What features made you switch away from the MB's?

Buy the best that you can afford.

If you're putting them out on public access that sees a lot of foot traffic where theft or vandalism may be an issue, then go with a cheaper option. I won't risk loosing a NO-BS, MB or even some of the more expensive options on public access when I can use a modified Bridger #2 or 3 second that can be bought from Minnesota Trapline Products for $15ish and will catch yotes and cats just fine.

Or even keep an eye on the classified section here for good used traps and gather them up a few at a time.
Hit some of the conventions of you can and save money on shipping costs, check out yard sales and auctions also.
A yote won't know or care if it's caught in a brand new MB 650, a garage sale Bridger #3 or a good old DLS

Disregard if you have deep pockets ! Lol

The jaws on the S.C. 1.75's are more of a square edge than the MB 550's...Not as thick as the cast jaws of the MB 550, but they dig in and hold better, especially when the animal is wet or muddy, IMO....The SC is a much beefier & stronger trap than say a Victor 1.75 as well, and I've only had one blown up by a big eastern dog, with to much chain to work with.

Pan tension on the MB 550 was a bear to nail down by either bending the dog like a boomerang, or that inexact science of filing the dog tip, where it's tough to make your pan tension consistent throughout a batch of traps....Not optimum for a multi species trap, IMO.

And size, the MB 550 is a pretty big trap for a 1.75 size jaw spread, making it more of a job to bed...
Not disrespecting the MB line at all, they're tough as nails and they serve many well....My choice of the SC 1.75 fits my style of trapping and covers alot of bases in this part of the country.

Thank you, appreciate the honest feedback.

Yes, our Coyotes aren't that big. I liked the trigger design for bobcat.

650's in my opinion are overkill I use 2 coil 550's and have not lost a coyote and we have 40# coyotes here . And also 12 # red and gray fox

650 dukes 2coil.

There are some good answers here so I hesitate to throw something at you. I would buy the best you can afford. If it's just a hobby I would get MB 550 with cast jaws. You don't need a bigger trap. I have used everything from #11 to up and they all work to a certain extent. I like dogless traps and use Sterlings or Bridger #3 dogless or Jakes for the most part due to our frozen ground most of the winter. If it wasn't for the frozen ground and fighting it I would use smaller traps like the Sterling 500 or the MB 550. All of these traps work well. What ever you do try to use one trap and stick with it because if you have different sizes and styles and brands it makes it a little harder to can become a problem if you are just stating out. Using the same traps lets you get used to them and if you buy ones being made today you can get parts when they break.
Myself - I didn't like a few of the traps mentioned- but that's just me. I like the SC 1.75 also. In fact I have some of the 1 1/2 coils set up for trapping where I think I might catch a fox that work great for coyotes. I put JC Conner's Shock Springs on them and have never lost a coyote out of one. Most of them set right will work well.

On private property I use MBs.
On public I use SC 1.75 and 1.5 with PIT pans. Sometimes I’ll use bridger 2s also with PiT pans.

What’s wrong with Bridgers?

Buy once, cry once......or cry twice if they're stolen. Keep the cheap traps for the risky sets where there's a chance of the growing a set of legs.

Bridgers work well and priced well. Can get them stock or modified.
650 is a really nice trap too. Big price diff though. Give me more bridgers over a few 650s any day for same price.
I’ve ran bridger 2s and 3s for coyotes and cats for many years with 0 issues.
Jim

It’s nice to have nice traps, but it’s also nice to have some that are more or less disposable. So I’d say get a few different options to see what works for you and what you like. A friend of mine has a half dozen brand new #9’s that have been hanging in his shed for several years, he can’t bring himself to set them because they’re not cheap. So he learned MB-750’s don’t hurt his feelers so much to put out into the world.

????? Also wondering.
What I use for ADC….with a permit

I use MB650 IL/OL, a personal choice, with long chains and shock springs for yotes, but we have the possibility of heavy snowfalls (not so much in recent years), freeze/thaw and the occasional wolf (releasing one always the great trill of trapping). If the possibilities of a fox in the margins, I'll use a Northwoods/Bridger #2 modified cause that's what I have.

Any of the 550 cast jaw traps or #2/#3 modified, offset traps do work well for yotes and bobcats. Getting new traps, I personally would look at dogless traps; but, get whatever you will have confidence in.

Haha! I used to be the same way with all kinds of stuff, guns, clothing, gear, even my first Husky 562XP…….that was my “Sunday church” saw…..lol. Now I don’t give a crap. Use it and use it hard, but look after it and take care of the stuff.

I’m the same way, I buy stuff to use it otherwise it’s useless junk that I paid too much for lol. But I know people who value things too much if they cost a lot, like my friend who refuses to set a #9. Same guy bought a Christensen Arms rifle that’s only been target shooting, and only on nice days. I’m the exact opposite, I’ll buy a brand new saw for $1700 and leave it in the brush the first 6 months of its life, the only love they get is hopped up before I ever use them, and upgraded dawgs and muffler plate. I’m the same way with rifles or anything else. A tool is only as useful as I allow it to be