I'm looking to buy a few #3 dogless . I like the pan Bridger uses. Trouble is they only come offset . The #3 dogless Montana has, has standard jaws . But I don't care for their pan that has about an 1/8" engaging the jaws. Has anyone messed around changing pans or jaws around to get that pan Bridger uses to work on a standard #3 ? I can buy all sorts of different components I suppose and try things out . But thought I'd ask first ?

I will only use offset, #3 offset Bridger is the one I use

reddawg,
Out of curiosity, why don't you like the offset jaws, I use both but I cant say that I am a good enough trapper to say that one works better than the other. I know there is a bunch of opinions on this, I just wondered what your reason was.

In reality ,, I truly don't have a reason. I own a few,, but never used them . In the 1.5 size ,,,I think they may not hold an incidental coon I may catch. While I don't target coon . I want to decide to let it go ,,, not the coon. If It's a nice size coon , I'll keep it , especially since it has messed up a fox set . I don't know call it whatever you will. Just simply personal preference. I also can't stand laminations . But Delaware forces us to ,laminate , offset , or soft jaw traps.

Smaller trap probably will hold more coon with either jaw type, I kept track when I switched to offset from regular jaws 35 years ago, I saw a drop in losses on accidental coon catches

I've never lost a coon caught in an offset Bridger #3, although we do have some pretty big coon.

I had a young one get out, he made it about 10 feet and a pair of coyote grabbed it, specks of blood and bits of hair left, story in the snow

More likely they killed it in the trap and then pulled it out before eating it.


Jarhead

Run the Offset Modified 2 and 3 with laminations. I think you would be happy with them if they are offset and laminated, Give them a try.
File the nightlatch down on new ones and they make a fine trap.

If I was coon trappin, I would never have an offset trap. If I am canine trapping, I will have an offset trap unless the offset is huge. I have 3 doz of the bridger #3 dogless and love them. They work awesome on coyotes and cats. Mine are laminated too. Ive held tons of coons in them too. If I was you, I wouldnt be worried about losing coons in them, because they will hold most of the coons, and if you laminate them, they will hold even better.

I have both traps. I prefer the quality not the Bridger #3 dogless.
I haven't set both so can't say which one had a better catch rate.
However I have very few pull outs with a Bridger #3 they hold everything.

Go with the dogless Bridger up front and see what happens.
One other reason I prefer the Bridger is that the pan is huge and doesn't need a pan cover. While the Montana it is recommended that you use a screen to cover the pan

I love the Bridger #2 & 3 dogless. I have never lost a coon using them. As far as holding power is concerned the #3 dogles s held an accidental wolf catch with a high pad hold. Trap was no worse for wear