Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Mountain Lion Load

I just made my security deposit, too close to a week's pay for comfort, for a January 2005 mountain lion hunt. The hunt will be in Nevada, using ATVs, snow mobiles, dogs, and shoe leather. I have in mind a 6 1/2" S&W Model 624 .44 Special, 6 1/2" and a S&W Model 25-2 6 1/2" .45 Auto Rim. I have two loads in hand for the .44 Special, 180 grain Sierra HC at 1308 fps using 20.0 grains 2400, and 240 grain cast SWC at 1192 fps using 17.0 grains 2400. My Auto Rim loads are 255 cast SWC at 965 fps, using 7.5 grains Unique and 255 grain cast SWC at 1018 fps, using 14.0 grains 2400. I have two heavy .45 Colt loads using 300 grain Hornady XTP at 950-1100 fps, lots of velocity variation, loaded with an unknown charge of W296 and Buffalo Bore 325 grain LBT-FN at 1300 fps from my 5 1/2" Ruger Redhawk. I also have my hand loaded 255 grain cast SWC loads with 18.5 grains 2400 which gives 1041 fps and 10.0 grains Unique clocking at 958 fps. All these loads used Winchester brass and WLP primers. The Auto Rim cases were Remington made. Should I try one of those new (to me) Nosler 260 Partitions in .45 Colt? Will the 1300 fps .44 Spl hollow points expand "just enough" on a lung shot? Will it penetrate a shoulder first? I'd guess the range will be in feet, from the top of some pine tree to the ground, no more than 25 yards certainly. Of course the ultimate goal is a one shot dead lion, no matter what the presented angle as long as the heart-lungs are in line with my aim point. Protecting the dogs, and humans for that matter, is a priority. No dead lions two minutes later will be acceptable! I of course have my trusty .41 Magnumum Model 57 6" and .44 Magnum Model 629 6" and .45 Colt Model 25 6" if these calibers / guns are your first choices, but I've already taken deer and pigs with them and wanted something a little different. Thanks for the input in advance.

Of choices given I would go with the .44 Spl hollow points at 1300 fps. I will add that I would probably go with Hornady 180 grain XTP/HP's rather than the Seirra. At the ranges given and the fact that Lion are a "soft" target I would think it would get the job done quite nicely.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I agree with "T". IF I EVER use a Sierra bullet it's only used on paper or woodchucks. I have heard too many stories of bullet failure when Sierra's were used on game animals. My choice in bullet manufacturers (FWIW) are in order, Hornady, Speer, then Nosler. On occasion. I use Barnes X. Have a great hunt and I think you're being very methodical in your preparation. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'll agree with the rest and go with the 180's @ 1300 if using what you have. Of all you mentioned, I would opt for the 260 gr. partition in .45. dvnv

I agree with the rest. A mountain lion is not hard to kill, if you shoot correctly. I know a retired (Calif.) lion/bear guide who killed quite a few moutain lions, some of them quite large, with his .22LR Colt's Woodsman. These lions had been treed by his dogs.

I know a rancher in s.w. Colo. who has killed several with his .22 Mag. Ruger.

Sounds as if you'll be shooting at a treed, or "bayed" lion. Main thing is to SHOOT ACCURATELY.

Good luck and get plenty of good pictures to post.

L.W.

Carson, Congrats on the upcoming hunt! I don't know where in Nevada you are hunting but I offer this advice: get in shape now! You might be able to have something(atv, horse) carry you to that lion but maybe you'll have to do some serious cilmbing through snow in order to follow the dogs. Be ready for anything.
As to your question, the guide that handled my mountain lion hunt was not very concerned about the ordinance used. He said just about anything would work but was adamant about the first(and, hopefully, only) shot being true. I used an old Ruger .44Magnum Carbine with Federal 240gr. Hydra-Shocks. The animal was high above us in a large pine and I put the shot between his front legs(sternum) and the bullet exited between his shoulder blades. Lights out! When he hit the ground, the dogs were on him instantly--no chance for a follow-up even if one had been needed.You really don't want to shoot the guide's dog!
You might have to take an odd-angled shot but if you know where all the important parts are inside the animal's chest, it's no big deal.
Good luck! Report back with pictures in January. RS

I have had nothing but good luck with Sierra bullets on light skinned game. The last deer I took with a handgun was with a .44 magnum using a 180 grain Sierra at 1700 fps. Hit the deer in the chest at 30 feet. Turnded the heart into Jello, ripped up one lung and broke two ribs before exiting. Deer dropped on his nose and never got up.

If you are using a .44 you might also look at the 200 grain Speer Gold Dot HP. Made to hold together but expand at .44 Special velocities. At 1200-1300 fps the bullet should dump a lot of energy quick but continue to penetrate.

With your above list of guns and loads all are winners....if it were me I would use the .41 Magnum with a 170 Sierra or 210 Speer GPHP....

Good luck on the hunt.....Bob

Barnes bullets (sometimes Nosler partitions) are what come hunting with me.

Guess I'll be the big detractor here, my choice in the 44 would be a 240 or 300 gr hard cast SWC keith design bullet.
Something that will hit hard, make a big hole and not need to (hopefully) expand at pistol velocities like a hollow point.

I just thought I'd mention I got my mountain lion with the 5 1/2" Red Hawk using the 300 grain XTP. The lion was in/under a big pile of rocks and it was shadowed. I shot him four times, he slid out of my line of sight and my guide finished him with three 230 grain JHPs from his Ruger P90 .45 ACP. I guess a small gun in the right place beats a bigger gun in the wrong place. My shots entered in the left shoulder area low down and exited the right hip. Two of the four bullets were recovered. My guide's three shots high in the shoulder crossed through both shoulders and stopped under the skin on the opposite side. One of the 230 grain JHPs made it to the skin and was recovered. We were freezing and we didn't cut the cat open, so no more details are known. A great adventure with lots of looking for tracks over lots of country before the real excitement began.