Preferred bobcat cartridge

[Uncle Dave]

Just wondering what everyone's preferred bobcat cartridge is? Thanks

[nidaho]

not sure if its the best or not, just got a 22 mag for bobcats. when I trapped a reg 22 did the trick but I wanted something a little bigger that wont put huge holes in them.

[david]

I am not too sophisticated about guns. I am sure there is something better. But you have heard the old saying "don't fix what ain't broken".

If that .22 rattling around behind the seat of your truck ain't broken, it will kill any bobcat ever made.

[Mike Leonard]

For trapping if you must shoot them a 22 short solid is plenty. For hound hunting unless they are in the top of a 100ft. sugar pine a 22 LR Hollowpoint will drop even the biggest tom with a pop behind the shoulder. I carry an ancient Colt Woodsman pistol that is extreemly accurate. If you are calling or just get lucky enough to see one somthing bigger with a scope may be in order.

Bobcats are very thin skinned and easy to kill, and even a 222 or 223 can tear a heck of a hole in one, and at the price a good pelt is bringing why risk the deduction for a huge hole or spend your nights sewing up the hide. The 22 Magnum or 17 HMR will do to 100 yards or a bit more, and will do tolerable damage. Usually when calling the cats will slip in and be pretty close if you get a shot. That ace coyote gun 204,22-250 or 243 will kill them as far as you can shoot but they are all about killing and not getting top dollar for prime fur.
Occasionaly when lion hunting my hounds will scare a bobcat up a tree, and I carry some old cast bullet loads for my 32 Winchester Special saddle gun in my saddle bags rolled up in an old sock that are loaded to about 1250 FPs. they seem to just poke an 8MM hole straight thru, so the cast bullet option is not too bad either.

[pegleg]

22 mag gets another vote. There's others that work. But if your sticking to hounding small game its easiest to come bye and effective. 22 lr works too but there's some times a little more pep might be needed. Not normally on bobcat but something else happens along. I've killed bobcats with some strange cartridges tho. 12 gauge slug 44 mag 35 whelen. It all led to one conclusion it can be hard guessing just what is going to be at the end of the dog tomorrow.
And most modern cartridges are way over powered and the old guns way over priced.
30 carbine is a maligned cartridge. But for the houndsmen who might tree coon or bobcat or lion its a pretty good choice. I suppose the height of trees in your country might have some impact on what you use.

[justahunter]

Trapping I use my catch poll and stand on them . I use 17 hmr otherwise . it's pretty accurate up to 200 yards and does minimal damage .

[1bludawg]

I carry a Ruger single six with interchangeable cylinders. .22 and .22 magnum ,that way i'm ready for almost anything .

[Uncle Dave]

Thanks for the replies. I should have been more specific in my question, this would be for use over dogs. I already have a 357 mag for lion, anyone ever try cast 38 special on bobs? I imagine it would still be quite the sew job.

[pegleg]

If you use hard cast or jacketed bullets your OK. But really a 22 mag pistol or similar is hard to beat on cats. Even the rifles are OK most of the time. I shoot a few with different pistols and if your aim is good your OK. But there's always the risk of hitting bone. Cat hides are very thin. If a chunk of bone or even branch gets involved it ruins the hide.
But I prefer the 22 s for several reasons. But if you have a 357 and want to load a few 38s for it you might as well. But if your in a prime fur area I'd consider going down in caliber .