Bobcat Safe 22-250

[satchamo]

I pulled a bobcat tag in IL this fall so I’m looking to cook up a load for my 22-250 that isn’t a 77 TMK because I’m afraid it will damage a bobcat to high hell. I have a 1:8 twist tikka. I know this is probably more rifle than I need and in the past when I had a cat tag I carried a 17 hmr but I feel way more confident with my 250.

Currently I have 60 gr TMKs that shoot decent (nowhere as well as 77). I also have also shot some factory 50 gr vmax and they shot fine even in the faster twist.

I’ve shot a pile of coyotes with 50 gr vmax out of 223 and 22-250 and a bunch with 58 in 243 but never have I shot a cat so I don’t know how they fair on bobcat hides.

What’s a fur “safe” bullet for bobcats?

 

[justin davis]

50 grainer be good. Have shot a few with 50 grain blitzing a going 3650. Hardly can tell it was shot. I have used 53 grain max on them as well

 

[Erict]

I'd spend more time getting confident with the 17HMR, or borrow a 22 mag or 17 WSM with 20 grain bullets, or even a shotgun. Yeah, people luck out every year shooting bobcats with a 243 with little damage but I'd play the odds and use something small. The hide is quite thin and it's too easy to make a real mess. Good luck.

 

[IDElkmagnet]

Im a big fan of the 55gr sierra game king #1365. For cats iI would load it down to just below 223 velocities. I haven't killed a bob with it but it's a fur friendly bullet at 223 speeds and good at killing.
Id be afraid of a 50gr v max coming apart in an 8 twist

 

[KenLee]

Factory Superformance NTX 35gr is your answer. I wouldn't bother working up my own round unless your rifle doesn't like these. No exit, just liquifies everything inside the fur.

 

[Chris in TN]

Im a big fan of the 55gr sierra game king #1365. For cats iI would load it down to just below 223 velocities. I haven't killed a bob with it but it's a fur friendly bullet at 223 speeds and good at killing.
Id be afraid of a 50gr v max coming apart in an 8 twist

That's exactly what I'd do. I used to shoot coyotes with that bullet and they'd hold together at .220 swift speeds and I bet they'd leave reasonable holes at slower speeds.

I have a bobcat that I tube-skinned and had tanned and it has an exit from a .50 caliber muzzleloader bullet, but without a ton of expansion (shot through the ribs), and it's not noticeable unless you look for it.

 

[OverInfinite]

53 vmax ultra slow. 60gr vmax at 2950ish fps still put a big size hole in a coyote. He was quartering to me and I shot right in between his front shoulders and came out just behind his front leg.

Anyone try copper bullets on a cat? Always wondered if a slow heavy copper that would barely expand and “zip” through would be okay on a hide, knowing they might get 50-100 yards before going down.