I've lost more animals in these traps than every other trap put together x2. I'm going to weld something onto the jaws so they close completely. What do you recommend I use?

Might be as well off getting replacement jaws, mtp has them for 2.85 a pair.

I run 4 doz b 2s that are offset. can't say I've had the same experience.

O won three dozen in a mini-rondevous and sold them, I am staying with my Duke #3......jk

Can't say that I had a bad experience with them either. Caught quite a few coyotes with them, also held coon, skunk, and red fox with no problem.

I'll add that they were fully modified. Offset, outside laminated, and 4 coiled.

They are my preferred trap too. Held lots of coyotes on them and last night was a coyote and a cat.
Sorry about your experiences.
Jim

I can’t say anything bad about them really. I hit the jaw pinch points with file to tweak offset spacing and add swivel mid chain. Wish dog latched mid jaw vs top but it’s not real big deal for me. Mine aren’t laminated. Id say the number of losses from mine are same as every offset—no shortage of self released coon but that’s about all

It is deer season so maybe they had something to do with todays catch

a snapped trap with chain pulled out tight an no catch circle=deer. I deal with it constantly

They are NOT a coon trap. Coon back foot..high catch is Ok..but not front feet. High square jaws allows coon access with his mouth. They are also a bit rough on fox, unless laminated.

B2 dogless only comes in offset jaw version. Offset gap is a bit wide. Can do as BigBlackBirds says above and file jaw faces some. Do this evenly and don't overdo it or could affect lockup.

I have 11 dozen of these traps....not modified...other than some are 4-coiled.

There has been an issue with factory spring strength. About +/- 8% of these 11 dozen had noticeably weaker springs right out of the box. About 25% of the others have weakened to my dislike over past 4 or 5 years. I've 4-coiled about 3 dozen or so now. Just went thru them all last week to check spring strength.

Even with the spring issue, I am very satisfied with this trap. They set very flat and bed easier than any trap I've used.

Swamp, besides the dog getting bent/beat up with the dog-on version have you noticed performance difference between the two models?

To me, the dogless version performs better simply because there is no dog to get bent or throw a foot out. And the ease of bedding and how flat and quickly the dogless Bridger snugs down into the trap bed makes for very efficient solid bedding over other traps.

PS..I did own and use 2 dozen regular Bridger 2s (with dogs) about 20 years ago.

MChewk

See if Swamp has same experience but I think there’s difference in stability. Not perfect comparison as the dog on 2s I have are probably 15+ years old but they don’t bed nearly as easy in my mind. I have two year old new 3s dog on, closed jaw and laminated. They definitely are more aggravating than the dogless 3 at least to me

.. agreed but I have something to add to this post in a few minutes

… giving the man that posted the benefit of the doubt…I’ve had similar experiences

… now I love the bridger 2 dogless trap .. got 6 dozen..easy bedding… basically just twist them down into place in soft ground and cover….ready out of the box for the most part…. consistent pan to jaw engagement..decent chain/swivels… etc..

.. first 2 years locked up everything I was targeting

.. problem I had later was a few empty catch circles (out of many held catches now) that had obvious cat and coyote hair in the jaws and tracks in the circle.. I wrote it off to the long rectangle pan leading to toe catches until I watched a pad caught coyote and a pad caught cat pull out in front of me as I walked up… I was able to draw and kill the coyote before he rode off but the cat was too fast

… I four coiled everything this year thinking that’ll solve it but not convinced jaw flex isn’t out of the equation

… we’ll see… I like the trap but I can’t dismiss the op’s experience as bs

… good trap and I definitely recommend it .. but four coil out of the gate would be my advice at this time in history

Only thing I have lost in one was a toe caught coyote and it left 2 nails and pads behind. Best bedding trap I have used.

… make no mistake about it… they’re no joke and can hold the biggins … just four coil is my suggestion… and I’ll laminate if it comes down to it … hasn’t got to that point …yet

First year trapping and I'm equal deer to coyotes

Haven't caught anything bigger than a coon in them and I love them for coons. Haven't had a single problem with them for coons but I also haven't caught hundreds like others in this group. I do know that they will hold a short tailed weasel though. They're a very well built trap and I wouldn't hesitate to buy more if I needed more.

For some reason when MTP bought Bridger from Terry Montgomery they changed the offset gap from 3/16” to 1/4”. The Dogless have the wide 1/4” offset.