will a 9mm stop a mountain lion?

[AKElroy]

I heard about a guy jumped by a big cat outside of Cloudcroft NM; put 13 9mm rounds into it. He was able to get away, seriously injured, the cat was able to get back into the same tree by the time park rangers arrived to dispatch it. I would want more than a 9mm.

The problem with cats is that they will be on you before you ever hear them. A dog would help, but I would want a big bore revolver w/ HP's for what will likely be contact shots.

 

[Pocket Rocket]

Most of those states permit taking pumas with a 22 RFM

Is RFM a Rimfire Magnum? Mountain Lion are considered big game in Nevada and can't be taken with anything smaller than a 2" centerfire cartridge. At least in Nevada, that would rule out using the 9mm:

http://www.ndow.org/law/regs/huntregs/huntbook/2009/09_hb_section_2.pdf

Weapons for Hunting Big Game

Centerfire Firearm
(Refer to NACs 503.142 & 503.150)
Rifles: Must use a center-fire cartridge of .22 caliber or larger.
Handguns: Must have at least a 4-inch barrel and use either:

1.) A centerfire cartridge of .22 caliber or larger with an overall
loaded length of 2 inches; or

2.) A centerfire cartridge of .24 caliber or larger with a case length
equal to or longer than the case of a Remington .44 magnum.
Prohibited Firearms: Any firearm capable of firing more than
one round with one continuous pull of the trigger.
Prohibited Ammunition: Full metal jacket, full steel, full steel
core, tracer or incendiary bullets or shells.
Shotgun (only legal for deer and mountain lion): 10, 12, 16, or 20
gauge. Shotgun barrels may be smooth or rifled for either species.
For Deer: Only rifled slugs or shotgun rounds with sabots that
contain a single expanding projectile may be used for deer.

 

[IdahoLT1]

Is RFM a Rimfire Magnum? Mountain Lion are considered big game in Nevada and can't be taken with anything smaller than a 2" centerfire cartridge. At least in Nevada, that would rule out using the 9mm:

http://www.ndow.org/law/regs/huntreg..._section_2.pdf

This topic isnt about hunting. Its about self defense and none of those rules will apply when one is protecting themselves or family from a wild animal. Even then, Idaho has very lax hunting requirements when it comes to the firearms/weapons used. This is just for rifles/shotguns. There are other sections for archery and muzzle-loaders.

Weapon Restrictions
Rifle and Shotgun
In any hunt, including any-weapon seasons, it is unlawful to
pursue or kill big game animals:
• By any means other than approved firearms,
muzzleloaders and archery methods.
• With any electronic device attached to, or incorporated
on, the firearm or scope; Except scopes containing
battery powered or tritium lighted reticles are allowed.
• With any firearm that, in combination with a scope, sling
and/or any attachments, weighs more than 16 pounds.
• With any fully automatic firearm.
• With any shotgun using shot smaller than #00 buck.
• With any rimfire rifle, rimfire handgun, or muzzleloading handgun, except for mountain lion.

So by this, i would assume anyone could hunt an Elk with a .204 ruger or a black bear with a 9mm. There are no guidlines for pistols, except it cant be rimfire when it comes to big game(which excludes mountain lion)

 

[W L Johnson]

A dog would help

A dog would help in two ways
1) give you more warning
2) give the cat something else to eat instead.

 

[Pocket Rocket]

This topic isnt about hunting. Its about self defense and none of those rules will apply when one is protecting themselves or family from a wild animal.

That's true, but if the Department of Wildlife doesn't want you to use a 9mm to dispatch a mountain lion, isn't that a good reason to consider a higher caliber for self-defense from one? That's what I was getting at by posting the weapons restrictions.

 

[Drgong]

Sure it could, but the worse thing is that a mountain cat many times will sneak up on you. Thus I always thought that something your used to and can get onto target quickly (even if being jumped on) would be the most important thing.

It is better then a stick, if I had a choice, it would be a .44 special loaded with gold-dots.

 

[IdahoLT1]

That's true, but if the Department of Wildlife doesn't want you to use a 9mm to dispatch a mountain lion, isn't that a good reason to consider a higher caliber for self-defense from one? That's what I was getting at by posting the weapons restrictions.

