I don't have any 4-coiled traps in any model in my arsenal, but then again we don't have extremely large animals in either species or the conditions that many other trappers in other areas experience either.
I catch 95% of my coyotes in nothing more than #2 longsprings with booster springs added, short chains, and tuned triggers. I've caught and held a few coyotes and 2 cats now in little # 11 longsprings, too. Yes, that's way too small a trap for either critter's big paw, but again ours just don't seem to get as big as maybe they do in other areas, either.
I use a lot of #2 coils also. (Dukes, Montgomeries, Northwoods). I have yet to have a coyote "take one apart" or miss a cat, either. None of my #2 coils are 4-coiled. I am considering laminating the jaws on all of them, though. That's more for increased holding surface area. Maybe with thicker, heavier laminated jaws I may find I may need a little more speed and balance, so at that point I will certainly reassess if I need a 2nd set of springs. But, so far I haven't. I trap in Southeastern Nebraska, by the way.
I've read a lot of articles on 4-coiling, and many of the points I have heard or read about make sense, and if you are leaning toward doing it I have heard nothing but great things about 4-coiling traps. I just haven't had the real need to myself yet. I do have an acquaintence that 4-coiled a bunch of little #1 Northwoods coils for coons, and he swore that they were the neatest little coon traps when he finished. Again, its just another testimonial that others use them and they work great for them. Sorry that I couldn't give you any personal experience on use of 4-coiling, but I can attest that in my area I've done fine without 4-coiling, too.
Jim-NE
