I can say is better be in deep water with a good drowner or your gonna find lots of toes! With that horse trail maybe horse and buggy would be the easy way to set and carry equipment! pic your poison amish or jaun valdez. Either or would beat carring out a couple 50lbers

if you use setters the dukes will work. The way the welds are and the way the traps is made makes setting by hand smoother and the spring rings less likely to catch on the welds in the victors when setting by hand. Victor is just a better trap.

victors have the 4 way trigger

The last Victor 330s I bought needed springs right out of the box. I like the true 10x10 but that's about it. There are areas (shallow water) where I do prefer the more squad Dukes so always have a few on hand. And the springs have stayed strong over the years.

If I was going to buy new 330s right now, I'd buy the Bridgers, personally. But if you're a hand setter, you might now like the smaller eyes. I used tongs so not an issue, for me.

Thanks again. I ordered a dozen. I have an RTS setter and the long, steel F&T setter. No horse here Tony. I use a pack frame for hauling in traps and critters back out. I try to stay no more than 1/4" mile from a parking location. The 10" x 10" may be max, but if you measure a Victor and want to be nit picky they are slightly larger. I believe the Duke will be ok. And the price is good. Heck you only need 3 beaver to pay for one!!!!!