No. US citizens have the right to defend themselves with whatever they can and by any means. States pass minimum caliber requirements to appease animal rights activist and sugar coat it by saying its more humane.

Hypothetically, if a person breaks into my house and intends to do harm, what difference does it make if i defend myself with a 12ga. shotgun or with a frying pan?

 

[loop]

Didn't think about it in my first post, but I lived near Homedale, Id, when I went lion hunting with a friend who is a guide and owns a game farm near Parma.

The rules in Idaho may have changed since then (I moved from Idaho about nine years ago), but he carried a .22RFM.

I was much more concerned about bears because I am an avid trout angler. Bears like to wait for you to land a trout or start cleaning your catch and then go after your fish.

I carried a Glock 20 loaded with 200-grain hardball. Carrying 16 rounds of hot 10mm ammo made me as confident as I could get with a pistol. I see you list an Elite Match in 10 in your signature. That would be my back country carry gun.

Unless you are hanging around in Owyhee County, I suspect bears are more of an issue than lions.

But, since you are in Boise, I suggest you go over to Intermountain Outdoor Sports and find an old guy behind the gun counter and ask him what works best on the local backwoods predators. If his name is Ron S., take his word as Gospel.

The dog suggestion is a good one for lion protection. I'd recommend a cur, a Jack Russel or a rat terrier. They are all very quick and agile, have excellent noses and great ears. They won't win a fight with a predator, but they will give you more warning than almost any other breed. Then it is up to you.

In Idaho, you must remember that it is OK to kill predators to protect livestock, but it is not to protect pets. So, if you must shoot something out of season it is because your life was threatened, not your dog's...

I miss Idaho. If I ever go back it will be to the Owyhees, somewhere near CDA or near Pocy. The Owyhee River Canyon is one of the last great "undiscovered" places in the country.

 

[IdahoLT1]

Didn't think about it in my first post, but I lived near Homedale, Id, when I went lion hunting with a friend who is a guide and owns a game farm near Parma.

The rules in Idaho may have changed since then (I moved from Idaho about nine years ago), but he carried a .22RFM.

I was much more concerned about bears because I am an avid trout angler. Bears like to wait for you to land a trout or start cleaning your catch and then go after your fish.

I carried a Glock 20 loaded with 200-grain hardball. Carrying 16 rounds of hot 10mm ammo made me as confident as I could get with a pistol. I see you list an Elite Match in 10 in your signature. That would be my back country carry gun.

Unless you are hanging around in Owyhee County, I suspect bears are more of an issue than lions.

But, since you are in Boise, I suggest you go over to Intermountain Outdoor Sports and find an old guy behind the gun counter and ask him what works best on the local backwoods predators. If his name is Ron S., take his word as Gospel.

The dog suggestion is a good one for lion protection. I'd recommend a cur, a Jack Russel or a rat terrier. They are all very quick and agile, have excellent noses and great ears. They won't win a fight with a predator, but they will give you more warning than almost any other breed. Then it is up to you.

In Idaho, you must remember that it is OK to kill predators to protect livestock, but it is not to protect pets. So, if you must shoot something out of season it is because your life was threatened, not your dog's...

I miss Idaho. If I ever go back it will be to the Owyhees, somewhere near CDA or near Pocy. The Owyhee River Canyon is one of the last great "undiscovered" places in the country.

In idaho, mountain lions can be legally hunted with rimfire rifles or pistols.

Unfortunately, Intermountain Outdoor Sports has been closed for a long time. Probably like 10 years or so. I use to see the former owner at gun shows where he had a rack of Romanian AK's fo sale.

Your right in some respects as far as protecting domestic animals from predators. Like you said, Idaho Statute 36-1107(b) allows a owner of livestock or employee to protect livestock from cougars, bears and predators that are attacking or molesting livestock.

However, what i find odd is that Idaho Statute 36-1107(c) allows the disposal of wolves that are attacking or molesting livestock and domestic animals by its owners or company employees.

Im somewhat confident that if a person protects their dog from a cougar, that F&G wont make a real big deal about it.

