Here soon I am hoping to go on a Mt. Lion hunt here in New Mexico. I shoot a SBH 44 in 5.5" and my comfort velocity is about 1050 to 1150 fps. with a 240 gr. lead bullet. Lion should be treed but 25 to 50 yards should be max distance. What would be a good bullet ? Thanks.

Any of your normal hunting 44 bullets should be just fine. Here in the northern part of the state we use a variety of handguns. Most smaller than your 44. All centerfires. Lion not hard to kill, it's all about shot placement. They are exciting hunts, you will have a great time. Nothing like following hounds through canyon country. Unlike a bear they have small lungs, and are good for short sprints usually. But, you never know. I wish you the best. I assume you have your NMGF lion test passed so you can purchase your tags.

On my one and only mountain lion I used Barnes XPBs. Worked like a charm.

As mentioned Lion's aren"t hard to kill, just about any good 44 bullet will get the job done. Bullet placement is more important than bullet selection.
Many use smaller calibers on treed cats & they are almost always treed. Used a 357 Magnum with a Keith cast on mine.
Good luck on your hunt, take lots of photo's!

Dick

No counsel from me-never hunted them before.
Just wanted to say, "Have fun and good luck!"

Whos your guide there? I would second the barnes but shot placement is imperative like dick said. Shot mine with barnes and died without a step

Thanks for the replies. Here goes, my first thing is get a few more chores done before winter. Cessna, all I have are lead bullets, round nose and some Keiths. Have not done the quiz yet but here soon; winter, early spring hunt. Whitworth looked at the Barnes, nasty suckers. Sixshot, h'mm the Keith strikes again. Ernie, thank you. Tradmark, no guide. I want to hunt the Mountainair area, you know the relatives of friends that have ranches and graze cattle etc, and have dogs. I live 50 miles from the area. If all that fails, my son knows some people, and if that goes south there are outfitters that will do a 5 day hunt for $5500.00, man that is just pocket change for a guy on Social Security. I will look into the Barnes. Thanks again.

X2

This is what the .454 XPBs delivered to the chest cavity of my cat.

What was the muzzle velocity of that bullet, also what was the distance of your shot ?

Maybe it's just me but I would think a good .44 special loaded with a good Keith style hard cast bullet or a Hornady XTP, either in 240 gr. would get the job done on a lion. Good luck on your hunt, I'm also considering one. Looking at Colorado. Only based on what I've heard, I may try the Grand Mesa area.

Ive shot Mt Lion with 32 H and R with 85 grain XTP.
Lions don't take a bunch of killing...

Billy

Theyre not hard to kill but its important for them to die quick. They can kill a dog quick and in short order. My guide for my lion hunt carries a 356 gnr or 357 but was glad when i said i was gonna use a 454 with barnes. He said he likes the hunter to kill it fast. The lion will jump outta the tree and destroy a dog on the way out so to speak. He uses what he uses so he has less chance of hurting a dog since if he shoots theres a squirmish a 357 will kill a lion well.

Exactly. If you don't put 'em down quickly they can exact a toll on no time.

I have owned hounds for over 30 years and am very protective of them. As a hound man we love our dogs more than most anything else. There are many stories about hound guys falling over cliffs and dying trying to save there dogs. Im all about enough gun but lions don't take much killing..
Most hound men tie there dogs back out of harms way when it comes time to shoot a lion. That being said, Ive seen at least 3 lions taken with the 32 and Ive carried one to many trees. That said, I usually did pack a Smith 657 in a 4 inch gun for years.
I hardly ever take a gun to the tree anymore...

Billy