Ever since I picked up a few long spring traps off here from the Trap Shed as a gift for my buddy in Idaho, I've gotten the itch to try some myself. Are there any circumstances where you would use a #1 over a #1.5 (Both Sleepy Creeks)? Seems to me the 1.5 would be the "all around" for things like muskrat, mink, and coon, and can handle the occasional fox as well. I can't use them here in Colorado unless under a permit, but I can when I go visit my buddy, so thought I'd take a few to set when I go see him from time to time. Is it a waste to get the #1's, or would you just double up on the #1.5's? Or is there a reason to have both on hand?

Personally, if you want a longspring that'll handle everything from rats to coon and occasional fox.... the #11 is what you're looking for.

I only had 1.5 victor long springs when I started trapping as a kid. I used them to catch muskrat and raccoons. I would just double up on the 1.5's.

Thanks guys. Been researching today and looks like I’ll stay with 1.5’s and go for it.

1.5 long springs are good traps.
Most of mine are Victor or Blake&Lamb.
I use them when making ground sets for Marten or Mink, if a fox or Lynx gets in them they hold them way better then a no.1.
Make sure they have a strong J-hook swivel. If not I replace them.

That's how I got my start was Victor 1.5 long springs. Caught bunches of nutria with them.

If you're going with #1.5s I'd at least move the chain to the other side of the trap.

Ordered some Sleepy Creek 1.5 long springs yesterday. I saw they also had some #1's available, so I bought a dozen of those with some Christmas money, because why not?! Figured I might find a perfect use for them sometime, and I don't think a person could ever have to many traps. Well, maybe, but I'm far from having to many. I run a short line under permit from time to time, and a couple dozen will last me a LONG time. Getting ready to set up a coon job for a gentleman this afternoon with some cages. He's a good friend, and his place is on the river. He said he has more coons than he knows what to do with. This oughta be fun!!!!

As far as moving the chain to the other side of the trap, instead of drilling a new hole in the frame, can't ya just move that little slide thing on the spring that the chain attaches to to the other side, just below the jaws?

I never did any of those those adjustments and the 1.5 long springs worked fine for me. I know bottom center swiveled is an improvement.
But then, I've never caught a coon or a coyote cause those critters don't live in the area I trap.

Just my opinion,,, I had some sleepy creek 1.5 longs,,, I didn’t care for them,, I thought they closed too slow,, same with duke #1 longs. My personal favorite are the Blake and lamb or victors… I took a few and made some #2 double longs.

WOW!!! Can't imagine the ones I have being any quicker! I have a dozen already, and ordered another dozen on top of that. Also got some #1's sleepy creeks coming as well. Found some new, old stock traps from a few suppliers back when sleepy creek was still being made. Glad to have these. Picked up enough to have 2 dozen of each size, and that will last me the rest of my life, most likely. If these are to slow, I can't imagine how fast your are expecting them to be!!! I was pretty impressed with the first dozen I bought when they got here. But I'm no trapping genius, and don't have much experience, but I think these are plenty fast enough for anything I will do!

I'm not a Sleepy Creek Trap fan but it's based on their No.3 and 4 Double Longsprings.
The jaw posts were weak and would bend out ward, next thing you knew the jaws would pop out.
The No.3s had stronger springs than the No.4s.
I've never used SC 1 LS or 1 1/2 LS so don't have an option on them.

I really like the Blake and lamb 2.5 single long springs for alot of applications. Body grip the smaller critters and they'll hold pretty much anything else that happens along.

Love them for cats top picture is a sleepy creek I modified.

WOW!! Good to know! That’s the first time I’ve heard of any issues, with any sleepy creek trap! I will watch for this issue and report back. The dogs were long on the first dozen I got. Well, they still worked, but I’m a fan of having my trap pan level, then firing at anything past level. I liked the longer dogs cause I was able to fine tune them to my liking. I like tinkering with things like this, so saw the long dog as a plus. Your experience makes me anxious to put these to full use, and see what happens!

Seems like most people think Im exaggerating when I say anything negative about SC traps.
If you look close at "bandy's" photo you can see the jaw posts are bent out a little. His should be ok because the ends of the jaws are" bubbled".

Yup, I see the bubble you're talking about. Seems like that would be extra insurance, so to speak. I'll check mine tomorrow, and see how things look. Just from messing around with them, I don't see how in the world those jaws would ever pop out. But I'm no guru by any means. Interesting stuff none the less.

the blake and lambs and victor 1.5 longs fire wayyyyyyyy faster than the sleepy creeks in my experince...........i even filed the jaws thinking that maybe the spring eye was catcthing on some tiny impefections....and of course waxed them......even put on auxillary springs...and these were out of the box brand new......i wasnt impressed.i think i wound up giving them away or traded them off.

I find this interesting. Perhaps my expectations are very low, or maybe I just don't know any better, and they seem okay to me. Either way, I think they will do fine for rats, coons, etc. I'll let ya know in a couple weeks, once they get here, and I can get them set for a few days.