Cougar hunting caliber conundrum

[BigBill]

The smallest gun I hunt with for large dangerous game is a marlin 444 brush gun. No dogs, I'm not built for running nor speed.

 

[BearBio]

When I was doing my thesis on bears, I worked with a DFG warden. During the two years, he had several cougar calls, mostly killing dogs (a sighting usually resulted in the cougar getting away before he got there). He said he usually drew a mental line and if the cougar crossed it, he shot hit (12 gauge). He told me he responded on one where a cougar killed a Rottie. He said the cougar made a jump up to a second story balcony with the Rot in his mouth!

Police stories, like hunting and war stories are exempt from perjury laws by legislation!

 

[mk70ss]

I would go with the Winchester. The scope has too much magnification for such close shots.

 

[huntsman22]

it died as soon as it hit the ground.

It's always best to have them die BEFORE they have a chance to hit the ground...

 

[LostintheOzone]

You do not need a gun to bag a cougar.

Just go to the local bar, and buy the cougar a few drinks.

And keep your car keys handy for an early exit in the AM.

 

[Rpg]

Hey,

My guide recommended a 270 or similar. I've talked to a few people who say that's way over kill for a cat. The guide also said I could use his 30-30. So he figures 30-30 is plenty. I do have a 686 no dash and a 657 no dash that I could take but from what you guys are saying, the 280 is going to be too much. From what he has said to me, we will be using trucks, snow machines, or possibly atv to get into the general area then let the dogs do their thing. Depending on how far, more atv/snow machine action and a hike in to the treed cat. I'm leaning to the 30-30 not only for nostalgia purposes but also because I want to keep the hide, and I predict the 280 would have an explosive effect. I shoot 160 accubond out of it at about 2950fps. It anchors anything I've shot with it, including a 375lb southern Oregon bear. Now to throw another wrinkle into this... maybe my cz 527 in 7.63x39? My buddy coming along is taking his great grandfather's Winchester 71 in 348, with some very downloaded rounds we are working on. Talk about nostalgia!!!

Although a 22lr in a handgun works just fine on treed cougar, I'd use whatever the guide recommends. He knows about the conditions you'll encounter hunting with him. Ultimately, he'll let you use whatever you want because a pro will be there to clean up after you.

Unlike some of the folks here, I wouldn't worry that the 280 with 160 accubond would ruin a pelt: mountain lion are pretty light bodied animals. You're unlikely to get great expansion and irreparable pelt damage with it.

I've killed a number of Texas whitetails with a 130 gr 270 without much pelt damage. Those Texas whitetails rarely go 150 pounds (neither do mountain lion) and are pretty lightly built too.

 

[rbrbrb6]

It's always best to have them die BEFORE they have a chance to hit the ground...

I agree and that is why we had all three dogs tied up and back before he shot. Sure didn't want them to get in a wreck if it hit the ground wounded.

 

[Ray]

Reading these posts I remembered of an article on Guns&Ammo wittten by Craig Boddington exactly about this issue, treed cats. In it he was using a TC Contender in .45-70. I guess this GA issue is from the mid 80´s.

Regards, Ray

 

[Puller]

I'm not offering any advice on the topic as I have no first hand knowledge of the subject, but my grandfather told us younguns' of his adventures on cougar hunts out west back in his younger days. He said once the dogs treed them he always dispatched them with his S&W model 10 in .38 Special. He said most of the guys on the hunt used .22LR rifles so as to go easy on the pelts, and one always carried a side by side 12 gauge with 00 buckshot in case they "accidently" got one cornered.

 

[6518John]

One Wyoming waddie that looked like a young Iggy told me he carried a laser pointer, got them chasing the red-dot like his barn tom-cat back at his ranch, then he ran the lions into a big tow sack which he quickly tied.

But he may have been pulling my leg. I had just told him about a lake in south AR where we duck hunt that has so many alligators that we run on their backs to our blind.

 

[richcory]

Winchester & a handgun. Preferably a S&W!

Cory

 

[BigBill]

Handgun 44 mg Redhawk loaded hot.

 

[7shooter]

There was an article in the Bismarck Tribune a few years ago about a pheasant hunter north of there who was stalked by a cougar. He killed it with one 12 gauge bird shot at close range.

 

[22shtur]

When I was a teenager in SW Texas near the Mexico border. We had lots of lion kills on domestic sheep there. That was back when sheep ranchers were getting paid for their wool and mohair from the Govt.
My Dad's cousin had tracking dogs and was called every time a rancher reported a lion kill on his livestock. When I went with him, he would take a Win 92 in 44-40, because that was the only rifle he owned, plus it was easy to pack on horseback.
When I moved to the Northwest, I bought a Win 94 with 16" bbl in 44 mag for trekking over rough terrain while hound hunting black bears and lions. If I didn't hunt black bears I would use a 30-30.
If you've had your Win 94 very long, 2022 will be the time to attach a hunting story to it, and any scratch will just be character on it. Lots of people think "military intelligence" is funny, well I think "safe queen" is worse.

 

[Kurusu]

Hey,

I am going on a cougar hunt with dogs in 2022 in northern Idaho. Guide says shot distances should be between 10-30 yards as cougars will be treed. Here's my conundrum... I have two rifle choices to come along with me... one is my kimber Montana in 280ai... leupold 4.5-12x40 on it. I've hunted alaska twice with it, killed rams, deer, and bears. She's my go to critter getter from mice to moose. It's been used hard, ain't pretty, but very effective and able to take a beating. My second choice is a darn close to unfired and almost flawless Winchester 94 30-30 from 1955. Seriously, barely a scratch on it no sling studs and completely virgin. For a <50 yard shot, is it worth bringing the 280, or should I make a great memory with the Winchester? Groups in the Winchester are tennis ball sized and poa at 50 yards with opensights. Let me know your thoughts and opinions.

38splfan

You are going in 2022? Wow! That is planning ahead.

For cougars 10 - 30 yards. No scope whatsoever. My weapon of choice would be a Winchester 92 carbine, or one of thir clones. Caliber of choice .44-40 or .44 Magnum. As a bonus you can carry a six gun in ghe same caliber.

If you don't have one. I just offered you the perfect excuse to fill ghat gap.

 

[Drm50]

I could be wrong but the Govt hunter that had biggest cougar score shot them with a 7.63 Mauser Pistol he might have sneaked the clip on stock. I would say for most hunters the 94, 30/30 would be the best choice. From coon hunting I have seen many guys who thought they were pistoleros do mighty poor shooting out coon.

 

[F224]

You could just buy a 2x Leupold Compact scope for your 280ai for this hunt. Cheaper than another gun, and load some Raptor bullets for it, they won't tear up the hide.