.22LR for bobcat??

[N7XW]

I've never really been serious about bobcat hunting....until now.  What's the consensus on .22LR?  Not for long range obviously but just for shots maybe up to 100 yards.  I'm thinking CCI Stingers.

Thanks.

[Jonathan_S]

I wouldn't.  Even a young female adult is 18-20 lbs and some toms will get twice that big. 22WMR would do it I guess but why not a .223 or another adequate centerfire?

[AWS]

100 yard is a pretty long shot for a 22 LR on something the size of a bobcat.  When I was running a trapline a 22 LR was fine for putting one in the ear but I'd never try a dispatch shot to the body, even shooting skunks in the chest so they wouldn't spray wasn't DRT.

I'd be looking at a 17 WSM or 22 Magnum as a bare minimum for a 100 yard bobcat gun, in centerfires 17 Hornet, 22 Hornet or 218 Bee work well.  You will be calling in a number of coyotes even just concentrating on bobcats, and there is the stray Mountain Lion here in WA that might respond.

[Bango skank]

.22lr is barely adequate for whistle pigs.  Bobcat at 100 yards? Yeah it might die i guess, but its going to be a long slow death and good luck finding it.

[WSU]

Plus you'd be really lucky to find it.  They aren't big and the westside is brushy.  I wouldn't want to try and find one that ran 30 yards with no blood trail.

[boneaddict]

close range fine, long range no way

[MtnMuley]

Lost a giant bobby once grouse hunting with a .22LR.  30yd perfect double lung shot.  Since that day, I've only packed a 17HMR or 17MACH2 for grouse hunting rifles.

[boneaddict]

I was trying to debate in my head what Id consider long range with the .22 for a Bobcat.  I was thinking 40. Now I might say 30.   

[carpsniperg2]

I have only ever shot a few. So I am no expert by any means but I would go 22wmr if you have one or if your buying a gun to hunt them over the 22lr. If you are close range then sure but if a cat hangs up at 100 yards then you will for sure wish you had a little more gun. I have shot a ton of coyotes with a 22lr as a kid and most were runners. Watching a cat run away would be a little heart breaking!!! I switched to a 22 mag and most coyotes under 100 hard bang flops. Amazing the difference between the 22lr and 22 mag on killing power on yotes.

[boneaddict]

next thing to question.....what are you going to do when the bigger cousin comes in.   

[Boss .300 winmag]

I killed a large Tom with a .17HMR at around 40 yds, he flopped once and he was done.

I think at 100 yds larger calibers are needed, 17WSM and bigger.

[Bofire]

on a Bob you have about a 2 inch target for bang flops, what ever you use needs to be accurate, if I went with a 22 mag or 17 a cougar would come in for sure!!
Carl

[b23]

If you were shooting them out of a tree like they do with cougars it'd probably be ok, but for anything more than about 30-40 yards, I'm going to want more gun.

If you're trying to avoid purchasing another gun, do you have a small caliber centerfire you could use, seems like everybody has an AR/223 these days so one of those with a bullet that doesn't rapidly expand would be a could choice if you don't want to tear up the pelt real bad.

Now, if you're looking for an excuse to buy something new, I'd take a look at a CZ 527 chambered in 17 Hornet.  I have two of them, they're a sweet little rifle and the 17 Hornet is a lot of fun to shoot and doesn't make a whole lot of noise, especially shooting them suppressed.  If you want to stick with a rimfire, the 17 WSM is pretty potent and definitely the king of the rimfires.

[N7XW]

Wow, thanks for the replies guys 

Giving it more thought, I think the .22 may be a bad idea.  As some of you mentioned, probably fine for ideal short range shots.  But for longer shots and the possible cougar, not such a good idea.  I think I'll plan on using either the .223, .243, 6.5cm or maybe .270.  I may have to consider getting a .204 or .22-250