My cousin and I are planning quite a bit of winter hunting this year and bobcat is on our list. His dad has done it for years but I want to get the right setup to not have a big entrance and leave all the bullet pieces inside the body. I have a 22 Hornet but that shoots 35gr vmax bullets over 3000fps, I might be able to get it cut down to 16" to drop the velocity some. I also have a 12" AR that I use for coyotes shooting 55gr bullets at 2850fps. I think I can download a bit and get around 2700fps, maybe that velocity and 55gr vmax would work. I'm just trying to avoid an exit wound.

So what do you guys think would do the trick for essentially zero pelt damage from 50-200 yds on bobcats?

I suggested 17hmr, but he says he says he would like to see something with a heavier bullet.

I also wondered about a TSX load, it would definitely exit, but shouldn't make a big messy exit. Either 62 or 70 grain and just expect a pass through. Any experience with those on bobcats or coyotes?

17 HMR is what you seek.

What type of range do you think is possible?

I've killed tons of small critters with my 17, but for some reason I've never gotten a coyote with it

Also unsure of how it would react to hitting a rib square on.

.22WMR solids are the old school fur saver for fox and smaller.

Killed more cats with a 22mag with a round to the eye then with anything else.