What is your favorite mountain lion rifle and caliber ? Is a .35 remington overkill ?

Not particularly. You can do the job with your .35 remington or nearly anything. Lions are not hard to kill if you make a good shot. I took mine with a .44 remington Magnum handgun (one shot).

35 rem would work well as would most calibers I think a nice light weight carbine with a good bullet. Is just about perfect.

Some of the guys around here who run dogs like a .22 Mag revolver. When I first heard that I was surprised but they tell me it works great and is easy to carry when you're running after a pack.

.30-30 would be a good choice but a .35 rem would work just fine.

308 Winchester, iron sights, 180 gr bullet.

Austin,
Is that a model 100 Winchester? My old hunting partner had one that was her only gun.

My family used to do quite a bit of cougar hunting in CO on a ranch they used to own. Mostly cattle killers. A .22 pistol was used to do the shooting most the time since they were easy to carry. Cougars aren't too hard to kill. Put just about any bullet in the lungs and down they come.

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:
Austin,
Is that a model 100 Winchester? My old hunting partner had one that was her only gun.

Yes - Model 100. Sold it several years ago. It was very temperature sensitive in terms of POI. Ok for iron sights and cat, but not good for deer hunting on a cold morning.

About 1/3 of the hound hunters I know use a 22 long rifle when cat hunting. Me, I use a modified GP-100 ruger pistol in 38 special, during lion and bobcat, and 357 during bear and lion. Nobody I know uses anything but a pistol. North central idaho is a miserable place for packing a rifle.

It surprises me that a 22 is so widely used. I learn something new everyday.

See if there is a caliber restriction dictated by the state. Usually whether they are classified as big game or varmints, clarifies your options.
Most successful hunts are conducted with hounds without question, followed by lucky hunters pursuing other game and running into them by accident. Baiting if legal and lastly calling, whether electronic or manuel calls it is becoming more successful.
As a houndsman with red bone hounds my experience is mostly chasing bears. My partners where I learned from were a grizzled bunch and lived for the chase. They would occasionally be hired by the Fish and wildlife to thin the cat population in Nevada ruby mountains etc... that was years ago regretfully they all have passed.
I showed up for my first bear hunt with them carrying a Sako AV 7mm Rem. Mag. with Mcmillan stock. Instantly they questioned me on why I brought such a nice rifle. My answer was:" that's the only rifle I own", granted that was then. I got schooled pretty quick. Houndsmen usually run hand to mouth. Meaning money was always scarce and usually spent on gas. Most of them were mechanics and they stated: Charles we've tried everything and the best vehicle for dependability and gas mileage that can go anywhere is the Toyota 4x4 straight axle pre 1982 with the little 4 cylinder 2.2 engine. Guns were not a collector item. Mostly a Ruger single actioned pistol, blued with a 6" barrel in a crossdraw military type holster with the outside flap in 44mag. some had .357mag's. Many have used the .22LR, .22Mag, 30-30's, .35rem, .375win and 12gauge shotguns single shot or Mossbergs. They all worked. They shot enough game that preserving the hide or skull did not mean anything. Shooting a large 12gauge slug hole through the entire skull was acceptable. Old military surplus rifles that used to be bought for less than a $100 bucks were also common. Basically they hunted in small groups 2-4 hunters all were packing and you can get away with any caliber because someone always has your back. Guns were only tools and they were drug through the worst brush to get to their beloved dogs which also were a great investment.
If hunting alone I would choose the .44Mag. over the other pistols hands down.
A .35 Rem will work great and increase your range if needed. If hunting without hounds I would carry a rifle to increase your odds of connecting at longer range and also carry a sidearm. If in the forrest and short range is the norm then your rifle is perfect. If the potential is for slightly open country then a Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 with high Sectional Density, great penetration, light recoil and fast would be an option. In fact most centerfire rifles within reason will work fine.

The real question is all calibers will work when the conditions are perfect and you have the time to pick your shot. Especially when you have dogs to distract them or other hunters to pitch in if needed. When alone and you accidentally run into an older cat with diminished hunting ability and is starved and considers you the easy meal for it's survival. Or protecting it's kill or young, injured or cornered then all bets are off and I would choose a tool that will handle the situation that you feel comfortable with. For some a double rifle 500 Nitro is not enough. At the end it is always your call and what makes you comfortable in any situation. Safe hunting.

.32 Special! Why? Because that is what I used!