One, maybe 2 shots

One or 2 hit wonder

  • 357 snubby or sub compact 9mm, moderate chance of 2nd shot

  • 410 Derringer with buckshot, least chance of second shot

  • 380acp, weak but most likely to beable to shoot twice

  • EDC with several stabs

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I live and play in big cat country. There have been several attacks while I have lived here. The most recent was this past January, and absolutely could have been stopped with a firearm. Back in 2004 there were two separate attacks by the same cat. The first could not have been prevented with a gun. The second could have.

My carry gun here, as everywhere, is a 4" .357 Magnum.

As for blades, well, I suppose it would be my EDC Kershaw Emerson knock-off. Having said that, I REALLY do not want to get into a knife fight with a mountain lion.
 
I have encountered several black bears while hunting in the mountains in Southern California. Each time the bear was busting brush to run away from me. Kind of comical, actually.
I did come face to face with a mountain lion. Had that cat not blinked and had I not been looking directly at the bush it was hiding behind when it did blink I probably would not have seen it. I am not sure how that might have played out as I had no sidearm and was carrying a bolt action rifle loaded with 5 rounds of .270 Winchester.
I did not turn away. I faced the bush but did not stare at the cat. I backed down the trail I had come up until out of sight of the bush. I waited for a couple of minutes just standing there scanning the area then slowly turned and walked down the trail at the most nerve racking walking pace taking slow looks behind me every so often until I reached my truck a quarter mile away.

That experience cured me of never not having a sidearm.

I picked number one, but the revolver wouldn’t be a snubby and it would be a .357 or .45 Colt, depending on what other animals might be about.

In that same area a year later I found fresh bear tracks in fresh snow that were at least 11” wide paw prints. They were going Northwest. My new direction became Southeast. All of a sudden my hunting shotgun and my .45 just didn’t seem like enough. ;)
 
Pat Riot said:
I have encountered several black bears while hunting in the mountains in Southern California. Each time the bear was busting brush to run away from me. Kind of comical, actually.
I did come face to face with a mountain lion. Had that cat not blinked and had I not been looking directly at the bush it was hiding behind when it did blink I probably would not have seen it. I am not sure how that might have played out as I had no sidearm and was carrying a bolt action rifle loaded with 5 rounds of .270 Winchester.
I did not turn away. I faced the bush but did not stare at the cat. I backed down the trail I had come up until out of sight of the bush. I waited for a couple of minutes just standing there scanning the area then slowly turned and walked down the trail at the most nerve racking walking pace taking slow looks behind me every so often until I reached my truck a quarter mile away.

That experience cured me of never not having a sidearm.

I picked number one, but the revolver wouldn’t be a snubby and it would be a .357 or .45 Colt, depending on what other animals might be about.

In that same area a year later I found fresh bear tracks in fresh snow that were at least 11” wide paw prints. They were going Northwest. My new direction became Southeast. All of a sudden my hunting shotgun and my .45 just didn’t seem like enough. ;)
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My personal - and deeply frightening - experience with mountain lions is that getting big and mean works. I grab rocks, stand big and tall, and walk toward the cat while yelling and throwing. So far this has worked three times. I don't know if it would work on a cat desperate enough to think about eating a human, and I doubt if I would have the confidence to do it if I didn't have a gun on my hip, but there you go.
 
If in bear country a G29 with 10 rounds of 200 gr hardcast loads from Double Tap. If not in bear country either a G19 or my Sig 365 with 15 rounds or 12 rounds of 9mm +p ammo. I've never been in an area where big cats live, but they aren't any bigger than a human. if a 125 gr bullet at 1300 fps from a 357 will kill something that size so will a 124 gr bullet at 1250 fps from my 9mm. And while I may only get off 1 or 2 shots before it is on me. I don't plan to stop shooting just because it is chewing on me.
 
I would vote "Other" as in a sub-compact 9mm. like my Kahr CM9.

Two shots really quick, in this case might do the trick!
 
Mountain lions are supposedly pretty thin-skinned and I’ve read (zero practical experience) that .357 is widely considered adequate. Whether that applies for one that’s charging? I’d want something bigger. But clearly in this scenario be it cat or evil ninja, you’re going to want the most effective caliber if you will absolutely only get 1-2 shots. Put me down in the .357/9mm camp.

But I’d likely be carrying the .380; on a daily basis I have more to fear from a 2-legged miscreant or rabid animal than charging cougars.
 