 

[MD_Willington]

9-9mm balls out of a 12 gage will

They are thin skinned... but sneaky..

we have some big'ns where I'm from

http://www.huntingvancouverisland.com/photo_gallery/cougar_hunting.html

 

[RoostRider]

Thread summary:

- yes it would!

- no it wouldn't!

- it might, but I would want something bigger if a charging lion was going to eat my face!

- it's all about shot placement!

Sorry.... had to do it.... lol... you're good man... given that is all you can find, the question is moot as to different loads... you aren't going to get attacked by a Mountain Lion, and if you are, you have a LOT of chance of killing/wounding it bad and/or scaring it away (as much as most any gun)...

 

[FM-793]

Thread summary:

- yes it would!

- no it wouldn't!

- it might, but I would want something bigger if a charging lion was going to eat my face!

- it's all about shot placement!

Ha! You obviously forgot my favorite:

-"my brother's wife's cousin's uncle's sister's nephew killed a grizzly/polar bear/bengal tiger/charging rhino/mountain lion with a .22 LR/Gamo air rifle/Daisy Red Ryder"

 

[Texasborn]

i would go with a 147 gr JHP. then i would sneak up on him and shoot him in the balls. that should give you a decent head start.

You better hope it's not a female lion.

 

[UnTainted]

loop, shhhhhh! don't tell "them" (outsiders) about the Owyhees!

 

[BushyGuy]

oh yeah a 9mm can definitely kill a mountain lion, i am not saying with one shot but a couple of shots with FMJ or +p Corbons will do the job. alot of people think the 9mm is under rated , its the .45 that is over rated. a 9mm NATO FMJ bullet can penetrate twice as deep as a .45 FMJ, and a +p+ 9mm JHP can hit alot harder then any .45 JHP.

 

[Keb]

How many times will you pull the trigger?

 

[loop]

Untainted,

Sorry, didn't mean to let the cat out of the bag about the Owyhees...

Probably won't make much difference even if I did, though. It is too rough a country for most urban types.

Only place I've ever been that a muddy swirl in a stream means tasty trout - LOL.

Wouldn't worry too much about the flatlanders. All they seem to do is make the sheriff's search and rescue budget go into the red every year...

 

[Gungle George]

Man, I sure wouldn't bet my life on a 9mm. When I'm hiking, fishing or bow hunting I carry a Smith & Wesson Model 57 .41 mag.

Cheers,

Gungle George

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

I'd hope a bullet to the cats face would atleast scare it off if it didn't kill it, though I would feel more comfortable carrying something bigger.

 

[broncobob]

Defensive rounds in my magizine

First of all I shoot 45 acp,always have since my tour of duty in the
Marine Corps ended in 1968.I have several pistols Glock,Kimber,S&W.
this is how i stack my magazines,First round is A corbon blue tip +P
second through seven rounds are black talons.my thinking is the first
round I want to virtually explode in him,second and so on to rip his
guts out.Now don't get me wrong,I'm not mean spirited,just direct
and to the point,if ever I have to pull it in self defence,I want it to
end quick,fast,and in A hurry,what do you think.

 

[cannibal4]

If you dont panic, stay calm, get good shot placement 9mm will take down a cat. In January I took a 290# wild hog with 1 shot at 15 yards, 9mm Ruger w/ 125gr.
It's all about staying calm and shot placement.

 

[MRPAPA]

Lolol

And the answer is yes if you place the shot properly
No if you dont
Maybe if your close

 

[middy]

No.

Nukes from orbit is the only way to be sure.

Or a .45acp. A near miss with a .45 will make their brain explode.

A 9mm will just make them angry.

 

[anheiserglock]

Any Zoos near your house??

 

[Sheepdog1968]

A 9 mm wouldn't be my first choice. There was an article in the San Francisco Chronicle in late Jan/early Feb 2009 detailing the cops who shot the escaped tiger in the San Francisco zoo w their 40 cal handguns. Of course, tigers are bigger than Mt. Lions. Having said that, it's better than nothing. I'd also cnosider bringing a can of bear mace/pepper spray.