Kid44
Member
What bullet from 6" L-Frame .357 for mountain lion defense, should the need ever arise. 158 gr. hollow point, or 180 gr.
hard cast?
hard cast?
.357 Bullet for mountain lion
- Thread starter Kid44
- Start date
tominboise
Member
Having never shot a mountain lion, I would go with the 158gr JHP. I believe they are thin skinned and I know hunters around here that kill them with 22 Mags (using hounds and treeing the cats).
muddocktor
Member
From what I understand, cats aren't hard to stop if you can get the bullet into them. I would think a hot loaded 158 grain hollow point that will expand and dump all their energy into the cat would be the ticket to go with. A Hornady 158 XTP or a Sierra 158 JHC would be my first 2 choices I think.
rkittine
Member
+1 for the JHP
Unless you hit solid bone I'd think the hard cast would be a thru & thru!
Stick to a HP!
Stick to a HP!
If your revolver will shoot a 140gr XTP or other bullet at 1350fps................ ( my light load)
it will put the lights out in that putty cat with a head, neck or organ shot placement, here in Nevada.
I stay away from the lighter 110 and 125 gr bullets in revolvers.
Shot angle can make or break a quick kill, so take your time and get it right.
it will put the lights out in that putty cat with a head, neck or organ shot placement, here in Nevada.
I stay away from the lighter 110 and 125 gr bullets in revolvers.
Shot angle can make or break a quick kill, so take your time and get it right.
Cal44
Member
Cougars are thin skinned like humans and about the same size and weight.
Any round that works well for self defense against 2 legged bad guys would be effective for mountain lions.
Any round that works well for self defense against 2 legged bad guys would be effective for mountain lions.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
I have seen quite a few mountain lions over the years. They can look pretty large, but a typical adult might be from 80 to 120 lbs. live weight, and anything much larger would be an unusual specimen. Yes, they are out there but they are pretty rare.
Bone structure is typical for a cat, nothing particularly heavy or thick. Muscle structure is strong but not massive. Nothing that offers significant mass to upset a bullet. Nothing much to stop a bullet from penetrating the body cavity, heart, lungs, etc.
Worked with a guy years ago who guided lion hunts as a part-time business. Used hounds to pursue and tree the cats so the paying clients could shoot them at pretty close range. He recommended .22 magnum to do the deed, but I think part of that was meant to avoid massive damage to a valuable pelt or otherwise spoil a taxidermy specimen.
I doubt that there is enough tissue or bone to cause most hollow-point defensive handgun bullets to display very much expansion. At handgun range I would expect just about any caliber to produce a through-and-through wound, and any hit in the vitals should put the cat down pretty quickly. Very few handgun wounds are instantly fatal or incapacitating unless the central nervous system is disrupted, but cats are not particularly difficult to kill with a well-placed shot.
Personally, I never wanted to kill a mountain lion. I put one down after it was hit by a car once, but I don't count that as some kind of hunting victory over the wild beast. I love to see them in the wild, and I love knowing they are out there being what they were created to be. Any shooting I want to do will most likely involve a camera instead of a firearm.
And then there are bears! Smelly, nasty, ugly, brutish creatures! Let's have another bear thread, okay?
Cal44
Member
I agree with you. I'm a cat person and always have at least one.
I've never seen a cougar outside of a zoo, but I'd like to.
As for bears, I've seen them several times while I'm backpacking and/or car camping. I just leave them alone and they leave me alone.
I'd only shoot a cat in self defense. Same with a bear.
I've been through the KC area on my way to AZ and CO many times. I would think the mountain threat there was about equal to being eaten by a shark or alligator.
But any 158gr bullet, cast or jacketed, or 180gr bullet, cast or jacketed, will likely kill any lion you ever see.
Don't know about cougars. I thought that if you told her she reminds you of your mother that would piss her off and she would leave you alone.
Oh sorry, wrong cougar. Always liked golden sabers. I have put down more that enough deer with them. Lately I have been liking the Barnes Bullets in 140 XPB.
Oh sorry, wrong cougar. Always liked golden sabers. I have put down more that enough deer with them. Lately I have been liking the Barnes Bullets in 140 XPB.
