223 for cougar?

[Wanttohuntmore]

Would a 223 be adequate for cougar? And if so what weight and type of bullet would you use? I call yotes and bobcat and want an adequate round in case I call in a cougar.

 

[justinspicher]

I’m using for Black Hills 77gr TMK for all of the above mentioned critters.

 

[weekender7]

A well-placed Barnes ttsx will do it. Whatever weight your gun shoots best.

 

[Wanttohuntmore]

A well-placed Barnes ttsx will do it. Whatever weight your gun shoots best.

Been thinking of the ttsx or lrx. Just hoping i can get it into the vitals

 

[MuleyFever]

You have been on here since 2014 and have not read the 223 thread? You are missing out.

 

[PathFinder]

Forget the pencil stab wound bullets. Any 55+ grain expanding cup and core bullet will work fine.

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[RockAndSage]

Forget the pencil stab wound bullets. Any 55+ grain expanding cup and core bullet will work fine.

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^^^ This, OP. I'd personally go with a tipped match bullet.

Here's what people have to say about .223 on mountain lions: https://rokslide.com/forums/search/10795325/?q=lion&t=post&c[thread]=130488&o=relevance


This one has photos: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads...er-elk-and-moose.130488/page-635#post-4489059

 

[go_deep]

Forget the pencil stab wound bullets. Any 55+ grain expanding cup and core bullet will work fine.

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This is the setup I use.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Shiner bock or martinis are my go to when cougar hunting

 

[Dioni A]

They're not hard to kill. Many hound hunters kill them with a rim fire pistol. If your calling it in good odds your closeish range. Pretty much any bullet will be fine.

I shot this with a 243. I used an accubond on this one because I didn't want too much expansion. Lions are thin skinned and it wouldn't be hard to blow a huge hole in the hide.

 

[RockAndSage]

They're not hard to kill. Many hound hunters kill them with a rim fire pistol. If your calling it in good odds your closeish range. Pretty much any bullet will be fine.

I shot this with a 243. I used an accubond on this one because I didn't want too much expansion. Lions are thin skinned and it wouldn't be hard to blow a huge hole in the hide.
View attachment 1011262

Damn that is a big cat...

 

[mtnbound]

Would a 223 be adequate for cougar? And if so what weight and type of bullet would you use? I call yotes and bobcat and want an adequate round in case I call in a cougar.

Would a 223 be adequate for cougar? And if so what weight and type of bullet would you use? I call yotes and bobcat and want an adequate round in case I call in a cougar.

No problem killing a cat with a 223. What bullet are you currently using?

 

[Caseknife]

They're not hard to kill. Many hound hunters kill them with a rim fire pistol. If your calling it in good odds your closeish range. Pretty much any bullet will be fine.

I shot this with a 243. I used an accubond on this one because I didn't want too much expansion. Lions are thin skinned and it wouldn't be hard to blow a huge hole in the hide.
View attachment 1011262

Sure looks like a monster cat, way to go.

 

[Hal4son]

If I ran across a cougar with a 223 in hand I'd make it work. If I was going out looking to call cougars I'd rather have a 243. Cats in Western Washington are likely as big or bigger than the deer in the area and you are likely to be following them up in the waist high slough brush that is everywhere around here.

 

[Dioni A]

If I ran across a cougar with a 223 in hand I'd make it work. If I was going out looking to call cougars I'd rather have a 243. Cats in Western Washington are likely as big or bigger than the deer in the area and you are likely to be following them up in the waist high slough brush that is everywhere around here.

Are you saying this based on some depth of experience or the feeling that they're tough to kill and likely to fight back?

 

[180ls1]

They're not hard to kill. Many hound hunters kill them with a rim fire pistol. If your calling it in good odds your closeish range. Pretty much any bullet will be fine.

I shot this with a 243. I used an accubond on this one because I didn't want too much expansion. Lions are thin skinned and it wouldn't be hard to blow a huge hole in the hide.
View attachment 1011262

I've heard the same from a friend of a friend, guy killed piles of them, his favorite was a 22 mag.

 

[Wanttohuntmore]

Yeah, have read much of the 223 thread, seems 77 grain TMK is favored, but on perfect angles. I'm picturing a frontal shot and not getting through the bones to the lungs. Hal4son matches my thoughts on the matter of rather having the 243 or 2506. But I like the 223 more often for the smaller game. Lots of thick brush in Western Wa.

 

[Scoutfan]

50 or 53 grain v-mav- no exit no tracking needed as long as hit in vitals

 

[mtnbound]

Yeah, have read much of the 223 thread, seems 77 grain TMK is favored, but on perfect angles. I'm picturing a frontal shot and not getting through the bones to the lungs. Hal4son matches my thoughts on the matter of rather having the 243 or 2506. But I like the 223 more often for the smaller game. Lots of thick brush in Western Wa.

The 77TMK will easily punch through the chest of a cat, and if you have gone through even a quarter of the 223 kills thread, you will see plenty of evidence, but use whatever makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

What everyone else said.

What bullet are you using for coyotes?