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Victor #2 coil spring upgrades #7643801
08/06/22 03:16 PM
08/06/22 03:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 558
Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator Offline OP
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ToCatchAPredator  Offline OP
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Catskills, New York
Heard the #2 coil springs with the square jaws are known to get bent up pretty badly and pop out. Would upgrading them to round jaw or offset jaws be better. Hear the round jaws don’t bend as easily but the offset allows more comfort and helps from them fighting the trap as badly

Last edited by ToCatchAPredator; 08/06/22 03:17 PM.
Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7643822
08/06/22 03:48 PM
08/06/22 03:48 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,851
perry co.Pa
wetdog Offline
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They are the Cadillac of mink traps
You can laminate, bubble weld jaw ends, baseplate and upgrade the chain. And the springs will probably need changed to. And then they should hold yotes. If you think it's worth it.

I personally would buy a better trap and set square jaw #2s for mink and rats
But that's just my opinion

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7643827
08/06/22 03:58 PM
08/06/22 03:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 558
Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator Offline OP
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Got a buddy that can weld them up for me, I already baseplate and center swivel my traps, I have the chain and swivels laying around, and coils are pretty cheap anyways. Just thinking about options for the future.

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7643850
08/06/22 05:00 PM
08/06/22 05:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
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They really arent worth swapping jaws for. Lamination and baseplates is the best thing to do to them if you insist on setting them on land.

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7644007
08/06/22 09:06 PM
08/06/22 09:06 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 146
Pennsylvania
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JesseA Online content
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Posts: 146
Pennsylvania
It can be done rather easily, I've done better than a dozen. 1.75 or 2 offset round jaws, 1.75/2 levers, new #2 music wire springs. Baseplate, center swivel, laminated, bubble tipped jaws, and they make a heck of a trap. Biggest thing to watch is if you go with #2 rounds jaws your really pressed for space for outside laminations between the jaw and dog when set, definitely don't do more than a 3/16 lamination.

When I was doing mine I did the math on the cost of the new parts compared to the cost of a brand new 1.75 offset and the price was cheaper by several dollars to build them than buy new. However, I had the old #2s laying around from years ago so there was no cost there, and I did not factor in the cost of the chain upgrades, better swivels, lamination, or Baseplates as those are all things that I would do to a new trap anyway so I'd have those costs whether buying new or building them. I did have a thread on here a while. Back on what I did to build them that had the math all figured out on what everything cost

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7644026
08/06/22 09:31 PM
08/06/22 09:31 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
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backroadsarcher Offline
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Frazee, MN
If you laminate them get the lamination that go all the way around the corners. That will help a lot. Bead up the jaw tips will help also
.

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7644044
08/06/22 09:40 PM
08/06/22 09:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 825
SD
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Bison88 Offline
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I would suggest to save them for mink and rats and upgrade to a better coyote trap. When I figure my time and gas spent on coyotes, I don't want to skimp on the quality of the trap.

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: Bison88] #7646206
08/09/22 09:02 PM
08/09/22 09:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 558
Catskills, New York
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Catskills, New York
Originally Posted by Bison88
I would suggest to save them for mink and rats and upgrade to a better coyote trap. When I figure my time and gas spent on coyotes, I don't want to skimp on the quality of the trap.
I have some mb550s and some beefed up 1.75s for the yotes, I just like the versatility of having some all around traps that I could switch up and use on land and in water

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646268
08/09/22 10:34 PM
08/09/22 10:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
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Bob Offline
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Northern Nevada
They need a LOT of work to be a good coyote trap.

Personally I don’t believe in “all around” traps. I have coyote traps that I set for coyotes, beaver traps that I set for beaver, muskrat traps that I set for muskrat, fox traps that I set for fox, you get the idea. Each trap has a specific setup for a specific use.

With one exception. I use the same traps for bobcats and coyotes.


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: Bob] #7646286
08/09/22 10:50 PM
08/09/22 10:50 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
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Wanna Be Offline
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SW Georgia
Originally Posted by Bob
They need a LOT of work to be a good coyote trap.

Personally I don’t believe in “all around” traps. I have coyote traps that I set for coyotes, beaver traps that I set for beaver, muskrat traps that I set for muskrat, fox traps that I set for fox, you get the idea. Each trap has a specific setup for a specific use.

With one exception. I use the same traps for bobcats and coyotes.

Some of us just have one “all around” trap (MB550’s) for land animals. We have trees, leaves, and pine needles covering trails. I make everything a coyote set, yet I catch possums, coons, ferals (both large and small), fox, bobcats, and coyotes. Even skunks and rabbits if they hit it just right. Heck, I’ve even caught and held piglets.

