I have had two break aways with the 7x7 3/32"...... that I can remember. Both times was MY fault. One I gave them too long a snare, and he was able to run back and forth over a barbed wire until it frayed. I should have only given him about a foot of cable, and it wouldn't have been able to do that. Second time, i used a concrete block to fill/reduce a hole, and he wrapped the cable around it, and frayed it until it broke. Never had any other troubles. I believe a heavier or stiffer cable would be too slow to close, and cause more trouble than the occasional break offs.