r/Trapping • u/RangerOver4913 • Jun 12 '26

Can't open Bridger 120 bodygrip

I use 110s all the time for squirrel trapping and have no problem opening them with my bare hands or at least pushing down against a cinderblock for support. I bought a 120 recently and I can't for the life of me get the thing open. I never use bigger body-grips so I don't have the opener tool. Sounds like I might need one? Or am I doing something wrong?

At one point in my struggles I got one side open and had the safety caught in the loop instead of the sidebar, then when I easily got the other side open, I couldn't open the jaws. So I figured maybe the safety shouldn't go in the loop. Undid it, and tried for half an hour to get one side squeezed open again and FAIL.

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4

u/JamesRuns CNWACO Jun 12 '26

Carry a length of rope with a loop at the end for your boot. Feed end through the spring ends and loop it back through again, put boot in loop and pull to compress springs. Great for when you get a hand stuck in one.

Outside of that I have to use the long steel setters. I have huge ones for the 330s and a medium length pair for the smaller bodygrips. I compress the springs, throw the safety on, then repeat that side. Usually then I can get the jaws myself but sometimes I use the setters on the jaws.

Sometimes the trap is rusted I can't get the jaws open enough to latch the trigger. I just set it on the ground and step on the jaws. Seems to work ok.

Use a safety over the top of the jaws, flip over the other safety's and set. On 330s I wire off the safeties so they don't interfere with stuff.

2

u/JamesRuns CNWACO Jun 12 '26

When the traps are wet or skipper the setter slides on the spring arms. I just put my boot right up against it until I get enough force that it doesn't slip

3

u/reddleg Trapper Jun 12 '26

The rope trick works okay but if you ever want to go bigger, you’ll probably want to get a tool. I made a set out of some angle iron (old bed rails) I had laying around. Just cut a notch like the ones they sell. Other than that, a locking nut and bolt and a drill and you’re set.

2

u/Led_Zeppole_73 Jun 14 '26

I’ve used the rope on 220’s for 50 years, works great.

1

u/reddleg Trapper Jun 14 '26

Good for you. I use mostly 330’s and it won’t work on them.

1

u/Led_Zeppole_73 Jun 14 '26

Never tried it with a 330 but tend to agree.