I've been through the KC area on my way to AZ and CO many times. I would think the mountain threat there was about equal to being eaten by a shark or alligator.
But any 158gr bullet, cast or jacketed, or 180gr bullet, cast or jacketed, will likely kill any lion you ever see.
It would be for Colorado/Wyoming. Hope to get out there this summer, not 100% sure that can happen now, we'll see. 2 summers ago we camped and on one of our hikes we came across a large and VERY fresh mountain lion track. Also there were bear warning signs on nearly every tree and post in the campsite. As soon as we arrived at the campsite the rangers came over and gave us their bear warning talk. For northern CO and southeren WY I feel comfortable with a .357. Get farther north and west in WY and I take a .44 magnum.
DR505
US Veteran
I've seen several of the great cats out in the wild. Closest was about 20 paces while hunting elk in southern Colorado. I am in agreement with most of what is in those posts above...the .357 mag with a good bullet of 158 grains is plenty.
As for a mountain lion being prettier, therefore more entitled to being unmolested (as compared to a bear), I can't agree with that. They are both wild predatory animals that need managing.
Seems like I recall ....... they tend to ambush attack from behind and or above going for the neck.
Think I'd be happier with a 3" k-frame vs a 6" L....... 158gr hollow point.
I'd do some research on the recent attacks on joggers in Calf (IIRC)
Think I'd be happier with a 3" k-frame vs a 6" L....... 158gr hollow point.
I'd do some research on the recent attacks on joggers in Calf (IIRC)
Seen them from time to time hunting and fishing. Left them alone and I think that feeling was mutual. Worked construction in the early 70's with a guy who used to hunt them. Gave Me a hind quarter a few times. Like the mountain men said about it being great tasting meat. Not quite, but a roast wrapped in bacon and slow roasted is fantastic eating.
Ok, my cougar story, circa 1990.
I lived on the west side of Minneapolis. One night with dusk approaching I was out jogging in the neighborhood and there was a commotion in the little woods next to the road. Altho it was just far enough into the woods to be hard to see, I could swear I saw big golden paws going up a tree in there. I turned for home, got the 1911 and came back... nothing to be found.
The next night after dark I heard the little dog next door barking his head off. With no lights, I slipped out my front door and around the big pine tree - and there in my driveway in the moonlight was a medium-size cougar, in the process of stalking the dog! He ran off as soon as I appeared.
A couple weeks later there was an article in our local paper about a farm a few miles west having some sheep clawed up. At that time probably no one would have believed me except for that.
I lived on the west side of Minneapolis. One night with dusk approaching I was out jogging in the neighborhood and there was a commotion in the little woods next to the road. Altho it was just far enough into the woods to be hard to see, I could swear I saw big golden paws going up a tree in there. I turned for home, got the 1911 and came back... nothing to be found.
The next night after dark I heard the little dog next door barking his head off. With no lights, I slipped out my front door and around the big pine tree - and there in my driveway in the moonlight was a medium-size cougar, in the process of stalking the dog! He ran off as soon as I appeared.
A couple weeks later there was an article in our local paper about a farm a few miles west having some sheep clawed up. At that time probably no one would have believed me except for that.
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Rpg
Member
Cougars are light bodied, thin skinned animals.
Virtually any 38-357 ammo, including your favorite range ammo or 148 gr wc target loads, are plenty powerful enough.
If you need to defend yourself against a cougar, it will be at very short range and will occur very quickly, so your speed from the holster to accurate shot within 7 yards is much more important than what load you’re shooting.
Virtually any 38-357 ammo, including your favorite range ammo or 148 gr wc target loads, are plenty powerful enough.
If you need to defend yourself against a cougar, it will be at very short range and will occur very quickly, so your speed from the holster to accurate shot within 7 yards is much more important than what load you’re shooting.
Would anybody think......
...that a 158 LSWC would be a good bullet?
Biggest cats around here are bobcats that I've seen. And Eastern cougars that I've never seen. Of course that's the one that will bite you.
...that a 158 LSWC would be a good bullet?
Biggest cats around here are bobcats that I've seen. And Eastern cougars that I've never seen. Of course that's the one that will bite you.
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