Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game What weapon for Mountain lion? lighter the better!

That is good wisdom Dennis. And you are so right. VERY few people can hit a pop can at 10 paces with any handgun. If I were an outfitter, I would definitely recommend some kind of carbine as well. For me personally, I still like a .357 or .44 mag pistol. Not much will shrug them off, especially a kitty. Flinch

Sometmes it isn't practical, sometimes it doesn't matter. Another friend had his tied and back from the rocks when the cat was shot. Jumped off and came staight at the tied dogs! I guess he was pissed!

Most of his cats have been cattle-killers and oftimes the rancher is along. They shoot what they carry and don't want anything heavy along. One lion hunter I know was carrying one of those take-down survival rifles. I never found out how it faired! He mostly used a 44 mag with a 7" barrel before that. But he was riding so armed, every day.

I plan on a cat hunt in the future and expect I'll use my 22 Hornet.

GreggH

Never hunted cats myself but sounds fun. My very good childhood friend moved to Nevada and ended up getting into running hounds. He killed a bunch and guided a bunch of other people to lions.
At his wedding a couple years ago he told me that he found a T/C Encore chambered in 223 to be about perfect for quick kills and ease of carry.

Thats a good point.

Years ago I used to have a TC carbine (years before the Encore) I had a 16" 30-30 barrel wearing a Williams peep. It used to get broke down into two halves and stuffed in a backpack a lot. That would make a pretty good cat gun for the guy that can't shoot a handgun.

Wiunchester 94, Trapper model would be great. 30-30.

Used a Model 94 30-30 on my Gila cat hunt in March of 2008. No cat though. Gonna have to go back.