I’m not as seasoned as most in here, but I haven’t had any issues with MB550’s. Of course, I’m sure there’s folks on here that could tell me what’s all wrong with them as well. I have never done anything but unpack, clean, and set. Everyone has had right at 3# of pan tension, level pan at or right below jaw level, and built like a tank.

MB's are good traps, if they are working for you by all means keep using them....I love the build quality of the MB 450 and 550, but loathe the PIT pan setup.

I haven't been as lucky with MB pan tension, and bending dogs, or filing the dog to exacting angles is for a lack of a better word...."Demanding".

I like a light pan tension, and a easily adjustable pan tension, so the S.C. is a better choice for me, and since I can make the S.C. even more
durable than stock, for a decent price point.... It just all works out well for me.

It's all good Wanna Be... YMMV.

Now that is something I love about the MB550’s...I have yet to have a dog bent. Of course our coyotes aren’t very large, but I did hold a 90# incidental without damage. (The only way I know the incidental weighed 90# is the owner told me when he came to release it from the trap)
Maybe with time and more catches I’ll run into issues. I know the first thing that I noticed on the 450’s was the dog. It’s thick, but I could see it getting bent.

Yeah, You will bend the 450 dogs, and occasionally a rod dog on a 550....That rod dog on the 550 is one tough hombre though!

The Bob Custer Top Dogs are a thicker replacement dog for traps that use a standard flat dog....He describes them as beaver and coyote "bend resistant" Lol.

Bob has been around the block a few times I see

Brian is a great guy to deal with. I’m glad he is going to build them here. He’s in the process of building a building/shop to get all the machinery down here to get started on production so it shouldn’t be to much longer

I have been looking to get a few 4.5 dls. SC

Little birdie told me that their going to have something awsome coming out Inna but in a long spring configuration...

Here is my goal and I don't mind a little bit of time and effort, the finished product does what other traps cannot

Nice setup Leftlane!

Dynamite trap, hence the name Nitro. I switch to the larger 4 coil traps after snow comes and really like these.

I recently switched out my #2 Bridger CS for the #3 SC CS. Very nice traps too and easy enough on our gray fox which are a recent addition up here.

I have held Timber Wolves in MB550s with no damage. Several times. The do not fail but I donated two to the pack when I did not weld the J hooks shut.

WANNABE-- Much of the reason trappers modify already good traps is to add ownership to the catches and the enjoyment of improving something with our minds and hands. Less to do with catching IMO. I have night latched dozens of muskrat traps and can't say it has done anything for me other than something I enjoyed doing.

SC #4 dls is a heckuva trap, surpassed only by the 4.5 IMO. With a few mods the 4 is a good wolf trap too.

Ringbill your response to wannabe is right on. I also just ENJOY modifying my traps and other trapping activities in my barn. Gonna buy some SC conibears and do a few mods

"MB's are good traps, if they are working for you by all means keep using them....I love the build quality of the MB 450 and 550, but loathe the PIT pan setup.

I haven't been as lucky with MB pan tension, and bending dogs, or filing the dog to exacting angles is for a lack of a better word...."Demanding"."

What he said.
Mac

Nice. I was worried long spring traps were a thing of of the past. Sure you can make any appropriate sized trap work in whatever condition you need to, but in soft mud, or rock, or in some freeze thaw conditions, a long spring really shines.

Nothing beds faster in our sugar sand that we have here than a.longspring.Closest thing to bedding themselves.

And they are already out. "Out of Stock"

They haven't been in stock yet.

I was hoping the 4.5 longs would be about $5 cheaper

I really like their #1 guard traps.