Ive been looking at some shock springs recently and have noticed that everyone likes jc Connor but they seem like they would be really strong. I believe it was wolfcreek that has the phrase "brutally strong shock springs". It seems to me if it was too strong there wouldn't be any benefit and if I can get a shock spring that will extend for a coon or fox and a coyote would still get some if the benefits of it. So what say trapperman.

Ed Medvets builds very good shock springs that already have j hook swivels already built in . But a word to the wise, shock springs should be used according to the weight of the target animal . It also hinges on the length of chain you intend to use, if your going with short chains the shock springs are not worth the time and money. If I remember right Ed says 22” or more of chain for the best results .

Golf ball is right, if you're using short chains there isn't any benefits for having a shock spring. I run a crunch proof swivel off of the trap, 3 links of chain, another crunch proof, 3 more links of chain and finally a crunch proof that I hook to my earth anchor set up with a j-hook. I've never had a problem with foot damage or pump outs on an animal that I have caught.

I always figured when I coyote pumped a stake It was do to the box swivel or washer falling down on the stake and getting another bite.I don't see how a shock spring would stop that action.

What is the pull weight of a jc Connor tbar would it benefit an accidental coon or fox and still get benefits for coyote trapping

I don't think a coon or a fox Is going to compress that shock spring.

Leftlane,
You need to join us here in the 21st century and get yourself the good stakes = MTP chain stakes. I cut 5 links off the shorter 16" and roll baby roll.
A D5 couldn't get them outta most of your TX dirt.

Folks are inputting, and I agree, no need for a shock spring on a short chain rig.
I haven't used a shock spring since 1984ish.
Ever since I went to earth anchor style devices as staking systems.

I don’t have the experience as most on here, but the shorter the better for me. The shock spring would just add more length. I have pics of several catches and about the only jumpers are bobcats in my 1sec times pics. The coyotes seem to jump more to the sides than straight up or at least not a pumping motion. I use Super Stake earth anchors and pound that in all the way to the last swivel that comes on the trap. More than that leads to momentum being built up and I don’t want that. I want it anchored in place. And I haven’t seen any evidence of it hurting me yet. Any missed/pullouts have been my own fault with sticks or small pebbles as guiding and getting caught in the jaws!

I'll probably be running these on drags I do use earth anchors but it's bad rocky in this hill country that we have.

Art if you haven't tried the finned super stakes they would probably make your life a whole lot easier in your neck of the woods. I trap everything from fields, swampy areas and rocky hill country here in Eastern KY and I run the same stake setup for all of it. The retrieval cable on those make pulling traps so much easier.

I use those super cheap shock springs, like the Old Northwoods had on the 1.75. I'm not concerned about Coyotes, I just feel they are easier on fox and such by preventing a hard jerk when they hit the end of the chain. If one gets stretched out it's no big deal.

So a shock spring Is used basically for animal comfort? Aren't we killing the critters we catch. And when It comes to domestics they don't fight a trap like a wild critter does. And when we use drags and the critter runs off and tangles up doesn't that entanglement act as a shock spring. Then of coarse If they really get tangled up the shock spring Is going to be a mote point anyway.
So I may be wrong but when the critter makes that first lunge when caught the shock spring compresses right. But as It compresses that critter Is still on the move and then the shock spring Is bottomed out and Isn't doing any thing at that point.

So I guess I'll go out on a limb and say I see them as a gimmick.
I'm not saying you shouldn't use them but I don't see the need. But If It trips you trigger go for It It can't hurt anything.

Nope, not my opinion, it is basic physics. That little bit of give prevents pull outs. We must run them on any chain over 8 inches long, by law. So I must run them on all my drags with the 6 foot chain.
At times we are not killing the animals, like a yearling bobcat or a neighbors dog, that gets released.

Oh yeah, shock springs don’t bottom out IME.
Others could have different experience though.

So if you put a shock spring in a vise and give It a good jerk and it doesn't bottom out. Then you better man up. LOL

Concerning the JC Conner shock springs I have on my coyote traps, I noticed they are less “springy” after a few years of use. I am debating whether to take them off. Also, makes it slightly harder to bed a trap.