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Post by dvranish on Jun 3, 2011 0:01:41 GMT -5
I'm going to buy some #1 1/2 dbl coil springs this summer. The comparison will be between Duke and Bridger. I like Bridger stuff but I have read posts "dissing" them because they claim the levers do not come up high enough and Raccoons can pull out. I don't have any of either type but I certainly need to hold Coons even though I will be targeting Muskrat and Mink. What is your opinion on this? Thanks. David
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Post by bill1958 on Jun 3, 2011 0:25:04 GMT -5
i have used both dukes and bridger 1 1/2 coils and never had a problem and i like both .the bridgers are better made but the dukes are way cheaper.eather one i would still use.now the duke needs more tweaking when taken out of the box.if you plan to trap were thieves is a problem then i would goe 100% dukes but if not i would goe with bridgers.
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Post by alwright on Jun 3, 2011 3:26:45 GMT -5
I'm with Bill on that. If you like modifying your traps plenty to do with the Dukes.
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Post by ewoktrapper on Jun 3, 2011 4:36:54 GMT -5
x2 with Bill....
Dukes are a good all around trap.For the water trapper you can't beat the value.I'd put more time into them if I was use'n them on land.You just need a mid chain swivel and a lock for drown wires and your all set.I also take a file to the jaws some.The edges can be a bit sharp.The jaws must be stamped when made.
Bridgers 1.5.I love that trap.I think that little trap will hold even a yote with no problems.If your doing both land and water sets.I would think twice and use Bridgers.It would be your best bet for an all purpose trap.....IMO
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Post by bill1958 on Jun 3, 2011 5:15:10 GMT -5
ewoktrapper i have caught and held with no pull outs a few hundred yotes and some were huge. the only thing that i had to do to the bridge was bend the dog back and thats it and these was stocked bridger 1 1/2 coils,now i have caught yotes in duke 1 1/2 with out damage but no were near what i have with bridgers.i do agree if i was using them on both land and water all i would use is bridgers.now a little off topic i tried some duke number 2's and the first week they blew the jaws out of the trap and bent the jaws.now last year i bought 3 dz dukes and let me say this i had to tweak all 36 traps just to get the pan to be level ,now out of 12 dz bridger i had three traps to tweak.
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Post by lyonch on Jun 3, 2011 8:40:31 GMT -5
Bill is exactly right on the comparison!! I run both as well, and since the dukes are cheaper (which allows me to run more of them) that is what i have been buying lately. I do spend a lot of time prepping those dukes though.
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Post by hideman on Jun 3, 2011 8:55:40 GMT -5
Gotta agree with the aforementioned responses. Bridgers are the only 1 1/2 coils I own. Almost a direct copy of the old Montgomery's which IMO were the small coil benchmark. Best fox/coon foothold out there.
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Post by Law Dog on Jun 3, 2011 8:58:23 GMT -5
Buy American!!!! Sorry had to toss that in there!!!
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Post by javery on Jun 3, 2011 9:03:30 GMT -5
Question what do you guys mean tweeking the dukes How do you do this any info is appreciated
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Post by bill1958 on Jun 3, 2011 10:25:00 GMT -5
small things that has to be done, like bending the base were the dog is to level the pans,some time you have to bend it out because you can set it and it want fire.then you must add extra swivels,then file the burs and sharp edges a long the jaws.
jerry i do like buying american made but i will not because of two reasons ,the cheap southern fur and i trap high thief areas and there is no way i will use my profits to buy american made stuff under these conditions.here we are not protect from trap or animal molestion
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Post by Law Dog on Jun 3, 2011 10:30:43 GMT -5
I know Bill just cannot bring myself to load up on imported stuff even if its good! I understand what your saying. I lost one trap last year so theft is not an issue here. I do set the 1.75 sleepys were I don't want to risk an MJ at but its real rare to lose a trap here!
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Forrest
Administrator
Trapper
Posts: 1,000,271
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Post by Forrest on Jun 3, 2011 12:11:58 GMT -5
I run a lot of dukes and they do the job. You will have more time invested in tuning them and be ready to have to do a little tuning after a catch but they do and will hold your catch. One thing I like to do on all my Dukes is add brass #10 bolts with washers. The stock brass bolts are junk imo and strp if you look at them wrong! lol I own several hundred Duke 1.5's and would recommend them for someone looking to get the biggest bang for there buck.. I have had more coyotes blow apart my bridgers than my dukes for some reason? I turn all my tips up but need to weld a bead on them all.
