Know what gun will make you stand a chance against a cougar attack and prevent yourself from becoming its meal!
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Cougar Attack | Defend Yourself with an Able Firearm
Air Rifle Against a Mountain Lion?
Sometimes you can't help but laugh at stories about stupid people with guns. Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.
Below, our gun expert Joshua Gillem shares such a story he came across recently. It talks about what this person should have done instead.
Okay so, every so often I read something so incredibly stupid. Interesting enough, I have to share it with our awesome GC audience (that's you!).
This topic wasn't even on my list of things to write about for this week, but can't help myself. First, let me start by saying that I'm the resident gun nut over at liveoutdoors.com.
I write gun reviews and anything else gun-related for them. This week, I'm writing about hunting with pellet guns.
While this is usually acceptable for hunting small game, most people who have any sense about them understand that bigger animals should be off-limits for this type of gun. Anyway, I always like to give my readers the most up-to-date info I can find, so I usually do some research about pricing.
I always find myself on Amazon when it's time to research prices, because, after all, nobody else has as much stuff as they do. I found one comment on an Amazon listing that just baffled me.
Actually, by the time I was done reading it, I felt like I needed to bang my head onto something hard to help the buffoonery sink in.
This guy says he brings his .177 caliber air rifle whenever he goes hiking, just in case he runs into a mountain lion…
And, I think he was serious.
Using an air rifle to defend yourself against a mountain lion attack…what could go wrong?
Did I miss something here? Did this person even think of the mountain lion size?
I mean, I didn't realize that pellet guns were rated for shooting mountain lion. Could it work in a jam?
Yeah, I guess it could if you had the time to shoulder the rifle. Point at the animal's vital-most organ (assuming his furry little butt wasn't on the move) and get your shot off before he eats you for dinner.
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But, on the other hand, um…NO!
You have a better chance of making Mr. Mountain Lion angry, thus giving him no choice but to rip your face off after you tried shooting him with something equivalent to poking him with a twig.
In other words, you don't bring a twig to a lion fight.
The best bet when facing a stalking predator, like a big cuddly kitty cat, is to ensure you can get a shot off as quick and accurate as possible because they usually attack silently, and without notice. In other words, if your local laws allow you to do so, carry a handgun with you in a caliber size you are comfortable shooting.
A handgun is your best bet when defending against a large animal like a mountain lion.
That way, you won't have to worry about getting a rifle up into your shoulder to take out an animal that can sprint upwards of 50 miles per hour. This also helps you stand a better chance at surviving once the animal has mistaken your identity for a filet mignon, and is actively trying to eat you.
Any long gun in this instance, pellet or otherwise, is likely just going to be a waste of time and piss the animal off.
And, if you live in a communist state that doesn't allow you to carry a pistol, stay home.
Lord knows you don't want to become dinner.
Speaking of cougars, check out this video from Barcroft TV. They truly are amazing creatures:
When you're out strolling in the woods, there's no way for you to defend yourself from a mountain lion using an air rifle. Not only does it take time to shoot, but it's also not enough to stop a cougar from coming at you.
Use a handgun. It's smaller yet you can move quicker and a stronger caliber to defend yourself against a mountain lion.
Do you have a preferred firearm for defense in the wild? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on August 6, 2015, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.