I am heading up to the NC mountains in about a month for a vacation. I am not worried about black bears, but they have had a lot of mountain lion and coyote problems up there lately.

At first, I was thinking of just bringing the 642 that I always have on me loaded with +P Gold Dots. I think that would be enough for a cougar but I got to thinking.. those things are pretty nasty.

So I am thinking of taking a 2.5" 19 or 3" 13 instead loaded with 158GR magnums. I can't decide which. I will be carrying concealed.

I guess the plus of the 19 is that you can slip it into a pocket easier (although it would not be particularly comfortable) if you have cargo type pockets.

What do you guys think? Are the magnums needed?

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Aaron Terry

For a large cat, I would definitely feel better with a Magnum on my side.

3" Model 13 with CorBon .357 Magnum DPX.

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Centennial Every Day

When I go to the mountains I carry a .357 loaded with 180 grain hard cast lead flat points. Cougars and two legged vermin are the only legitimate threats in the areas I go and I'm confident that gun/ammo combo will take care of both.

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~ S&WCA No.2159 ~

You feel 180GR 357s are necessary? I feel like 158GR ones would be sufficient...

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Aaron Terry

I seriously doubt there is a mountain lion problem in North Carolina. The official position of the state wildlife agency is that there is not a breeding lion population in North Carolina. That said, there may be some wandering through and there have been reported sightings. A problem it is not. I doubt that there has been any real human/lion conflicts in NC in a long, long time (decades?).

We have a similar situation here in Missouri. We have some wandering through and have an actual carcass or two to prove the existence of a very occassional liion. We have even had a couple of trailcam photos verified by our conservation depatment. It is certainly not a problem and there have been no lion/human conflicts. You have a better chance of your four limbs being hit simultaneously by four separate bolts of lightening on a sunny day while sitting in a cave than having a conflict with a lion in NC. Lots of reasons to carry a gun in the NC woods, but lions aren't one of them.

Now, if you are trying to justify a firearms purchase to your wife - those scary lions are everywhere just waiting to pounce!

Same goes for PA.. officially we have no Mountain Lions.

Yet... I've seen one in person, someone who lives near me saw one in person.. and I've seen numerous photos of them. But the don't exist here.

I'd take at least .357 for the woods.

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- The Federalist #46 -

Model 13 3" .357 Magnum w/ 158gr JSP

Carry what you would for humans. 158s will give you a little more weight for four leggers, but humans are your biggest threat. I wouldn't advocate carrying a .38 for defense if a .357 is an option. What I will advocate is carrying both guns.

That's what I carry too - Federal® 180gr Cast-Core™ - A far, far better critter stopper.

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David
CW3 USA (Ret) 1968-1990

I'd take a 357 loaded with Federal 357B 125 grain JHP.

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Federal 357B 125gr JHP

Maybe the 180 gr 357's are not necessary ...

80-year-old woman shoots mountain lion in her yard

Excellent load! Remington R357M1 is what I use and just as good. What I've gathered from others on this forum who have shot mountain lions is that they aren't any tougher than humans. Pigs on the other hand..........

On the other hand, studies seem to indicate breeding populations of predatory two-legged varmints spread broadly through all fifty states. They are highly adaptive to varied environments and come in all color phases and from every socio-economic strata. Generally speaking, males are more likely to display dangerous aggressive behavior.

PC

I have friends who live up there who have SEEN mountain lions somewhat regularly even though the government says they're extinct in that area. Since when does the govt. know what it's talking about anyways?

How would 180GR 357 do from a 2.5 or 3" barrel?

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Aaron Terry

Haven't you seen the movie "Deliverance"? Mountain Lions ain't gonna be your problem!!!

Haha, I will be in NC not West Virginia!

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Aaron Terry

My wife has family in the mountains of NC, so I've been up there a number of times. Her aunt used to be a deputy with the county. She warns that there are indeed places in North Carolina that you don't want to go ala Deliverance.

Anyway, when I first went up, I was more worried about the feral man eating pigs. One almost got my wife when she was a girl, treed her for several hours. I carried my Model 58 at the time, loaded with Federal Cast Core hunting ammunition (240 gr I think it was). Since I didn't have a .41 mag BUG, I kept to the theme and carried a Charter Arms .44 special. I used whatever the Blazer JHPs in .44 special are.

On other occaisions I carried a Glock 27 in my pocket loaded with 180 gr JHPs, I don't remember which brand I was using at the time, probably Federal.

The last time I went, I carried a Glock 32 with night sights loaded with hot .357 Sig 125 gr ammo. I also stuck a J frame in my pocket and carried an M4 carbine with five mags broken down into halves and hidden in a pillow case. I was comfortable with that arrangement.

From what you have to work with... I'd take the Model 13 or 19, whichever you shoot better and find most comfortable.

I wouldnt trust a .38 snub in the woods.

If you are going to carry in "the mountains" of NC make sure you know whose jurisdiction you are carrying in.

A majority of our National Forests are also NC Game Lands. On Game Lands you can carry BUT you had better have a valid hunting license. Handguns used to be restricted on Game Lands during out of season big game hunting to .22 with a barrel no longer than 7". Now that there is no closed season on coyotes, there is no caliber restriction BUT the handgun is technically for the hunting of coyotes, not self defense.

In are wonderful State Parks, it is unlawful to have any firearm.

Enjoy your stay

I would carry both the 38 and one of the 357's. And a reload for each.

don't forget...there are boar in the mountains of western NC....i have taken several there...

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Mountain lions are easy to kill, but may be harder to stop. I know of a couple of fellows who hunt them fairly regularly, over dogs, and their preferred firearm is a .22 WMR rifle. Either .357, loaded with 125 or 158-grainers would suffice. And don't EVER trust the government, state or federal, as regards the local "extinction" of anything. That said, I'd agree that your bigger concern would be 2-legged critters, but if there are feral hogs about, heavier bullets are better.

Actually, I believe it takes place in Jorja.
YouTube - Dueling Banjos Deliverance

Is that why Sip left?

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Sure you did

I'd go with a .357 and some 158gr JHP or JSP,or a .45 loaded with some bonded 230gr JHP.

Aw,shuttap!