Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
#7643801
08/06/22 03:16 PM
08/06/22 03:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 569 Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator
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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.
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: ToCatchAPredator]
#7644007
08/06/22 09:06 PM
08/06/22 09:06 PM
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 149 Pennsylvania
JesseA
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Pennsylvania
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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
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: Bison88]
#7646206
08/09/22 09:02 PM
08/09/22 09:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 569 Catskills, New York
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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. 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
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: ToCatchAPredator]
#7646268
08/09/22 10:34 PM
08/09/22 10:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960 Northern Nevada
Bob
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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."
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: Bob]
#7646286
08/09/22 10:50 PM
08/09/22 10:50 PM
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,923 SW Georgia
Wanna Be
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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.
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: ToCatchAPredator]
#7646304
08/09/22 11:50 PM
08/09/22 11:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960 Northern Nevada
Bob
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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."
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: ToCatchAPredator]
#7646423
08/10/22 08:12 AM
08/10/22 08:12 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,650 Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB
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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. 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
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: ToCatchAPredator]
#7646510
08/10/22 10:52 AM
08/10/22 10:52 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960 Northern Nevada
Bob
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Northern Nevada
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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."
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: ToCatchAPredator]
#7646519
08/10/22 11:04 AM
08/10/22 11:04 AM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 569 Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator
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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.
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Re: Victor #2 coil spring upgrades
[Re: ToCatchAPredator]
#7646539
08/10/22 11:45 AM
08/10/22 11:45 AM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 569 Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator
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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?
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