Which do you prefer? Why?
I have always used quick links because they normaly unscrew easy, but had some that seeemed to rust tight this year.

I like both and use whichever I grab when reached for. In other words I have no real preference. Sometimes split rings and cold fingers don't go together. But then again somtimes quick links and cold fingers don't go together! LOL

I have used split rings for several years now and this will be my last. I have ran over a thousand coyotes through the split rings and had a couple of close calls on failures. Split rings were never reused either. This year alone I had 3 complete failures (ie: coyote wearing cast jawed MB650 X 3) and several that were very weak and opened some. Not good my friend. Don't know if I got a weak batch but they won't get another chance to find out. I will either do a direct hook up or try the quick link. J-hooks that aren't welded shut suck balls too so don't suggest.

BTW, I could careless on the quicklinks if the rust shut, that's a good thing in my eyes. Bolt cutters are way faster than trying to fight them too. May be the way I go.

Jerry, What would you say your split ring failure percentage is with coyotes? Would these be okay with other species?

Not very high Woofman but I will chaulk up one time. More than 2 is totally unacceptable for me, the animal, and the "john q. public" seeing a coyote running around with a trap on it.

Don't get me wrong, I love the split ring and had a couple of close calls with them and was willing to gamble. Got by for a few years but this year ate my lunch. I believe that the big batch I got were no good. They didn't hold their temper. I don't have time or the patience for failures on the line.

I disagree with the J hooks not welded shut suck too. are you using the heavy duty ones? I connect my trap chain to the cable stake with MB crunch proof swivels and heavy duty J hooks.

i run direct link with the j-hook, but im using mb crunchproofs to.

ive never had a single coyote even come close to budging one.

charles

You all need to catch more coyotes.

well, JERRY, i guess mange ones dont fight that hard...





charles

Oh, and have a little gap by mistake in that j-hook and you'll be surprised at how easy a piece of cable can get work through it.

And yes TH, nothing but heavy duty j-hooks, when I use them. 30d sterling style nail swivels for me. Ain't a coyote in the country going to pop one of them. Box swivels such as the crunchproof have had a real bad tendancy to plug and they don't bed as good as the sterling style. But that is a whole nother subject.

Well heck Charles, thems the ones that are already cold and stiff when you get there!!!! Best dispatch method in the world.

Quick Links rock. I use a bunch of them every year in a salt-water environment. So I have rust and rain/freeze situations. While they ofter are stuck enough I can't get them with my fingers, I have never had one that I couldn't get undone easily with my leatherman. Definitely the way to go IMO for trap fastening. I would never even consider split rings. As far as I know, their ONLY advantage is price.

I use the 3/16" quick links all the time on coyote sets.
My ground is frozen rock hard and so pulling stakes is a problem sometimes. The quick links allow me to change a trap out or simply pull it and go on.

I've had no problem with them whatsoever.

Usually I am using a single stake swivel- not the double in the picture. Nor have I had any problems with the twist link chain - touch wood - but hope to change over to machine chain soon just to be safe. I -like J.Morris has already stated - dread the thought of a coyote getting away with my trap on it for someone to find, or even see.

Come on Andy, I am wanting to see all sterlings on those MB's when you come down again next year. You know you want them so quit fighting it......

quick link an split ring = easy trap removal from stealers.

i say that, as i had one guy knaw away at a #2 machine chain link until he broke it, guess he couldnt open the j-hook!

charles

Well,, I 'm new to it this year...and never tried them before, but,i'll ask anyway...
"Anybody ever have the nut work open on an easy link?"
They look to me that if a yote, jumped around enough it could work the link open.

I use a lot of split rings and have never had one fail.

I would say that the odds of a critter opening a quick link are MUCH, MUCH worse than the odds of a critter getting the chain through the split ring. But that is just a guess. As previously stated, I have never had any trouble with quick links, and have seen nothing to indicate that I ever will.

I use quick links

I use a lot of split rings, but mostly on traps with drags. I don't purchase mine thru a trap supply though. I purchased them from a farm supply as cow collars for the old ear tags. They are super strong, but I must say on solid staked traps I prefer the quick links unless I'm dealing with Jonny Sneakum, I tighten them down with a pair of linemans pliers. On the J-hooks, I don't weld mine, but I don't just put a regular bend in them either. I bend mine so the end rests flat against the shank. It makes it more round, cable doesn't fray, and I feel it is a stronger hold.IMO.