Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Trapping MB 550 or 650 for coyotes?

I hear Wolverines are rough customers on traps so that says a lot .

MadTrapper3 , the K-9 Extreme looks great , I like getting stuff that's 'ready to go' these days , more time for other stuff .

i think a bigger trap should work better

I have a half dozen 550s with the cast jaw (not offset) that I bought, dyed, waxed, and never used. Anybody want to buy them?

Here's another link...... not sure if either is correct.

https://www.rpoutdoors.com/mbcoytrapwit.html

I used the 650' s with the cast, offset jaws when I lived up on the Canadian border where we had some really big coyotes. What I liked about them: with the wire followers and quad springs they would come up through a pretty good, partially frozen dirt cover and still get a high grip on a coyote. I seldom had one where the foot was not still mashed down on the pan. I liked the centered D ring, so the coyote was not able to get an angled pull on the trap. I liked the offset jaws which close further, relative to how high on the jaws the followers could get. In my experience, when a coyote tripped that pan, he was yours.

What I didn't like about them: The inside jaw spread was bigger than the state of NY thought I should be setting on land.

If I were getting started today, I would have no problem going with the same trap in a 5" size if it had all the same characteristics.

That would be a Sterling 500 which is generally considered a superior design to the MB's, but dang near impossible to find. I looked on a dozen each of the 500's and 600's 6 years ago, right when the bottom fell out of fur (everything but yotes) and my life circumstances took me away from much trapping. I sold of all the 500's and all but 2 of the 600's.

I got a dz 600's last year. Had to email sterling and get on a list. When they went into production I was emailed back and placed my order.
Still I believe the K-9 Extreme and the J.R's are better traps.

You need inside laminations to be legal in NY

IMO, if you are in area with the possibility of fox, 650's can be a bit rough.

650 is the best trap made today. The big pan and trigger. I’ve got a pile of sterlings and go to the 650 instead

650 is a big, rank trap, hard to beat for coyotes

Oldman3, Im just getting into trapping and value your thoughts. But I just can't get past Bridger's and Dukes being made in China. I'll pass for an American made trap. Again just getting into this with no intent to offend.

I bought my traps several years ago and at that time Bridger was owned by Minn. Trapline Products. I just figured they were made in the US. I googled it and it says the Bridgers are made in Taiwan. Learn something new, every day. And thanks for the info.

Hey man hard to find anything made in America theses days. 😤

I would go with the 550.

Excellent choice of Traps

I personally do not like the pan system on the MB650. I much prefer the rod style dog on the 550's. The Duke 650 will have the same setup with rod style dog except the pan is square.

MTP is supposed to introduce a dogless version of the MB550 this summer.

I run the MB-550's off-set and like one poster said , unless you got wolf sized yotes the 550 is all you need. Ive caught some nasty yotes and they will not hurt those traps. The 650 is a big trap. Here's a couple pics of the 550's in action.

Just a quick question for a green horn does the off-set jaws seem to be easier on off catches? Around here anywhere you find a good set you can run into coon or fox hounds and I been told off-set jaws are easier on something if you want to let it go

pics