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646304
08/09/22 11:50 PM
08/09/22 11:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
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Bob Offline
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Northern Nevada
I catch lots of different critters in my coyote sets, just not on purpose. If I’m making a coyote set I’m using a trap purpose built to catch coyotes, but if I’m making a set targeting red or grey fox it’s a different trap, and if I’m targeting kit fox I use a different trap than I would for reds or greys.

I am just a firm believer in using the correct tool for the job. Multi-tools never perform as well as a tool purpose built for the task at hand.


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646310
08/10/22 12:04 AM
08/10/22 12:04 AM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
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TheYouthTrapper Offline
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I've heard they're the best trap for muskrats but haven't been able to test for myself since I haven't found a need for more traps yet.

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646312
08/10/22 12:05 AM
08/10/22 12:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
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Rodney,Ohio
There really arent any traps that effectively are good land or water traps if you're running big lines. The problem being trying to get out a bunch of water sets with a good coyote traps is going to kill your hands and thighs by the end of the week. The exception being double longspring traps.

The other issue being that most people run heavy pan tension on land traps and water traps are run exclusively,except beaver and otter traps, at zero pan tension. You really arent going to want to be changing pan tensions back and forth on a lot of traps midseason if you can help it

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646412
08/10/22 07:42 AM
08/10/22 07:42 AM
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 558
Catskills, New York
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I’m sorry to contradict everyone but one of the first things you learn in trapping is set not for what you intend to catch but prepare for the biggest thing you can catch. If I have a trap that I use on a drowned for mink and rats and want to use it on land for a coon, I have to have that trap secure enough to handle a yote. So please tell me how preparing a trap for the biggest possible catch is wrong.

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646423
08/10/22 08:12 AM
08/10/22 08:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
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Originally Posted by ToCatchAPredator
I’m sorry to contradict everyone but one of the first things you learn in trapping is set not for what you intend to catch but prepare for the biggest thing you can catch. If I have a trap that I use on a drowned for mink and rats and want to use it on land for a coon, I have to have that trap secure enough to handle a yote. So please tell me how preparing a trap for the biggest possible catch is wrong.


You will have to start worrying about foot damage to your intended target when your beefing up traps to hold the odd coyote. I would rather a coyote get out the trap if it got in a coon or fox set. You always stake so a bear cant make off with the trap but you'd rather the bear not stay in the trap

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646510
08/10/22 10:52 AM
08/10/22 10:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
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Bob Offline
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If I prepare for the biggest thing I could catch, that would be lions. I’m not about to set lion size footholds for kit fox. Even an mb550 is too hard on them, I’ve caught many over the years and the foot and leg damage is unacceptable when you catch them in any trap capable of holding a coyote. They’re the size of a house cat with extremely delicate legs.

Even grey fox and reds have too much damage when caught in some of my coyote traps.

I should note that I check every third or fourth day, that is the law here, and the longer an animal is in a trap the more important it is that the trap is the correct size and is set up properly for the target animal. Otherwise you end up with an unacceptable amount of foot damage.


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646519
08/10/22 11:04 AM
08/10/22 11:04 AM
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 558
Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator Offline OP
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ToCatchAPredator  Offline OP
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Catskills, New York
You guys are taking this to an extreme. The probability of a yote ending up in a coon trap is far more likely then a bear or a lion, so yeah if I get a coyote in my trap I need to make sure it won’t destroy the trap. This is getting crazy, I have coyote traps. I’m not targeting coyotes with these traps. I will be using on both land and water, and I will be beefing them up. Thanks for all the input but most is just a little unnecessary. Just wanted to know if round or offset jaws were better. That’s all

Last edited by ToCatchAPredator; 08/10/22 11:05 AM.
Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646531
08/10/22 11:20 AM
08/10/22 11:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
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Rodney,Ohio
The point was you don't want to hold a coyote in the coon trap. And vic #2 square jaws or even if you put round jaws on the trap are horrible traps for coon on land. Just way too much room for coon to chew under the jaws. Even double jawing them wouldn't be enough.

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646539
08/10/22 11:45 AM
08/10/22 11:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 558
Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator Offline OP
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Catskills, New York
So for everyone saying that they aren’t a good coyote trap, I just looked it up and victor #2 are marketed as such. “ The #2 Victor Coil Spring Trap has a 5 1/2" jaw spread, and is recommended by Oneida Victor for use in taking badger, bobcat, coyote, fisher, fox, lynx, nutria, and otter.”

So please guys tell me how they’re not gonna hold a coyote?

Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades [Re: ToCatchAPredator] #7646578
08/10/22 12:28 PM
08/10/22 12:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
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Rodney,Ohio
They haven't made the square jaw version in decades. The new #2 is a round jaw version with a smaller inside jaw spread. The duke #2 is the same trap as the new victor.

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