9mm for Mountain Lion?

[Shibadog]

Okay, folks....let's just hold on here a minute. There are a bunch of differing opinions being put out on this post. And, last I checked, that's okay. I mean, that's one of the great things about this forum. We can share differing opinions without questioning the veracity of other posters.

In my case, old habits die hard. I've been packing a .45 Colt for over forty years. Even if I didn't live in mountain lion or black bear country, I'd probably still pack my old Ruger Blackhawk whenever I went into the back country. Like I said, old habits die hard...I feel comfortable with it and, at my age, I don't see myself changing anytime soon.

Likewise, if others don't feel like carrying, that's okay. That's strictly their choice and as long as they don't get after me for carrying my .45 Colt, I'm certainly not going to get after them for choosing not to carry.

Agree. I always carry, and when in the sticks I carry heavier than I often do at home. Mt. lion/Cougar is one of the more "minimal" dancers you may encounter. I'm a lot more worried about 2 legged goblins than cats or bears. A .357 or .44 is my preference but carry what YOU can shoot. A hit from a .22 will beat a miss from a .500

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Who's freaking out?
This is about calling you, someone that professes to know better, out for giving dangerous advice that could contribute to a bad ending from a cougar encounter.

Correction: This thread is about whether or not a 9mm pistol would be adequate for protection against a possible mountain lion attack. Several people have offered the benefits of their experiences and opinions.

Only one person has decided that this is about calling someone out. Only one person has tried to turn this into a confrontation rather than a discussion.

That one person might benefit from understanding what a forum like this is really all about, a sharing of knowledge, experience, and ideas, rather than a pontifical declaration of right and wrong.

Over and out.

 

[Autonomous]

We all know the thread is about 9mm lethality.
My objection is someone giving very bad advice ("clap your hands and it will simply disappear into the nearest cover") about how to handle yourself in a cougar encounter could get someone hurt or worse.

 

[Echo40]

Fine by me.

I'd recommend not freaking out over one-in-history-of-a-state incident. Five years ago.

Alright then, you can keep right on clapping and write off any attacks by domestic predatory down felines as a one-off occurrence.

As for the rest of us, we'll continue to carry guns and the "clap" will be when the firing pin strikes the primer.

Fair enough?

 

[biku324]

Ahem. From my post #54 above:

Now hold on; if someone wants to carry in the woods or anywhere else, that's their business. But all day every day, loose roaming dogs and unpredictable humans are far more likely to harm a person by any count than are mountain lions, for heaven's sake. We're talking serious dog bites/attacks, human assaults (regular or sexual), robberies, even the occasional homicide. Venomous snakes are problematic in many places as well. If you want to carry, do so, but don't just make up your reasons.

I routinely carry hiking or horseback - on horseback because I might have to humanely put down a severely crippled horse (I have) or get off a horse and take action to keep house dogs from attacking the animal or you. As well, while hiking, I don't like skunks, as they regularly carry rabies and other diseases, so I kill every one I can.

But I don't have to pretend lions and bears are a real threat. Not here. Not many places unless there are extreme, rare circumstances. Just man up and carry.

Some of the very best conversations and discussions online happen when one reads threads from beginning to end and follows the rule, 'top to bottom, left to right.'

 

[Claymore33]

I started going to BIG BEND NATL PARK 62 years ago. During the 1980s-90s I went almost every year. The Park has routinely had the largest mountain Lion population in TEXAS. My group normally camps out at the bottom of the Bend right on the RIO GRANDE. We all carry handguns and rifles as there have been many shoot outs with Mexican cowboys and bandits. Most tourists in Bermuda shorts and knee socks stay in lodges and campers up in the Basin in the Chisos Mountains where there is a restaurant and running water. There are Big cat sighting almost every week in THE BASIN. During one 3 year period in the 90s while I was there , 3 different 8-10 year old boys were killed by mountain lions walking to the south overlook where you can see 50 miles down into the desert ,the Rio Grande river and into Mexico. The parents who were unarmed just stood there and screamed .

 

[mmb617]

I don't know first hand about lions in the wild, but I do know something about them in general having lived with one for 11 years at one time. It's not likely you are going to sneak up on a mt lion, so most of the time they are going to run off when they see you. However if the lion is actually stalking you it will probably be on you before you have time to draw, so what caliber weapon you have won't matter if you don't get a shot off.

In the rare instance when a healthy mt lion is hunting you as food my money is on the lion every time regardless of how you are armed. You won't see him till he's on you. They can sneak up on deer close enough to pounce on them. Humans are surely easier to sneak up on than deer.

