Cougar caliber

[Oh Mah]

I have heard a few discussions on this.What would be a good caliber for cougar,That would do min. damage to meat and pelt but still provide a clean kill?

[Curly]

243 win

[theleo]

223

[jay.sharkbait]

.218 bee

[JJB11B]

.357 Magnum lever gun?

[Wolfdog2314]

100 grain RAD Ti Con broadhead

[Oh Mah]

.218 bee

Really?  I take it with the replies so far the cougar is a pretty thin skinned animal to take.So with these replies i will use the .556 and will be fine. Thanks for the replies.

[hunter399]

223/556 is a great cal. If your useing softpoints that's what in during for coyote,couger,ect.I even think it should be able to use it on deer,other states it is a proven deer cal.

[JJB11B]

kills the heck out of humans, seems logical

[Oh Mah]

I reload with Sierra Game Kings use them on coyotes so it should be fine.Thanks

[hunter399]

I have had good luck with hornady softpoints ,55 gr. Go in 22 size come out about the size of a quarter.

[jay.sharkbait]

.218 bee

Really?  I take it with the replies so far the cougar is a pretty thin skinned animal to take.So with these replies i will use the .556 and will be fine. Thanks for the replies.

I thought I'd throw an odd one out there.

[JJB11B]

.218 bee

Really?  I take it with the replies so far the cougar is a pretty thin skinned animal to take.So with these replies i will use the .556 and will be fine. Thanks for the replies.

I thought I'd throw an odd one out there.

Fireball lol Ill leave it open to interpretation

[Oh Mah]

 lol. Yep odd is understatement.If you wanted to say anything from the weakest on up you have done it. lmao.

[NOCK NOCK]

  Shot my cat at 80Yards broadside, .280 with factory 140g. PSP, bullseye front shoulder, dropped in tracks, found bullet on exit side between meat and n hide. Kittys can be tough critters. Same combo/distance will blow a hole right through a mulie buck. 

[yorketransport]

.218 bee

Look at that, you're recommending the minimalist approach to cartridge selection!

The 219 zipper is a reasonable minimum.

[sled]

308 worked perfect for me.

[MADMAX]

.223 worked for me

[Ridgeratt]

    Triple Deuce would be a choice as well

[jay.sharkbait]

.218 bee

Look at that, you're recommending the minimalist approach to cartridge selection!

The 219 zipper is a reasonable minimum.

Well if you are going to go that far then why not .219 Donaldson wasp?

[Ridgeratt]

.218 bee

Look at that, you're recommending the minimalist approach to cartridge selection!

The 219 zipper is a reasonable minimum.

Well if you are going to go that far then why not .219 Donaldson wasp?

Then let's not forget the 225 Winchester also

[jay.sharkbait]

.218 bee

Look at that, you're recommending the minimalist approach to cartridge selection!

The 219 zipper is a reasonable minimum.

Well if you are going to go that far then why not .219 Donaldson wasp?

Then let's not forget the 225 Winchester also

It's tough on fur, but if anyone is looking for ammunition.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,203204.0.html

[bearpaw]

Cougar are pretty easy to kill, I've seen them shot with 22 long rifle and 22 mags. But if you are calling or stalking I would use a little more gun than if I was shooting a cat bayed up by hounds. I would figure .223 minimum if boot hunting for a cougar, any deer rifle is going to do a good job, but leave the ultramags and such home, there's simply no reason to give your taxidermist's a bigger hole to sew up! Good luck, a cougar makes a fascinating mount!

[fly-by]

Any of the 6 or 6.5mms would be a good choice with the added benefit of being legal for big game.  Just alter the bullet used.  Shot mine with .260 Remington and 100gr a-max.  Small entry, no exit, made a mess of the hear/lung area.

[Jasmin]

Don't forget if you are in Washington anything under a .22 center fire would not be legal to kill a cougar with, and they will ask you when you get it sealed. Page 85 of your regs. That would mean the .22 lr and .22 mag are not legal along with the .218 and .219.

[jay.sharkbait]

Don't forget if you are in Washington anything under a .22 center fire would not be legal to kill a cougar with, and they will ask you when you get it sealed. Page 85 of your regs. That would mean the .22 lr and .22 mag are not legal along with the .218 and .219.

The 218 and 219 shoot .224 diameter bullets

[sled]

My taxi fixed the 308 cal hole just fine..  and it was plenty fun to not second guess.bottom pick you can see the two raised hair spots where the bullet holes are.  This was before it was finished.  Over right and left ear.

[JoeE]

I would use whatever gun I had in my hand and not think twice. But if I was going after a cougar specifically then probably a 243 or a 223.

[bearpaw]

Don't forget if you are in Washington anything under a .22 center fire would not be legal to kill a cougar with, and they will ask you when you get it sealed. Page 85 of your regs. That would mean the .22 lr and .22 mag are not legal along with the .218 and .219.

True today, but there was a time in WA when there were no caliber restrictions, nor hunting hour restrictions, nor hound restrictions. Essentially I was pointing out how easy a cougar can be killed to support my comment about not needing big magnum power. I do appreciate you wanting to keep the OP legal in case he didn't realize the history and current laws!  

[mountainman]

Cougar are pretty easy to kill, I've seen them shot with 22 long rifle and 22 mags. But if you are calling or stalking I would use a little more gun than if I was shooting a cat bayed up by hounds. I would figure .223 minimum if boot hunting for a cougar, any deer rifle is going to do a good job, but leave the ultramags and such home, there's simply no reason to give your taxidermist's a bigger hole to sew up! Good luck, a cougar makes a fascinating mount!

when in a tree, a .22lr in the lungs dispatched very quickly. Seen it several times in the past.