Honest question - is there a better #11, be it old school or current production, than the Sleepy Creek #11? It's the only #11 I have experience with, and they have certainly worked for me. I've got somewhere around 7 dozen of them, and I really do like them. But is there a better one?? If so, I'd like to try it, just to see how good a #11 can really get. I do some permit trapping here in Colorado, and I've gotten to where I like setting these #11's even on beavers. Very easy to hide them, and they have done a great job. I can haul in a dozen of them for less weight / space than 4 of my other 4 coil traps. Makes them pretty efficient on getting jobs done quickly with less disturbance.

But is there a better #11 out there than the Sleepy Creek??

That’s going to depend upon which model of Sleepy Creek #11. IMO the square pan single jawed version leaves a little to be desired but the double jawed, round pan version is about as good as it gets for #11s. I don’t care for the center swivel particularly but it’s not a huge deal.

Ive owned Sleepy Creek #11 DJ Round and Square pan, Duke, B&L, Victor, and single jaw in Bridger and Northwoods. Nothing better than SC double jaw, save your time and money looking.

Same here.

What do you not care for on the single jaw square/rectangle pan model? I too don't particularly love the clumsy center swivel.

It's just my opinion but I think the round pan with its more standard attachment is a better design. The DJ is just better than regular if you're not drowning them. I should clarify I don't use many anymore, almost never, but I am referring to raccoon trapping with them. I'd pick the old B&L #11 or strong Victor #11 DJ over those regular jaw, square pan SC with their center swivel. Honestly though I don't think the coons would probably know the difference.

Sleepy Creeks are nice. Newhouse's work well too. I like the dbl jaws for sure.

The 11 was the best shotgun Remington ever made.

Oneida NewHouse double jaw #11. My go to trap for pocket sets with drowning depth water nearby.

I remember the old man raving about the Sleepy Creeks. He had both square and round jaws. My only complaint about the center swivel was setting them on hip boots. They were unnecessary.

There's another problem with the center swivel on the SC #11.

A big 'coon, front paw caught, might get both hind feet on the longsprings, and pull hard to release, thus partially depressing the longspring just enough to allow the escape.

Another reason I sold all my Sleepy Creek #11s years ago and went to the Oneida Newhouse.

Each to his/her own. What works for you might not work for me, and vice versa.

I always thought the reason for the center swivel was for the base plate.....one of the reasons they are known for being strong enough to hold just about anything you can get to step in one.

That center swivel is enough to make me dislike the trap. #11 Montgomeries for me, please.

Dale Billingsley did a video comparison on #11s about a year ago. Look into his playlist and you’ll get an education from an experienced #11 user. SC is his desired trap but I know he uses whatever #11 is handy. He has a bunch of everything.

I found the SC round pan more to my liking. Suppose I could have welded or pop-riveted a piece of steel on but I never did.

I’ve used Victors, Dukes, SC.

There's no real base plate on them, just a center swivel attachment. All #11's by design of the springs and jaws hold very, very well whatever they get a hold of.

I stand corrected......forgot the one's I've been using were modified by previous owner and do have a full base plate. Stock only has the loop for the chain riveted on. Even so, that version seems stronger to me than just the frame alone. I tried some new Duke #11's and bent the frame trying to set one. Sent those on down the road.

I don't set them over my knee so I don't bend the frames, but they are still not my choice of #11's. Here's an old video I made on how I set them....

…. Look at the paws on that ADC dude

I wonder how often that actually happens- It has to be incredibly low.