Caliber selection?

[Nathan Flores]

So im building a rifle for cats and i was really set on the tikka t3x super varmint topped with a NF, i was gonna handload 50G pills and expect to hammer cats at anything from 100-600 yds, my buddy is telling me the 50G wont be enough past 300yds the bad thing is tikka only offers a 1:14 twist? Anyone have any advice or thoughts? Thanks in advance

 

[Koda_]

I have always placed cougars in the medium game category not the varmint category. For medium game Id start with at least a .243 caliber to 6.5... especially if you want to hunt past 300yds.

 

[Nathan Flores]

Im sorry when i say cats i mean bobcats, i have a 6.5 creedmoor with some 90G pills thats dead on, but just want something lighter for bobcats and foxes

 

[Koda_]

Im sorry when i say cats i mean bobcats

If your thinking of a 22 caliber (like a 223) then that would work, but I agree with your buddy to keep it under 300yds. Im sure exceptional shots can be made though, but the thing to look for is a load that stays at or above the terminal velocity of the bullet your using at the distance your shooting. Typically stay above 1800fps generally but check with the manufacturer what they use.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Go 6 MM of some kind if, out in the Cold, Windy,.. Mountains or, NW Deserts ( 6 Creed / .243 Win )
I do Believe that, some 1-8 Twists are now Available in .223 Rem and .22-250 Rem Tikka's But, you might, go Online and search, tho !
Most of, the 1-14 Twist barrels, I've seen, will stabilise, the Sierra 60 grain, Flat Base HP "Varminter" and 55 grain FB Soft Point Hornadys or, Sierra's.
Be sure to Keep your bullet, OAL under .800 Long for 1-14 tw.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Im sorry when i say cats i mean bobcats, i have a 6.5 creedmoor with some 90G pills thats dead on, but just want something lighter for bobcats and foxes

We shoot them here with a .223 Rem Lapua Brass H-4895 and 65gr SGK in a RRA 20" AR Fred Eichler Coyote Special. Same load we use for Coyotes. Drops cats and Yotes in their tracks.
Bob Cats are pretty easy to kill. A 17HMR or .22 LR will do in 100yds. If 3-400 yds use a .223.
If you want longer range go with a 243 or 6BR
Although we still have some Bob Cats in our area I don't shoot them anymore. Only see them on trail cams and don't want to kill all of them. Now Coyotes are another story.

 

[lancetkenyon]

69 SMKs are MURDER on foxes, coyotes, bobcats, jackrabbits, javelina. But a 1:14" isn't going to shoot them.

 

[simo hayha]

6 tcu.

Because it's not a creamoor.

 

[Nathan Flores]

thanks!! I see fierce has 1:12 with carbon fiber stock in a 22-250, for 2300 bucks looks hard to beat

 

[comfisherman]

Saving pelts or just dead? I've not shot many, only very rarely would have one come to a call. They seemed much thinner skinned and easy to ruin.

 

[Nathan Flores]

Yessir id like to have the pelt in-tact we get them to come in here in west tx but they usually hang around 200-400 yds out.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Yessir id like to have the pelt in-tact we get them to come in here in west tx but they usually hang around 200-400 yds out.

22-250 and 60+ grains will hammer at those distances. I'd build a rifle and go 9 twist minimum.

 

[BigNate]

I used to do a lot of calling, and put quite a few bobcats on the fur Market.
Trying to find a bullet / cartridge combo that is fur friendly at shorter range and still works well out at 500 is quite the trick. I never did.
I tried lots of different things and had some success and some failures. The bullets that did the least damage to the fur up close, got blown off target in the wind and the better ones in the wind caused bigger holes.
I wound up using several different setups depending on the topography of the area we were hunting. Mostly used .223 or .22-250, but found that with certain bullets the .243 and even a .257 Roberts weren't any worse. In fact I used the Roberts quite a bit with Hornady 75gr hp loaded a little hot. They rarely existed up close, and it shot pretty flat.
I had two loads for the .22-250 that I could swap between for shorter range and further out. It's been quite a long time but I believe it was 55gr Ballistic tips for longer, and 45 or 50gr Blitz or Hornady SX bullets up close. One of those worked great and one came apart leaving the barrel. The one that disintegrated in flight worked perfect out of a Contender.

 

[Radman]

So im building a rifle for cats and i was really set on the tikka t3x super varmint topped with a NF, i was gonna handload 50G pills and expect to hammer cats at anything from 100-600 yds, my buddy is telling me the 50G wont be enough past 300yds the bad thing is tikka only offers a 1:14 twist? Anyone have any advice or thoughts? Thanks in advance

If minimal fur damage is important a .22-250 is perfect with plenty of power. Shoots almost flat past 600 yards. The 1:14 is perfect for 50 grain ammo. If you go up to 55 grain then you'll want to spin it faster. If you still want more go with a .243.
A cousin shot a coyote in the head with his .22-250. Though it's brains were liquified there was no exit wound.