Mb 550 first impressions

Last year was my first season trapping in 15 years. Most of my traps had dissapeared over the years so when the boys wanted to trap I had to get some more.

After doing a lot of reading i decided i wanted os mb 550s. But it was January and my trap store was out and if i wanted for shipping I would miss more of the end of season so i bought dogless bridger #2. They worked but the had sharp edges that were hard on paws , needed pan tension adjusted ect...

This season I bought a dozen 550s and man do I believe they are worth the extra cash. Add a shock spring and set. No way for the pan to move forward or back needing adjustment or pan tension. Thick rounded cast jaws no need to laminate.

I have yet to catch anything yet (only set 2 today and its raining tonight) but I believe these are the traps I will be buying in the future. I will save the bridgers for places more likely for theft or getting ran over.

I'm glad to have experience with the bridgers they make me really appreciate the mbs so much more.

I know everyone has ther favorites what are yours for coyotes and why? Me I don't have time to tinker and work on traps to save a few dollars. To have something great out of the box is wonderful.

I'm right there with you. The 550 is an excellent choice for me. Easy to set, bed, solid, consistent.

I have caught a ton of coyotes in mb550s and they do live up to the hype. I’ve been using the same 4 dozen for ten years with zero issues. I do really like a fully modified Bridger #3 though, I run a mix of both. With the mb I have never had a pullout, never had a toe catch. Always full foot in the trap, buried way in there. I really wish mb would hurry up and come out with a #3 size version of the 550, I would buy a pile of them.

Also use mostly the offset MB 550’s. Add an extra swivel and shock spring and ready go. Sometimes have to adjust them to get to my desired 3 lb. pan tension. I always get good paw catches. Good humane trap.

Thats Great! I know I love my MB650's & 750's

If your getting good solid catches with the 550, what is your reason for a larger trap? Larger pan?

Now I need some

Simply for the larger kill zone, especially when making blind trail sets

I have had no issues with MB 550 cast jaw offsets, love them.

.... I have quite a few 550’s... they’re a thick solid trap... but I’ll grab a bridger 2 dogless first... that is the flattest...easiest bedding trap I’ve ever used... almost don’t even need to dig a bed in soft ground... just twist it in

... and I have no problem with letting sorry stinkin coyotes wear the burs off lol

I love my MB 550's....they don't leave a mark on my released animals...always a good catch

Folk like you are the reason antis have got so many restrictions put on us. That attitude right there.

MB650s are my favorite

You really have no clue do you, Bob?

lol

Bob knows everything. Literally everything about everything.

As far as coiled,, they are all I use. Great trap.

I've been quietly and not so quietly promoting the MB 550 OS since they came out all these many years ago. It's all I use and I haven't ever used a shock spring with the short chain set up. More to bed, taking longer, and you don't need them.

Wisdom from a Biblical narrative = realizing you don't know everything.
That's opposite the modern-day definition which may well be: Whatever you know about, I know more than that.

Blessings,
Mark

I have been running half mb-550 and half no bs juniors the last two years. A buddy let me run a couple dozen bridger 2 dogless and I could bed them anywhere (even easier then the 550 which surprised me). I can’t believe I did it but I sold off my 550... it’s just too fast with those little guys.

Also it’s worth mentioning there is a dead spot on those 550. It’s not often but if they step near that dog on the pan it’s not firing. The bridger dogless on the other hand will fire anywhere you touch that pan. I don’t like tracks near my pan and no trap fired. Doesn’t happen to often but does happen.

I ran a mix of bridger 2 modifieds, MB550s, and Montana 2s the last couple seasons.
Yes folks, I didn't even set one of my old #2 or 3 longs the last two seasons, as I have done for like 40 some years.
550s are built like a tank. I love bridger 2s modified, too. For me sometimes it comes down to how remote the location I am setting...is it safe enough to risk what I invested in a 550, my first choice, if not the bridger or montana get the action.
Yes ill invest in more 550s and 2 mods as I go, perfect coyote traps in my opinion.
Jim.

MB550 is a heck of a nice trap.

I have read 100’s of pages about all that is done to make sure the paw has no markings on it at all but not a word about that mark left by the .22

Made me choke on my coffee!!!!
I had just said the same thing to my wife

... go on and wire some maxi pads to your trap jaws ....and then ask the antis if they like you now ...and are going to
let you keep trapping lol

... sissy

That was pretty good.

I love my 550s, great bear trap.

I bought 2 dozen MB 550's several years ago, I used them 2 years, best trap I have ever used! I now have 15 dozen and that's all I use. I put 2 extra swivels and 16" of extra chain on them. I have caught 100's of coyotes in them and many other animals and the only animals I have ever lost is some coons pulled out because of the off set (that's a good thing). I have caught and held 2 by the elbow that I'm sure were rolling on the set.
Yes they are spendy but if you hold one extra cat or coyote they make the money back for you. Long storey short what ever steps in them it WILL be there when you get there

Almost everything.
https://youtu.be/lLNnxccBpy0

I do not trap a ton of coyotes but do catch some every year and I use MB 550s along with some other traps. I have NEVER had to readjust/repair anything on a MB 550s after catches.

I have some mb 650s with offset cast jaws, theyre a nice quality trap. Stuff made in North America is worth the few extra bucks. I have some bridgers and dislike them.

I said I have some bridges and dislike them. But they were a gift lol so what can you do. I know they're made in Taiwan and I personally wouldn't buy them. But whatever lifts yer skirt.

Wow

How many inches of chain do you use. I have been thinking about taking the shock springs off mine.

