mgregg85
Member
I guess there is another .22 I'd carry, the PLR-16 with a Beta C-mag.
Will a .22 LR take a cougar?
- Thread starter heavyshooter
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shooterfromtexas
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Sure it might, but a 357mag will do a better job.
TallPine
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You can cut a 24" tree with a 12" chainsaw, but it takes a while ... 
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rswartsell
Member
While I would be quite content to observe from safety of my desk chair, you gotta admit Felis Concolor is a magnificent brute.
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rswartsell
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The guy that gets mauled by an animal with 3 neat holes bored clear through it.
DWARREN123
Member
Yes but I would not want to be the one doing it.
rswartsell
Member
Me either, did you read Wyocarp's previous post on this thread? Bet he wasn't overly happy about it himself.
testar77
Member
Yes just like a small stone out of a sling will kill a giant, but you better hope like this example that you have some divine assistance 
22-rimfire
Member
I've never had the reason or opportunity to hunt or shoot a cougar/mountain lion with a 22LR. That said, if that is all I had with me, then 22LR it would be.
But as a conservative thinking man, I would lean toward a revolver in 357 mag. I think any of the normal self defense loads and bullets would work just fine.
I would most likely be packing either a 3" Ruger GP100 or a 4" Smith Model 57 if I were hiking in country where I had a concern for defense against a cougar or black bear encounter that I could not avoid without shooting. Why? Cause that is what I got.
But as a conservative thinking man, I would lean toward a revolver in 357 mag. I think any of the normal self defense loads and bullets would work just fine.
I would most likely be packing either a 3" Ruger GP100 or a 4" Smith Model 57 if I were hiking in country where I had a concern for defense against a cougar or black bear encounter that I could not avoid without shooting. Why? Cause that is what I got.
mljdeckard
Member
You could get VERY, VERY, VERY lucky.
A cougar is the strongest cat in the world for its weight. They are VERY agile and crafty. If one was lunging or charging at me, I think it would be luck to clear the holster with ANY handgun. This would be the ultimate stress-fire test, with high stakes of losing.
I'm remembering the look on Luke's face when the torpedoes actually went into the vent and destroyed the Death Star. THAT's how I would feel if I stopped a cougar with a .22
A cougar is the strongest cat in the world for its weight. They are VERY agile and crafty. If one was lunging or charging at me, I think it would be luck to clear the holster with ANY handgun. This would be the ultimate stress-fire test, with high stakes of losing.
I'm remembering the look on Luke's face when the torpedoes actually went into the vent and destroyed the Death Star. THAT's how I would feel if I stopped a cougar with a .22
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jaydubya
Member
Digger said: "I saw a very interesting show on Mt. Lion attacks (on Discovery I think if you are interested), one thing all the attacks had in common was that the victims NEVER saw it coming.
I will add to that the rest of what I posted on that other thread. At a golf course I often play, next to a wooded pond but surrounded by homes, a golfer happened to turn around and almost had a heart attack. A mountain lion kitten, estimated age 4 months, was a yard behind him, about to spring. The deputies had to shoot it. Along that line, several joggers up in the next county have been killed or badly injured by mountain lions who jumped them from the rear.
Moral of the story: you most likely will not know there is a mountain lion in the same county with you until it is too late. Your best defense, I was not kidding in my previous post, is a halloween mask on the back of your head. The caliber of your weapon, be it .22 or 105mm, will not matter if a lion has you by the neck.
Cordially, Jack
I will add to that the rest of what I posted on that other thread. At a golf course I often play, next to a wooded pond but surrounded by homes, a golfer happened to turn around and almost had a heart attack. A mountain lion kitten, estimated age 4 months, was a yard behind him, about to spring. The deputies had to shoot it. Along that line, several joggers up in the next county have been killed or badly injured by mountain lions who jumped them from the rear.
Moral of the story: you most likely will not know there is a mountain lion in the same county with you until it is too late. Your best defense, I was not kidding in my previous post, is a halloween mask on the back of your head. The caliber of your weapon, be it .22 or 105mm, will not matter if a lion has you by the neck.
Cordially, Jack
If I'm just knocking around in the woods in cougar country, I want a minimum of a 357swc. What I would feel comfortable with is a 41mag 210swc, 44mag 250grswc, 45colt 300grswc. I prefer the Colt out of a Ruger but any of the last three, 41,44,45, will do the job. 357 will probably work but I personally want big bullet against something that is in his house can move quiter than you outrun you, and finally EAT you. I recind my earlier vote for the 45colt, I want a 870 full of slugs and 1 buck.
heavyshooter
Member
Since we agree that the .22LR is a bad idea...
