I only trap private land, mostly locked gates, ive turned down a lot of property do to high traffic

I have used all three of the traps you mentioned and will give my experience and opinion of them all. They all will hold yotes.
I had 650s first and they worked great until the little dog notch that engages the pan rounded off and they wouldn't stay set. As this happened I would toss them in a pile and fix as I needed more traps. I finally got tired of doing it and fixed them all one last time and passed them on to someone else to mess with. They are still catchin yotes to this day, but need work every little bit. This problem may have been remedied on newer traps as these were bought some time back.
The Jakes as stated need adjusting and the little grooves cleaned out. I haven't had one wear and need work yet, but I only have a few years experience with these. I use them for cat sets mostly, as I have what I believe to be better yote traps.
The Sterling MJ 500 is a great yote trap with the same trigger as the MJ 600s. It is a better trigger system IMO than the little notch in the 650s. Like the Jakes the grooves need cleaned out. I have seen this trigger wear and need touched up on a few, but it took 20 years or more not 1 or 2 like the 650s I had.
Of the three traps you mentioned the MJ 500 is the best IMO, but I think the MJ 600s are even better.
Good luck and tight chains with whichever choice you make.

I use the 650’s with no issues but had I tried the 550’s first I may have went that way ! They are as good a trap as you can get ! For the money, lol !

Of those listed the Jake trap is my choice. Shock springs installed from the factory. Love those swivels as they don't collect the long grass near as bad as the regular crunch proofs. They bed like a rock as well. Seldom an empty fired trap. He is constantly doing improvements.The loose jaw lays flat unlike some others.

The Jake trap is heat-treated and may be the reason they look a little different with dye. The Jakes bed better than any trap, that I have tried. I like that I can lift a jaw for different types of pan cover. There great traps that will last a lifetime. I can't speak about MJ, I have been trying to buy MJ'S for several years. It appears they are still on the endangered species list.

Thanks JT. I didn't think of that. Just seems odd to dye out a rack of 650's coming out so evenly then the Jakes and ya kind of scratch your head even tho the cats don't know any difference.

I've heard as well Sterings can be hard to come by. Waco.. it's a spendy move switching out to any of the three your looking at maybe round up one of each and play with them before you pull the trigger or in this case step on the pan.

Osky

I have a motly assortment of traps picked up over the years whenever i found some i liked the price of. Cant say any of them catch more fur than the other. Victor bridger and Duke 3’s need a lot of adjusting tinkering and modifying to be good coyote/cat traps and end up costing a lot plus time. It is frustrating to grab a 650 and it wont set. I set and adjust them all before season but invariably have a couple that end up tossed in the pickup till i get time to get them working. Its not a big deal but it is irritating. Mj 600 comes with a shorter chain now but still longer than i like when im not using a drag. Those swivels are nice and cutting the chain means replacing one or rewelding it so i just bury more chain than i need. Never used a jake but they look like dandies and im sure i could catch just as much with them also.

thank you Andrew!

im upgrading from 550, I do agree its a good trap, ive seen to many coyotes pull out of these traps.

thank you Drifter

thanks jtg

thanks Danny

Waco as you have read thru, all three are top notch traps. You mention holding power and I can again tell you nothing gets out of a Jake or my 650 casts. I do not mess much with adjustment because 2.5 lbs or so works great for cats, and if my 650's or even the Jakes I put out vary any it's no big deal. The animals don't seem to mind.
When I say nothing gets out I am mostly talking about incidental wolves which are the biggest animal we have to deal with here. Coyotes are long gone in any numbers. The odd cougar but I have never had that "pleasure" here. I,would be shocked if you have pull outs from any of the three traps listed from coyotes.
Good luck, if you do go with the 650 cast and do not like them, give a holler I am always in the market to add more.

Keep us posted and don't be a stranger.

Osky

Just curious, what kind of jaws do the Jakes have underneath the rubber pad? In case you wanted to remove the pads.

Osky I plan on being on here a lot more from now on!!

They have steel jaws with a strong 1/4" offset. Never measured them but the jaws are around 3/16 thick and the top bar can be mounted back on to widen the surface area after remove the pads. The only thing Jakes wouldn't hold for me was a John Deere. Coon are tough on the pads but they sell replacements at a reasonable cost.