... and for y’all hands wanting to give coyotes foot messages ... pedicures and what not

... if y’all’s coyotes looked like mine you’d likely hate them too lol

... they all look like old yella lol

But those cats make up for those ratty coyotes ...

... used to lol

I’ve heard the tale of the dead spot too many times . I don’t run 550’s but have them on my Christmas list, I do run 650’s and have for the better part of 20 years. I’ve heard the story about the dead spot so much that I started digging and uncovering traps to see for myself . Horse hockey, they can step on the jaw or the spring leavers but if they step on the pan they will be there in the morning. I suspect if they step on the dog of any trap it won’t fire Either.

Don’t blame a miss on the trap , they don’t always put their foot where you want it !

Its In the Rules At the top^^^ no dispatch talk.

I cant remember who suggested that I get MB 750’s years ago for beaver trapping. All l did was water trapping and when I decided to start land trapping l was told to get MB550’s and l could kiss them square on the lips and sell tickets.
I still got a ton of duke 1.5’s and #11’s and a gaggle of other traps but my go to coyote trap is the MB550 offset and the MB750 is my go to beaver trap. I just dont use the others anymore.
Im going to wait till this spring and clean up all my old traps and find them a new home since I dont use them any more.

I just use the stock chain on chain stakes. I cut 5 links off the 16" chain stakes.

Set traps yesterday and here is exactly why I use MB550 OS 2-coil.
1st night haul.
You know, a day in the field is a magnificent thing!




Blessings,
Mark

I see my posts have been deleted. Who would have guessed. I’m sure someone that would complain about censorship. Land of the free. No rules were broken.

I see a post of yours on here 12 hours ago

About a dead spot.....??

This is my 3-4 year trapping since I was a kid. I bought the “coyote” starter kit from MTP and loved the MB550’s. Bought 2 dozen more 2 coiled offsets then 2 dozen regular jaws then bought a dozen 450’s regular jaw to try out this year. I can’t compare them to anything else, but I do remember they are 100% better than the old Victors we used to run as kids.
I do nothing to them but clean and set if I get them during season. I attach 12” super stakes with a quick link and ready to set. Never had a K9 pull a set yet. Caught a few K9’s and felines by nothing but a toe and still be able to give them a ride in the truck.
As far as buying anything else...that would be highly doubtful. If something works I’m not going to change it.

My only complaint is they don’t stand up too well to tractors and bulldozers clearing firebreaks!!

There were about three more... poof. Oh well. I’m not going to type them out again.

Hmmm...do not know?

I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to WR when you speak of a dead spot. I keep the paws off the trigger area with fencing.

I don't care for dogless traps because they are not cookie cutter similar as far as the latch point, and I prefer same, same, same, same.....

Blessings,
Mark

I've gotta learn that

Mr. Savell Sir,
how in the wide wide world of sports did you teach your coyotes to lay still like that all in a row?
Golly you are a man of many talents, you could probably teach them to do other tricks like play dead.... wait a minute......
Was it one of them fancy dog training collars or are they just waiting for one of them pedicures you were talkin of?
They gots their littles feets all hung out just waiting.
My coyotes aint that smart and they sure wont lay down with no trashy spotted up lookin barn cat unless they are eatin it!

And looky at Mark June’s ... they are taking the BIG siesta in the shade of that old skinning rack they are, like an old hound dog.

... excellent sarcasm... I can be for that

.. but on a serious note... I just winked at em

... now ol mark likely just preached his to death lol

Talk about for catches. Normally I get a good pad catch but when this happens the critter is still there. This catch happens to be in a Duke 550 for those who noticed the square pan but I own only 2 dozen of these I bought to experiment with. All my other predator traps are MB -550s. Both are same build style but I still prefer the MBs

Savell l didnt want to brag on ya and get your head all swole up, lol
I was sure you didnt have the time to slap tame em.
Good un on Mark but I think you just broke in line in the express lane to you know where!
Some of them little devils will be takin coal of my pile it will take to burn me up to put on yours if you keep that up.
In my former years they had two shifts working 24 hrs a day trying to pile up my pile.

In Marks defense, he has only laid hands on them and made them christian coyotes!

I just went to order another half dozen and they're sold out. You guys like them too much.

That sucks!

They were heathens that needed to be brought to heel......

Today, there will be others.
And the next day others.
And the next day more.

Renegades all!

Blessings,
Mark

I ain't shure you ol boys trapping in Texas don't have Oral Roberts reincarnated , healing them coyotes up as fast as your catching them. Youens got a never ending supply it seems like.

They migrate in from the "Show me State," and we sure show 'em!

Line them up like Ducks in a row!!!

Have a Great Day!

No mention of the “D” word just mentioned marks.

Well I'll be. I parked my buggy on the side of the road and 5 more coyotes and another bobcat jumped in and took their last breath. Same as yesterday. It's just that easy here in the land of gentle breezes.

Tomorrow, just for kicks and giggles, I'm gonna catch a different number of coyotes and cats!

As you see, I don't walk in to my sets very far

Mark you are healing the demon spirits out of the coyotes with vicious monotony!

Okay Mark. You're pretty good with them 550s. But how good are you using 3 rubber bands,2 pop sickle sticks , and some bale in wire for a trap? Can't use any flat 360 either.

I hope to catch 4 or 6 coyotes tomorrow. Anything but 5!
The ranch is not overrun because I trapped this high fence ranch 3 times earlier this year.
I'm using some different sets and reeling in some that no doubt gave me the slip earlier.
I love a happy ending.



An 18 day contract and we're off to a good start.
Here kitty kitty.

Blessings,
Mark

I tell ya, forget the rubber bands, pop sickle sticks, and baling wire and hand me another turd and flat365. Quick.