But yeah, assuming you can get a shot or shots off I'd think a 9mm would be adequate given any kind of decent shot placement.

 

[DesertFox]

Shooting bears over bait or cats treed by dogs is NOT hunting. Spot and stalk is the only ethical hunting IMOHO.

As far as defense against four legged furries, I'd want it to be substantial, aka 44Mag. Encounters are rare. Who's to say that you could successfully defend against a cat, only to come up against a bear around the next corner...

 

[Shibadog]

I'm firmly in the camp of carrying when in the boonies. Nearly 5 decades ago a friend and I, unarmed, went scouting for a place to hunt deer. We drove the old Scout in as far as we could, then proceeded to hike in another mile and a quarter. We were, literally, miles from anywhere. Suddenly we encountered a pack of no less than 8 large feral dogs, who proceeded to circle us, growling, snapping, and making short "rushes" in toward us. We hollered, threw rocks and did all we could think of but the dogs continued their act. I wasn't scared of being killed ( though I probably should have been) but I was very scared of being bitten and getting to enjoy a series of Rabies shots. Long story short my buddy and I retreated up a tree, where the dogs continued their act for well over a half hour before wandering off. We made our way down and made a very cautious retreat to the Scout. We came back the following day and managed to put down six of them with an M1 carbine and an old Winchester. From then until now I have never been in the sticks without a weapon. In the years since I've encountered a few rabid critters that I've put down and a few two legged goblins that I didn't but I was darn glad I was armed when I came across them. .When you are in the boonies you are at the mercy of whatever, or whoever, you encounter. A wise man will follow the old Boy Scout rule and "Be Prepared'. Better safe than sorry. About 10 years ago a very good friend who was an avid hiker but was not a gun guy was on the Appalachian trail down south. He and the wife stopped for a break and suddenly two Very sketchy types showed up and began harassing them, demanding food, etc. Right when things were getting really intense three men came down the trail, and walked toward them. The first guy pushed open his vest to clearly show a holstered pistol and said " what's going on here". The bad actors began mumbling and cursing and the new guy (standing with his buddies) said " I think you boys better leave". Well, they did cussing and complaining, but they did leave. My friend and his wife walked with their three new friends for the rest of that days hike. Monday morning at work my friend was telling me the story. Later that week he bought his first pistol (Combat Commander) and began putting in the time and training to learn how to use it. They still hike in remote areas and still love it, But that old Colt is a constant companion. In addition, a few years ago his wife began carrying a little Ruger LCP. They are convinced that the timely arrival of the cavalry saved their lives.

 

[Autonomous]

It's not likely you are going to sneak up on a mt lion...

Absolutely.
Though my first cougar encounter my wife, dogs and I saw it and the cat saw us all at the same time. Distance was about two car lengths away.

 

[brendonjames65]

I think a 9mm would be perfectly fine. I usually carried a 10mm Glock 29 only because I was in grizzly country too. Spent a lot of time in the field in NW Montana hiking and hunting, had a couple encounters with mountain lions.

Helped a friend build on off grid cabin on his 500 acres when we lived in NW Montana, in exchange he gave me hunting rights, and his property was surrounded by both state land and Lolo national forest. It was an awesome archery elk hunting spot.

During hunting season I'd drive to the forest service gate, he had an easement and gave me a key to the locked gate, and I would unlock the gate, drive through, and then get out and lock it before driving on to access his property.

Once after a day of hunting, it was pitch dark when I left, and when I drove to the gate, got out and unlocked it then drove through, stopped and relocked the gate, got back inside my rig, an extremely large mountain lion walked by directly in front of my rig! It had been watching me the whole time I was outside unlocking and locking the gate, probably 10 yards away, well concealed in the brush!

For awhile every time I left at night, I had my hand on that Glock and scanned the area with my flashlight while leaving! I have encountered 3 mountain lions in my lifetime but no doubt I have been watched more than once by mountain lions while out hunting, fishing and hiking.

They are a beautiful, stealthy and incredibly powerful animal, able to take down a bull elk. Thankfully, they are generally shy and reclusive of humans. While similar in size, they don't have the temperament of a leopard, could you imagine the body count they would rack here up if they did?

Trail cam photo of 3 mountain lions behind our place in NW Montana before we moved to Oklahoma. Most likely a female and her 2 near adult juveniles.

 

[murphydog]

I've read all 91 posts and here are my conclusions.

A 9 mm is adequate but bigger might be better out in the wild.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Where does a 110 lb cat sleep? Apparently right next to a Forum member, on the sofa.

 

[Autonomous]