Hey guys, I recently bought some used 330s of a guy. First I noticed he cut the triggers short, the trigger wires are about 6 inches long, and I’m wondering if otter would be slick enough to pass through my 330 without setting it off? Also, he modified some triggers with thicker wire, they look to be something like 11 or 9 gauge. Should I replace these or will they work? I’m concerned that the thicker wire will make it look like more of an obstacle to a beaver or otter. Thanks!

It won’t matter once ya bend them bell shaped.
I prefer long wires from Southeastern outdoors, to shape them Like a bell or even a circle trigger.

Thanks traprjohn! Here’s some pictures

I don't think the wire thickness will be a problem but with the shorter wires a few otter may get thru. The problem I see with the shorted triggers is poor catches ; i.e hip catches. A 280 is an all around better trap for situations where you expect otter as well as beaver; IMHO.

Since they're belisles it's likely they're replacement triggers as the stock ones tend to break off. I put terminator triggers on mine as they're stainless

X2

Every Belisle I have ever owned had the trigger wires broken off within a season. They build a nice trap but cheap out on the trigger wire. Never did understand that.

Yeah, for some reason they seem really fragile. The friend I bough these off of has to replace a bunch each year. Do you think I’ll have problems with the ones that are on now? I’d hate to have misses or avoidance. I’m sure at the rate they break I’ll be replacing them next spring.

When in doubt, replace them. Hate to see you miss a bunch of fur because of something so simple as a bad trigger. Spend a $1.50 and replace them now.

If you use the Terminator Triggers, you replace once and done. I've had some on my 330s for 10 years.

What Paul said. I had an otter turn a terminator trigger into a small pretzel - straightened it all back out and that trigger is still going strong 4 seasons later. The wires on them are soft enough to easily bend by hand, but stiff enough to stay where you put them.