...about the reloads for my 45 colt and going lion hunting. If I use a 240-250gr JHP, could a person run it "slow" enough to stay inside a lion at an average range of 50 feet, but still have it open up like it should? 30 to 50 feet is the distance that the guide is telling me I'll be from the cat when it is treed.

If I go with the 300gr bullet, I'm afraid that if I try to run it to slow, it will cause a pressure spike in the barrel. Maybe I'm just over thinkin this stuff, but I learn a lot by going through this process.

Maybe I should just shut up and go put a hole in the damn critter!!

Good idea.

Is your lion hunt on for this season? Is it a situation where you booked and are just waiting for that phone call? For when the weather is just right...or?

That is how a lot of lion hunts are run over this way; a friend of mine has the dogs; he outfits and guides these dog-lion hunts and gets about $3500 for the hunt; no guarantee. You give him the $ and then you are on his list and he calls you when the timing is right.

I have some older Hornady HP 250's, pre XTP, that have an exposed lead tip and have been loading those for my reduced 45 Colt @ 1,150 fps. They would likely shoot through a cat, but I'd bet they would work at slower velocities as well, as they are pretty soft up front. They have long been discontinued, but I have a couple boxes so can spare a few if ya wanna try them out. 8 grains of HS-6 should put them @ 800 fps + or -, similar to my 45 ACP defense load.

Your 300 will work fine. Go for the shoulder and break bones.

Thanks Rod! That is another thought that has been bouncing around in my head-- why not just use my Springfield TRP if we are going to be that close??!! That would be kinda fun I think, but having a first kill with the Colt Anaconda be a mountain lion would be something special for me!

Thanks for the offer on the bullets, but I think I will go with the xtp bullets. Not sure if it will be the mags yet or not, but we'll see. I like the idea of a hole on both sides, so I may just go punch a hole through the lion and let the taxidermist do his thing. That's what they get paid to do anyway isn't it???!! :-)

Gregg, as far as the hunt goes, yeah, it is a pay for it and wait type of thing. We are getting snow right now, so I'm hoping for the phone call at any minute. This guy does a garuntee though, of sorts-- if ya don't get a phone call, ya get your money back. Which I am perfectly fine with that. If we go and I don't get anything, I'm fine with that too. It will be quite the experience, and getting one will be the icing on the cake.

I vote you pick the 240 XTP and load some rounds and get your butt to the range. Let me know what you settle on.

RT, I really hope ya get your cat; take lots of pics!

And don't worry about the hole, just kill him and leave the rest to the rest!

in the colt I prefer that 250 XTP, the 240 XTP is a mag, I shoot those and the 300's out of my 454 and they are excellent. At Colt velocities the Mags are marginal and will work at only the very top end at close range, they are just too tough. I'd probably go ahead and just go with a hardcast before I would the mag in a LC. Really though any of the cheap JSP or JHP's will get the job done on a cat at that range. I think the only one that guarantee one hole only would be the frangible ammo I posted about earlier. They make a mess out human organs so they should do the same to a cat.

Yeah, I'm thinkin I'm just gonna go with the 250 xtp. Seems like it keeps showing up, so there must be a reason for that. And I have a bunch of them available down at Cabela's, so that makes it easy.

Thanks guys. 250 xtp it is, and I'll keep ya posted on the hunt, and also the accuracy testing with the load developement once it gets under way.

R.T. whatever bullet you use, I"m sure will get the job done, best of luck to you.

Man O man I would love to get a chance at a mt. lion...

I be thinking you either want to poke a big hole all the way through or have a real fast set of sneakers close by

....actually, you might want both!!

Please remember that at 50 feet he's only a bound away and maybe very angry!

So are you making that shot from outside the lion or from inside the lion?

Preferably outside, but will do it from the inside if need be.

Ive been out trying to call in a cougar several times this winter. Haven't connected yet. Brought in a coyote and another puney bobcat. I cant seem to bring in a decent bobcat. They only the young stupid ones. I have seen about 6 cougars in the last 10 years but havent got a shot off yet. They dont stay put long enough. Hope you have better luck than me.