Bobcats are awfully tender. Have you ever tried full metal jackets?

 

I don't know about the V-max but I shoot 36 grain Varmint Grenades with 28 grains of Winchester 748 with good results. The Speer TNT bullets are also highly frangible and don't penetrate very deep.

 

I'd love to shoot fmj's but they are illegal to hunt with in Arkansas...so unfortunately they are not an option.

 

With the faster twist rates of the AR platform guns you may need to download a 30 something grain bullet to prevent the bullets from making that telltale gray puff just out of the muzzle. I've never shot anything lighter than 45 grain stuff in my AR's but my 1:12 twist CZ bolt gun will shoot lighter stuff pretty good.

I was thinking about loading up some of the Barnes 62 grain tsx stuff myself. How's the accuracy and terminal performance?

 

I have a friend that killed a big bobcat last year deer hunting with his .308, I think he was deer huntin with Nosler Partitions. He has an awesome full-body mount and it didn't damage him to bad. I good taxidermist can fix it!

 

I'd love to shoot fmj's but they are illegal to hunt with in Arkansas...so unfortunately they are not an option.

I had no idea they were not legal. Im just the opposite, I want to rip every predator I shoot in two. I was using Vmax but switched because I lost too many dawgs, just not enough carnage for my taste. I like a bloody mess when the bullet hits. I bet the lightest Vmax bullet you can buy travelling as fast as you can push it will do the trick for minor pelt damage.

 

I'm with you on ripping them in two most of the time. I really want a full body mount on a bobcat so in this case I'm looking for the least amount of fur damage possible.

 

You are going in the right direction. The 35's may or may not stabilize in the 1/9 barrel. If you just want to try some ammo without having to buy a lot of components that you may or may not use, the Winchester 45 grain HP's that are sold in the the 40 round boxes at WM have an excellent reputation and should stabilize in the 1/9 with no problem. Otherwise down load the 35-45 grain bullets a little and go for it.

Personally, I wouldn't even consider using the Barnes bullets for what you are wanting.

 

I don't know about the V-max but I shoot 36 grain Varmint Grenades with 28 grains of Winchester 748 with good results. The Speer TNT bullets are also highly frangible and don't penetrate very deep.

My son and I shoot crows with them and they make a great "Poof". :biggrin:

 

I'm with you on ripping them in two most of the time. I really want a full body mount on a bobcat so in this case I'm looking for the least amount of fur damage possible.

Its tough to not mess up a cat. They are a very fragile animal. Maybe you could use a shotgun.

 

I got lucky in 2006 and caught a female bobcat in a conibear trap. Zero pelt damage and felt I had to get it mounted. Would like to get a really nice male and do the same.

 

Beautiful cat!!! A shot gun is an option for me. From what I hear bobcats are easier to call into close range than a coyote. I have some 3 inch bismuth #2's left over from a goose hunt from a few years ago. You think they would do the job and not tear them up to bad?

 

I shot a cat at thirty yards with T shot and couldn't even find any blood.

 

I shot a cat at thirty yards with T shot and couldn't even find any blood.

:head:

Surely you didn't shoot and loose an animal :head:

 

I got lucky in 2006 and caught a female bobcat in a conibear trap. Zero pelt damage and felt I had to get it mounted. Would like to get a really nice male and do the same.

Great looking cat!

 

:head:

Surely you didn't shoot and loose an animal :head:

I killed the cat, I just didn't do any damage to him.

 

If you hit a shoulder with the VMax it will rip the hide to pieces. 2 inches behind the shoulder all you will have is a small hole
.. The jack rabbit caught it in the shoulder, the coyote caught one behind the shoulder.

Put it in the right spot and all it leaves is a small entry hole. The Jack was shot in the shoulder and it broke both his back legs in Several places!