MB550 vs Bridger #3's
#8204352
08/27/24 05:39 PM
08/27/24 05:39 PM
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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 793 Washington
Jingles
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 793
Washington
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Reading a lot of post saying folks using MB 550's for coyotes curious why MB 550's (at $21.95 each)that has outside jaw spread of5 1/2 inches and inside of 4 3/4 verses say a Bridger #3 (at 14.75 each DC or 16.75 eac 4C) that has jaw spread of 6 1/2 inches. I was lead to believe the bigger the jaw spread with accompanying larger pan was better. Curious if have been told wrong. Seems the larger jaw spread would be more inclined to insure a full pad/foot catch
Last edited by Jingles; 08/27/24 05:40 PM.
The job of a Patriot is not to protect his country but to protect the people from the tryannical government
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Re: MB550 vs Bridger #3's
[Re: Jingles]
#8204411
08/27/24 07:10 PM
08/27/24 07:10 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 5,869 West Central MN
20scout
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 5,869
West Central MN
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I just like the way they bed better than the Bridger's. Best trap there is is the one holding your target animal.
Last edited by 20scout; 09/02/24 09:04 AM.
Common sense is a not a vegetable that does well in everyone's garden.
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Re: MB550 vs Bridger #3's
[Re: Jingles]
#8204748
08/28/24 12:21 AM
08/28/24 12:21 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 83 Idaho / Virginia
Ryan Phoenix
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 83
Idaho / Virginia
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To echo what somebody else mentioned, sometimes different states have regulations about jaw spread - so traps that might be legal in one state might not be allowed in another state. I know that some people lean towards the MB550s for that reason (when limited by a slightly smaller jaw spread), but it's generally considered a better trap than the Bridger just due to the construction. Some will disagree and that's fine, to each their own. Personally - I run both, think both are great coyote traps, and if all I had were a few dozen Bridger #3s, I would feel very confident in catching coyotes with them. It's a great trap. I just personally lean into the MBs a bit more but have a number of the Bridgers as well.
One of the things I do, and this is just personal preference, is that I make a determination on the percentage of chance of trap theft when I make sets, and that somewhat determines if I toss in an MB550 vs a Bridger #3 in that spot. If I'm trapping a farm on private land and there's a super low chance of trap theft, then I use an MB550. If I'm on public land or on the edge of public, or if I'm anywhere that's even remotely visible from a road (more like a forest service road, where I use them) and there's a chance that somebody might see a catch before I get there, then I use a Bridger #3. That's really just so if somebody yanks my trap, which annoys most of us to no end and shouldn't be happening but it does, I'm not losing the more high-dollar trap out of the two.
If somebody told me that I could only use Bridger #3s and MBs weren't an option - honestly, I would feel more than confident that I would run successful sets. It's a great trap. I own a numnbr of both.
Idaho Trappers Association Intermountain Fur Harvesters Montana Trappers Association Alaska Trappers Association Virginia Trappers Association NTA
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Re: MB550 vs Bridger #3's
[Re: Jingles]
#8205347
08/28/24 08:53 PM
08/28/24 08:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,727 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,727
Firth, Nebraska
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I ditched my 550s and just run Bridger 2s and 3s now. Not really even a fan of threes for coyotes they grab way too high for my liking. The two is about right to me. I don’t even have anything still four coiled either. Took off all the extras and just run two coil and they work great. The MB 550 I like the thick jaws but not a fan of the wider but narrower opening dimensions when set, jaw height isn’t very tall. It’s a stout well built trap but expensive. I can buy a couple Bridger twos modified and dogless and still come out ahead. I do still have a bunch of the 550s but they are the last thing I reach for and only when the bridgers are all out and set and I need to make another set somewhere. Just my two cents. Jim
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: MB550 vs Bridger #3's
[Re: Jingles]
#8205435
08/28/24 10:52 PM
08/28/24 10:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 267 Texas
Sharkhunter
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 267
Texas
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I run mostly 550’s but as somebody on here said I think last year a truly serious coyote trap starts at a #3 size trap. The longer I trap the more I believe that.
Last edited by Sharkhunter; 08/28/24 10:53 PM.
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Re: MB550 vs Bridger #3's
[Re: Jingles]
#8205486
08/29/24 03:00 AM
08/29/24 03:00 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,223 Rochester, MN
Teacher
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,223
Rochester, MN
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About 10 years ago, I geared up for some serious coyote trapping. Yup, the MB550s were expensive, but I didn’t have to do any modifications to them. I like that the jaw faces were wide and had rounded edges, thus no cutting. If I caught a dog or fox, the feet weren’t cut and that’s important to me. Since I run mostly offset jaws, this has also aided in foot comfort.
The MB550s aren’t particularly good on boar coon. But neither are any #3s. In fact, the base to jaw height of #3s guarantees heavy chewing. If money was the issue, I’d go with Montana #3s. It’s got the jaw spread, with a rounded jaw face for foot comfort.
A guy I know fairly well uses Bridger #3s exclusively. They’re all 4-coiled and I think offset. I’ve noticed cuts across the toes on every coyote he catches. Because we face the occasional stray dog, I want my traps to hold, not cut, into the feet.
Last edited by Teacher; 08/29/24 03:01 AM.
Never too old to learn
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