Does anyone else have trouble with the safeties being too stiff on the Bridger body grip traps? They work, but trying to unlatch them prior to staking the set can be a real pain. They practically lock in, to the point where I almost have to try to hit the safety from the side with a blunt object.

Actually I have the opposite problem, loose, they fall away before I have the trap positioned.

rendezvous, that happens sometimes w/ my Dukes. On my Bridgers, I think I may take a pliers and make a tiny bend on the end of the safety, thereby loosening it just enough to work well (hopefully).

The new Bridger 160's have a nice flat safety
easy to use...much nicer than the round stock safety

I hate the flat stock safeties with a passion.

out of curiosty why snipper they stay put better than the round rod ones do!?

Staying in place is great...if its a place you want them to stay in place in. The things get lodged in some spots that I should of just thrown the traps in the marsh and left them there. Not to mention the otter PITA things about the bridger 330s.

Open up the the attachment point a little so they swing freely and can slide with less resistance.

Just started using some 330's and have had the same problem. I just give them a tap with my setter and they come loose. I just wonder if it is the flat metal design that causes it.

I love them on my mb 1216! all my other conis its a crap shoot if the saftys are still in place or not. with majority of not! Finally bit the bullet and got a few dozen belizes! I'm anxious to see how well they do or don't stay in place

Belisles' safeties are terrific! Almost worth the extra cost just for them. The complete closure and the corners being wide enough so the springs can't get around them makes them an absolute joy to use compared to all the others.

Hopefully those Belisles worked well for you Tony. I bet they will. I too bought some Belisle 330s for next season. If they're as nice as the Belisle 160s, I'll be happy.

Those tough Bridger safetys still annoy me. That said, I'm not discouraging people from Bridgers. I wouldn't hesitate to buy 1 again. I'm trying to figure out a solution for this Fall so my Bridger BG safetys aren't so tough to deal with. I'm confident I can figure something out. I practically need a hammer to move the safetys. I must be doing something wrong.

As for the loose Duke safetys, I've heard that wrapping a fine wire around each side of the safety can strengthen them up so they act more like a Belisle safety, but I haven't tried it yet.

You guys actually use the safeties when setting body grips? The only time I use the safeties Is when they are being transported.
The trap goes on the stabilizer If the safeties fall off no big deal. One hand Is holding the jaws tight till the trap Is on the stabilizer. Then It's a thumb on top of the dog to make sure It's set.
Then If you have to move a stabilized trap just hold It by the springs and your good to go. In all the 50 some years I have been using BGs I only wore a 330 once and that's when I was showing a guy how to use that spring safety thing. Just keep your hands out of the catch zone.

X2 on the sage Beav's advice

If it makes you feel better, slip a safety gripper on there right after setting the #330, and you can go about your business without fear of getting spanked.

The Beav shared the same advice with Frank Conibear after working with the prototypes for a season. It was said that Frank wasn't impressed with the Beav's advice, however.

Yep Frank and I go back a long way. LOL

Granted I don't have any Bridger bodygrips newer than a couple years old, but the flat RK safeties have worked great for me. One of the strong points of there 280's in my opinion.