will a 9mm stop a mountain lion?

[481]

I don't think they had much time, hopefully their agency doesn't just not issue them with long guns.

Either way, that's what they had, and it did work.

NG IV,

Yep, they were fortunate.

Over the course of my LE career, I've had to dispatch charging dogs (Rottweilers and Pit Bulls) six times. "Urban" patrol will get you alot of that.

I was bitten only once (severely), by a Pit Bull that weighed about 40 pounds after I hit him three times in the upper chest with .45 230 gr. JHPs (Winchester Rangers) that passed nearly his entire length before exiting his flanks.

Two more rounds (muzzle contact) to the dog's left side "removed" him from my upper thigh permanently.

For those who feel that they can effectively answer the fatal threat offered by an enraged mountian lion (whose body weight may range from 80 to 140 pounds), armed with two paws full of knives (claws) and a mouth full of sharp, pointy teeth with a service pistol (in 9mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, 10mm, .45 ACP):

I pray that your "self assurance" in your abilities and the "confidence" in your choice of weapon/caliber rises to meet the "reality" that you will face.

In the end though, people will do what they wish no matter how ill-advised it might be and you cannot save them from themselves.

S'pose "kitty" has gotta eat, too.

 

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

Id really want a 357 mag at least if I was seriously worried about mountain lions, and i'd be getting the hottest loads I could find for it it, but thats just me.

 

[Big Bill]

Mt lions are not pit bulls. They don’t behave like them. They are not aggressive like pit bulls.

They are rare to see and rarely attack healthy adults. The biggest problem we have with them is encroachment by civilization into their traditional hunting grounds. Adult lions are very territorial and solitary (except females with young). And, they have a specific territory that they mark and hunt in, which is generally about 20 sq. miles.

Mt lions avoid people whenever possible. But, sometimes young lions or displaced lions may revert to desperate measures in order to survive. These lions are the most dangerous of all. They seek opportunities and usually try to exploit weakness.

Many years ago, when I was younger, I hunted cougars and bears with hounds, and never carried anything bigger than a .22 mag. And, I NEVER had any problems. I was never attacked by a lion even when I was in close proximity with one. And, my hounds were never attacked or hurt by one either. In fact, we have lots of cougars here in the mountains of southern Idaho; and, it was hard to even find a track fresh enough to run.

So, I don’t think lions pose much of a threat. But, I do admit that for those who don’t go to the mountains often, a good lever .45 or 30-30 would be my first choice. But, a .357 revolver would probably work OK – if one knows how to use it and can hit what they aim at.

When in the hills, I am always looking for tracks and other sign that indicate what animals are in the area. Situational awareness is a trait that everyone needs to cultivate and improve. IOW, always be ready for anything.

Remember that the tools you use aren’t nearly as important as how well you use them.

 

[481]

Mt lions are not pit bulls. They don’t behave like them. They are not aggressive like pit bulls.

Not the point that I was making.

I never said that they (mountain lions) act like them (pit bulls). If you'll (re-)read my post above you'll see that I said nothing of the sort. I never equated the behavior of mountain lions with that of pit bulls.

 

[Big Bill]

481 – please don’t think that I was attacking you.

All I was saying is that a mountain lion is far less likely to attack a person than is a pit bull. I realize that the point you were making is that if one is attacked by a mt lion, it would be very hard to kill with a 9mm. And, that's probably generally true. But, the same argument could be made against a rifle. If one is surprised by a lion, a rifle would be hard to bring into the fight at close quarters. Perhaps a large fighting knife would be better.

If one is completely surprised by a lion, chances are that, that person one will be dead rather quickly - despite what gun is carried. I don't think the argument here is whether a 9mm or a .357 is the better caliber to use. I think the discussion should be what to do and how to prevent a lion attack from occuring.

I also personally think that an aggressive stance and even barking at a lion that is in close proximity plus some bear pepper spray may be all the deterrent needed.

In my experience of hunting extensively the mountains of Idaho, I have never worried about being attacked by a mountain lion. So, I'm personally happy with carrying a hi cap 9mm. I venture to say that a proper 9mm round placed right will kill a mt lion just as dead as a .357.

 

[W.E.G.]

Lion killed with security guard's revolver.
Doesn't look like kitty's too tough once the lead starts flying.

Violent and bloody - You have been warned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqSLWMnc8-c

 

[Big Bill]

Here's the problem we have in a nutshell:

Mountain Lion Encounter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj7ZS-L-RAc&feature=related

Too many people in lion territory.

 

[481]

481 – please don’t think that I was attacking you.

All I was saying is that a mountain lion is far less likely to attack a person than is a pit bull. I realize that the point you were making is that if one is attacked by a mt lion, it would be very hard to kill with a 9mm.

Bill,

We're cool. I didn't take your post like that at all, but thanks for making it clear.

I agree with the remainder of your post, too. There's likely no chance of getting out of a scrape like that (big cat attack) without being injured.

 

[Manco]

Lion killed with security guard's revolver.
Doesn't look like kitty's too tough once the lead starts flying.

Violent and bloody - You have been warned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqSLWMnc8-c

That's a real lion, too, which is much larger and more powerful than a so-called mountain lion, which is really a puma or cougar (what's in a name?). And yes, a service pistol caliber round--even a 9mm I bet--can stop and kill a lion, although I would feel more confident with a hard-cast round in .40 or .45, just in case. Sure, a .44 Magnum would be even better, but guess what--it won't necessarily stop or kill with a single shot every time, either. I'll take a caliber that I can shoot more easily, and save the .44 for grizzlies.

 

[357SIG]

9mm is more than enough for a mt lion. It will probably take multiple shots, as it would with most anything else.

 

[Skillet]

If you are in the Owyhees you ought to know how to spell it. I suggest you spend more time in class at Marsing High School and less time fantasizing about your hunting trip up Reynolds Creek.

-Originally posted by Loop

I live in Nampa but hunt in the Reyonolds Creek Drainage area, and can spell very efficiently thank you, and can spend my time the way I feel like it.

and I don't fantasize, I question and think about the task ahead of me that is why I posted this in the first place. And, I would carry a rifle with one in the chamber, I just forget most of the time, as well as forgetting to put one round in the chamber of my 9mm.

And if you actually hunted up in that area you would know that all I have witnessed in the past few years are deer that are too BIG.

And, when the opening day is on a weekday, the people traffic up there is very minimal.

You sir, failed to answer my original post and instead opted to insult me and offend me like many of the idiots do at my pathetic school I attend.

Calling a person "dumb as a rock" isn't a fast way to make friends.

 

[Art Eatman]

Sheesh! Five pages. Necrothreadia. Round and round. Gettin' personal...