Snare Building Micro Lock issue

Hey Everyone, been a few years since ive been on here, but enough chatting.
I picked up some medium sized Mirco lock (5/64-3/32) and the cable I have is 5/64 1x19 cable.
My problem is and maybe its me and in my head or that it is 1x19 cable but the locks seem too big for that 5/64 1x19 cable, even though the locks are labeled for that size, anyone else go a size smaller to get the locks to bite better?

I like 7x7 cable with that lock.

They will not lock well on that cable. I highly recommend a mini cam lock with teeth. You'll love them, I guarantee it. Well worth the little extra cost and reusable, unlike the micro locks.

They dont lock up well for me either on 1x19. Bmi mini lock works well on that type cable.

I have used micro locks on 1X19 cable and they lock up fine for me when I use a 50 lb coil spring with them, as I do with any coyote/wolf lock.

I'll second the mini deathblow Cams not slipping. They're tough Lil locks. I haven't even had a snared hog break one yet, and that says a lot. I use the 3/32 lock on 5/64 and 3/32 cable. If you wanted to use what you have then I realize that the answers above may not be what you really wanted to hear, but ya might try bending the micro locks a little. While I haven't used micro locks, I have used 5 dozen LoPros which are similar in design, and I've seen where some people bend a sharper angle into the LoPros for better lockup. Bend them about 1/3 - 1/2 way between the way they are and 90 degrees and try it out. If it works for you, let us know.

For a hole type lock to work properly the hole needs to very closely match the cable diameter.A 3\32 hole on a 5\64 wire wont lock up right,and you will see by the wear marks on the lock(and the waterhead on the animal).They might look good and perform in your hand,but not under real conditions.A kill spring will not alleviate that problem.For a kill spring to work properly the lock needs to lock up solid on the cable,that is why the amberg lock works so well with the kill spring.The point of the wedge bites into the cable.I have not used the toothed cam locks but they are designed to lock up solid for the same reason.

Agreed. The locks like a micro lock rely on the bur on the edge of the hole to lock them. Once that bur is gone they are very much a relaxing lock = more chew outs. The 1x19 cable is much slicker than the 7x7 thus its harder for the bur to cut into to hold the lock in position.

Well "Boco" and "ADC" I don't know what you doing different than I when using micro locks as "water heads" have not been an issue when using them with a 50# coil spring? The only thing I can attribute it to is that I tie off my snares solid, no flex in the anchor point, and I also tie off so as to form a 45 degree angle in the snare from the tie point to the animal when caught.

Are they entangling or just hitting the end of the snare and dead?

Few states here allow the use of dispatch springs. If a coyote doesn't hit the end of the snare right on a micro lock, it will be a waterhead.

Both, have had them end of cable with no wraps and 1 0r 2 wraps around entanglement.

They lock up fine for me on 1x19

Get different locks . Mini cam if legal or slimlock.

My thoughts on why the micro lock works well for me are that using a 3/32 micro lock on 5/64 cable forms a tighter bite (angle) on the cable when tied off high,and solid, so a 45 degree angle is obtained when the coyote is snared. Another thing to maybe consider is that a slightly larger lock size than cable size will close faster due to less friction than with a matched cable to lock size.

In my experience the slim lock will not always lock up tight. The problem I have occasionally experienced is that the short protrusion on it catches up in the thick neck fur of the coyote and does not lock up on the cable as it's designed to do. The cam lock is a good choice but has a tendency to freeze up in cold weather conditions.

The snareshop labels the micro lock as a relaxing lock.

I am aware of that. But they have worked great for me when set up as I previously explained. Try it and if you don't like them then, don't use them. Many snaremen out here swear by them when tied off HIGH and SOLID.

I was referring to the OP as well as ADC - Just stating they are 'supposed' to be relaxing, bur or no bur... regardless, I use them and really like them for my needs/uses.

My brain was in neutral, i was thinking they don't bite when you open a loaded snare sometimes they wont stay open.

that's the load not the lock.

Hole bigger than the cable=not good lockup.

If the hole is not bigger than cable then you get drag not fire. Lock up happens on lock set of cable set.

On 1x19 cable I do not like a lock with a 5/64"-3/32" combo hole.
My new NEWT'S MASTER LOCK are made for each cable size 3/64"-1/16"-5/64"-3/32"
They are made of No-polished Stainless Steel.
---Advertized---- as legal in most relaxing lock states.(You read between the lines)

Newt i couldnt agree more, intially i thiugg hey thats kinda slick having a combo size but after diving into snare building myself each lock needs to be made for each cable size.
Thanks to everyone for your input! Definitely helped.

Snare shop may call micro locks a relaxing lock .... I wouldn't recommend them for live mrkt CR .I use them in strict accordance with Missouri's CR law and have more dead than not

Name one lock, other than the RELAX-A-LOCK that actulay backs up.

My micro-locks do on 3/32 1x19 cable...

They work well on light cable for a mink. I've never killed a coyote using one although, I sure have tried !
I'm not a big fan of them on coyotes.

I can understand that. We have to use relaxing in MI and they have worked very well imo, on my setup for that.

I've never reused them maybe that's the difference I don't know . If I start snaring live Mrkt coyotes it will not be with micro locks but I would never call them a efficient lethal lock . I use a 5'snare attached to a swivel then to a twenty four inch pogo anchor. my #9n support wire is attached to the rivet in the pogo every unit is coiled up in a sandwich bag ready to go . I run my snares so short because of the entanglement law . I like micros because of their small profile .

Newt, wasnt there a time when they ran the cable through the center of a bent washer lock? Called it a non-locking snare?

Used in conjunction with 50# coil dispatch spring and the snare tied of high and solid they are a very efficient and humane lethal lock in my experience.

that is an illegal setup in my state but I see where your coming from

Ttt