Regardless of trap brand, in the past 41 years, I have seen where too many otter have been hip caught, and pulled their way thru and out of the trap. Most of these happened in the old-style square-corner traps that were available in the late 60's thru the late 70's.

When the magnum design traps came out I was sold on them, and still am. While I use a lot of 280's, and like them, I am not adverse to using 330 mags for otter. With the triggers worked over, and properly set, they will get the job done, sometimes two and three at the time. I have never lost a otter out of a magnum-style body gripper.

I acquired some Belisles this past season, not a lot, but enough to give them a fair try, and I realy like them.

Except for my older traps, it's Magnums all the way. Eventyally, when I have acquired enough magnums in various sizes, I will probably put the old timers in some fund raising auctions.

Adios,
45/70,
RKBA !!!

I DO under stand the turm Magnum. But I like the Belisle dog and saftys.
I also have some LDL Sauvageau 11"x12" with breaker bars.They have their good points. Like the dog can hit the animal because of the breaker bar. Their size fill up some of the wider sets where the 330 is just to small.Or to much is involoved in blocking down the set. When you can just drop in the Sauvageau.

I have LDL 280's. The dog and trigger of the LDL being on the non-contact jaw is a nice touch, but not enough to make me pay extra. I am replacing them with BMI 280 magnums.

That is a HARD hitting trap.

But I'll note here that I replace the trigger wires on both of those traps. The stock wires aren't long enough.

I bought myself a roll of stainless steel wire to replace triggers with. Should be the last trigger I ever have to put on.

-- Hal

What gauge of ss wire?
Thanks,
Bill,
RKBA !!!

.105 diameter, which makes it about 12 gauge.

-- Hal

In my salt and backish water. Triggers on ANY brand dont stand up. I may get 2 years out od stock triggers.
Go to a weilding supply. They sell brass brazing wire 36" long,its stiff,3/32" works on the big traps.
I like the way it tarnishes. Stainless will always stays bright and wont take die or dip.

I am familiar with those welding rods. That brass (actually bronze) is brittle. It may hold up longer than steel in brackish water, but does it offer any exended life over steel in freshwater usage? I have my doubts. The brass will work harden if it is bent very many times. If you don't think so, take one of those brazing rods, bend it back and forth a few times, and see what happens.

Stainless will take petroleum based dips just fine.

-- Hal

No Hal, I buy Brass. Yes you can buy bronze. But as you said .Bronze is brittle.
Water or petroleum .It wont stick very well.Like on steel that has'nt been rusted first.Thats why we like a litte coat of rust on traps befor dipping.

Okay, genunine brass then. How long does a brass trigger last? Don't they break eventually? And, what is the cost.

(P.S. If you scar up the SS with a emory cloth, the dip sticks better. Frankly, I don't find the shiny triggers to be much of a problem.)

-- Hal

Dont know for sure.They'r hold'n up good tho.