Run across two lions first one was 2003 in Capital Reef National Park and three round in the ground in front of the lion got it launching the other way than a dragster. Second time, basically the same result. A few rounds in the dirt in front of the lion and off it goes. Forty cal both times. And today, I still carry a .40 when hiking and most of my hiking is done where big cats can be roaming, but if in grizzly area (western WY), I also carry a .44.

Now, the one that wondered around in my backyard a few years ago, and caught on my trial cam....
4aQZnzS.jpg
 
RETG said:
I give MY OPINION (not often) based on many years shooting at, other than paper targets. If you do not agree, great! However, I will not debate my experience vs. your experience based on dreams and "what ifs." I'm 71; I'm too damn old to care.
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I agree with you and just turned 70. I don't waste my time with ninjas, zombies, or other such foolishness. I deal in the real world; 38 Special and 357 Magnum for bipeds, and 41 Remington Magnum for quadrupeds.

Regards...
 
Why would either of you post then?
Time to waste?

Me too!:)

It’s fun to play games. Sometimes it’s fun to act like we are much too cool, or old, or tired to play.
Of course no one is making you play, nor would like to play with you...:p

I was going to choose the largest caliber I could shoot quickly, but 50AE wasn’t an option.
That’s okay, it shoots fast, but takes forever to get out of a holster!:D
 
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Well now this is a tough one when it comes to Ninjas. I guess if there was an option for OTHER I would choose that and use my .455 Webley & Scott revolver not to shoot but to bang him over the head with it until he is subdued and humbled.

For anything else you mention a 357 could do the job.
 
We don't have mountain lions in Arkansas -- well the Game and Fish Commission says if you see one (and I have) it's just passing through from another state. We do have black bear, and plenty of them -- but every black bear I've ever encountered just walked away from me. We do have feral hogs, and they can be vicious. And people WILL drop off dogs along the highway -- including pit bulls.

When I'm in the woods (and I live in the woods) I carry a Colt New Service in .45 Colt.
 
I voted .357, but if jogging in cat country, my snubbie would be a .44 Special Bulldog.
 
RETG said:
I give MY OPINION (not often) based on many years shooting at, other than paper targets. If you do not agree, great! However, I will not debate my experience vs. your experience based on dreams and "what ifs." I'm 71; I'm too damn old to care.
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I'm so impressed (not really)

dawei said:
I agree with you and just turned 70. I don't waste my time with ninjas, zombies, or other such foolishness. I deal in the real world; 38 Special and 357 Magnum for bipeds, and 41 Remington Magnum for quadrupeds.

Regards...
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But you sure put some effort into responding to this.

I woke up one night to a Mountain Lion screaming in my backyard and I consider myself forever blessed to havr heard it because it's not a common occurrence. The only time I've for sure seen a Mountain Lion was running across 30th street at about 3 O'clock in the morning while I was at work. Bears and Bobcats are a dime a dozen around here. I walked out my back door one morning and caught a Bobcat getting ready to eat my cat on the back porch. I threw a flower pot at it and it took off and my cat became an inside cat that day. I almost stepped on one at Rock Ledge Ranch one night.

To answer the question I carry a S&W 4006 when I go in the woods so that's what I'd have. If I'm not in the woods I carry a 9mm Glock so that's what I'd have.

I seem to remember a jogger in Boulder who choked out a juvenile Mountain Lion not too long ago. No gun needed.
 
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Take a dog with you.
That'll solve the problem.

They'll hear, smell or know its there or that something is off long before you ever will. And the barking usually keeps em at bay

Seen a couple while deer hunting up north. Mostly want nothing to do with you.

That said I'd choose a 357 mag.
 
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Cougars are pretty thin skinned so basically whatever you are comfortable with for 2 legged defence.

410 is pretty much useless from a long barrel, shorter barrel makes it much less so

380 could work but I wouldn't go that low.

Knife fight with something that's very existence has rode on it's abilities for killing in close quarters? That seems dumb as hell
 
WestKentucky said:
As ridiculous as the scenarios are, I’m going with a quick flick of my wrist to light off the bull pup cannon loaded with canister shot that I’m pulling on a wagon behind me.

But for quick and dirty scenarios where only a couple defensive shots are realistic, I want a fat and slow thumper from a revolver. 45colt, 44 special, 45acp...
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For now my carry piece in "critter country" is this.
20200516_165114.jpg
 
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