223 for cougar?

[325]

Would a 223 be adequate for a treed cougar? Too light?

[BlacktailStalker]

It'll do the job. I'd opt for something a little slower with more punch/expansion though like a 30-30.

[bc_buckshot]

223 is just fine for kittys. We even used 22 Magnum for treed cougar

[SHAKER]

Reduced load on the .223 would be good stuff. Don't blow them out of the tree just poke a hole in them and let'me fall out.

[Doe Eyes]

Just remember...when they fall out...they can still leap and run a fair ways!
(thats what happened to me last week!)
Good luck!

[hunter1993ap]

you should have no problen hitting it as it is probably not going to be over 20 yards. i shot a bear with a 223 that was up a tree in some brush and i wish i would have had a bigger gun. the first shot still hit him in the chest but the 223 is not good to be shooting through brush which can happen in trees. the shot was still ok but i had to watch for a while and squeek the bullet through a small hole.

[tomcat]

222 or 223 is excellent for cougar if you know where to place your shot.

[325]

222 or 223 is excellent for cougar if you know where to place your shot.

Any special considerations with shot placement on a cougar? Also, what bullet weight/type would you recommend??

[325]

Additionally, which would the seasoned houndsmen prefer; a 223 or a 44 mag for shooting a treed cat (yes I know they're dramatically different).?

[chilcotin hillbilly]

222, rem 223, use a soft point bullet, stay away from premium bullets. The idea is that all the energy is used up in the cat. It kills quick if you shoot straight. The 44 mag is fine as well, 357 tends to not be that good it won't break the neck of a big tom cougar.
A cat shot though the lungs will not run more then 100 yards.
Don't use a 22 mag as that would be illegal.
I have seen quite a few die with a 22 hornet and it was very effective as well.

[todbartell]

I think I'd rather use a 44 Mag carbine loaded with 240gr XTP's

[rocksteady]

Most of the local doggers use 30/30 lever actions, easy to pack in the bush chasing dogs all day, iron sights so you don't need to mess with a scope that is frosted, full of snow or banged from the chase...

All of the treed cats I have been in on are short shots.. Maybe 50 feet on average...

No firearm should have an issue with that distance.

The preferred shot, as with other animals is heart... A heart shot cat does not go far, a lung shot cat can go a fair ways before they give out, a poorly shot can go a long ways as well as make a hell of a mess of a pack of dogs...(been there done that, got the video to prove it)...

All of the cats I have been in on stayed fairly steady in one spot (they were not running up and down the tree like a squirrel)... So you just have to search back and forth all around the tree til you get the best shot at the heart....Usually you have plenty of time to scout and find the sweet spot...

I personally pack my .243, but that is in case we bump into coyotes or wolves when out doggin.... I have it loaded with 75 grain V-Max, which will cause massive damage to vitals on a cat at that range (they sure do on big yotes).

Most guys running a bobber or lynx (the guys I have run with) just pack a .22 or .22 magnum...

Shot placement is critical...

[SHAKER]

My pet gun was actually a New England single shot stainless in .243 with reduced loads and yes crap bullets were perfect for the job at hand. One gun for any of the fuzzy's you might put up a tree.