Bridger 1 3/4

First of all my boys and I are fairly new to trapping(less than 5 yrs)Our first few years it was nest predators only with the dp's. Last year we borrowed 6 MB550s from a friend and really enjoyed the new challenge of bigger predators. Question is we are wanting to do more of that and with 2 teenage boys who love trapping I'm trying to get as many sets in the ground as cost effectvely as possible. I know the MB's are the cream of the crop but it also comes with a price tag. Was looking at the bridger 1 3/4 and can get roughly twice as many for the same money(f&t). But at half the price +/- are the Bridger's a much lesser trap? Trying to go "cheap" without getting "cheap" if you know what I mean. Pretty much a greenhorn looking for some experienced advice. And I'm not offended if you're being honest. Thank you.

The Bridger 1 3/4 will do fine for the larger predators on a 24 hour check. You will have to straighten some dogs now and then but that only takes a minute.

Check out the Duke 550’s and 650’s.
Bridger Dogless 2’s and 3’s.
Ready to go out of the box and cost less than MB’s.
Lots of traps out there, but many need some modifications right out of the box.

X2

The Bridger 1 3/4 are a fine trap, on a 24 hour check so long as you got your pan tension right to avoid toe catches they’ll do just fine.

Personally I like the bigger jaw spread of a #3 sized trap, but thousands of coyotes and bobcats have been taken in bridger 1 3/4. After a few seasons you can always trade up if you feel the need, or buy the fancier traps a little at a time as money allows. I trapped a long time with duke #2s and whatever miscellaneous cheap traps I could pick up at yard sales before I was in a position to level up to really nice equipment.

Question, do you have access to and know how to use a welder? If you do you could take the cheaper traps and make them extremely solid with some very simple modifications

If you like the 550 style trap and want to save some money the Duke 550 is a good trap. The Bridger #2 is a good trap also for the price. You can shop around and find some deal on traps this time of the year.

I use the Bridger # 2's both dogless and with the dog, along with super stakes with chains. I just bought another dozen, but in my opinion these things are like tanks, also made by the same company that makes the MB 550's which i like but costs a lot more.

From what I've seen I'm really beginning to lean towards the dogless bridger #2

I think they are an excellent trap, never had any issues i think you'll be happy.

Bridger #2 is a good choice. I prefer the dog on version, but that’s just personal preference. I’ve tried several different brands of dogless trap, never liked any of them.

I will say though, if you have fox in the area I highly suggest laminating them. They can be pretty rough on a fox with the stock jaws

How many sets are you planning on setting? How much land do you have to trap?
My first year I bought half a dozen MB550’s that came in a “starter kit” from MTP. Later that same year I bought another dozen. The next year I bought another dozen and so on and so forth, lol.
I believe in the buy once, cry once. In my case it’s been buy 5 times, cry 5 times.
Others disagree and they’re a lot smarter and knowledgeable than I am, but I prefer a trap I can take out of the box, wash the grease off, check pan tension, and set that afternoon. I’ve NEVER had to tinker with any of my MB’s…EVER. All came set at 3-3.5# and level. I love the night latch and again…I don’t like to have to tinker with something brand new! I want it to work straight out of the box. Are other brands the same? I don’t know from first hand knowledge, but if you read enough posts on here you’ll see a lot aren’t.

Wanna be is right, the lower cost traps will require some tinkering. You’ll have to file dogs and pans, set tension, level pans, possibly twist some levers, etc. with every mb550 I’ve ever bought I never had to touch any of it, and I’ve been using the same 5 dozen for over ten years. All my other traps have required some tinkering to get them to lay nice and fire nice and crisp at my preferred pan tension.

Not a dealbreaker for many, but I’m like wanna be, I don’t want to spend a bunch of time tinkering with traps, I just wanna wash em, wax em and set em.