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Post by timberhippie on Jun 3, 2011 12:30:15 GMT -5
I just have to say this. In the past bridgers had a more rounded jaw edge and that led to some pull outs on coon. Dukes squared edges give it some bite that stops tapered front feet on coons from slipping. That is just my thoughts. Honestly if I was gong for a straight water trap and cost was not an issue sleepy creek 11 double jaws would be choice. If I want just a solid small work horse catch all trap a duke 1.5 is my choice.
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Post by minnesotascott on Jun 3, 2011 13:58:09 GMT -5
My advice, look long and hard at #2 double long springs.
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Post by dvranish on Jun 3, 2011 18:41:45 GMT -5
Thanks guys. It looks like Bridger. I used to have a machine shop and any thing that gets my dander up is having to deburr a product after I buy it. My product would have been sent back or rejected immediately if we didn't deburr it. I bought some Duke stoploss traps last year and they were very poorly made. The only problem is that they are a copy of the old Blake & Lamb stoploss which in my opinion is better than the other two designs. I'm stuck modifiying the ones I will get and I understand what I'm getting into there. The 1 1/2 coils are a different story however. Minnscott, I have a slug of #2 longsprings, mostly Blake & Lamb. The 1 1/2 coils will be for pocket sets and floats. David
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Post by dvranish on Jun 7, 2011 18:19:04 GMT -5
I'm going to buy some #1 1/2 dbl coil springs this summer. The comparison will be between Duke and Bridger. I like Bridger stuff but I have read posts "dissing" them because they claim the levers do not come up high enough and Raccoons can pull out. I don't have any of either type but I certainly need to hold Coons even though I will be targeting Muskrat and Mink. What is your opinion on this? Thanks. David How about Montana Traps? Anybody have experience with them? David
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Post by bigdave on Jun 7, 2011 21:23:50 GMT -5
Guess I am not the norm. The first trap I reach for in my bucket is a Duke 1 1/2. So what I have to "Tweak" them. I made a post londonlureco.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=traptuningmodifying&action=display&thread=3828 last night showing how I "Tweak" them and screwing with the pictures it may have taken me 6-8 minutes. When I do them by the dozen it takes less than 3 minutes a trap. I consider them to be stronger than my "Stock" Bridger Victors and Northwoods when it comes to holding the coon. As mentioned above I like the burr on the jaw edge. I feel it helps grab hold and not let go. The Bridgers have a rounded jaw that the coon seem to be able to slip out of. The cost difference of the Bridgers to the Dukes is $69 on sale at MTP for Bridgers vs. $50 for the Dukes at Cocolamus Creek. Normally at the conventions I can pick up Dukes for $43-$45 a dozen. So my feelings for $20 bucks I will spend 3 minutes per trap. Hey its summer and 95 degrees out. What else do you have to do.
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Post by backwoodsman on Jun 8, 2011 12:28:41 GMT -5
For coon, mink and rats Duke 1.5 coils will suffice. Maybe a little tweaking will be necessary. I run all kinds of different brands and if theft is an issue or I need to extend a line into rather unknown territory the Dukes get the nod. It boils down to how much you want to spend and how much time you want to invest in tweaking and maybe also what kinds of tools are available to you and your skill level. Unless your planning on switching the 1.5's to a fox/yote line I'd strongly consider Duke etc no.11's. No.2's I feel are way too big for coons, rats and mink and I think you'll be in agreement after you see the loss's that occur in traps of that size. Have you looked at used traps? Sometimes some awesome deals can be found if you are patient. Plus you can find traps and/or brands no longer made. I smile like a kid on Christmas morning when I buy Blake & Lambs or Montgomery's etc for decent prices used. Even cheaper idea for the rats if its a rat specific line old jumps, SLS's etc can be had for $1-$2 or so each and are fine for a rat line. We use the older traps for that and ones we buy used cheap just for that purpose. We've got several antique stores around here and they call me everytime they get traps in. most of the footholds go for $2.50_$3.50ea. Ive bought some for $2 from them but Ive got competition now.
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