RBG round vs other brands, square traps.
What's your preference and why?
I have in mind to get some RBG's.
Main target are beaver.

My favorite for beaver is the RBG 440. I've only killed a few dozen in them, but nearly every beaver is hit right behind the head, and rarely any sign of movement. I've only had one snapped off with nothing in it. I believe Seldom has said that he doesn't care for them, I believe he sighted spring size and jaw closure, so it'd be worth getting his opinion if I remember that correctly. I am going to get more of them based on my limited experience.

I like all modern series 2 victor conibears. Good springs, metal and nice 4 way triggers that need very little tuning out of the box.

Only RGBS I've used much are the 160 and 220 size. I've used them in woodchuck holes with good results. I don't like the stiff triggers and thick metal they're made of however

Hey by golly Sam, I camped & fished around Black Duck 35 years ago. Great country!

Yes, Sam quoted me correctly, I really enjoyed using the 160s, 220, 280s, & 330s but IMHO the 440s are a pos!!!! It appears it’s built using 330 springs and they will not work on that diameter of trap. The springs fit the 10” diameter 330 and lockup tight but not the 12” 440, the jaws WILL NOT LOCKUP!! Unless you catch the beaver square on as Sam described and I also successfully caught beaver in them as well, it will pull out!! I believe the 440 RBG is a terrible otter trap because of lack of lockup pull-outs! Even the present owner of the company told me on the phone when I called to complain, that even he has more pull-outs with the 440’s than the 330s!!!! DAH!!! Is he going to fix the problem? DAH!!! Sucks to be the trapper again when with a sprung 440 RBG he finds that the jaws flop open & close 11/2”!!! He DID NOT offer to exchange the 440s with 330s but nor did I ask for it!

One of the problems with trying to design a fix is that most setters will not work if the springs were appropriately sized for the 440 except the RTS setters. I sold my traps BUT I believe there is a fix for making the trap lockup but again, these trap manufactures don’t want to retool-up or change the design which costs them $$ so they knowingly sell a substandard product and tell you that “ya, I miss more in the 440 than the 330”!

For those folks who use square-jawed body grip traps and buy the RBGs remember, the jaws are offset so some modification might need to be done on some stabilizers if the trapper wants the trap vertical.

Make or buy V stands, problem solved :p

I know for a fact that in trail sets the 160 RBG will out preform the square jawed BG. But that's the only RBG I have used.

Yes, I do/did make the H-stands but I also make my version of the KB stabilizer which I found more useful in many situations. Depending on the RBG size, I tacked weld a short piece of rod matching the offset onto the two legs on one side of the stabilizer and that would make the trap vertical. You just don’t want to use a sq-jawed trap with those made for RBGs.

I said V stands. V stands fit every body grip made except 660, 1217s and 55s. Round or square

You will never regret it if you buy Belisle 330s. The clip spring latches and the fact that the spring eyes will not go around the jaw corners are the two features you can thank me for telling you about later....lol

The new Duke Super Magnum 330 is built the same as the Belisle 330. But, I haven't used them yet.

I built my own H stands and having the cross bar a bit lower worked just fine on RBGs.

Thanks for all y'all's input. I think I'm gonna order a few and give it a try..I'm running some Bridger's now I'd just got in. It seems a hammer is needed to get the springs to the sides for the first time setting them. Thats the only thing I have against the Bridger. Hasn't been a problem after 1st setting. Went to see why I was getting tripped and buried traps at dam breaks this evening. Seems that drift chunks of wood are floating to trap and the beaver is pushing it in firing it and then patching the dam. Put a dive pole 3 - 4 ft ahead ot set to catch the drift. I'll know in the morning if that's the case.