...I assume that the idea of bear [pepper] spray is ridiculous to all of you? Honestly, if you cannot take a cat with a .22LR, why would you confront a grizzlie with OC spray.
...I assume that the idea of bear [pepper] spray is ridiculous to all of you? Honestly, if you cannot take a cat with a .22LR, why would you confront a grizzlie with OC spray.
loneviking
Member
There are several things you can do when hiking in mountain lion country:
1. Go armed.
2. Take a dog, and not a little one. I usually take my doberman along with me. Their eyes, ears and nose are better than mine and can alert you to trouble.
3. Stop every so often (I stop every time the trail puts me into new terrain or scenery) , rest on a good hiking staff for a few moments and check all around you--especially your six. This is always a good idea as other problems can crop up. I've seen trees fall, boulders come rolling down a hill, even rockslides suddenly happen.
4. Carry a pack. Have water, matches, food, knife and a few gauze bandages with tape. If kitty lands on your back, the pack might slow him down and give you a chance to get away by dropping the pack. If injured, a well stocked pack can mean life or death.
I've hiked for years in the Sierras and I've seen Mountain Lions---usually on the run or headed over the next hill. Bears are usually more trouble than a Cougar.
1. Go armed.
2. Take a dog, and not a little one. I usually take my doberman along with me. Their eyes, ears and nose are better than mine and can alert you to trouble.
3. Stop every so often (I stop every time the trail puts me into new terrain or scenery) , rest on a good hiking staff for a few moments and check all around you--especially your six. This is always a good idea as other problems can crop up. I've seen trees fall, boulders come rolling down a hill, even rockslides suddenly happen.
4. Carry a pack. Have water, matches, food, knife and a few gauze bandages with tape. If kitty lands on your back, the pack might slow him down and give you a chance to get away by dropping the pack. If injured, a well stocked pack can mean life or death.
I've hiked for years in the Sierras and I've seen Mountain Lions---usually on the run or headed over the next hill. Bears are usually more trouble than a Cougar.
lloveless
Member
Loneviking has the right idea-be aware of your surroundings. This is true whether you're in the city or in the country. The size of the dog doesn't matter, it is the size of the fight in the dog. A 7 lb jack russell is credited with killing a 45 lb coyote who kills for a living.
Food for thought. I enjoy the companionship of my shelties and kuvasz. I still hike armed usually a .357 sp101 3 inch or a 2.5 inch charter 2000 .44 spcl.
Food for thought. I enjoy the companionship of my shelties and kuvasz. I still hike armed usually a .357 sp101 3 inch or a 2.5 inch charter 2000 .44 spcl.
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I have to agree with a lot of the posts so far. If you have a .357, why in the world would you want to take a .22.
If you are likely to encounter a Couger, you are almost as likely to encounter a Bear.
Now your question should be, what kind of ammo do I need for my .357!
If you are likely to encounter a Couger, you are almost as likely to encounter a Bear.
Now your question should be, what kind of ammo do I need for my .357!
wyocarp
Member
Rethinking this. Why waste gunpowder? I personally know someone here in Wyoming that killed an antelope with a BB gun. He was trying to get the antelope out of his yard and shot it in the chest. Apparently, they have a soft spot and when shot there it leads straight to the heart as they dug the BB out of the heart of the antelope.
Maybe skip the .22, and just buy a Remington pump BB gun like this fellow used and find a good spot to shot a lion.
Maybe skip the .22, and just buy a Remington pump BB gun like this fellow used and find a good spot to shot a lion.
wyocarp
Member
Well, first of all. I was not carrying my .500's for lions. I was bear hunting. I would use different bullets if what I was going to encounter was only a lion. My hobby is calling bears so I want hard hitting calibers. One bear that I called last week pulled up when I stood up at about 7 feet when I stood up.
The one lion that had three .500 rounds put through him with the last one being put into him just right in front of me and brushed by my leg was beginning to visibly be dragging probably just about 15 feet beyond me and was down by about 60 feet beyond. Even if he had attacked me, he would have been very weak. There was an incredible blood trail.
The game and fish kept asking me if I thought they were going to attack me. Idiots! The lions were running straight at me and they had the ability to run in any other direction. I wasn't able to ask their intention. I do think that they were hurting as they went by me though.
Bullet construction if just for lions would be better if they would expand. Most people should not be thinking that they will have the opportunity to get many rounds off either. In this instance, I was fortunate that they were having to climb a very steep hill which gave me a little more time. It was steep enough that when the game and fish officer and I went back there, we both slipped onto our rears while going down the hill.
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